LOTR ticket-seller asswipe on ebay

[Rabrrrrrr]

Check this crap out - $35 tickets, he's selling two, starting bid at $700. What a jerkoff.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2196725040&category=16122

No one else selling tickets is even close to that price; the next highest price is half that, and that's with 19 bids already!

[DS1]

1. hey, whatever the market will bear

If people pay that much, they deserve to pay that much.

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. I totally agree with that

If someone wants to pay for it, all the power to the seller.

What really jerks my chain - and I think this is the real issue - that I think it's rather obvious the theater here in NYC didn't set limits on ticket sales, when they should have done so. I mean, it sold out in minutes, and tickets were available ONLY in person. Obviously, the tickets were being bought by scalpers in large quantities at a shot, pushing the fans right out of the system.

So, I'm pointing outthe idiot with the $700 tickets, but mostly, angry at the theater for being idiot unethical boneheads (IMO). But then, what does one expect from a theater in Times Square?

HA!

[FlashHarry]

5. a napkin and a bottle of lotion...

Oh sorry, that was the pre-Giuliani Times Square... :hi:

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. LOL!

Yes, that was what one could expect indeed...

[FlashHarry]

2. Um, guys...

It's a movie, which means it is pre-recorded. That means it will be the same whether you see a 'sneak' preview or attend an opening weekend screening.

Why the hell would anyone pay more than $15 to see a movie??? I just don't get it! I'm going to see it, too--probably at a $6 matinee on opening weekend. How will my experience differ from somebody who has spent $250, or, god forbid, $700 to see it a few days earlier???

[Chovexani]

11. Cause it's not just for the one movie

It's not just for RotK, they're basically doing an all day/into the night triple header of all three movies.

How will your experience differ? Well, you probably won't be in a theater full of obsessed, hardcore Tolkien fans. I don't mean these Johnny-come-latelys that jumped on the bandwagon because of the movies. I mean the people that used to pass notes in school in Elvish, and used to complain to their DMs when they wouldn't let their magic-user wield a sword but Gandalf did. In other words, dorks like me. :) Now, some people would see that as a bad thing. I don't--I waited in line and got my ticket, and will show up wearing my elf ears and faux elven chain mail.

You could make the same argument about Rocky Horror. Why pay 10 bucks to see some old movie from the 70s? The answer: it's not just about the movie, it's also about the atmosphere. I can't speak for everyone who will be in attendance, just myself, and that's why I paid more than 10 bucks. $700 is more than a little ridiculous though. Those are the kind of nerds that give the rest of us a bad name, IMO.

--C

[Rabrrrrrr]

3. self-deleted post

this post is now moved to respond to DS1, as it was supposed to, but which it wasn't

[Jack The Tab]

7. Barnum and Darwin, proved correct on a daily basis...

If I watch this movie on DVD, it'll be something. I do own the first one on DVD, but haven't gotten around to seeing the second one.

I was never a fan of the books, so I guess it doesn't have the allure for me.

[TopesJunkie]

8. OK. This IS insane!

If you can't wait a week or two to see the movie at regular price, then there's just something wrong. Sheesh!

It's a movie that will be on the screens for months. It's not a one-time sporting event or concert. I can't believe that people will throw money away like this. I've got a better idea. Give it to me, instead. Why not let me retire early rather than waste your money on nonsense? At least it's going to some good purpose.

[FlashHarry]

9. My sentiments exactly

Sheesh!

[Rabrrrrrr]

10. Yes, it's insane.

I'd have been happy to get a $35 ticket - in NYC, it's usually 10-11 a movie anyway, so for three, it would be just under $35 normally. Hell, for this one, I'd even pay $50, just to have the all day immersed in large screen LOTR experience.

But $100? Or frickin' $700? And on ebay there are real bids of $350 and more for 2 tickets, so that's $175 a pop. Hell, you can buy all three extended version super duper collector editions wwith figurines for that price.

I mean, I'm miffed at the theater about this, but hell, I'll wait til opening night and pay my $11.

[Chovexani]

13. The perils of Fandumb

These are the kind of nerds that give the rest of us a bad name. The kind with more money than common sense. This is the stereotypical "living in their mom's basement" segment of Fandom. The same clowns responsible for the kind of insanity we've seen in the comics industry since the 90s--putting out the same book with like 5 different covers, because there's a certain segment of the geek population that will buy anything and everything related to their favorite series, regardless of price and how badly TPTB are screwing them.

George Lucas wrote the book on this kind of scam. I hold these people responsible for the success of Crapisodes 1 and 2. No doubt these same suckers will line up like lemmings for Crapisode 3. I run into these clowns at cons all the time, driving up the prices at auctions. eBay is tailor-made for these jackasses, who thanks to the broadband connections they can afford since they don't pay rent or have any real bills, sit there sniping auctions all day.

Oh geez, I didn't mean to get off on a rant, LOL. This is just hitting too close to home because I recently got sniped on a set of 1st/2nd edition Forgotten Realms books that ended up closing for over 200 dollars, when they weren't worth nearly that much. They will probably go up on some Fatbeard's shelf, and I need them 'cause I'm running a 2E FR campaign. :argh:

[Rabrrrrrr]

14. Ha ha! "crapisodes" - brilliant!

I love that term! They certainly are crapisodes.

And yes, Lucas is the GodKing of the idiot scam.

[Deja Q]

12. Ebay had put in something about New York law and the maximum bid could...

only be $72 or something.

Whatever.

Anybody wanting to spend $700 on a movie ticket is far more bonkers than I am.

[Rabrrrrrr]

15. Interesting - NY *residents* cannot bid more than $72.

But apparently, if the seller dude is OUT of NY state, or the other bidders are out of state, the bids can go higher. Not quite sure, but I read the link, and that seems to be the case.

Crap - at first, I was excited - I thought I could email him and say, "Can't sell for more than $72. I'll take 'em!"