Many of us are familiar with the Biblical story of David versus Goliath. In addition to it being included in the Bible, it has become a reference to the fight between the small and the mighty. Let me share such a story with you.
For most of the years we have been members of the faculty of the University of Alabama or retirees from these positions, we have purchased season tickets for home football games. This past year, 2019, was no exception. Both my wife and I had the option to purchase two tickets for each of the home games and we did so. In the earlier part of the season, we gave away several of the tickets to games that we had no interest in attending. As the season progressed, I decided to place two tickets on StubHub for the Arkansas and Tennessee games. StubHub is a secondary ticket outlet that has an agreement with the university to allow individuals to sell tickets on this outlet. I have been doing this for several years, but this year I had a much different experience. Do keep in mind that the university encourages ticketholders to use StubHub so that seats do not go unoccupied. In previous years they included a brochure advertising StubHub in the envelope that included the season tickets.
I listed the Tennessee tickets at the price I paid for them and the Arkansas tickets at a price below what I paid. In both instances, I would have to pay a fee to StubHub; therefore, I would lose money. Both sets of tickets sold, and I was instructed to enter the barcode numbers. I listed these numbers and received a message that the tickets were not eligible for resale. Needless-to-say, I was surprised and annoyed. Several calls to StubHub led to the same message that the University of Alabama had placed the restriction on the resale of the tickets. Let me note that the tickets were Faculty/Staff tickets, but this has never been an issue in the past. Not only was I being restricted from selling the tickets that I purchased, I was also obligated for a “fine” by StubHub to cover their cost in finding replacement tickets for the purchaser of my tickets. My annoyance became a bit more magnified. I sent an email that included the Athletic Director and everyone I could of think of below him. Subsequently, I received several calls from the Associate Athletic Director who has responsibility for the sale of tickets.
I rent an office from an attorney and discussed all of this with him. I was able to advise the Associate Athletic Director that I had consulted my attorney about the obvious inconsistency. He informed me that they had been in consultation with the university attorneys as well. In my discussions, I stated that they were talking out of both sides of their mouth. On the one hand, they instruct the ticketholder to sell tickets on StubHub and on the other hand, preclude this from happening. I stated that this was not right, and I was not going to lose any money. I was assured that this would not happen. I was also told that I had brought this inconsistency to their attention and they were appreciative of my actions which would lead to them revising their policy and practices. On the ticket application there is a section that describes selling Faculty/Staff tickets at a profit and the state Ethics Law. The University claims that selling tickets at a profit as a state employee is in violation of the Ethics Law. It is interesting that through all of this, the University came to the realization that retired Faculty/Staff are no longer state employees and; therefore, are not bound by the Ethics Law regarding the sale of tickets. David, in this case me, sort of has the Mighty (Goliath), in this case the University of Alabama, over the proverbial barrel. Somehow StubHub negated the Tennessee sale, but did charged me $32 for their trouble regarding the Arkansas tickets. Subsequently, they credited my charge card the $32. We’ll see if the policy changes.
Given, I could not sell on StubHub, I decided to try Craig’s List and that’s another convoluted story. The Arkansas tickets sold with no problem and we met and sat next to the couple at the game. The Tennessee tickets, not so. Initially, I received a text from an “alleged husband” asking on behalf of his “alleged wife” if I still had the two Tennessee tickets. I responded, I did. Then I began to receive emails from “Monica Lawrence” instructing me to get the tickets to her husband. Never was there a response that gave a name, address or a way to get tickets to the “husband”. After numerous exchanges, I received an envelope delivered by FedEx with a check in the amount of $1980. The tickets were no longer an issue, but I was to take out $100 for my trouble and get the rest of the money to her “husband”. I had no idea how to do this. The check was “allegedly” drawn on an Edward Jones account by the Fort Worth Foundation in Fort Worth, Texas to the Attention of Bill Boomer. I called the Foundation and asked by Bill Boomer and the person stated, “did you get a check, too?” It was mentioned that the Foundation had received 10-15 similar calls and, yes, it was all a hell of a scam. I did get a subsequent email from “Monica Lawrence” threatening to report me to the authorities. I did contact the FBI and they put me in contact with their cyber unit. I completed a report and have heard nothing.
I mention the use of Craig’s List to put the total experience in perspective. I would never have had to deal with “Monica Lawrence” and “her husband” if the “mighty” – the University of Alabama - had not screwed with “David” – me. I sincerely do hope they clean all of this up because we did not deserve to go through this mess nor should anyone else. I spent a lot of time dealing with a mess that should never have occurred. Through it all, I did lose the payment for the Tennessee tickets and chose to donate them to a local charity.