Scalping has become a global issue, particularly in relation to K-pop idol concerts. Many resellers use bots to bypass security measures and jump the queue, securing tickets which are then sold on at vastly inflated prices. Unfortunately, the practice is not limited to concert tickets. Over the years, there have also been reports of scalpers buying exclusive merchandise only to list it online for resale.
Earlier this week, Korean fans were left furious after alleged foreign resellers reportedly cleared out the entire catalogue from vending machines at a K-pop group’s limited-time pop-up store. Here’s what happened:
NCT WISH (NCT 위시/エヌシーティー·ウィッシュ), NCT’s Japanese sub-unit, recently launched their “FIND YOUR COLOR” pop-up store in Seoul, South Korea, running from 2nd to 9th September. As expected, excited fans gathered early at the venue, eager to experience the immersive space and purchase exclusive merchandise. However, when the store opened at 8am, all of the vending machine stock sold out, but not in the way anyone expected.
Two visitors, allegedly foreigners, reportedly bought up the entire supply, leaving nothing for the other fans waiting in line. In a viral video, some attendees confronted the pair, urging them to be considerate of others who also wanted the merchandise. Their pleas went unanswered, and the resellers emptied the machines completely, leaving fans both disappointed and angry.
As for how this could have happened, visitors explained that the vending machines had no purchase limit. While this has never been a problem, no one anticipated that just two individuals would clear out the entire catalogue. The incident quickly went viral on social media, with K-pop fans worldwide, including in Malaysia, expressing frustration at foreign resellers spoiling the experience for everyone.
Some claimed to have encountered the two individuals seen in the video, who allegedly asked if they could buy another merch from the store on their behalf. Others suggested that there should have been a purchase limit in place, or at the very least, a staff member monitoring the situation to prevent it from happening. According to one fan, a purchase limit was introduced the following day, allowing each visitor to buy up to three items from the vending machine.
At the time of writing, SM Entertainment has yet to address the viral incident, but let’s hope that this sort of thing doesn’t happen elsewhere. What would you have done if you saw this happening right in front of your eyes?
Watch the viral clip below:
Source: Twitter
