A Cautionary Note About Tickets

by Al Yellon on May 17, 2009 5:51 PM CDT

Thanks to Jessica for passing this link along to me. I didn't post that link, and while it may be innocent enough, I'd recommend that those of you selling tickets via the BCB Ticket Exchange make sure that you're selling tickets to real fans, not scalpers or brokers.

Just a heads-up.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (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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As good a place as any to post this...

I’ve got one ticket in section 235 to the Thursday game of the Cubs-Sox series next month. I can’t go. Anyone want it?

by kanderber on May 17, 2009 5:56 PM CDT reply actions

I'll post a ticket exchange for that homestand soon.

Let’s not use this post for ticket offers/requests — I just wanted to let people know this is out there.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on May 17, 2009 6:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Email me

I might be interested.

(I know Al said not to do this here, but you don’t have an email address listed and I’d love more information!)

by Allie on May 17, 2009 11:25 PM CDT up reply actions

I imagine the craigslist post was meant as a good deed

but just be careful when you sell. I really love being a ticket “fairy” since I usually have a lot of extra games
and pretty nice seats. Now I can be a little obsessed in making sure buyers are "deserving " of my seats in that I try to make sure that if someone on BCB asks for my tickets they have never posted anything particularly negative about Maddux ( My tickets , my rules). I would not expect people to go THAT far but just exercise some due diligence that the buyer is a fan and not someone out for a quick buck.

"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux

by Doggie Stalker on May 17, 2009 6:23 PM CDT reply actions

If somebody posts something negative about Maddux

they would have to really be nitpicking and probably not a Cubs fan. So I don’t blame you for that rule…

by LT on May 17, 2009 9:34 PM CDT up reply actions

I had a post in there for some tickets for the Dodgers series

and got a few emails from people wanting to sell me some tickets above face value. I didn’t recognize the names so I just deleted the emails. I like the idea of the ticket exchange here, but I think the site has gotten so big we have to take the bad with the good.

by LT on May 17, 2009 9:38 PM CDT reply actions

Just out of curiosity

are there any “honest brokers” who will take tickets you don’t need off your hands for face or close to face value?

"Who's Bob Brenly? The guy that used to be the manager for Arizona?" ~ Alfonso Guilleard Soriano

by JohnM on May 18, 2009 3:49 AM CDT reply actions

Maybe, but...

… remember, they are then going to resell them for above face to someone else. That’s one reason to have the ticket exchanges here, so people who can’t otherwise get tickets can get them for face value from someone else who simply can’t go that day.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on May 18, 2009 3:55 AM CDT up reply actions

Funny you should ask

I had 7 extra bleacher tickets ( I bought a 13 pack only needed six). It was a mix but all but one where for pretty desirable games. I listed
them both here and on Craig’s list but got only one nibble which did not work out. So I went to broker recommended to me across from the park and sold them. He actually would have given me MORE than face but I was a little slow so I just took face ( which included small fees) and he threw in an extra $20. The irony was I see people here and Craig’s list looking for tickets to those games. The problem may have been that I only had one ticket per game but I feel sort of bad I could not get them to fans but I did TRY.

"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux

by Doggie Stalker on May 18, 2009 8:05 AM CDT up reply actions

So we need to monitor this some how?

If we don’t recognize a user-ID, ask around the blog?

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on May 18, 2009 7:16 AM CDT reply actions

Well...

… just be careful who you’re dealing with, is my best recommendation.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on May 18, 2009 8:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Well you can check their user ID

I would not hold it against people if they just lurk and don’t post. I think frankly you can kind of tell. A lot of requests I get are from
out of town and I kind of doubt a broker would have me send tickets to MS. When in town I try when possible to meet the person.
I have dealt with a wide variety of folks over the years ( Dad’s 80th birthday, military, first time at Wrigley etc) and again I think you can kind of tell who is legit.

"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux

by Doggie Stalker on May 18, 2009 9:15 AM CDT up reply actions

This is a kettle of fish

Al, be careful what you bargained for. I think you will regret having BCB serve as a ticket exchange. I know people don’t like selling their tickets to Stubhub and the other brokers, but fact is it is the safest and most secure way to handle a transaction. You might not get quite as much money for your tickets as the seller, and the buyer might have to pay a bit of a premium. But in the end you will have piece of mind that you didn’t engage in a fraudlent transaction. I’m not schilling for the ticket brokers, but merely speaking on experience. A few weeks ago I saw two guys from out of town get suckered out of a couple hundred bucks while trying to buy tickets for the Blackhawks vs. Calgary series from somebody online.

by BLou on May 18, 2009 11:22 AM CDT reply actions

Actually you would get MORE money

if you used stubhub and I freely admit I do so sometime but since the mark up when they finish with charging both buyer and seller and fees is over 30% it kind of makes me sick. I really do not worry about “safety” re BCB ticket exchange only that if I am selling I want my tickets to go to a real fan and not someone who will resell them for profit. Your caution online sales is a wise one but the BCB listings very different from say Craig’s list which I have also used on occasion. Since everyone here is selling at face and you have to register to list I don’t think a scam artist is going to try to sell fake tickets here.

Sometimes it is comical selling tickets. I had some extra bleachers to a big Cubs/Cardinal weekend game last year and was supposed to meet someone after game to sell them. They ended up blowing me off because they thought it was a scam as I had no cell phone and I was selling them at face value. Apparently the fact that I wanted to do this in person was not proof that it was legit. Oh well a friend of Al’s got them so all’s well that ends well.

"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux

by Doggie Stalker on May 18, 2009 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions

The best deal is cash, in person

I sell my tickets on CL sometimes. The buyer meets me at my work and pays me in cash. Can’t beat that.

by dr stabbingworth on May 18, 2009 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions

I try to do the same though I don't live in Chicago

so I have to try to set things up when I am in for games. My favorite meet up spot is the Starbucks across from the park. I try to help folks who live out of town and I will take paypal if they add on the service fee but I do make sure I trust them first. Never been skunked but have been “blown” off by CL people who don’t show up etc. One advantage for season ticket holders is we can
e mail the tickets for a fee of $2.00 per ticket. Although it ends up as a print at home for the buyer this is much safer for both sides
if they can’t physically meet.

"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux

by Doggie Stalker on May 18, 2009 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions

speaking of which

what have you got for this season?

"I don’t really play baseball, I feel it." -- Milton Bradley

by drewishdrewid on May 18, 2009 1:35 PM CDT up reply actions

the print at home

is an easy fix. I have in both Houston for Cubs and San Antionio for Bulls games, taken the print at home to the box office and exchanged for regular tickets

baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out

by Cubbie-Tim on May 18, 2009 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions

I never heard of the Cubs exchanging print at home for other tickets

The season ticket transfer ends up the same for the buyer but it is safer because it goes directly through the Cubs and you have a record. Once done of course the “real” season tickets are no longer valid.

"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux

by Doggie Stalker on May 18, 2009 2:15 PM CDT up reply actions

I had bought tix online for games

and the tickets were “print at home” and I like to keep my stubbs (I know I am a dork) so I take the print out to the box office and ask them to please print me a regular ticket and turn in the print out. I have never had a problem with it to date.

baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out

by Cubbie-Tim on May 18, 2009 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

that's cool.

I’ll have to try that next time I do that.

"I don’t really play baseball, I feel it." -- Milton Bradley

by drewishdrewid on May 18, 2009 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions

I learned something today on BCB

good to know!

Definitive Answers to Impossible Questions What baseball team did A. Lincoln support?

by Andre Fonseca on May 18, 2009 2:35 PM CDT up reply actions

class is dismissed

now I must return to my other current reason to avoid actually working. Trying to get my mother nominated for Taft Hgh School Hall of Fame

baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out

by Cubbie-Tim on May 18, 2009 3:24 PM CDT up reply actions

Me too

of course the ones they “print” are still ugly little things and have no pretty pictures like the Season Tickets.

"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux

by Doggie Stalker on May 18, 2009 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions

but still better than

81/2 × 10 sheet of paper

baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out

by Cubbie-Tim on May 18, 2009 4:08 PM CDT up reply actions

why wouldn't you just have them mailed to you?

not only do you get the actual tickets (with stubs) but it is the cheapest option, right? that’s why I do it

by doofus cubs guy on May 19, 2009 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions

many times

the tickets were bought last second for a game

baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out

by Cubbie-Tim on May 19, 2009 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions

In that case people should probably do will call.

It’s cheaper — since they don’t charge for will call but DO charge you to use your own paper — and you get real tickets at the box office window.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on May 19, 2009 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions

I would recommend not using Paypal

The system is set up so that the seller has almost no rights. They side with the buyer almost every time, and all proof is on the seller to indicate that the goods were received and in good condition. With no way to prove that you sent/gave somebody the tickets, it would be very easy to take the tickets and then file a claim saying they never got the tickets.

Since you are doing this out of the goodness of your heart, you should specify the method that results in zero risk for you.

Also, contacting Paypal is an exercise in futility.

by dr stabbingworth on May 18, 2009 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions

I generally agree

and they are owned by EVIL eBay but I will use it IF I trust the other party. In fact if I use the Cubs transfer system I do have a record that it was both send and received but again paypal is totally evil ESPECIALLY if combined with eBay. Sellers really have NO rights. In person is always best.

"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux

by Doggie Stalker on May 18, 2009 2:54 PM CDT up reply actions

I wish I had that kind of expereince

mostly they say: yeah I’ll meet you and then never show up.
I don’t use CL for my tickets anymore, too much hassle.
Usually it is some combination of: Facebook, email, twitter, and yes: the dreaded stubhub.

Definitive Answers to Impossible Questions What baseball team did A. Lincoln support?

by Andre Fonseca on May 18, 2009 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Yes

I was particularly pissed at I guy I confirmed with that morning who said the bleacher ticket was FOR HIS MOTHER but never showed up. I have had some real nice experiences though including helping a ( gasp) Brewer fan with a disabled daughter get tickets to a nice game. Actually many of the postings on Craig’s list crack me up:

" I am looking for tickets to the Cubs/Cardinals game on July 11. I need six together and only want infield boxes or bleachers. It is a birthday present for my ( Husband, son, Grandfather etc). I can’t afford face value but will pay $20 if they are REALLY good seats".
Seriously I see posts from people asking ONLY for the most sought after games and only the best seats. If I see a reasonable request ( like the lady from Milwaukee) of someone who wants one ordinary game I sometimes will respond. It also cracks me up when I list my tickets at face and someone responds offering LESS . Oh good luck getting Cubs tickets less than face.
I don’t do Facebook or twitter and frankly I often find it easier just to sell them to a broker rather than be blown off by someone.

"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux

by Doggie Stalker on May 18, 2009 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions

I should have known you'd be negative.

I have been doing this for three years and no one has complained. Well, except you.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on May 18, 2009 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions

isnt that considered a compliment?

at least he commented to your post, he seems to be avoiding mine

**SARCASM

honestly, this is a greaet ordeal is used proper by all parties involved. It also allows the “lets take care of our own” that we shoudl have. I live in Texas, so it is not often I get to Chicago for games, but this season I have bought tix for one game, and I was truly appreciative of how smooth it went without needing to sell my kidneys on the black market to offset the broker fees elsewhere.

baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out

by Cubbie-Tim on May 18, 2009 2:14 PM CDT up reply actions