Online ticket reselling site Viagogo is back in the headlines for all the wrong reasons following revelations this week that customers on the site had asked for up to $700 for tickets to events at the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre – many times the original price.

BMEC  manager Stephen Champion said there had been several instances of people paying astronomical prices for tickets to shows at the venue, starting with the Jimmy Barnes show last April.

For its part, Viagogo has defended its business model, saying it is only a platform for resellers and does not set the prices being asked.

But that is not how the market should properly function.

The basis of our economy should be people earning an income for the fruits of their labour, talents or services provided.

In the case of a show, those making a profit should be the performers and the venue operators who booked them.

There should be no place for profiteering by third parties who have contributed nothing to the production outside of buying up tickets before genuine fans have had the chance.

It used to be called scalping and it’s now called reselling - but it remains a low brand of money-making.

Even worse is when these resellers seek to charge exorbitant mark-ups on ticket prices for events that are not yet sold out, duping buyers who should certainly know better but too often appear not to.

The concern for consumers is that these organisations appear to be increasing their reach rather than withdrawing from scrutiny as public pressure increases.

The fact the practice is now targeting events in a regional NSW venue such as BMEC is worrying proof that no performers – and no consumers – are safe.

It’s almost 18 months since the NSW Government issued an urgent public warning about “unfair and unsatisfactory” sale tactics – with Viagogo singled out for criticism.

And new laws introduced in NSW in June lat year made it illegal for resellers to sell tickets for more than 10 per cent above their original price, but the practice has continued to flourish.

Yes, the buyer must be aware and think twice before parting with their cash.

But wrong is wrong, no matter how you try to dress it up.