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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to think my friend should sell me the tickets at face value?

41 replies

WeAreEternal · 02/12/2013 12:40

I'm going to a concert next week, my friend who bought the tickets had two extra (because people pulled out after he ordered the tickets).

I have found people to come with us and asked my friend about the tickets, but he has put them on the site viagogo, he said if I want them I will need to buy them off there.
He has listed them at £60 each, (the other tickets on the site are all priced at over £100 because the concert is sold out, but he wanted a quick sale so has priced them cheaper) however, the face value of the ticket is only £35, we paid £40 with the booking fees.

But the other friends don't want to pay £60 each for the tickets, and said they just won't come if they can't get tickets at face value.

The thing is it will cost me £140 on the train to get to the concert, I will have to pay for a hotel and miss two days of work, which I can't really afford this close to Christmas.
If I can get someone to drive it will be substantially less.

Aibu to think that my friend should just offer me the tickets at face value?
He will then be guaranteed to sell them.

OP posts:
custardo · 02/12/2013 12:41

he sounds like a twat tbh, not sure what kind of 'friend' behaves in this manner

IDugUpADiamond · 02/12/2013 12:41

Well I personally would never seek to profit from a friend...

Branleuse · 02/12/2013 12:41

yes he should, because ticket touts are wankers

janeeyre79 · 02/12/2013 12:42

Yanbu. I would she he is not much of a friend if he does this.

Original poster
WeAreEternal · 02/12/2013 12:42

The thing is he isn't, he is a really good friend and a nice guy, I just don't understand why he insist on selling them through a ticket site.

OP posts:
ShinyBauble · 02/12/2013 12:45

Will it cost him a lot to get there too?

Maybe if the friends agree to drive and not charge you petrol money you could pay the difference on the tickets? It will still be a £70 saving?

Original poster
WeAreEternal · 02/12/2013 12:45

I can understand that maybe he is desperate to sell them and is worried that my friend may flake out and then he would be stuck with them, but if they buy them through the site then he will definitely get his money back.

But I think it's unfair to expect me to pay the extra money.

OP posts:
ventilatormum · 02/12/2013 12:46

He is being a pain, but why not buy the two yourself at £60 each, sell them to your two other friends at £40 each, you lose £40 but if it saves you two days off work, a hotel, and a train fare, it would be worth it, wouldn't it? If I have the gist right, that is ...

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 02/12/2013 12:47

Does he know the people who you have managed to get to come? He isn't selling the ticket to you is he but your friends?

Original poster
WeAreEternal · 02/12/2013 12:48

No he lives near the city where the concert is.

The people that want to come are a couple, If they wanted to come and would drive I would pay for their tickets, it seemed like a good deal all round.

OP posts:
flowery · 02/12/2013 12:49

"I just don't understand why he insist on selling them through a ticket site."

Because he is greedy and not a good friend. I wouldn't dream of trying to profit out of my friends.

Branleuse · 02/12/2013 12:50

to be honest though. It doesnt matter if its reasonable or not, if hes the one with the tickets. He can do what he wants with them

It would certainly not endear me to him though

Original poster
WeAreEternal · 02/12/2013 12:51

He does not know the friends.

If it comes to it I will buy them both for £120, and go with the original plan.

But I just dont think it's right for my friend to make me pay extra.

OP posts:
QuintessentialShadows · 02/12/2013 12:51

Dont bother buying them then.

Are you sure you want to go if you have to pay £140 for the train?

If I were you, I would also put my own ticket for sale and enjoy the money saved on train fare.

LunaticFringe · 02/12/2013 12:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
WeAreEternal · 02/12/2013 12:53

He isn't a greedy person though, normally.
He has been my friend for 15 years and had never done anything like this before.

OP posts:
Original poster
WeAreEternal · 02/12/2013 12:55

Perhaps he's worried about your purchasers dropping out? Seeing as presumably he's worried been dumped on already?

I think that is exactly it.
But even when I said I would be buying the tickets he didn't say anything different.

OP posts:
BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 02/12/2013 12:55

I can see it from both sides to be honest.

Yes, it's a pain for you because people who you were relying on for a lift pulled out but if he bought the tickets he can do what he likes with them and he has probably seen a chance to make a few extra quid. It's not like he is selling them to friends for more money, these people are strangers to him.

It's the people who have pulled out who have done you a disservice really so if it's going to be a ridiculous amount to get there then just sell your ticket too and next time go with more reliable people.

LunaticFringe · 02/12/2013 12:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GozerTheGozerian · 02/12/2013 12:59

He's basically being a ticket tout, and seeing the opportunity for quick buck. It's pure greed.

There is no way I'd sell tickets at anything other than face value, esp. to a friend. My DH was unhappy when I had 2 tickets to one gig which I could have doubled my money on, but I sold them to a friend at what we'd paid.

I'd just tell him the offer is there if he doesn't sell them through viagogo. Or, if you wait until the day before or even the day itself, you'll probably find some for sale at face value - just have to be brave enough to hang on a bit longer!

fluffyraggies · 02/12/2013 13:02

I'm not sure ...

... he bought 4 tickets in good faith and two people pulled out. I assume the two that pulled out were going to drive you to the venue? This has resulted in you having to have much more elaborate and costly plans.

In the meantime he put the now 'vacant' tickets on a website with the hopes to make a profit of a 20 quid on each. (not madly greedy compared to some)

Now you've found someone who will buy the tickets, but this bit is confusing me ...
''he is desperate to sell them and is worried that my friend may flake out and then he would be stuck with them, but if they buy them through the site then he will definitely get his money back.''

So they want to pay him through the site, but only for £40 each? How will that work?

Also i don;t think it's his unfairness causing your extra costs. That's down to the two that pulled out.

Hmmmmm. On the fence.

lottiegarbanzo · 02/12/2013 13:02

But it sounds although he put them up for sale before you said you wanted them. Isn't the issue that he's stuck in a contract with the web-site? Is he able to pull them from sale?

If they're such good value though, they should sell really quickly, so may have gone before you reach a decision.

lottiegarbanzo · 02/12/2013 13:04

Are you saying he should have offered them to friends - you - before trying to sell for a profit? And/or that you find profiteering objectionable regardless of your interest?

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 02/12/2013 13:05

How badly do you want to go to the concert?

Maybe you need new friends.

adeucalione · 02/12/2013 13:24

I sounds to me like he put them on viagogo before you asked for them, and that he is selling them for a fair price, so not being particularly greedy just keen not to get stuck with them.

In those circumstances I don't see why he should sell them to your friends - who he doesn't know - for less money than he can effortlessly achieve by keeping them on viagogo.