As a big drama fan of Beijing People’s Art Troupe, I sometimes have to deal with ticket scalpers because the tickets are so hot that once they are released, they sell out immediately.
I have to sneak over to the gate of the theater where most of the scalpers wait and ask for a ticket. Usually, the tickets they sell are a very high price and after the profits the scalpers add, the tickets are nearly “unaffordable.” If it were any other show, I would have just gone home. By experience, I know that you can get the cheapest price by waiting until the show has just started. Fear of those tickets becoming “trash” will force scalpers to sell it at a much lower price.
To be honest, I really do not like scalpers because they conduct illegal trade and make money without much effort. They deprive consumers of their tickets by buying a large number beforehand or even colluding with ticket sellers. Nevertheless, we do need scalpers sometimes. I still remember the relief after I successfully sold my extra train ticket to Beijing and my spare drama ticket to the scalpers, although at a lower price. The scalpers were the ones that helped me out after I stood in the chill outside of Beijing People’s Theatre and asked every drama-seer, who did not seem to have a ticket, if he or she wanted mine at a more reasonable price. It turned out that the consumers preferred the ticket sold directly from the ticket window even at the original price. While I was trying to sell my ticket humbly and tolerantly, it was hard to explain to them that my ticket was no different than the one sold from the window, and that I was not a random scalper but a kid who mistakenly bought an extra ticket. In this regard, I kind of appreciate the real scalpers for saving me from losing money.
The period during which most scalpers strive to make profits is during the Spring Festival, a time when millions of Chinese people go home by train for a family reunion. The number of people clamoring for train tickets is so overwhelming that scalpers make the price of train tickets barely affordable. Fortunately for me, my parents usually drive me home but sometimes when I have to find another vehicle, I give up the fight for a train ticket and go home by coach instead. Over the last few years, we are seeing an increasing number of scalpers even for coaches. I wonder how long it will be until it affects me. For now, I will just plan on purchasing my ticket as quickly as possible.