Quote: Big Graeme "One easy way to cut that demand off at source, play more shows in bigger arenas, if bands want to play small shows to small crowds they they are going to be touted.'"
You're seriously suggesting artists should play more gigs at the biggest venues simply to combat touts? Don't be ridiculous. Some of these bands tour for months or even years as it is. They book venues according to projected demand - they don't want too many empty seats, nor do they want to undersell themselves. Neither would it particularly solve the problem. Touts buying up tickets increases demand for the reselling market - they would do exactly the same with any additional gigs, only losing out on occasion if demand dramatically drops off, which is a gig no artist would book in the first place.
Quote: Big Graeme "Hogwash put about by the major ticket sites to make people thing the touts are in some way getting around the feeble systems they have in place, in reality it's bodies online with multiple PC's and credit cards for the big boys and people buying six tickets when they only needed two for the small fish.'"
Are you suggesting there are no 'resellers' out there with banks of computers running netbots hammering the official ticket sites whenever gigs go on sale? Of course there are. As you admit, their systems are 'feeble'. And of course there are individuals and groups doing the same thing. Either way it results in the same thing
Which isn't what I said. I said I view you similarly. Ripping people off by any means is a scum business. I presume you wouldn't pay well over the odds for most products or services, so I'm not sure why you think touting is acceptable.
Quote: Big Graeme "However I have taken advantage of a vulnerable tout by holding out till show time to get a cheap ticket.'"
I've bought many tickets at lower than face value - late 80's/early 90's Old Trafford was a doddle for a cheap ticket 5 minutes after kick-off. But touting in those days was lower-key, lower-volume. Let's say a parent today wants to take their daughter and friends to One Direction - you think they're going to drag them all out and hang around dealing with unsavoury rip-off merchants on the off-chance they can get tickets? Of course not. Neither will most others. If they can't get them via official means they'll buy online, at inflated prices.