Re: Scalping campsites on Craigslist, please flag

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/for/3083648914.html

Quick question. I know that everyone will get mad if I ask this but I'm just wondering, is it possible now to buy scalper's tickets to Yosemite and have them transferred into your name? I have not been able to find the answer to this. All I can find are angry responses saying that it is illegal, that the park has cracked down on it but those guys selling on Craig's List, are they scams to get your money or are they legit? I think you could deter them better if they were actually scams. If they are legit, people will buy them. I am desperate this year to have my sister and her daughter come with us but we have a six person limit. So I was going to try to buy scalper's tickets. I know it's wrong of course -- and illegal. But no one ever said whether the purchases lead to a scam and a turnaround at the gate or a campsite.

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bipedalist
If they are legit, people will buy them.

The are not legit. Period.

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I am desperate this year to have my sister and her daughter come with us but we have a six person limit. So I was going to try to buy scalper's tickets. I know it's wrong of course -- and illegal. But no one ever said whether the purchases lead to a scam and a turnaround at the gate or a campsite.

You don't think you'll get turned away? That's a big risk. They were somewhat tolerant last year; this year is probably a very different story.

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bipedalist
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/for/3083648914.html

Quick question. I know that everyone will get mad if I ask this but I'm just wondering, is it possible now to buy scalper's tickets to Yosemite and have them transferred into your name? I have not been able to find the answer to this. All I can find are angry responses saying that it is illegal, that the park has cracked down on it but those guys selling on Craig's List, are they scams to get your money or are they legit? I think you could deter them better if they were actually scams. If they are legit, people will buy them. I am desperate this year to have my sister and her daughter come with us but we have a six person limit. So I was going to try to buy scalper's tickets. I know it's wrong of course -- and illegal. But no one ever said whether the purchases lead to a scam and a turnaround at the gate or a campsite.

Here's my two cents on this situation.

Yosemite is a national park, which means the government enforces the rules and regulates them. With that being said, they should be able to crack down with force when illegal scalpers are profiting off of them in the thousands of dollars while simultaneously screwing over the people who legitimately want to enjoy the park.

Last year they finally got off their ass and incorporated the no transfer rule for camp and half dome permits. They also gave people an incentive not to buy from scalpers by having 50 permits available per day on a first come first serve basis. Permits for the season were distributed via a lottery system where you applied for up to 6 permits and up to 7 dates.

As for campsites, they changed the system to not allow the transfer of names. If you arrive at the campsite and the name is different from the permit name, they won't allow you in.


With scalpers trying to lure people to buy their permits, those are the ones obviously hacking the computer system and implementing a variety of factors to possibly change the permit onto your name.
However, here is the inherent risk in buying those permits. Last year when they implemented the new system a little over halfway into the season, they had park rangers questioning campsites that had permits with transferred names.

I camped at upper pines last year and there was a group next to us that was questioned by the park rangers. After they finished talking to the group I found out from them that they bought their permits from scalpers. The park rangers told them that they would allow them to stay in their spots, but needed information about the scalper. The main scalper selling permits is "David Tran" and also goes by the name of "David Tanner". Rangers basically told them last year that for next season (this year), they will start turning campers back who purchased from scalpers.

Now, whether you want to take that risk is completely up to you. I understand that Yosemite has one of the most beautiful settings on this planet, but at the same time, not buying from scalpers doesn't mean you can't visit and camp in the park. There are a variety of first come, first serve campsites. I've always gotten a campsite at camp 4, regardless of the time of year, by simply arriving at 3-4 am and getting in line. Yes, that's tough, but hey, I'd rather do that and enjoy myself than buy from a pathetic scalper and risk being turned away.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/17/2012 03:07PM by sactown23.

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bipedalist
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/for/3083648914.html

Quick question. I know that everyone will get mad if I ask this but I'm just wondering, is it possible now to buy scalper's tickets to Yosemite and have them transferred into your name? I have not been able to find the answer to this. All I can find are angry responses saying that it is illegal, that the park has cracked down on it but those guys selling on Craig's List, are they scams to get your money or are they legit? I think you could deter them better if they were actually scams. If they are legit, people will buy them. I am desperate this year to have my sister and her daughter come with us but we have a six person limit. So I was going to try to buy scalper's tickets. I know it's wrong of course -- and illegal. But no one ever said whether the purchases lead to a scam and a turnaround at the gate or a campsite.

2 extra people in a site will probably go unnoticed as long as you don't have more than 2 cars and a couple 2 or 3 tents and aren't causing a ruckus.

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bipedalist

Quick question. I know that everyone will get mad if I ask this but I'm just wondering, is it possible now to buy scalper's tickets to Yosemite and have them transferred into your name? I have not been able to find the answer to this. All I can find are angry responses saying that it is illegal, that the park has cracked down on it but those guys selling on Craig's List, are they scams to get your money or are they legit? I think you could deter them better if they were actually scams. If they are legit, people will buy them. I am desperate this year to have my sister and her daughter come with us but we have a six person limit. So I was going to try to buy scalper's tickets. I know it's wrong of course -- and illegal. But no one ever said whether the purchases lead to a scam and a turnaround at the gate or a campsite.

They are actual scams since it's illegal to resell Yosemite campgrounds reservations.

But to answer your question, I've camped twice so far in a Yosemite Valley campground this summer, and both times I was asked for my ID at check-in and the ranger matched my ID with my name as it was listed on the campsite reservation.

So if your ID doesn't match the name that the reservation it was made under, you'll be out of luck. So why take the chance and get ripped off?

Instead, just regularly check online at Recreation.gov for any openings. Campsites DO become available even at this late date because real people DO cancel their legit reservations so their campsites will become available once again online so anyone else can book them.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/19/2012 11:11AM by sactown23.

Is it worth $10 in gas to save $10 on an entry pass? It kills me people are trying to sell their pass on Craigslist. It might be worth it if the guy lives down the block, but to start your car and drive somewhere to save $10 just doesn't make sense?

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AlpineBrian
Is it worth $10 in gas to save $10 on an entry pass? It kills me people are trying to sell their pass on Craigslist. It might be worth it if the guy lives down the block, but to start your car and drive somewhere to save $10 just doesn't make sense?

I'm wondering if these are even real. Could someone be printing their own?

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/19/2012 04:20PM by sactown23.

All those new ones deleted by author, I guess he is trying to frustrate us.

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hotrod4x5
All those new ones deleted by author, I guess he is trying to frustrate us.

It also allows him to repost them later. Always hit reload when you see "deleted by author" to make sure it isn't a cached message.

It must be a full time job posting those all day long.

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hotrod4x5
All those new ones deleted by author, I guess he is trying to frustrate us.

actually, we're frustrating him

He learned from last year that eventually many of his emails would get blocked after getting flagged hundreds of times, so he is checking this site and removing them himself and posting new ones.

He's also updating previously inconspicuous ads with yosemite ads.

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