By Rachel Newman
Few things are more frustrating than planning to see a concert, go to a sports event, catch a movie and find that everyone else has already beat you to it.
The sell-out crowds are always exciting when you are among them, but if you are stuck on the wrong side of Ticketmaster, chances are you will be looking for a new way to see your favorite band, team or action star. This is the time that so many consumers will take to the internet to try to get a good deal on tickets.
With two sold-out, Southern California events this month, the San Diego Padres Opening Day and the Coachella Music Festival, your BBB warns consumers to exercise caution as they attempt to find resale tickets.
Keep your cool and your cash with these money-saving tips:
Do your research. Before you start your resale search, know the approximate prices of tickets. This will help you figure out if an offer is a good deal or far too low to be legitimate. If you find a reseller that seems a bit low in their pricing, don’t be tempted, just move along. Remember if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Avoid Craigslist. It may be a convenient and somewhat cheaper place to find tickets, but it is riddled with scammers. You will undoubtedly pay a high price on websites like StubHub, but its far better to pay a little more for tickets that are guaranteed to be real than to be scammed at a lower price.
If you do decide to use Craigslist to find your resale tickets:
o Avoid postings that don’t list a phone number.
o Always attempt to meet in person in a public place.
o Do not pay with cash.
Use a credit card, when possible. Credit card purchases are tracked and will provide a recourse for you if in fact you do buy fake tickets. Though it isn’t always possible to use a credit card, you should look for that option.
For more information about ticket scams and keeping your financial information safe, visit bbb.org or call our free consumer line at 858.496.2131.
