Purchasing tickets from a third party doesn’t have to be risky. Follow these tips to help ensure your ticket is the real deal.
Buying tickets for a festival or concert from a third-party seller can be scary and leave you with many questions. Is this real? Am I being scammed? Am I being overcharged?
While not all of us can avoid every concert dilemma, being selective about where you purchase your resale tickets can help you avoid scams and enjoy the event. We always recommended that you do your research before purchasing your passes.
We live in the digital age, where communities for just about any event you can think of can be found online. Joining them and participating in conversations about the event can help you familiarize yourself with other groups attending.
So many of the online communities you can join usually have secondary resellers. Admins that run these types of groups are typically very active and constantly monitoring for scammers and price gougers. Although there is no guarantee that a scammer won’t get through, you can have the backing of other community members help confirm that a reseller is credible.
Online communities are also a great way to connect with other attendees for camping planning, meetups, and ticket exchanges. Reddit pages for events like Bonnaroo or Burning Man, along with Facebook groups like Denver EDM Fam or EDM SoCal Ticket Exchange, often help fans buy, sell, and trade tickets with other festival goers.
While these forums are community based, it is still important to take precautions. Whenever possible, use a protected payment system like PayPal, research the seller’s profile, and ask if other group members can vouch for them before sending money.
Another safe option to get a ticket from is authorized resellers.
To reduce the risk of scams, Festivals like Electric Forest and Tomorrowland advise buying from their authorized resellers. Official festival partners like FrontGate Tickets and AXS typically provide waitlists or fan-to-fan purchasing.
Buyers can also consider online marketplaces such as StubHub, SeatGeek, or Vivid Seats. These authorized websites each offer a guarantee that gives buyers an added level of protection when purchasing.
Another platform that has grown in popularity over the past few years is DICE. This website has transparent pricing and allows easy ticket transfers among friends.
Social media is also another resource to use, but proceed with caution.
Social media platforms like Threads and Facebook have become increasingly popular places for people to buy and sell event tickets. Unfortunately, they have also become a hotspot for scammers.
If you come across a ticket listing on social media, be sure to do your due diligence before sending any money. Take the time to review the seller’s profile, check their activity, and verify that they appear to be a real person.
Local fan communities for artists and events can also be valuable resources for finding legitimate sellers. Many of these groups have active moderators who help connect members for ticket exchanges and may be able to provide insight on trusted sellers. Even within these communities, it’s important to use secure payment methods and verify the ticket before sending money.
Buying from resellers can be intimidating, but doing your homework and following simple precautions can help you avoid scams and secure a legitimate ticket.
Remember:
- Do not send money to anyone without properly verifying their identity first.
- Use protected payment systems like PayPal.
- Verify the general ticket information, including time, date, and watermarks from the ticket distributor.
- Don’t be afraid to ask the seller to show some form of ID and proof of purchase (order number, receipt, etc.). If possible, verify that the ID matches the ticket information.
- Check for ticket guarantees on authorized reseller websites.
- Inspect the seller’s social media account if you are purchasing via an online community.
- Never meet with someone to retrieve your ticket alone, or in a secluded area. Meet up in an area where other people are around.
We hope these tips can help you successfully purchase tickets to your next festival with peace of mind. Happy raving!
