DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am a fan of a local sports team, and I have a friend with season tickets. Any time they are unable to attend, they offer to sell me the tickets.

The problem is that they want to sell them to me at full price, when I can easily go online and purchase tickets on the secondhand market for much cheaper. This makes me feel taken advantage of. When we come together later to talk about the game, I am uncomfortable lying and pretending like I didn’t go, but I am also uncomfortable telling them that their asking price for the tickets is unreasonable. What is my best approach to this situation?

GENTLE READER: “I was able to go after all, and found tickets elsewhere. Now how about that seventh inning?”

Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, [email protected]; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.