Page 1 of 2
Yosemite Battles Pest Problem: Ticket Scalpers
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 6:50 am
by Ozark Flip
Yosemite National Park has a pest problem: Ticket scalpers who are selling the limited camping reservations at exorbitant prices.
The nation's third-most visited park has only 900 reserved campsites available at any given time. They go for $20 a night but scalpers advertising on Craigslist are offering them for $100 or more - sometimes for hundreds of dollars.
They're also selling permits to climb Half Dome, which the park essentially issues for free.
Gediman says it appears that some scalpers may have devised ways of jumping the reservation queue, possibly through automated computer programs that can instantly snag cancellations.
Crazy.
Re: Yosemite Battles Pest Problem: Ticket Scalpers
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 7:27 am
by RoguePhotonic
I don't see anything wrong with that. It doesn't matter what they are charging if people are willing to pay it. I don't even consider the idea of camping in Yosemite Valley because it's pretty much impossible unless you have your trip planned out 6 months in advance when the reservations come online and your damn lucky to get one in the 5 minutes that they sell out.
There is of course the notion that perhaps people reserve camp sites and permits for the sole purpose to sell them like concerts. Now that would be ********.
Re: Yosemite Battles Pest Problem: Ticket Scalpers
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 8:00 am
by AlmostThere
Campsites can be canceled. They should be, if you can't go. Let someone else pick them up. there are other campgrounds in the park with first come/first serve for people who can't get reservations.
Half Dome permits are free and generally available at the bottom of the cables from the ranger, who is given unclaimed permits by people who have friends bail out on them - no need to scalp them either.
I don't think making money off these situations is ethical, really. And people who intentionally snatch up campsites with intent to jack up the price and resell should be stopped.
Re: Yosemite Battles Pest Problem: Ticket Scalpers
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 10:44 am
by Whiplash
RoguePhotonic wrote:There is of course the notion that perhaps people reserve camp sites and permits for the sole purpose to sell them like concerts. Now that would be ********.
That's exactly what IS going on!! It is illegal to scalp permits and I hope NPS comes down on them. This is stealing the opportunity from others who are legitimately trying to get a permit. A lot of people are missing out on a rare opportunity as it is, with the number of people applying for these permits, without A$$HOLES trying to make a buck.
Sorry for the rant!!
Re: Yosemite Battles Pest Problem: Ticket Scalpers
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 10:47 am
by rlown
Here's the Sac Bee article that covers the problem:
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/04/18/355959 ... tions.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: Yosemite Battles Pest Problem: Ticket Scalpers
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 12:13 pm
by maverick
I heard about this on the radio, and am sure that they could come up with some
type of ID code system that would ensure that the purchaser is the one using the
ticket, and that no one else could, though I am also sure this would increase the
costs of the reservations.
Re: Yosemite Battles Pest Problem: Ticket Scalpers
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 12:16 pm
by rlown
hmm.. they already check me for ID when i pick up a wilderness permit and give an option for an alternate for a trip leader. seems the problem can be solved easily. no name changes, person requesting the permit, or alternate at time of request are the only one's that can use it, with ID.
Re: Yosemite Battles Pest Problem: Ticket Scalpers
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 8:00 pm
by LMBSGV
Exactly. Make the person picking up the reservation show an ID. If the names not the same, then they don't get the reservation. As for Craig's List, when is the government going to hold them responsible for all the illegal activity they facilitate?
Re: Yosemite Battles Pest Problem: Ticket Scalpers
Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 5:47 am
by sirlight
This is NOT the same as scalping concert tickets. These people are making profit on something that WE all own. The national parks are the property of the people of this country, and any profit to be made should go back to the people. Oh my, I starting to sound like a communist now!
Re: Yosemite Battles Pest Problem: Ticket Scalpers
Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 7:26 am
by Strider
sirlight wrote:The national parks are the property of the people of this country, and any profit to be made should go back to the people.!
Does this same logic apply to timber lease derivatives?