Business as usual for ticket scalpers<\/p>\n
Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Sendi, 29, jumps off his seat and approaches a would-be passenger
\nat the Gambir train station, Central Jakarta. He speaks gently,
\n\"Looking for tickets? Where are you going? Semarang, Surabaya?
\nI've got plenty\".<\/p>\n
\"I've been a ticket scalper for around a year since I got
\nfired from a restaurant. I have many friends who happen to be
\nticket scalpers here. So they helped me become one,\" Sendi told
\nThe Jakarta Post on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The father of two admitted that being a ticket scalper did not
\npay much. \"I'm unemployed and broke. I'm just trying to pay the
\nbills and the family's needs, especially for my one-month-old
\nbaby,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sendi sells tickets 50 to 100 percent higher than the official
\nprices.<\/p>\n
\"I have earned Rp 200,000 (US$23.52) in profit this month. I
\nhad to pay joki (people helping scalpers by queuing) Rp 50,000
\neach and extra money to security guards,\" he said, saying that
\nthe guards were also scalpers too.<\/p>\n
\"I can't really tell you if there are any insiders helping
\nscalpers. But the security guards are definitely my good
\nfriends,\" he said smiling.<\/p>\n
Sendi said there were numerous ticket scalpers in Gambir.<\/p>\n
\"Maybe there are more scalpers than passengers,\" Sendi said,
\nwithout providing a specific figure. \"The competition is quite
\nstiff here but they're my friends. It's just a matter of luck and
\nhealthy competition.\"<\/p>\n
The new online system of train ticket reservation, which
\nstarted operating in November, allows would-be passengers to
\nobtain tickets from seven train stations in Jakarta and its
\nsurrounding areas 30 days before departure. Previously, tickets
\ncould only be reserved at Juanda rail station, Central Jakarta,
\nseven days before departure.<\/p>\n
For scalpers this means a waiting period before they can
\nresell their tickets. \"I don't know. Some of my friends said the
\nnew system made their money stay idle longer. It also produces
\nlonger uncertainty about the tickets getting sold,\" said Sendi.<\/p>\n
Sendi purchased eight tickets on Nov. 2 with the help of three
\njoki, to avoid the policy whereby people who buy four tickets
\nwill only be issued one ticket paper. This is intended to deter
\nticket scalpers as it makes reselling the tickets complicated.<\/p>\n
Asked whether he was afraid of being caught, especially with
\nstate-run train operator PT KAI offering a Rp 200,000 reward to
\nanyone who manages to catch scalpers, Sendi drew a deep breath.<\/p>\n
\"I don't know. I can run or whatever. But my friends told me
\nto be cautious with the ones I offer tickets to. I don't offer
\ntickets to just anyone now,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Gambir train station displays banners saying \"Free of
\nticket scalpers area\" and additional security guards have been
\ndeployed within the station and also, its immediate vicinity. But
\nthese measures seem to be having little effect.<\/p>\n
Head of the station, Besar Susmiarto, admitted that it was
\nimpossible to combat ticket scalpers.<\/p>\n
\"They've been around for a long time. What I can do is limit
\ntheir working area and put them in order. They can't blatantly
\nsell tickets near the counters now.<\/p>\n
\"We also have to understand the relationships between them and
\nthe security guards. They're most likely friends,\" he told the
\nPost.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/business-as-usual-for-ticket-scalpers-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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