TPT FC Membership & resale tickets--question for members

[DirtyMartini]

From what I understand, TPT has a members-only section of their forum where folks are able to buy, sell, and trade tickets for face value. (Such as SamburuSunset is currently looking into.)

Since I'll probably be needing tickets for Oakland, I'm debating whether or not to buy the TPT membership in the hopes of finding tickets through another FC member (rather than getting pillaged by a broker, etc).

Would any of the current FC members be able to say whether or not ticket exchanging through the TPT forum has been a viable option? Have many folks been vigorously buying and selling? Lots of activity? Any good or bad experiences? Or are options fairly limited and very few people are reselling through the FC forum?

Membership has plenty of other perks as well -- bonus! -- but for my purposes the primary hope would be (if possible) to spend a little extra money ($100) in order to save a lot of extra money ($1 gazillion). There are no guarantees that the right tickets will be for sale, of course -- I'm just trying to decide if it's a worthwhile chance to take. As such, any thoughts and opinions are greatly appreciated.

Grazie as always!

[GinaSuperCat]

Unless I am mistaken there is a thread that can be viewed by all where people are buying and selling tix on the TPT mb to circumvent that very members-only issue you are discussing...I can't remember if its a really hopping thread or not but I do remember it being there (and was surprised it stayed up) <grin>

Ok here's the link...you probably already know this but in case it's of help...

http://www.thepolicetour.com/members/co ... pic=2448.0

[Divemistress of the Dark]

I'd go with Stubhub, honestly. There are some tix listed, but they're all over the map (literally). Some cat will have two for Edmonton, then there'll be three for Wrigley...no guarantee of getting what you want, by any means.

And, I hate to point it out, but both Ebay and Stubhub are full of extra tix. I gotta think the scalpers artificially drove demand, at least partially. But then, I'm trying to resell singles, so my experience may not be representative.

[DirtyMartini]

Thanks for the link, GSC. I never signed up for the forum over there cuz of the cc requirement, so I never knew that there was a non-members thread for tickets. It was helpful to peruse through.

And Dive, I so agree -- the number of tix on eBay and StubHub is frightening. Scalpers have absolutely skewed the numbers. I have a small fear that we're all going to get to our respective venues and find half-empty seats -- and discover that because scalpers bought up the tix (and then couldn't make their profit off them), actual concert-goers got locked out. (Demand is huge for The Police, but individual's resources only reach so far.) I hope it's not the case, but I do have that fear.

(I fully admit that a broker tied me up and raped me (de do do do) for my seats at Giants, so I confess to playing my own part in the hideous system already. Like I've said, I'm not proud.)

I've also started looking into StubHub. I just wasn't sure if the FC was a good resource in this case or (since it's preaching to the converted) more of a lucky happenstance if you score good seats -- so I appreciate the insight. Thanks!

[PS -- Love the new art. Are you going through old magazines by some chance?]

[GinaSuperCat]

I think its nice that you are trying to give Police fans first consideration! I wouldn't worry about half empty venues, though...for even a 'scalper' would rather get face value or even less than be stuck with tix unsold...I've even seen some no reserve auctions on ebay go for below face on a few occasions...my guess is that, particularly closer to the concert dates that the prices on StubHub will get lower and lower...and that would mean the fans shut out would have a backdoor into the concert, likely without getting ripped off or even scoring a deal to boot...

Now I know many wouldn't want to wait until mere weeks before, etc. but I have been checking here and there for tix for various shows <dreaming about getting to go, etc> and its kinda nice to see that there is a sort of second chance in case we dedide we can go to certain concerts we were initially planning on without having had to make the definitive decision during the pre or general sales...because of the number of tix up on StubHub you can kinda wait for the right tix to hit the right price and then go

[Divemistress of the Dark]

Bear this heavily in mind, though: Once the guys start playing, and the reviews start rolling in, the ticket market is going to tighten up and fast.

If there are gigs you really want to see, buy 'em now, is my advice.

Oh, and on the avatar: Yeah, I have a slew of old stuff lying around. I figure I enjoy seeing other folks' avatar pix, so I'll share a few.

[DirtyMartini]

GSC, you give me too much credit. I would much rather sell to and buy from a fan, but I'm just as mercenary as the next guy: I'd also like to save a few bucks. (As my Giants tix go, I would have felt 100x better writing an equivalent check directly to Stewart's daughters' college fund than to a broker, but alas I got anxious and grabbed what I could when I could.)

As ticket prices/availability go, I'm of two minds cuz I think you're both right: once the tour actually starts (and The Boys start burning down towns), demand will certainly go back up. (Right now they're also in between major press events for the most part, so there's no burning need for the non-obsessed.) But at the same time, there will definitely be deals on last minute seats so that brokers can ditch them fast. (I never said that my empty-seat fear was rational.)

I think I may try for a couple of last minute, cheap-o tickets for spur-of-the-moment jaunts to "local" venues, but since this Oakland gig will be "payment" for a friend letting me crash at her place and eat her food and interrupt her life for a few days, I feel more comfortable securing tickets ahead of time.

Thanks for the advice and thoughts, ladies. You have been, as always, helpful and generous.

[Divemistress of the Dark]

No worries. I'll let you know if I see any extra Oakland tix for a good price. Good luck!

[DirtyMartini]

Thanks, Dive! Much obliged.