It's the hottest ticket in town. And that's the problem.
Online retailers have been selling scalped tickets to President Barack Obama's second inauguration this weekend for thousands of dollars even though they are meant to be free to the public.
Craigslist and eBay on Thursday pledged to help stop the sale of scalped tickets to the ceremonies, said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. who serves as chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.
eBay will enforce an existing policy not to allow the listings on their Website, while Craigslist employees will monitor their site and remove the items, he said. StubHub already refuses to resell the tickets.
"This year’s Presidential inaugural ceremonies are not for sale,” Schumer said. “I hope that everyone who has an Inaugural ticket will think twice before posting these tickets on any ticket resale site. This is a chance for people from all 50 states to celebrate our democracy, not for ticket scalpers to make a quick buck.”
Schumer unveiled the inaugural tickets for this weekend's event on Monday, along with a mobile app that helps ticket holders find their way to their seats or standing section. The tickets clearly state "Not for Sale."
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