The Great Ticket Debacle: A Cautionary Tale of eBay and FedEx

Strategic Insights -

Mitch Dorr, a Cook County teacher and football coach, had a plan to see his son, Adam, see their idol, Brett Favre, play live. He purchased tickets on eBay for the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers game, expecting them to nearly double in value if Favre joined the Vikings. However, Favre's retirement flip-flop and a severe summer storm in Grand Marais complicated Dorr's plans. The tickets were delivered to the wrong address, and Dorr was left to deal with the consequences.

Key Takeaways:

  • Mitch Dorr purchased tickets on eBay for the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers game, expecting them to nearly double in value if Brett Favre joined the Vikings.
  • The tickets were delivered to the wrong address, and Dorr was left to deal with the consequences of a severe summer storm in Grand Marais.
  • Dorr e-mailed the original seller, requesting his money back in no uncertain terms, after discovering the tickets were for the wrong game and in a poor vantage point.
  • The family ultimately watched the game from home, breaking even on the initial purchase.

Statistics:

  • The original ticket purchase was for $650 in July 2009.
  • The ticket prices jumped up after Favre rejoined the Vikings, making it difficult for Dorr to turn a profit.
  • The tickets were for the wrong game, and Dorr would not be able to turn a profit due to poor sightlines from the first row at the Metrodome.
  • Dorr spent additional time and effort searching for the missing tickets, eventually finding them at a neighbor's house.

Sources:

  • "Teacher's eBay ticket buy turns into a nightmare" by Rick Weegman, Duluth News Tribune, Oct. 5, 2009