As a music lover, there’s nothing quite like the excitement of securing a ticket to see one of your favorite artists perform live. However, the process of actually acquiring that ticket can often be a frustrating and disappointing experience, thanks to the existence of ticket scalpers on platforms like Gigsberg.
Personal experience
This post was shared with us by one of our readers. We verified the ticket purchase and correspondence. To avoid harassment we allowed them to publish the guest post anonymously.
I recently had the opportunity to try and secure a ticket for a Peter Gabriel concert, and it quickly became clear just how much of a problem scalpers are for music fans. As soon as tickets went on sale, I eagerly logged onto the official ticketing website and prepared to make my purchase. But before I could even begin the process, I was met with a barrage of search results at the top of Google, all claiming to be “official” ticket sellers.
To my dismay, these so-called “companies” profit off of unsuspecting fans like me. They had cleverly listed their event at the top of Google, posing as real ticket companies, taking advantage of the urgency that comes with buying tickets fast, not knowing that platforms like Gigsberg ask for prices of up to 500%.
€220 tickets are offered for €550 on Gigsberg, while still being available on the real website
These scalpers were able to game the system by listing their tickets as “paper tickets” in order to ensure that people couldn’t request refunds, as the bought tickets were still in transit. This is a clear violation of reselling policies set in place by companies like Ticketmaster, but it seems as though there’s very little that can be done to stop these scalpers from taking advantage of music fans.
It’s a shame that the concert-going experience has been tainted by these unscrupulous individuals, who are more focused on making a quick profit than on allowing music fans to enjoy live performances. It’s imperative that stricter measures are put in place to prevent scalpers from exploiting fans and taking away from the overall concert experience.
I reached out to Gigsberg, once I learned that Ticketmaster’s Terms of Service (6.5) don’t allow ticket holders to resell their tickets for commercial purposes and more than 115% of the initial value. Unfortunately, unsuccessful so far.
How to protect yourself from scalping marketplaces
As someone who has been personally affected by ticket scalpers, I know just how frustrating it can be to try and secure a ticket for a concert or event, only to be met with inflated prices and shady resellers. Here are a few tips to help you avoid ticket scalpers and secure a legitimate ticket to your next event:
- Purchase tickets directly from the official ticketing website. This is the most reliable way to ensure that you’re getting a legitimate ticket and that you’re not overpaying for it.
- Be wary of third-party websites and ticket resellers. While some of these sites may be legitimate, many of them are operated by scalpers who are looking to make a profit off of unsuspecting fans.
- Watch out for suspiciously low prices. If a ticket seems too good to be true, it probably is. Scalpers often list tickets at artificially low prices in order to attract buyers, and then charge exorbitant prices for shipping and handling.
- Don’t rush to buy tickets. Scalpers often take advantage of the urgency that comes with buying tickets fast, so it’s important to take your time and make sure that you’re getting a legitimate ticket. Reselling platforms like Gigsberg can be a last resort but their tickets won’t go away, so invest more time to get your tickets through legit platforms.
- Check the event reselling policies, if exist, and follow them. Many event organizers have rules in place to prevent scalping, and by following these policies, you can ensure that you’re not supporting scalping.
- Be aware of the different types of tickets, for instance, e-tickets, paper tickets, mobile tickets, etc. Scalpers often list their tickets as paper tickets, so that people can’t request refunds if they don’t receive the tickets.
By following these tips, you’ll be better equipped to avoid ticket scalpers and secure a legitimate ticket to your next event. Happy concert-going!
