Early this morning, the National Zoo web site was flooded with people looking to be first in line to get free tickets to see the zoo’s newest addition, Panda cub Tai Shin. Within hours, those very seem tickets (which the Zoo was giving away for free) were being offered for sale on Ebay.
It didn’t take long for panda tickets from the National Zoo to be given away Monday, but they’re already showing up eBay.
Those who couldn’t get a ticket from the National Zoo’s Web site can now pay big prices to get their hands on tickets that were gone in just about two hours.
The online auction site has several listings for tickets, with asking prices ranging from $199 to $500.
I can’t say I understand it myself, but apparently demand is high for the first look at this animal. Can anyone blame someone for taking steps to satisfy that demand ? Apparently, some people can.
Friends of the National Zoo spokesman Matt Olear said he’s saddened that the money people are paying on eBay isn’t going toward a more meaningful cause, such as panda conservation.
“It is disappointing that folks would take tickets away from people who genuinely want to see the cub, just to try to make a dollar,” Olear said.
Actually, what’s disappointing is that the zoo didn’t recognize a money-making opportunity when it was staring them in the face.
