Buying concert tickets online can be a frustrating experience. With so many ticket resale sites and fluctuating prices, it’s hard to know where to get the best deals. Choosing the right website to purchase tickets from is key to having a smooth, reliable transaction.
What makes a reliable concert ticket website?
There are a few key factors that contribute to a trustworthy concert ticket site:
- Official partnerships with artists, teams, theaters, etc. Sites that have direct partnerships with official event organizers are more likely to have authentic tickets.
- Consumer protections like guarantees and refund policies. Reliable sites will stand behind their tickets and give you recourse if there are any issues.
- Secure checkout processes and site encryption. Reputable sites will protect your financial information during transactions.
- Positive customer reviews. Reviews from other buyers can give you an idea of the overall experience from a given website.
- Reasonable prices. Sites that price gouge or seem suspiciously cheap may indicate scams.
Most reliable concert and event ticket websites
Taking the reliability factors into account, here are some of the best websites for buying authentic concert and event tickets:
Ticketmaster
As an official ticket sales partner for many major concerts, sporting events, and theater shows, Ticketmaster is often considered one of the most trusted sources for tickets. They sell millions of tickets per year through contractual partnerships across live entertainment. Pros of Ticketmaster include:
- Direct partnerships with major event organizers like LiveNation.
- Official ticket source for many major concerts, sports leagues, and venues.
- Verifies tickets to prevent fraud.
- Guarantees valid tickets or a refund.
- Accepts major payment methods and protects financial data.
Potential downsides are that prices can be high, especially with platinum dynamic pricing. There are often facility fees and service charges added at checkout as well.
StubHub
StubHub is one of the largest secondary marketplaces for ticket resales. Instead of selling the tickets themselves, they connect buyers and sellers of event tickets. Benefits of StubHub include:
- Large secondary inventory for sold out and hard to get events.
- FanProtect Guarantee for valid tickets.
- Sort tools to view ticket prices and locations.
- Last minute tickets available.
The main drawbacks are inflated resale prices and moderately high fees. There are also some risk buying from resellers versus official sources.
Vivid Seats
Vivid Seats is another large secondary ticket marketplace, selling tickets sourced from ticket holders and brokers. Some advantages of purchasing through Vivid Seats are:
- 125% money-back guarantee on event cancellations or invalid tickets.
- No service fees on already discounted tickets.
- Rewards program and promo codes available.
- All purchases protected by Norton Secured.
Watch out for highly marked up prices on high demand events. Customer service response times can also be slow.
AXS
AXS is an official event ticketing platform owned by AEG, one of the largest entertainment companies in the world. AXS partners directly with venues like the Staples Center and big artists like Kenny Chesney. Benefits include:
- Official source for tickets at partner venues and tours.
- Fair pricing with all fees shown upfront.
- Tickets transferred electronically via AXS mobile app.
Inventory is limited to AXS partners only. The user interface on both desktop and mobile is not as smooth as some competitors.
SeatGeek
SeatGeek is a search engine that compiles ticket listings from resale markets, official sources, and sometimes the acts themselves. Pros are:
- Allows you to easily compare listings across multiple vendors.
- No fees on the SeatGeek site itself.
- Interactive maps help find the right seats.
- Some tickets come directly from primary sources.
Prices can jump around since it pulls inventory from many sources. If buying resale, protections vary based on seller.
How to choose the best ticket site for an event
The most reliable ticket website can vary based on the specific concert, show, or sporting event you want to attend. Here are some tips for selecting the best source when buying tickets:
- Check official box offices and fan clubs first – For high demand events, you may have access to pre-sales or waitlists through official channels before the general public.
- See if the primary ticket seller partners directly with the event – This signals an authorized source with guaranteed valid tickets.
- For resale tickets, go with major reputable marketplaces – Big players like StubHub and Vivid Seats tend to offer buyer guarantees and protections.
- Search aggregators like SeatGeek to compare offerings – Seeing all resale listings and prices in one spot allows you to find the best deal.
- Read reviews and check policies – Reputable sites will have money-back guarantees and protections against fraud.
Also pay close attention to service fees, which can really drive up your total cost. Scoring a great ticket deal loses its appeal when you get hit with a big processing charge at checkout.
Protecting yourself from ticket scams
While the most reputable sites go to great lengths to ensure ticket authenticity and prevent fraud, scams still exist out there. Here are some tips to avoid fake or invalid tickets:
- Stick to well-known established ticketing marketplaces with buyer guarantees.
- Avoid sellers that only accept wire transfers, prepaid cards, or other unusual payment methods.
- Watch out for prices that seem suspiciously low compared to other listings.
- Verify the tickets through official event channels or ticket tracking services.
- Only buy e-tickets from sources that allow instant online delivery and transfer.
- Be wary of hard tickets sold far in advance, as they may be counterfeit.
Trust your gut instinct when evaluating ticket sellers. If it seems sketchy or too good to be true, walk away.
| Site | Type | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ticketmaster | Primary | Official source, guarantees, protections | High fees and prices |
| StubHub | Resale | Large secondary inventory, guarantees | Inflated prices, reseller risks |
| Vivid Seats | Resale | Guarantees, rewards, no fees offers | High markups, slow customer service |
| AXS | Primary | Official tickets, fair pricing | Limited inventory |
| SeatGeek | Search | Price comparison, some primary inventory | Unpredictable pricing, varying protections |
Conclusion
In the world of online ticket sales, there are no absolute guarantees when purchasing tickets. However, sticking with major reputable primary and resale ticket sites with buyer protections in place goes a long way in finding authentic event tickets.
For high demand events, checking official box offices and fan clubs first provides the most direct path to tickets. After that, large trustworthy secondary marketplaces like StubHub and Vivid Seats offer massive inventories and guarantees. Ticketmaster remains the premier option for reliable tickets from official team and venue partners.
No matter what site you choose, don’t forget to factor in all the added fees at checkout. Some great ticket deals lose their appeal once processing charges get added to the final price. Also be vigilant about potential scams and use common sense when evaluating ticket sellers online.
While scoring tickets to your favorite music artist or sports team can be incredibly exciting, make sure you use reliable websites to avoid getting burned by invalid or fraudulent tickets.