Buying tickets from unauthorized ticket resellers can be risky. Many fans have had bad experiences purchasing counterfeit or invalid tickets through unofficial channels. When buying tickets, especially for in-demand events, it’s important to make sure you are purchasing from an authorized source.
What is Ticket Center?
Ticket Center is an online ticket marketplace where sellers can list tickets for sale and buyers can purchase them. Sellers on Ticket Center are not affiliated with event venues or organizers. They are reselling tickets they have purchased from elsewhere.
As an online ticket marketplace, Ticket Center simply facilitates the transaction between buyers and third-party sellers. They do not verify the validity or authenticity of the tickets being sold. This raises the risk of buyers unknowingly purchasing fake or invalid tickets.
Are tickets sold on Ticket Center guaranteed to be valid?
No, Ticket Center does not guarantee the validity of tickets sold on their marketplace. Their website states that they are not responsible for issues with tickets purchased through their platform.
Some key points from their policies:
- Ticket Center does not own, price, or endorse the tickets sold through their marketplace.
- They do not check the validity of tickets or ensure accuracy of listings.
- They do not guarantee you will gain entry to an event with tickets purchased on their site.
- It is the buyer’s responsibility to validate the tickets with the venue before purchasing.
So while you may find tickets listed for sale on Ticket Center, there is always a risk that those tickets could turn out to be fraudulent or unusable. Ticket Center does not vet sellers or tickets in any way.
What risks are there to buying tickets from Ticket Center?
There are several risks buyers take when purchasing tickets from resellers on sites like Ticket Center:
- Invalid Tickets: There is no guarantee the tickets are valid and will allow entry to the event. They could be counterfeits or tickets that have already been scanned.
- Marked up Prices: Resellers often mark up ticket prices much higher than face value, gouging fans.
- Scams: Some fraudulent sellers will take buyers money without sending any tickets at all.
- No recourse: If you do get invalid tickets or scammed, sites like Ticket Center offer no refunds or support.
Are there any protections when buying from Ticket Center?
There are limited protections when purchasing tickets through Ticket Center or other secondary resellers. Some things to keep in mind:
- Use a credit card – This allows you to potentially dispute the charges if the tickets turn out to be fake.
- Review the seller’s ratings – Look for ratings and reviews that might reveal scam artists.
- Validate with the venue – Contact the official box office to check if the tickets are legitimate.
However, there is no guarantee when buying from an unofficial source. Your best recourse is being an informed buyer and using scrutiny before making a purchase.
How to tell if tickets sold on Ticket Center are fake
Here are some signs that tickets sold on Ticket Center or other resellers may be fraudulent:
- Prices are excessively high or low compared to face value
- Seller has poor or no ratings history
- Tickets look flimsy, badly printed or lack security features
- Tickets are for seats that don’t exist according to venue maps
- Seller refuses to provide documentation or proof of purchase
Ultimately there is no foolproof way to validate tickets without having the venue scan them. Be very cautious when buying from unverified sellers online.
Are there other risks to buying from Ticket Center?
Beyond potentially getting invalid tickets, there are other risks buyers take on when purchasing from Ticket Center or similar sites:
- Your personal and payment information may not be secure
- You have to accept their terms and conditions which limits your recourse
- Tickets could be overpriced compared to face value
- Last minute cancellations or changes are out of the seller’s control
- Your purchase supports scalpers who snap up tickets solely to resell at higher prices
You lose many of the protections, guarantees and security that come with buying tickets directly from authorized sellers. It becomes a buyer beware situation.
Are there any legit reasons to use Ticket Center?
There are some valid scenarios where buyers may want to consider Ticket Center or other resale platforms:
- Event is sold out from primary sellers – It gives you access to tickets still available
- You need last minute tickets – Primary sellers may no longer have availability close to event dates
- You are flexible on seating – Resale sometimes offers seats primary sellers don’t have
- There are sufficient buyer protections – Ratings, reviews, refund policies, etc.
However, you should still take precautions validating both the tickets and seller before transacting on Ticket Center.
Should I buy from Ticket Center?
We cannot recommend buying tickets from Ticket Center or other unauthorized resellers. The risks are simply too high and the protections too limited. Instead we strongly suggest:
- Always buy from primary ticket sellers – The event organizer, venue box office, Ticketmaster, etc.
- Use official fan exchanges like the NFL Ticket Exchange to avoid scalpers
- Join pre-sales, fan clubs and mailing lists to get early access to primary tickets
- Use StubHub or other exchanges sparingly – They offer buyer guarantees and protections not found elsewhere
While you may pay more in some cases, buying tickets directly from authorized sellers is the only way to guarantee legitimacy and security.
Conclusion
Tickets sold through unauthorized resellers like Ticket Center carry major risks of scams, counterfeits and overpaying. There are limited buyer protections and no guarantees offered. While such sites provide an option for sold out events, extreme caution must be exercised.
Whenever possible, it is smartest to only buy tickets directly from approved primary ticket outlets, even if it means paying higher prices or missing out. Going through unauthorized channels is an unnecessary gamble that often ends badly for buyers.
