Get your World Series tickets now

Phillies World Series tickets are already on sale - some for thousands of dollars each - even before the playoff round begins to decide which teams will represent each league.

StubHub has nearly 300 listings, some offering a half-dozen or more seats together, at prices ranging from $474 (standing room) to $9,999 (Diamond Club).

And that's just for Game 3 of the Series.

The Phillies will play Games 3, 4 and 5 (if necessary) here at Citizens Bank Park - if they beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the League Champion Series, which starts tonight.

For Game 5, among hundreds of more offerings is a Diamond Club seat for $12,999.

A seller describes why Diamond Club seats are gems: "A/C, Private Bathrooms, Full Cash Bar Available (Wine, Assorted Beers, Alcohol). Plasma Tvs, Special Buffet Menus, area to view players in batting cages and much more. Best sightlines in the entire Ballpark."

Cash bar available?!

Yup. Yeunglings not included.

Over on eBay, the most expensive package - for four seats - is listed at $5,995.

The cheapest: $202.51.

Don't get your hopes up, though.

That ticket's being auctioned - and the bidding will last more than another week.

Buyers, of course, have at least two major concerns, especially at these prices: How can anyone be sure the tickets are legit? And what if the Phillies get the yo-heave-ho and don't make it?

StubHub states: "If a game is not played, you will receive a full refund after returning your tickets."

StubHub's "Fan Protect" guarantee further declares that buyers will get legitimate tickets (either the originals or replacements) or "a refund for the full cost of the tickets, including service fees and shipping and handling charges."

No such guarantee is made by eBay, which works to resolve disputes. Paying with PayPal provides up to $2,000 in protection, but these ticket packages can cost more than that.

Some eBay sellers specify they'll refund if the Phillies are eliminated. Others don't.

Perhaps the best way to dodge that scenario is to wait until the Phillies are in before buying or bidding - although you can bet prices will be even higher then.

Among other Internet ticket resellers are, in alphabetical order, LiveStub (www.livestub.com), Philly.com (http://tickets.philly.com/MLB.aspx), RazorGator (www.razorgator.com), Ticket Community (www.ticketcommunity.com) and Tickets Now (www.ticketsnow.com).

With all online services, consumers are advised to proceed with caution, checking out reputations, policies and protections, because buying.

Alas, there seems to be only one way to buy a World Series ticket cheap:

On eBay, some are listed for under $20!

Problem is: They're no good to get in this year.

They're souvenir stubs for World Series games already played.

Like 1964.

In which the Phillies didn't play.

These auctions also have days to go - and to see the prices rise.