Who should pay for these tickets?

Yes that’s the reality you’ve paid for them to go really
now you know what your friends are like though I mean none of them have even offered so rude !!

You should have got the money from the original two much earlier.

As you didn’t do that, once the first two dropped out, you should have given them the option of finding someone else to take their ticket (and pay for it), or just pay you anyway, since it wasn’t your fault they weren’t going.

Then when C and J entered the scene, you should have explained to them that the tickets were going, and would they like one for fifteen quid each.

What you should probably do now is not bother any more with S and P, seeing as you don’t seem to like them much (from your trolley pound splitting comment).

The people who attended should pay, but given that you didn't ask them to then the boat has now sailed, and lesson learnt.

In the instance I took a ticket I asked how much it was. The person who had invited me said the ill person didn’t expect me to pay. I insisted and handed over £20.

I wouldn’t dream of using a ticket in this way and not pay for it.

The original pair should definitely have already paid though.

Unless you specifically told the second pair the tickets were a gift I think it’s bad form of them not to ask how much they owed.

All 4 are wrong in my opinion, Sarah and Philippa should have already paid for the tickets and ensured you were not out of pocket.

Cheryl and Jessica should have clarified and personally offered to pay for the tickets and not expected them for free.

You could always set up a group chat with all 4 saying you are feeling rather short changed and hoping to be reimbursed and you are unsure of what was agreed in regards to the offering of the available tickets.

This tbh. While I appreciate that the original ladies should have paid up, by finding replacements the assumption is that they are taking on the financial cost. By not talking to the new people about this you have left yourself short. Even your checking messages were ambiguous, I think most people would (and looking at this thread did) assume you were selling the tickets on.

If I was one of the new comers I would have asked what I owed and that would have shed some light on it too.

The first 2 definitely should have paid but it became a grey area when others took their tickets. As they hadn’t paid, they assumed (of course, being tightwads) you’d just sold the tickets to someone else. The 2 that did go assumed they were going spare, ie free, as you never mentioned a cost to them. over the years I’ve learned who the flakes are who resist paying and drop out. I ask them for money upfront before buying tickets now. Also I have become less polite about asking for money back.

*Your

You’re biggest mistake was not taking payment immediately when you booked the tickets or getting them to book their own.

Can each person pay half each? So those that went get discounted tickets but the original two don't get completely let off for letting you down but you don't end up out of pocket.

The tickets were yours because you paid for them all. You chose to be give them away for free when you didn't ask Cheryl and Jessica for the money. They probably thought you were treating them. You mentioned in another post that tickets were only £15 each so I wouldn't get this worked up.

I can't imagine attending a show and not paying for the tickets. It's really weird that your friends who went didn't even ask? Offer?

I can't imagine being handed tickets and assuming I don't have to pay. Unless I was told they were free. Did you say they were free?

OP, your communication is crap. C&J thought the tickets were freebies and so didn’t pay. ( you also thought the tickets were free to them).

S&P think you sold the tickets to C & J. And so haven’t paid. ( presumably they would have paid on the day if they went).

You really need to communicate better.

The ones who went should pay.

I think you've got them to come by saying they were 'spare' tickets so they were under the impression they were free.

So you can't ask them, that's why you're insisting you're right that the original 2 should pay.

They won't, it's your mistake to have given the tickets for free.

Don't pay for tickets again!

Well you should have made clear to the new people coming what they score was. Are they paying or are they benefiting from a free ticket. I’d pay my friend if I could no longer go to a concert.

I think Sarah and Philipa should pay you as they originally said they wanted to go. They can ask Cheryl and Jessica for the money but that's nothing to do with you.
They were the ones who agreed to pay so that's what they should do

The problem is the OP and her bad comms- the way she phrased it to the new people suggested the tickets were free, as she still expected the first two friends to cough up, while she told the first two friends she is offering the tickets to two new people- so they assumed they were off the hook, like most people would. She didnt make it clear to anyone and expected people to read her mind about wanting to be reimbursed.

Agree. I once went to a panto last minute when somebody was ill. I insisted on paying for the ticket. Poor show on the two that went, I think.

The people who went should pay for the tickets ( you, Cheryl and Jessica).

If you couldn’t get anyone to go, then the original 2 should have paid for their tickets.

Cheryl and Jessica essentially bought the tickets from Sarah and Phillipa but because they hadn’t paid you yet, they would give the money to you instead of Sarah and Phillipa.

In future, get the money for the tickets asap and then if someone can’t come they can try and sell them on or lose the money.

The people who went should pay

The tickets weren't 'spare' they were resold to the people that went instead

Are you really that petty and spiteful?

I voted YABU but now I’ve read the full post I actually think it’s more complicated than that.
They should have paid when you bought the tickets & there should have been better communication as to if they wanted to ‘sell’ the tickets when they couldn’t go.
I think pulling out at short notice makes a difference. I recently couldn’t attend an event which I’d book with a friend. I gave her a weeks notice & I was gutted not to be able to attend. I felt bad for letting her down even though it was unavoidable. I said find someone to take the ticket & I don’t want any cash. She did and said she’d do a transfer but I said again that I didn’t expect that.

It’s £30 at the end of the day. Take the hit and don’t front costs for Sarah and Philippa again.

I don't know why you were asking S&P if C&J could have their tickets.

They were all your tickets!

Do S&P know that C&J didn't pay?

Do C&J know that they were expected to pay?