bought uphs off ebay

[dimoe]

Has anyone done this ??
thanks Diane

 

[my3princes]

I may be wrong, but UPH's expire on your date of departure and are only issued upon arrival at your resort. I don't think that UPH's can be sold on EBAY.

 

[dimoe]

She said they were just hopper passes not uphs.
I am too scared that it is a scam and I get there to find out
I have been had and have to pay through the nose for other tickets.
Diane

 

[MomofKatie]

Are the ones you bought UPHs or just PHs? Because as my3princes said, UPHs expire on the day you check out of the resort. PHs and PHPs have no expiration date. I'd check if I were you- maybe you can get your money back if they prove to be worthless.

 

[CharlesandCamilla]

It is illegal to buy tickets on ebay. All tickets are nontransferable (can only be used by the person who bought them) and should not be purchased from unlicensed individuals.

You never know how many days are left until you go there and try to get in. I have actually witnessed a woman and her familly get turned away from Epcot. They'd just bought the tickets from someone who swore to her that he had to leave early for a familly emergency and that there were plenty of days left on them. There weren't any.

If you lose them they will not replace them for you without the original receipt.

Also if they decide (ever so slight chance) to check ids (I've read that some ph and php now have names printed on them) and yours doesn't match they have the right to confiscate them.

 

[Geoff_M]

Aside from legal issues... here's another thing to think about. I haven't looked lately, but in the past the eBay auctions for WDW tickets that I've seen usually don't represent significant savings over safer means of aquiring tickets. Particularly when you look at the prices at legitimate discounters like Ticketmania. So, is it worth risking all of that money for a saving that may only amount to 5-10% at best?

 

[mad4themouse]

Buying and selling tickets on eBay is not illegal but there are a lot of risks involved for the buyer.

Like CharlesandCamilla said, there is no way to tell how many days remain on the pass. You cannot call WDW to find out, the only way you will know when you arrive in WDW. You can then go to Guest Services and have them check the pass.

Passes are transferrable if they have not been used. For instance, you can purchase them as a gift for someone. The recipient would not be the original purchaser but they can still use the pass.

There is also no way (currently) for WDW to determine if the Park Hopper you are using to enter the park belonged to you or your great-aunt Susie. Only a few passes (like APs and 30-day FITS) use the biometric finger scan technology to identify the owners.

There are no names printed on the backs of PHs or PHPs.

WDW will replace lost tickets without a receipt if you have the serial numbers from the back of the passes. It's a good idea to make a photocopy of the backs of your passes and keep that copy in a safe place. If you lose a pass, you can take that photocopy to Guest Services. They will deactivate the pass and issue a new one with the same number of days remaining on it as the one that was lost.

Personally, I would not risk losing so much money. Especially since, as Geoff_M pointed out, there are a number of legitimate and reputable ticket brokers who sell a variety of passes below the gate price. The few extra dollars that you would spend for them purchases you peace of mind.

 

[Geoff_M]

Buying and selling tickets on eBay is not illegal...

Yes... and no. It depends of the laws of the states where the buyer and seller reside. That's also eBay policy. Someone selling a partly used WDW ticket in Florida (or any other state where it's against the law) is in fact an "illegal" sale and a violation of eBay's acceptable use policy. However, if such a sale were to take place between two parties here in Michigan, the sale is "legal" in both the eyes of the Michigan government and eBay.

However, that's a moot point when you travel to Florida to use the ticket. If you buy a partially used WDW ticket, and try and use it in Florida, the law down there says that the ticket is legally null and void. Disney can take the admissions media and turn you away. It that likely? Probably not. Does it ever happen? You bet. Not too long ago there was a rash of people buying heavily discounted military tickets and then reselling them on eBay at a nice profit. The problem was the listing didn't mention that you needed a military ID to use them and more than a few upset families were turned away at the gates when they tried to use them.

 

[figgy4me]

Originally posted by Geoff_M
Yes... and no. It depends of the laws of the states where the buyer and seller reside. That's also eBay policy. Someone selling a partly used WDW ticket in Florida (or any other state where it's against the law) is in fact an "illegal" sale and a violation of eBay's acceptable use policy. However, if such a sale were to take place between two parties here in Michigan, the sale is "legal" in both the eyes of the Michigan government and eBay.

I must admit that I haven't read the policy lately. BUT - when I did - the policy on event tickets goes by the state when the event is held - which is Florida. Meaning it is an "illegal" sale any time you sale a "partially used" ticket.

 

[Geoff_M]

figgy4me,

I don't think that interpretation is correct. Here's the policy: http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/event-tickets.html

The first grid clearly shows that when the event is in a "regulated location" (which Florida is for "event" tickets), the seller is in a state "different from the event", and the buyer is in a state "different from the event", then the eBay policy is that the "seller can accept bids without limit".

As I said, Florida still would view such transaction as illegal, but that doesn't come into play until you attempt to use the ticket. Much like it's perfectly legal for me to buy and sell radar detectors in Michigan on eBay, but if I then use one in Conn. at that point it's a legal issue.

 

[SueM in MN]

originally posted by figgy4me
I must admit that I haven't read the policy lately. BUT - when I did - the policy on event tickets goes by the state when the event is held - which is Florida. Meaning it is an "illegal" sale any time you sale a "partially used" ticket.

I think that is the correct interpretation.
If you go to this ebay page:
http://pages.ebay.com/help/community/png-tickets-faq.html
You will find this Q and A:
2. What if I live in one of the restricted ticket states, but I'm selling tickets to an event in a state where eBay has no policy?
eBay's policies are based on where the event is located, not where the buyer and seller are located. If the event is in an area not covered by eBay's policy, you may list the tickets on eBay without restrictions. However, you should ensure that your transaction complies with all laws in your area.

You used to see a lot of ebay sales where people stated they were selling 4 day hoppers with 2 days left. Some of them were actually kind of hilarious, talking about how mom, dad and the kids loved WDW, but then only used 2 days. Sometimes, you could even find exactly the same text and pictures for different sales. Sometimes, they didn't even bother to use a different ebay user name. I always wondered if anyone noticed that mom, dad and their 2 little ones had used 2 days off of each ticket in 4 sets of tickets.
You don't see sales like that any more. Everyone is selling 1 day hoppers (or whatever) when sometimes on their picture, you can see that it was a 4 day hopper - so it is a sale of a partially used ticket.
If it wasn't illegal, I think people would still be writing their cute little sales stories.

And, with the number on the ticket, they can check in the computer and tell when and where the ticket was last used and even things like what credit card was used to purchase it. That's how they can replace them if you lose one. I had one where the magnetic strip didn't work and the CM showed me the screen that came up from just putting in the number.

 

[figgy4me]

Originally posted by SueM in MN
I think that is the correct interpretation.
If you go to this ebay page:
http://pages.ebay.com/help/community/png-tickets-faq.html
You will find this Q and A:
2. What if I live in one of the restricted ticket states, but I'm selling tickets to an event in a state where eBay has no policy?
eBay's policies are based on where the event is located, not where the buyer and seller are located. If the event is in an area not covered by eBay's policy, you may list the tickets on eBay without restrictions. However, you should ensure that your transaction complies with all laws in your area.

Thanks SueM in MN for doing my research for me. Saved me a lot of time and energy tonight.
Thanks, again.

 

[Geoff_M]

SueM in MN,

I'm not advocating buying Disney tickets on eBay, just the opposite.

However, how do you reconcile the contradictions in the link you posted and the one I posted? I honestly think that the link you posted is old content. I found the link I posted by simply following the menu tree from the main Help page. You'll also note that the link I posted has the same graphical "look and feel" as the main Help page (i.e. uses the same template, font, etc.) Another telling clue is that when you search on "ticket sales policy" from the main Help screen your link isn't found even though that phrase is found in the title of the FAQ... but what does pop up (when you enclose the phrase in quotes) is the link I posted!

I think they've changed their policy.

 

[CharlesandCamilla]

I didn't mean to start a debate. I read in an online article from the Orlando newspaper that any and all sales are illegal due to the purchasers' inability to transfer ownership of park tickets. This is Florida, the land of many theme parks, law. I assumed with my knowledge of internet usage law that this pertains to online sales as well. There have been many arrests and successful prosecutions of people selling tickets in Florida. The article went on to say that any tickets being used by anyone other than the original purchaser could be considered fraudulent and confiscated. But it didn't mention prosecuting the purchaser.

Florida has a law that is directly aimed at theme parks. Ebay's rules seem to be intended to provide a guideline for the sales of all types of tickets: concerts, sporting events, etc. Although some states have very strict laws for scalping, it is still easily done on ebay. The laws that govern these sales are difficult to enforce on line. That doesn't make it right.

How they would figure who purchased a regular PH I'm not certain. I read in another thread that if the ticket is purchased with a credit card that the cardholder's name is linked with the ticket in the computer.

But AP's, residents, and other types of special passes, I have been told, have names on them.

The legality of it aside, I would never purchase a ticket of any type on ebay. It's too risky.

 

[Geoff_M]

CharlesandCamilla,

You're correct, there's no way to transfer a partly used PH in the eyes of Florida law. The only point I was trying to make is that the auctions for such tickets that take place outside of states that have ticket re-sale regulations are not, in and of themselves, "illegal". It's the same notion that allows "ticket brokers" to scalp concert or sporting event tickets even though such transactions are illegal where the event takes place. As long as the "broker" is outside of the jurisdiction of the event, and the state where they reside doesn't prohibit such sales, then there's nothing that can be done to legally stop them from scalping tickets. But like WDW, the event can still refuse to honor tickets bought in such a manner if they find out about it... but that's another issue entirely.

If you want to test this, then challenge a WDW ticket auction on eBay where the seller is in an unregulated state. If you can demonstrate to eBay that an auction violates their policy or law then they will take the auction down. They have an entire unit of people devoted to doing just that.

I'll also reiterate that I think buying WDW tickets off of eBay isn't worth the risk:

1) You can never be certain of the days left on the tickets.
2) You may discover that the ticket can't be used by you (needs Florida or Military ID).
3) If you lose the tickets, trying to get them replaced may "blow your cover".
4) The savings ain't all that great over other discounted tickets.

 

[OceanStateKelly]

Hi everybody, I have old hopper passes--the room key style that (looks like a credit card) says on the back: Nontransferable: must be used by the same person on any and all days. Disney is not responsible for misplaced, lost or stolen cards. Also on the bottom says Valid phote ID required for signature verification.

We have 1 to 2 days left on them but we can't remember how many (brain dead) and Disney won't tell me how many are left -we have to be there for that. I wish they would come up with something for this. Is kinda hard planning a trip when you don't know how many days you might need.

I don't know why anybody would try selling there old ones any way, they are always worth the days left and the way the prices keep going up there great to hold on to for the next vacation.

 

[SueM in MN]

Originally posted by Geoff_M
SueM in MN,

I'm not advocating buying Disney tickets on eBay, just the opposite.

However, how do you reconcile the contradictions in the link you posted and the one I posted? I honestly think that the link you posted is old content. I found the link I posted by simply following the menu tree from the main Help page. You'll also note that the link I posted has the same graphical "look and feel" as the main Help page (i.e. uses the same template, font, etc.) Another telling clue is that when you search on "ticket sales policy" from the main Help screen your link isn't found even though that phrase is found in the title of the FAQ... but what does pop up (when you enclose the phrase in quotes) is the link I posted!

I think they've changed their policy.

The link that I posted is a direct link from the page that you posted. If you go almost all the way to the bottom of the page from your link, you'll see a link titled "Frequently asked Ticket Questions." That's the link I followed to get to the link that I posted.
I don't think there is any contradiction in the 2 pages. The information you are talking about is pricing; the information about not selling partially used tickets, has nothing to do with pricing.
And at the bottom of the page you posted, it says:
"As a ticket seller, you are responsible for ensuring that your particular transaction does not violate any applicable law or the terms on the ticket itself. "
As OceanStateKelly posted, it says right on the tickets that they are non-transferable and must be used by the same person on any and all days. So even if someone's reading is that they can sell partially used tickets as long as the seller and buyer are not in Florida, the terms on the ticket itself are pretty clear.

 

[Geoff_M]

The link that I posted is a direct link from the page that you posted. If you go almost all the way to the bottom of the page from your link, you'll see a link titled "Frequently asked Ticket Questions." That's the link I followed to get to the link that I posted.

It's funny I missed that! But it's still interesting that it doesn't pop up in their help search engine when you ask for it.

I don't think there is any contradiction in the 2 pages. The information you are talking about is pricing; the information about not selling partially used tickets, has nothing to do with pricing.

But it does. Look at the list of restrictions in the table of regulated states. Under Florida it reads "No sale of multi-day or multi-event tickets that have been used at least once for admission" for sellers residing in the State. That's not a pricing restriction, it's a prohibition.

Here's a THIRD eBay link that may provide a "tie breaker": http://pages.ebay.com/buyselltickets/rules.html (eBay places this link in the body of ticket auctions it has determined that from a regulated state, like This One)

From the top of that page: "Reselling tickets on eBay is 100% legal. However, some states impose limitations on resale prices for events located in their states. In such states, these regulations apply only to buyers and sellers located in the same state as the actual event." You may point out that this too references pricing, but it does contain the principle that it's the location of the buyer and seller that matter and not the state where the event is located. Why would they apply laws regarding pricing limits in such a manner, but not laws about prohibitions of re-sales?

And at the bottom of the page you posted, it says:
"As a ticket seller, you are responsible for ensuring that your particular transaction does not violate any applicable law or the terms on the ticket itself. "

They're saying it's the seller's responsibility... not eBay's.

The acid test is simple, as I mentioned previously... Find an auction of a partly used Park Hopper and report it to eBay. If they suspend the auction, then they've deemed it a violation. If not, then it (by definition) is OK with them. Here's one you can alert them to: Link The seller states they can't legally accept any bids from Florida, so by definition they are partially used tickets.

Here's another one... Link This "one day" ticket clearly is one of the multi-day PHer's stock that they sell off of DS kiosks.

Here's one that violates the terms ("Not for Sale") printed on the ticket: Link

Here's one from Universal Studios where the text explicitly says it's a partly used ticket: Link

As OceanStateKelly posted, it says right on the tickets that they are non-transferable and must be used by the same person on any and all days. So even if someone's reading is that they can sell partially used tickets as long as the seller and buyer are not in Florida, the terms on the ticket itself are pretty clear.

You are correct, but the same is true of most Super Bowl, World Series, NCAA Final Four, etc. tickets... but "ticket brokers" can perfectly legally re-sell them on the secondary market without fear of prosecution as long as they are not in a location where they violate their local laws. And yes, if the event staff determines a ticket was re-sold in violations of the terms on the ticket, then the ticket may be revoked. This is all that I'm trying to say about WDW tickets on eBay. Some one said that WDW partially used ticket auctions were "illegal" on eBay. That's not true. If an auction on eBay is illegal, they will shut it down if notified or discovered. They do it all the time.

Here's the Link to report a prohibited item.

 

[alisonbestford]

Well, I sold the days left on our 5 day hopper plus passes on E Bay last year as my DH was about to undergo major neuro surgery in Jan 2004, might well not be here today (he is ) and I thought we'd never be able to visit WDw again
Now we're planning WDW in Jan 2005 and I've got to start all over again buying tickets..... ;-)
Alison
I checked at WDW before we left how many days were left as I'd have hated any prospective purchaser to lose out!