Technology Makes Life Pricey

One of the common perceptions about the power of the web is that it can break down established trade practices and make distribution more democratic while reducing the price of goods and services. The Guardian Music blog points to an example of where the web can actually do the opposite: ticket touting. Prince is planning his farewell UK tour and was trying to offer his fans low-cost tickets at £31.21 for a night at the 7 night residency at the O2 Arena. The problem, it appears, is that the tickets were snapped up by touts (pro and amateur) and are for sale at prices much, much higher than the original price. The Guardian says:

The odious secondary ticketing market is now benefiting from Prince’s fair pricing. Viagogo are now selling tickets for all seven shows. Prices start at £73 and are currently capped at the, well, princely sum of £171. Seatwave prices are currently between £88.99 and £120.

The utter grossness of this “market” is particularly transparent when you think about how swiftly these tickets appeared online to be resold, quadrupling in value for the honour of having passed through one person’s hands to another… Prince was offering his fans a fair chance to see him for an affordable price, but thanks to the electronic touts it seems that wasn’t his decision.

Guardian Unlimited: Arts blog – music: Seeing Prince will make us paupers