Scalping Explained: Why Scalpers Are Everywhere Now
- circular connection
- 8 hours ago
- 3 min read
From concert tickets to driving test slots, scalping is evolving—and so is the debate around ethics, access, and fairness
AI Image: OpenAI
You wake up early, ready to book that long-awaited concert ticket or a practical driving test slot. You’re on time, but in a matter of seconds, everything is gone. Later, you see the same tickets or appointment slots being offered elsewhere—at much higher prices.
This is the world of scalping, where individuals or groups take advantage of limited-supply, high-demand situations by securing items quickly—often in bulk—and reselling them at marked-up prices. While this may seem like simple market behavior to some, the ethics of it are widely debated.
Why Do Scalpers Do It?
Scalpers see themselves as savvy entrepreneurs. In their view, they are just capitalising on opportunity and acting as middlemen between product and buyer. They often justify their actions with the argument: “willing buyer, willing seller.” If someone is willing to pay more to get something they could not otherwise obtain, scalpers believe they are simply filling a demand gap.
To them, the method is irrelevant. Whether it’s waiting in line, purchasing in bulk, or automating purchases with bots, it is all just strategy. The goal is simple: secure the goods before others can, and resell at a profit.
AI Image: OpenAI
While concert tickets remain one of the most visible forms of scalping, this practice has extended into many other areas:
Driving Slots
In Singapore, reports have emerged of bots being used to snatch up practical driving slots at driving centres. With limited instructors and high demand, slots are already hard to come by. Scalpers exploit this by using automated programs to book slots faster than humans can, only to resell them to desperate learners for a fee.
Collectibles and Limited-Edition Merchandise
Scalpers often queue overnight to purchase new releases of sneakers, toys, or game trading cards. They buy in bulk, leaving little for genuine fans or casual collectors, and resell them online at double or triple the price.
Concert and Event Tickets
As soon as tickets go on sale, scalpers—sometimes using bots—snap up as many as they can. These tickets appear almost immediately on resale platforms at inflated prices, locking out average fans from access.
Gaming Consoles and Electronics
The launch of any high-demand tech item, such as a new gaming console or smartphone, is often dominated by scalpers who clean out inventory shortly after product launches. The items are then sold on secondary markets for hefty markups.
National Day Parade or Free Festival Tickets
Even for non-monetised events, scalpers try to claim as many free passes as possible and then offer them to others in exchange for money or goods. This defeats the original intention of keeping events open and accessible to the public.
But Is It Fair?
The main issue with scalping lies in access and fairness. When scalpers or bots buy up large quantities of tickets or products within seconds, it prevents genuine fans or everyday consumers from having a fair chance.
It also transforms what should be a joyful or community-based experience, such as attending a concert, into a transaction controlled by opportunists. The original pricing, often designed to be affordable and accessible, becomes meaningless.
While scalping might seem like simple economics to some, it exploits emotional demand and turns shared cultural experiences into exclusive commodities.
What Can Be Done About It?
Many platforms and event organisers are starting to push back. Some of the measures already in place or being explored include:
Verified Fan Systems
Platforms like Ticketmaster and Weverse have implemented systems that require fans to register and be verified before ticket drops.
Anti-bot Technology
Websites are using filters and CAPTCHA challenges to reduce automated buying.
Non-transferable Tickets
Some events issue digital tickets tied to specific names or devices, limiting their resale.
Purchase Limits
Restricting the number of items or tickets that can be bought in one transaction helps reduce mass buying.
Stronger Legislation
Certain countries and regions have enacted laws that restrict or prohibit scalping, especially for ticketed events. Public education is also important so consumers avoid supporting scalpers unknowingly.
Still, the fundamental problem remains. When demand exceeds supply, the opportunity for profit persists. As long as buyers are willing to pay inflated prices, scalping continues to thrive.
The Bigger Picture
Scalping is not just about making money—it is about access. Just because someone is willing to pay more does not mean others should be denied a fair chance. In a society that values equality and community, scalping often feels like cutting the queue at the expense of everyone else.
The debate will continue, but the solution may lie not just in tech or law, but in how we define fairness—and how much we are willing to stand up for it.
