OTish: Local ticket brokers / websites?

by hmlee on Aug 19, 2008 3:47 PM CDT Comment 31 comments

Right... so I'm not sure if a Fan post is the best way to do this, but I'm going to try anyway. I'd like to get opinions from other BCBers who've had experience with either ticket brokers in the Chicago area or online ticket websites... places that are legit or places that aren't / or bad experiences.

Here's the background on why I'm asking:

Throughout the summer and the season I've been engaging in a little photo documentary project of the 2008 season. I have a feeling this is going to be a good year and I'd like to memorialize it, but even if it ends in a let down this thing is going to produce some awesome wall-art. I'll post the results in a fan post towards the end of the season.

Anyway, the project that I'm engaging in requires that I sit in or close to the same place in Wrigley for the games that I go to. During the season I've been having success with buying tickets through places like StubHub or the Cubs main site (though due to the demand this season, most of my purchases for this particular section have been through StubHub). As we wind down the season, however, I've started to discover that with the limited number of home games left, my ability to get a single seat in the section I need to sit in is dwindling. I've never really bought tickets through other websites or dealers so I was hoping to get suggestions from the community...

(An aside: I'm looking for tickets in the 423-424-425 sections so if you've got any to sell I'd be happy to buy...)

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, editor-in-chief (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Craigslist

Craigslist has a ticket section that is always worth checking out. Selection may be limited for some games, but the prices are not as stiff and you are dealing with people not brokers which is always a plus.

by careyrd on Aug 19, 2008 3:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

I bought some tickets for about a 40% premium a few weeks ago. It was dead easy.

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 19, 2008 3:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And you didn't...

Worry about meeting someone who could have been a potential axe murderer? Or just a scam in general? That’s the only thing that worries me about Craigslist

by hmlee on Aug 19, 2008 3:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The axe murderers can be problematic...

… but the scams are not an issue.

by careyrd on Aug 19, 2008 4:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Avoid buying from guys with emails like axelovr@comcast.net

I haz blurg: hotbeans.wordpress.com

by digitalbenjamin on Aug 20, 2008 9:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Should we pick him up?

He’s got Bud Light…

by The Deputy Mayor of Rush Street on Aug 20, 2008 9:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

maybe he likes to play guitars?

Or wear cheap smelling deodorant spray?

Fukudometer: Created 3/31/08 Wrigley Debut 4/5/08 WGN and Japan TV Debut 4/6/08 Sun Times Debut: 4/20/08 Coffee Table Debut: 7/17/08 (http://www.wearecubsfans.com)

by Fuk-U-Meter on Aug 20, 2008 9:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Precautions to take...

There are obvious precautions you can take to protect both you and the guy you’d be buying from.

Don’t pay in advance, especially through PayPal or by Western Union type money transfers. Bring cash and only enough for the tickets. Go to the ATM to get more later if you need to. Bring a friend and the easiest is to meet in a public place.

Don’t go to their place or have them come to yours. Meet at Wrigley (though that cuts it close if they don’t show up) or someplace else where people usually are and is fairly recognizable to everyone.

by CubFan81 on Aug 19, 2008 4:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good tips all

I’ve had good success both selling and buying tickets for the Cubs and other events on Craigslist. I usually meet somewhere like the lobby of the building I work in during business hours, etc., to do the exchange. I guess there is always a small risk of getting counterfeit tix or something, but that has never been a problem for me or anyone I know.

by SuperContext on Aug 19, 2008 4:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the tips

That helps. Speaking of Craigslist, if someone has a post that you want to respond to, do you just send an e-mail to the “sale-whatevernumber” e-mail link? I’ve browsed Craigslist but never bought anything on there before…

by hmlee on Aug 19, 2008 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

responding

Occasionally the poster includes a separate email or phone number but without those you just shoot an email to the sale-wahtevernumber and wait to hear back. It is not odd to not hear back from those individuals because tickets do sell very fast on craigslist due to the lower price and informal sale method. I frequently submit several responses to various ticket sellers and purchase from whichever of the group responds first.

by careyrd on Aug 19, 2008 4:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What's quick?

I saw two posts for tickets that were posted 20-30 minutes ago… was it even worth it to send in a message about those or are we talking like single digit minutes here?

by hmlee on Aug 19, 2008 4:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd try anything in

the area that you want (and in your price-range) that’s been posted for the last two days. I’ve had tickets sell in three hours, and I’ve bought tickets up to three days after they went on sale.

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 19, 2008 4:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I posted some bleachers last week

And people were e mailing me days later. I basically moved most of my selling to
stubhub because frankly Craig’s list BUYERS can often blow you and it is not worth the grief.

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry

by Doggie Stalker on Aug 19, 2008 4:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What do the buyers do that's bad?

I’m legit when buying tickets but I want to make sure that I don’t do anything wrong when trying to buy tickets…

by hmlee on Aug 19, 2008 4:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

They don't SHOW UP and or change their mind.

Last year I had a lot of extra bleachers so I posted them on Craig’s list at
face value. Many folks were fine ( one insisted I take more money as her office was paying) but several simply never showed up to meet me. In the end I got so disgusted I just sold some to a broker on Sheffield. I knew he would mark them up but I was tired of going out of my way to help people
Had the same problem earlier this year with some of my season tickets.
Simply not worth the hassle to me.

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry

by Doggie Stalker on Aug 19, 2008 5:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That does suck

Sorry that happened… you wouldn’t happen to have any season tickets in sections 424 or 425 would you? Hehe

by hmlee on Aug 19, 2008 6:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry I am in 209

I am a lower deck person.

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry

by Doggie Stalker on Aug 19, 2008 6:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

actually

it was an all-online experience. I paid via PayPal, he sent me the link to print out the tickets.

I just bought a set off of ebay that also get me dinner and wings at a local restaurant. So far, that’s been all online as well.

However, had I needed to meet up with the person, I would have done it at a Starbucks or a Duane Reed or something.

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 19, 2008 4:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Paypal is ridiculously stacked in the buyer's favor

I wouldn’t worry about using paypal at all.

by dr stabbingworth on Aug 19, 2008 8:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm afraid I don't have an answer...

…but, just out of curiousity, did you delete your presidential fanpost yourself or did you let Al give it the axe?

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Aug 19, 2008 3:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I removed it myself

Sue made some good points

by hmlee on Aug 19, 2008 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's cool.

It was an interesting question, but anything even remotely political is verboten here. It just tends to lead to very bad things.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Aug 19, 2008 4:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I started to see that...

In the comment threads. I meant as a good natured question but some of the comments were rapidly veering towards an all out war, which I never intended. Oh well.

by hmlee on Aug 19, 2008 4:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Please don't do that again.

This is not a political site. Thank you.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Aug 19, 2008 4:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Message received

Roger Al.

by hmlee on Aug 19, 2008 4:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I get tickets at the beginning they're offered

or use StubHub. CraigsList just looks like any scumbag can be in there and screw you. You pay for the peace of mind with StubHub (why didn’t I think of that system? Boy I love Capitalism and the free market).

Other than other folks I know who get Mezz suites or have Club box season tickets, I have my money ready each February, do the wrist band thing (only 10-15% successful there) or crank up the computer that faithful Friday morning before 10am.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Aug 19, 2008 6:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

ahhhh, the Virtual Waiting Room and the mighty 9-pack

"Every team will win 60 games, every team will lose 60 games, it's what the team does in the other 42 games that decides the season."

by flachimesa on Aug 19, 2008 8:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

For years..............

…………I’ve had great results working ebay.

Generally not as expensive at StubHub.

"Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle." ~ George Burns

by tville on Aug 19, 2008 10:02 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Craigslist

As a season ticket holder, whenever I can’t get to a game, I put them on Stubhub. Immediately after I put the same tix on Craigslist for the same price. I’d prefer to sell them on CL for 2 reasons:

1) I don’t have to pay fees and neither does the buyer
2) I get paid in cash instead of waiting for a check

I usually meet the person at an intersection near my place. I don’t want them to know where I live and likewise I don’t want the buyer intimidated that I will ask them to come in.

Funny/evil thought: I have hard tickets that I could sell on CL then turn around an hour later and cancel them and print them out online to use myself. I would never do this but think about it: what would the person do? All they’d have is an email of mine and some useless paper strips that resemble working Cubs tickets. I guess buyer beware.

Fukudometer: Created 3/31/08 Wrigley Debut 4/5/08 WGN and Japan TV Debut 4/6/08 Sun Times Debut: 4/20/08 Coffee Table Debut: 7/17/08 (http://www.wearecubsfans.com)

by Fuk-U-Meter on Aug 19, 2008 10:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs