Tickets to see President Barack Obama speak Wednesday at Boise State are a hot item. On Monday, BSU students had first dibs, followed by university employees and then the general public. The Idaho Statesman reports up to 5,000 tickets were given away for the standing-room only event.
But after those free tickets were scooped up, some people turned around and tried to sell entrance to the event on Craigslist.
On Tuesday morning some tickets were going for as much as $350 each even though the tickets clearly state they are "complimentary and not for sale or re-sale."
Craigslist has long been a place for people to sell tickets to in-demand events, sometimes way above face value.
It's definitely not the first time people have tried to make a profit off seeing Obama speak (check out this story from 2008 when he was running for his first term as president).
The site does prohibit sale of items that "restrict transfer." Craigslist invites users to flag postings that conflict with their terms of use or are illegal, and some posts -- including that $350 ticket -- have been removed. Craigslist did not immediately respond with comment for this story.
But according to Boise Police Department spokesperson Ryan Larrondo, this is a "buyer beware" scenario. Larrondo says it's not illegal to scalp tickets in Idaho, so there's no law to enforce. He says people should always be cautious when they buy tickets online since they could be fake.
Some Craigslist users are warning others not to sell the tickets to see Obama. Here's how one contributor put it:
Do not buy or sell tickets to Obama's speech. Craigslist states not to sell tickets over face value. The tickets were free. The White House has made this statement - "Tickets are complementary and not for sale or re-sale. Tickets are required but do not guarantee admission." You may purchase a ticket and still not be admitted. Please be smart and careful. Thanks!
For those who have tickets to see the President people are encouraged to arrive at Boise State's Caven-Williams sports complex at noon.
Find reporter Frankie Barnhill on Twitter @FABarnhill
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