In concert ticket sales, scalpers get preferential treatment because:

1. nepotism: they know someone who works at or owns part of the venue, or the performer, or the performer's manager, etc

2. they reliably buy in bulk

3. corruption: they pay off someone on the inside.

so which is it here?

4. The scalpers are the same company that sells the tickets.

> As Huang said a few years ago: the more you buy, the more you save

This is what wholesalers do: they buy large quantities at low prices and then sell small quantities at high prices.

Wholesalers' key contribution is distribution though. They have actual infrastructure and do real work that is actually useful. They also do this continuously, providing a stable service, and not just sometimes to get in on some market swings.