NAG LAN ticket scalpers ruin it for everyone

There’s a right and wrong way to go about selling your NAG LAN tickets

James Etherington-SmithSeptember 20, 2012

rAge 2012, South Africa’s largest and longest running gaming expo, is just around the corner. Organised by Wild Blue Media and NAG Magazine, rAge 2012 will mark the tenth year of the annual event, taking place from 5 – 7 October at the Cocal-Cola Dome in Johannesburg.

As always, the massively popular NAG LAN @ rAge will be back in action – and as always, the 2,460 NAG LAN seats were sold-out within hours. Unfortunately this means that unscrupulous types are in action, trying to turn a profit from eager gamers who weren’t able to purchase a ticket in time.

rAge expo panorama

We caught up with NAG Magazine editor and rAge expo senior project manager, Michael James, to learn how this problem impacts the event, and how they combat ticket scalpers.

James explained that rAge takes the same stance on the reselling of LAN tickets for profit as outlined in the Computicket terms and conditions (the official sales outlet for NAG LAN tickets). “Reselling of tickets purchased from us is strictly prohibited. Any resale of tickets purchased from us (or attempt) will entitle us to cancel such tickets and to resell them to our other customers. No ticket purchased from us may be used for advertising, promotion or competition purposes unless formal written authorization has been obtained from us, provided that even if such consent is obtained, you may not use our trademarks save as expressly authorised by us.”

We asked if there are any detrimental effects for the rAge expo and NAG LAN caused by the reselling of tickets for profit.

“For rAge itself, no. This doesn’t affect the expo at all because we have priced the tickets according to our business model. In general, definitely. The people reselling the tickets are exploiting those that didn’t get tickets,” explained James.

Of course, there are cases where ticket holders want to legitimately resell their tickets due to being unable to attend the event. James explained that Wild Blue Media has a process in place to support such situations. “You can contact us and we will buy them from you at the paid for price. We will then contact the next person on our waiting list and sell those tickets to them at the same price.”

A NAG representative told us that they currently have a waiting list of 583 people looking for LAN tickets, and have so far managed to help 85 people resell their tickets. If a ticket becomes available for re-sale, then NAG simply works down their waiting list.

If you need to resell a NAG LAN ticket, you can contact lauren@nag.co.za, or call NAG Magazine on 011-704-2679.

“The bottom line with [ticket scalping] is the exact same problem that happens with stolen goods,” said James. “If there was no market for stolen goods then there would be much less crime overall. We will be taking steps next year to help curb this kind of activity. Just consider if nobody bought resold tickets, then those morons that bought more than they needed wouldn’t do it again.”

NAG LAN @ rAge

rAge expo 2012 key information

Visitors can expect to see the latest gaming hardware and software on display; live eSports events; and gamer lifestyle exhibitions including Cosplay demonstrations, the Artist’s Alley, and opportunities to get hands-on with a variety of collectable card games.

Dates: 5 October – 7 October 2012
Venue: The Coca-Cola dome | Corner of Northumberland Road & Olievenhout Avenue | Northgate, North Riding, Johannesburg | www.coca-coladome.co.za
Show times:
- Friday – 10:00-18:00
- Saturday 09:00-18:00
- Sunday 10:00-16:00
Admission:
- Per person: R60
- Weekend ticket: R100
- Family pass (two adults and two children): R180
- Kids under 6: Free