Have you faced the daunting task of buying tickets for a concert or sporting event at the last minute? Then you know that it is near impossible. Until now! In the past, popular or sought-after events were sold out in the first day of going on sale (often in the first couple of hours). Making it nearly impossible for those of us with a life to get tickets to the event, let alone “great seats”. However, this has all changed in recent years. Now you can buy tickets online, sometimes at a fraction of the cost you would have spent on the day of their release.
Keep in mind there are a some things to be cautious of when purchasing sold-out or hard-to-find tickets. By using my tips, you can save yourself time and money, all the while protecting yourself from scammers scouring the Internet for suckers.
Security
First off, you should always check to ensure the site you are buying from is security-enabled. The order page should definitely be secure, to give you peace-of-mind that your transaction is being safeguarded. One way to double-check this is to look at the URL in the address bar. Make sure it reads “https://” as opposed to “http://”. The "s" means it is secure. If the online ticket company uses a third party service, make sure it's a company that is known and trustworthy.
Contact Information
Before you finalize your ticket purchase, make sure you have a contact number for the ticket company and give it a try to ensure you can reach a customer service agent if needed. If this option is not available on the website, then I would recommend taking your business elsewhere. If you choose to continue your transaction, you are liable to get stuck with a hefty bill and no tickets to show for it. This is especially true with sporting events. If the game you purchased tickets for is cancelled due to weather, you need a phone number to contact customer service and find out what your next course of action should be.
Reputation
If you are not using one of the more well-known ticket purchasing sites, make sure to use the resources available to you to confirm that the company you are doing business with is recognized. One way to do this is by going to the Better Business Bureau’s online site and researching the company. On their site you can find valuable information about the company, including how long they’ve been in business and recent complaints.
Hidden Fees
Before hitting the “Submit” button and finalizing your order, make sure there are no hidden fees being placed on your order. Often times companies will incorporate these fees as “service charges” and if you don’t read the fine print, you could get charged an extra $25 or $35 per transaction.
Extra Assurance
Always lookout for something similar to "Buyer Guarantee". We all know that when you are purchasing tickets for an event, you are usually buying 2-4 tickets at a time. This can run your bill from $200-$1000 or more. You need extra assurance that if something goes awry, you have the support of the company you did business with to refund your money in a timely manner. Finding this assurance from the ticket company should not be difficult to locate on their page. Most are very enthusiastic about advertising it, as it’s a huge bonus to offer their customers. But, read it, and know it. You never know if you’re going to need them to bail you out because you were sent bogus tickets.
Buying Early Saves
Be sure to know your local team’s schedule or if your favorite band is coming to your area. Knowing upfront will save you the hassle of scrambling at the last minute, because you never know if someone will be willing to part with their tickets to the hottest show of the summer. However, if you decide last-minute that you absolutely have to attend the game this Sunday then please use the guide I have provided you above. Whether your purchase is for a sporting event, concert, theater showing, or any other event, you are equipped to buy tickets online with peace of mind.
Keep in mind there are a some things to be cautious of when purchasing sold-out or hard-to-find tickets. By using my tips, you can save yourself time and money, all the while protecting yourself from scammers scouring the Internet for suckers.
Security
First off, you should always check to ensure the site you are buying from is security-enabled. The order page should definitely be secure, to give you peace-of-mind that your transaction is being safeguarded. One way to double-check this is to look at the URL in the address bar. Make sure it reads “https://” as opposed to “http://”. The "s" means it is secure. If the online ticket company uses a third party service, make sure it's a company that is known and trustworthy.
Contact Information
Before you finalize your ticket purchase, make sure you have a contact number for the ticket company and give it a try to ensure you can reach a customer service agent if needed. If this option is not available on the website, then I would recommend taking your business elsewhere. If you choose to continue your transaction, you are liable to get stuck with a hefty bill and no tickets to show for it. This is especially true with sporting events. If the game you purchased tickets for is cancelled due to weather, you need a phone number to contact customer service and find out what your next course of action should be.
Reputation
If you are not using one of the more well-known ticket purchasing sites, make sure to use the resources available to you to confirm that the company you are doing business with is recognized. One way to do this is by going to the Better Business Bureau’s online site and researching the company. On their site you can find valuable information about the company, including how long they’ve been in business and recent complaints.
Hidden Fees
Before hitting the “Submit” button and finalizing your order, make sure there are no hidden fees being placed on your order. Often times companies will incorporate these fees as “service charges” and if you don’t read the fine print, you could get charged an extra $25 or $35 per transaction.
Extra Assurance
Always lookout for something similar to "Buyer Guarantee". We all know that when you are purchasing tickets for an event, you are usually buying 2-4 tickets at a time. This can run your bill from $200-$1000 or more. You need extra assurance that if something goes awry, you have the support of the company you did business with to refund your money in a timely manner. Finding this assurance from the ticket company should not be difficult to locate on their page. Most are very enthusiastic about advertising it, as it’s a huge bonus to offer their customers. But, read it, and know it. You never know if you’re going to need them to bail you out because you were sent bogus tickets.
Buying Early Saves
Be sure to know your local team’s schedule or if your favorite band is coming to your area. Knowing upfront will save you the hassle of scrambling at the last minute, because you never know if someone will be willing to part with their tickets to the hottest show of the summer. However, if you decide last-minute that you absolutely have to attend the game this Sunday then please use the guide I have provided you above. Whether your purchase is for a sporting event, concert, theater showing, or any other event, you are equipped to buy tickets online with peace of mind.
