Geldof blasts 'sick' eBay sales

[Nye Bevan]

Bob Geldof has branded the sale of Live 8 tickets on the internet auction site eBay "sick profiteering". The Live 8 organiser called on the site to ban tickets for next month's London show, featuring Coldplay and U2, which were won through a text competition.

An eBay spokeswoman said the reselling of charity concert tickets is not illegal under UK law.

Geldof demanded the immediate removal of tickets being sold on the site. He said: "I am sick with this. It is a disgrace. It is completely against the interests of the poor. The people who are selling these tickets on websites are miserable wretches who are capitalising on people's misery. I am appealing to their sense of decency to stop this disgusting greed."

An eBay spokeswoman said: "We have offered to make a donation to the Live 8 organisers at least equivalent to the fees we collect from the sale of Live 8 tickets."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4090774.stm

Seems to me that Bob is overreacting a bit. What about poor people who win the contest and decide that instead of going to the show they would rather sell their tickets so they can buy basic necessities? And for every ebay sale the Live 8 charity actually gets MORE money (since ebay is donating its fees). Looks to me like a win-win.

[jilln]

1. Geldof didn't want it to be about the money.

He's said so.

eBay is a typical unprincipled company, they'll sell pretty much anything.

[Nye Bevan]

4. I disagree

There is a *lot* of stuff that ebay will not list.

See http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/items-ov.html

[madrchsod]

2. shut the fuck up bob

what about all the African musicians you have in the concert? oh yes-if one is in Paris one can see some but the rest of the tour? no one in the USA-yes that 50 cent guy,will smith, and p diddy, why they are all fine African entertainers. no you wouldn`t want to hurt American sales with real African musicians,now would you bobby.....

[Vladimir]

3. Spot on n/t

[non sociopath skin]

6. Absolutely right.

I mean, African musicians at an African Benefit Gig. What would the suits make of that?

The Skin

[non sociopath skin]

5. Welcome to the real world, young Robert.

I have been a tad sceptical about The Great Man ever since I saw him twenty years ago, obviously the worse for wear after a long stint in BBC hospitality, telling me that I should give up my Saturday night out and give the money to Live Aid.

The Skin