MangoXL’s Blog

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=491078

Th profit margin is 50% or so but a lot of work…

200% profit isn’t very common though. 50% profit is probably a realistic average. I may end up getting rid of Billy Joel/Elton John tickets soon at just a little over cost

I’ve got into ticket scalping lately. It’s not legal in many states but it is completely legal in my state as long as you do it online and conduct business using your real name. Check your local laws.It is really, really easy. All you do is check http://ticketstumbler.com/blog/ for upcoming sales and refresh ticketmaster at 10AM when they’re on sale. I don’t use a script, though a simple one to get you direct to the CAPTCHA would save 2 seconds which definitely makes a difference in quality of seats.

Some intuition about what will be instant sellouts is needed. This is the best one going on soon: a legendary performer known for rarely touring and he is playing tiny venues. http://www.ticketmaster.com/Leonard-Cohen-tickets/artist/733…

Don’t buy seats at the back of large amphitheaters unless it is for Phish.

It’s easiest to sell on Stubhub but using Craiglist can add 8-10% to your margins. It’s annoying to have to email/call back and forth with the people though.

Business idea is always one step away. A lot of time, you will wonder why I have not think of that. However, think of that is one thing. To actually execute it and make it happen and successful is another thing.

Here is something interesting from the article:

At 16, Zucker started a business enticing people to pay $1 to take a swing at a golf ball. The prize for a hole in one from 150 yards: $1 million. He rented space from a driving range and persuaded an insurance company to allow him to pay a premium for a million-dollar policy. No one made it, but Zucker made some extra cash.

In college, at Miami University in Ohio, Zucker started a discount card company, pitching local businesses to give students bargains. He collected revenue from advertisers that paid for space on his discount cards, and from college bookstores that bought the cards and gave them as loyalty gifts to customers.

Link to the article: “They’re drinking it up in New York“. A guy is selling purified New York Tap water.