Be Safe Buying Tickets
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Every event will have one or more official ticket sellers. Until the event is sold out, this is where you should go to buy tickets. Because these tickets come straight from the event organiser, if you buy from here you’re guaranteed to be sold a valid ticket at a fair price.
To find the official ticket seller, check on the artist or venue website. Avoid using an internet search or social media adverts. You might be diverted to an unauthorised resale site with prices way above a ticket’s face value.
Examples of official ticket sellers include: AXS, DICE, Eventim, See Tickets, The Ticket Factory, Ticketmaster.*
*Not all sites operate in every country
Some event organisers use ticket companies that have an official service for fans to use to resell their tickets. This is sometimes called a ‘ticket exchange’. Because these services are through the official ticket seller, if you buy from here you’re guaranteed to be sold a valid ticket and given accurate information about your ticket.
In some cases, these ticket exchanges only open once the event is sold out. You should check on the artist or venue website to find out more information.
Examples include: DICE Waiting List, Eventim fanSALE, Resident Advisor Resale, Shotgun, Stade de France ticket exchange, Ticketmaster ticket exchange.*
Some events will signpost a different site which they have ‘authorised’ to resell tickets for their show. Organisers have selected this site as a safer place to get resale tickets, so there’s much less of a chance of being refused entry. There is often also a limit on the price a ticket can be resold for.
However, still be cautious – just because a resale site has been authorised for a previous event does not mean it has been authorised for this one. Always look on the artist or venue website for a list of authorised ticket resale sites.
Examples of authorised resale sites used for certain events: P1 Travel (used by AC Milan), Twickets (used by a range of artists for their tours).*
In some countries, the only legal way to resell tickets is using a platform authorised by the event organiser. Find out more here.
*Not all sites operate in every country
Some sites allow fans to resell tickets, but put a cap on how much they can charge, for example ‘no more than the face value of the ticket plus booking fee’. This means, as a ticket-buyer, you won’t be charged extortionate prices. However, just because a site’s prices are capped, this doesn’t guarantee that the site has been authorised by the event organiser. Always check on the artist or venue’s website for a list of authorised ticket resale sites.
Examples of face-value resale sites are: DICE Waiting List (face value), Resident Advisor Resale (face value), Shotgun ticket exchange (face value), Ticketmaster ticket exchange (face value + booking fee in the UK and Germany), Twickets (face value + booking fee).*
*Not all sites operate in every country
If you buy from the sites above:
- You can be confident that you’re not going to be charged an extortionate or unfair price
- Tickets purchased are less likely to be invalid or fake, meaning you can be more confident that you will not be turned away
We Say Avoid...
Unauthorised resale is where a website offers tickets for resale but does not have the event organiser’s permission to do so. These sites often let people resell tickets for far more than their original price, meaning they attract profit-making resellers sometimes known as ‘scalpers’ or ‘touts’.
Always check with the official event organiser or on the artist or venue website to see if they have a list of authorised resale partners for their event. If they do not, or if the website you are using is not explicitly listed as authorised, you could be using an unauthorised resale site. Remember that even if a resale site has been authorised for a previous event, it does not mean it is authorised for this one.
If you buy from an unauthorised resale site:
- You might pay way over a reasonable price for a ticket
- The ticket you buy might not exist! Predatory ticket resellers are known to sell tickets they don’t even own
- Even if the ticket is real, you might be refused entry – some event organisers cancel tickets sold through unauthorised resale to stop profit-making resellers from operating and protect fans in the long term
Examples of unauthorised resale sites may include: Viagogo, StubHub, Gigsberg, MyWayTicket, Ticketbande, GETMEIN!, Seatwave, VividSeats*
In some countries, reselling tickets without the event organiser’s permission is a criminal offence. Find out more here.
*Not all sites operate in every country
When searching for tickets online, most people start by using Google. However, be careful. This can be risky as unauthorised resale sites regularly advertise on search engines. This means that they pay to appear at the top of the search results above authorised resale platforms and even the original ticket providers. These search engine listings often look official, but this can be deceiving.
Where possible, double-check on the artist or venue website to locate authorised sellers. If tickets aren’t available, contact the event organiser and ask where you might be able to buy resale tickets.
If you search for tickets using Google, you run the risk of:
- Clicking on sites that look official, but aren’t
- Buying tickets that are invalid or that don’t even exist
- Ending up on unauthorised sites, like Viagogo, without realising
We all know what it’s like. You’re desperate to go to a show so you head over to the artist’s social media page for information. You see a comment under the artist’s post: “Two spare tickets for Friday night! Can’t go anymore! Message me if interested!”
This seems like your chance to see your favourite artist.
However, it is very risky to accept offers like this and it leaves you with limited ways to get your money back if there are any issues. Profit-making ticket resellers can easily use social media to sell overpriced or non-existent tickets. You might also see ‘bot accounts’, fake profiles created on the hunt to target unsuspecting fans.
Some ticket resellers will even copy official branding in order to pose as official, and many large unauthorised resale platforms spend huge sums of money to buy targeted Facebook, Instagram and Twitter ads that look like they come from the venue or event organiser. You need to be extra vigilant on social media, even if the account looks completely official.
It’s always best to avoid it where possible and to check directly on the artist or venue’s website.
If you buy tickets from social media:
- You have no protection or way to claim a refund if there are any issues
- You have no way of guaranteeing that the tickets aren’t fake
- You might be refused entry to the event – some event organisers will cancel tickets sold on social media if they have been sold by unauthorised resellers
Be Safe Reselling Your Ticket
Sometimes, plans change and you can no longer make an event – that’s okay!
Here’s a quick guide to reselling your tickets in a safe way that protects both you and the person buying your ticket:
- First, check the service that you bought the ticket from. Some ticket agents will have options for you to put your ticket back on sale safely. They may also let you transfer your ticket to a friend or, in some cases, offer you a refund
- If it’s not clear how to transfer or resell your ticket, check on the artist or venue website. If there is no information, contact the venue directly using their contact details
- If no specific reseller is authorised, you should list your ticket for sale on a face-value resale site like Twickets
- If the platform provides you with a resale link, you can then share this on social media. That way, you and the person buying your ticket are protected by the ticketing service
Important note: Make sure you are not violating any terms and conditions by reselling your ticket, and ensure you are not breaking the law in your country. In some countries, like France, you can only resell your ticket through a platform specifically authorised by the event organiser. You can find out more about the laws in your country below.
Check if resale is legal in your country
In some countries it is illegal to purchase or sell resale tickets on unauthorised websites, even at face value. Check if resale is legal in the country that your event is happening in before selling or buying tickets.
Laws in your country