[1] Better to stand outside the Bird's Nest than let scalpers make a profit.
Compiled from: Modern Express, Red Star News
Finally managed to get concert tickets only to have them forcibly refunded? Many netizens have stated on social media that the tickets they purchased for the Mayday concert through the ticketing platform 'Fenwan Island' were refunded without reason.
Case review
On the afternoon of June 12, Fenwan Island responded to the issue of abnormal orders on its official Weibo account. Fenwan Island stated that their staff had identified a total of 754 abnormal orders for the 2023 Mayday concert in Wuhan and Shenyang, and there is evidence proving that these orders were generated through illegal means rather than purchased through normal channels. The platform has processed refunds and ticket returns for the abnormal orders, and the tickets will be sold again. The investigation of abnormal orders will not affect any fans who purchased tickets through normal channels.
However, some consumers do not agree with the statement given by Fenwan Island. In its Weibo comments section, some users claimed that they purchased tickets through normal channels, but their tickets were also refunded this time, and they called on the platform to provide the 'abnormal' order numbers and related evidence.
Public Security Administration Punishments Law of the People's Republic of China
Article 52
Anyone who engages in any of the following behaviors shall be detained for more than ten days but less than fifteen days, and may also be fined up to one thousand yuan; if the circumstances are less serious, they shall be detained for more than five days but less than ten days, and may also be fined up to five hundred yuan:
(1) Forging, altering, or buying or selling official documents, certificates, evidentiary documents, or seals of state organs, people's organizations, enterprises, institutions, or other organizations;
(2) Buying or selling, or using forged or altered official documents, certificates, or evidentiary documents of state organs, people's organizations, enterprises, institutions, or other organizations;
[6] (3) Forging, altering, or scalping tickets for trains, ships, air travel, theatrical performances, sports events, or other valuable tickets or vouchers;
(4) Forging or altering ship registration plates, buying or selling or using forged or altered ship registration plates, or tampering with ship engine numbers.
[1] The author's perspective
The Mayday concert continues to be highly popular, and many fans have said they experienced the "most difficult ticket purchase in history." At the same time, a large number of "scalped tickets" are flooding the market. To resist scalpers, Mayday fans have even come up with the slogan, "We'd rather stand at the Bird's Nest entrance than let scalpers profit." Scalpers and unofficial ticketing platforms reselling tickets at a premium have seriously disrupted market order. As early as February this year, the China Association of Performing Arts issued a reminder to performance organizers and ticketing companies to regulate their business operations. According to relevant laws, scalping is considered illegal business activity and is prohibited by law.
However, whether the authorities use real-name registration or facial recognition technology, they cannot completely prevent scalpers from appearing. But scalpers also need to understand that although this behavior seems to allow them to make a lot of money, it ultimately disrupts the normal economic order and, in severe cases, may even face criminal liability.
