I’ve been burned before and make sure everyone gets their own ticket. When people buy their own ticket they are more likely to commit to the event. I bought tickets for a friend once and she was on her phone the whole time screen lying through social media and it pissed me right off. That was the last time I bought tickets for anyone.

but is it really a Vancouver thing,
rather than the fact that smart phones make it easier
(to find something better") and then bail out?

Maybe this is happening in other cities around the world?

How awful and inconsiderate. I hope you could sell them and make some money. Unbelievable.

I made the mistake of buying a ticket for my friend's friend 5 years ago for a Christmas show. As far as I was concerned, she owned the ticket but she still had to pay me. So the night of the show, she messaged me and said she was too sick to go and did I have anyone who could take the ticket? I said I'd try but two hours before the show and a week before Christmas, I didn't have a lot of hope. If it were me who cancelled, I would've sent the money I owed the minute I got off the phone to cancel. But I'm still waiting for my money, 4 years later. I've never invited her to anything since. The lack of integrity of people is shocking to me sometimes.

They're NOT your friends.

This is more about that than bailing out on you. Once you hold them accountable there will be less bailing or at the very least, no insincere setting up of times out. Which is better.

Been there before. I stopped asking a long time ago.

Not sure if it is free for you. Teach them a lesson. Do not miss rent!

I've had similar situations with "friends" like that, and it took me awhile, but I finally noticed they applied that level of integrity to everything in their life. Now All it takes is one flakeout for any plans and I'm done with that person.