BBB Tip: What to know about buying tickets from an online reseller
Milwaukee, Wis. – Looking for a last-minute deal on sports tickets? Need a ticket to a sold-out concert? There are a lot of reasons why fans buy festival, concert, sports, and other event tickets from online resellers, such as Stubhub, Vivid Seats(a BBB Accredited Business), or SeatGeek. But unfortunately, it’s easy to fall for fake ticket scams or simply overpay. Keep these tips in mind when buying from ticket resellers.
What to look for in a ticket reseller
- Look for ticket resellers that protect buyers. Ticket resellers should have a consumer protection policy and/or be registered with the National Association of Ticket Brokers. Most major ticket resellers will typically provide a full refund if the ticket turns out to be a forgery. It’s a service that’s covered by charging a commission on the sale.
- Buying from a reseller that also sells primary tickets adds a layer of protection. For example, Live Nation or TicketMaster will in
validate the original ticket and create an entirely new bar code for you to use. This ensures you are the only one in possession of the resale ticket.
- Review the policies before making a purchase. You should only buy tickets from a ticket reseller that provides clear details about the terms of the transaction and how you will be refunded if the tickets are fake. Also, if the tickets are not available immediately, the reseller should disclose when the tickets will ship or be available for pick up.
- Buy tickets with a credit card. Using a credit card helps protect you if the tickets are not as promised. Watch out for resellers who ask for unusual payment methods, such as sending gift cards or wiring money. This is a red flag. Learn more about payment types and how to protect yourself.
Tips for finding a good price on tickets
Here are tips for getting the best deal on resold tickets:
- Compare prices. Like with many other purchases, it pays to shop around for tickets. Compare major resellers and look for the best deal. This list of online ticket resellers from Consumer Affairs is a good place to start. Check the business’s profile on BBB.org to be sure they are a reputable business.
- Account for extra fees. Don’t let hidden fees foil your comparison shopping. Be sure that you include fees into your calculations by navigating all the way to the checkout page. Some resellers don’t disclose their fees until you are almost ready to pay.
- It (probably) pays to wait. Buying tickets within a week of the event, rather than securing a ticket more than a month in advance, will likely get you a lower price. However, this tactic could backfire if the event proves popular enough.
For more information
Read about buying tickets and purchasing insurance for your tickets. To stay safe while purchasing event tickets, be sure to read this BBB Scam Alert about fake events and phony tickets.
Read more about online purchase scams on BBB.org to protect yourself from fake online products and sellers.
For more information or further inquiries, contact the Wisconsin BBB at www.bbb.org/wisconsin, 414-847-6000 or 1-800-273-1002. Consumers also can find more information about how to protect themselves from scams by following the Wisconsin BBB on Facebook, Twitter, Inst
ABOUT BBB: For more than 100 years, the Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. In 2020, people turned to BBB more than 220 million times for BBB Business Profiles on 6.2 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at BBB.org. There are local, independent BBBs across the United States, Canada and Mexico, including BBB Serving Wisconsin which was founded in 1939 and serves the state of Wisconsin.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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