A tout is someone who tries to get paid for unasked activities. In the US, a tout is a scalper who resells event tickets at a premium value. In England, they may unload bags at tour bus stops. In Ireland, they are informers who collect information during horse or dog races. Tout behavior can be found in many countries, but it’s important to verify that the scalper has a real ticket.
A tout is a British term for a person who attempts to get paid for activities they have not been asked to perform. Alternatively, tout may be the American English equivalent of a scalper, a person who resells event tickets at a premium value. Also, some restaurants in tourist areas will employ a salesman to direct people to restaurants or bars. The scalper can receive not only a tip for the tourist, but also a fee from the business to which the tourist is directed. The scalper may engage in other activities generally thought to be illegal or misleading.
Examples of tout behavior can be found in many countries. For example, a person stopped at a traffic light might rush someone on foot to wash their window. The window cleaner expects a tip. This is a common practice among people who are homeless and who live under overpasses. People may wave such a scalper away or refuse to tip. Since you have not contracted the service, you are not obligated to pay for it.
In England, a scalper may wait at tour bus stops and quickly start unloading people’s bags. I’m waiting for a tip again. However, they are not in charge of performing this service, unlike a hotel or airport employee.
In Ireland, a term equivalent to tout is a spy or informer. This is especially true when a scalper collects information during horse or dog races about the suitability of the animals. He can listen to conversations about animal health and then sell the predictions to punters.
This practice is somewhat the same as inside trading, as betting involves taking a risk. Most racehorse and dog owners try to discourage the tout behavior. It can result in an overall loss of money and is viewed with disgust.
The scalper will stay out of events selling tickets at sometimes two or three times their value. They are most effective when those tickets are no longer available. However, just like with American scalpers, it’s important to verify that the scalper actually has a real ticket. It’s much better to look for someone who sells a ticket at face value. Some people end up with an extra ticket or two and may just want their money back.
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