When Karma Takes the Wheel: The Time I Sold My Ex’s Parents’ Concert Tickets for the Ultimate Petty Revenge
There’s nothing quite as satisfying as a well-executed petty revenge story. And sometimes, life hands you the perfect opportunity to serve it up with a side of poetic justice. Today’s tale comes from the depths of Reddit, where one user shared how a family’s greed and manipulation led to the ultimate concert ticket payback.
Let’s set the stage: Imagine you’re young, in love, and trying to do something nice for your girlfriend’s family—only to have it all blow up in your face thanks to their scheming ways. What do you do when you’re left short on cash and brimming with righteous indignation? If you’re u/handdagger420, you get creative—with a little help from Ticketmaster.
From Puppy Love to Parental Plotting
Our protagonist, at the tender age of 18, found himself dating a girl who seemed sweet and innocent, raised in a tightly-knit, homeschooled family. But behind the scenes, things were a lot less wholesome. After a workplace injury left the dad permanently disabled, the family’s matriarch embarked on a sketchy quest to maximize government benefits: miraculously, every child was “diagnosed” with a disability during their teens, and every check was routed straight to Mom.
The pièce de résistance? Mom became the paid caregiver for all four kids, collecting a whopping $64/hour—without actually providing, you know, any care. Our hero’s girlfriend even admitted to faking dyslexia to keep the cash flowing. It was a well-oiled machine of manipulation, with the mother as the puppet master and the kids as unwitting (or not-so-unwitting) players.
A Gift That Keeps on Taking
Trying to be a good boyfriend, our Redditor bought the parents tickets to see Journey—Mom’s all-time favorite band—for Christmas. It was a heartfelt gesture, but little did he know, it would become the linchpin in his master plan for payback.
A year and a half into the relationship, the girlfriend wanted to move out and start a life together. That’s when the mother’s claws came out. Not only did she blame our protagonist for “ruining the family” (read: threatening her money train), but she accused him of nefarious motives, trashed his faith, and sicced Dad on him for good measure. The pressure worked; the girlfriend heartbreakingly broke things off.
From Heartbreak to Home Sweet Home
Life moved on, and our storyteller found himself on the cusp of a new beginning—if only he could scrape together $300 for an apartment deposit. And then, the lightbulb moment: those Journey tickets were still sitting in his Ticketmaster account, untouched, with the concert just two weeks away.
With a few clicks, he sold the tickets, pocketed the much-needed cash, and secured his new apartment.
The Sweetest Revenge (Set to the Tune of “Don’t Stop Believin’”)
Fast forward two weeks: the ex’s family embarks on a three-hour trek to the concert venue, eager for a night of classic rock nostalgia. Instead, they’re turned away at the gate—their tickets had been resold. They scramble to find scalpers, but the show’s sold out. Six hours of driving, zero minutes of Journey, and a phone full of angry messages for our protagonist.
Did he feel guilty? Not one bit. As he put it: “Don’t be a piece of shit to others, or you may receive the same in return.”
Petty or Poetic? Let’s Discuss
Was this revenge justified? The Reddit community seems to think so, with over 3,000 upvotes and a chorus of “serves them right” in the comments. There’s a certain satisfaction in seeing someone who exploits others get a taste of their own medicine. After all, tickets were still in his name, and the family’s manipulative antics had cost him both a relationship and his peace of mind.
But it’s also a tale that raises bigger questions: How far is too far when it comes to getting even? And what does it say about family dynamics when money trumps morals? One thing’s for sure—sometimes the universe gives you a front-row seat to a little karmic justice (and sometimes, you have to sell that seat yourself).
Your Turn: Petty, Perfect, or a Little of Both?
Have you ever served up your own slice of petty revenge, or do you think our hero went too far? Share your thoughts (or your own stories) in the comments below. And remember: never underestimate the power of a well-timed Ticketmaster login.
Rock on, petty avengers.
Inspired by this Reddit post from u/handdagger420. Want more tales of sweet, sweet revenge? Hit subscribe and join the conversation!
Original Reddit Post: My Ex's Mom