SeatGeek is an online ticket marketplace that allows users to buy and sell tickets for sporting events, concerts, theater shows and more. When you purchase tickets through SeatGeek, you may be wondering – are my tickets guaranteed? Here’s what you need to know about SeatGeek’s ticket guarantees.
SeatGeek’s Buyer Guarantee
SeatGeek provides a Buyer Guarantee to protect ticket buyers. This guarantee states that if your event is canceled and not rescheduled, or if you purchase fake tickets that don’t allow entry, SeatGeek will find you replacement tickets of equal or greater value.
Here are the details on SeatGeek’s Buyer Guarantee:
- The guarantee covers full refunds – if SeatGeek can’t get you replacement tickets, you will get a full refund for the purchase price, including all fees.
- It applies to all ticket purchases on SeatGeek – no matter what type of tickets or what kind of event.
- To be eligible, you need to complete your purchase directly through SeatGeek’s website or mobile apps.
- The original tickets need to be unusable to gain entry. Issues like obstructed views or bad seats are not covered.
- You have to report the problem and make your guarantee claim within 5 days of the event to SeatGeek’s customer support.
As long as you comply with the terms, SeatGeek guarantees they will make it right if there is a major issue with your tickets. This provides important peace of mind for buyers.
Verified Tickets
In addition to the guarantee, SeatGeek also offers Verified Tickets to further protect buyers. Verified Tickets are authenticated directly with the venue or event owner to confirm validity.
SeatGeek checks the tickets and listings from sellers on their marketplace. Those that are verified as authentic are tagged with a Verified Ticket badge. This makes it easy for buyers to filter for verified listings when searching for event tickets on SeatGeek.
Seller Certification
SeatGeek also has a Seller Certification program. Large ticket sellers who list inventory on SeatGeek must go through a certification process. This includes providing business documents, tax information, venue contracts and more.
Certified sellers have demonstrated their business is legitimate to SeatGeek. Their listings will show a Seller Certified badge. Sticking to certified sellers further helps avoid counterfeit tickets.
The Buyer Guarantee Process
If you purchase tickets on SeatGeek and have an issue, here are the steps to go through with the buyer guarantee:
- Contact SeatGeek customer support within 5 days of the event date. You can reach them by phone, email, or through their online contact form.
- Explain your ticket issue and provide supporting documentation. This may include the original ticket order confirmation, the unusable tickets, emails/information from the venue, etc.
- SeatGeek will review your claim and validate that you purchased verified, authentic tickets through their marketplace. They may contact the seller and venue as part of the investigation.
- If your claim qualifies under the Buyer Guarantee terms, SeatGeek will find replacement tickets for you. This will be for an event of equal or greater value.
- If replacement tickets are not possible, SeatGeek will issue you a full refund of the ticket purchase amount and fees.
- The refund or replacement tickets will be processed quickly after approval, usually within 5-7 business days.
SeatGeek aims to make the process as smooth as possible for customers. They work quickly to resolve guarantee claims. Make sure to provide all relevant information upfront to help expedite the claim investigation.
Getting Your Money Back
If you qualify for a refund under the Buyer Guarantee, SeatGeek will issue your refund through the original payment method used for buying the tickets. For example:
- If you paid by credit card, the refund will be issued back to that card.
- For PayPal purchases, the refund goes back to your PayPal account.
- If you paid by debit card, the refund will go to the linked bank account.
- For gift cards or SeatGeek wallet credit, the funds will be returned to your account balance.
The refund includes the full ticket amount, delivery fees, and SeatGeek service fees paid. You won’t be left out any money from the original purchase. SeatGeek eats the cost of fees on guaranteed ticket refunds.
What Voids the Buyer Guarantee?
While SeatGeek provides strong protections for buyers, there are cases where the guarantee can be voided. Make sure you avoid the following when purchasing tickets:
- Buying tickets through unverified third-party sites or unknown sellers. The guarantee only applies to purchases directly made through SeatGeek’s official platforms.
- Purchasing tickets labelled “No Refunds” or “All Sales Final”. The guarantee only covers refundable tickets.
- Waiting longer than 5 days after the event to report ticket issues. Claims must be promptly made to qualify.
- Trying to “upgrade” your seats or get refunds for reasons other than unusable tickets, like bad views. The guarantee only covers complete ticket failures.
- Attempting to re-use tickets already scanned for entry at an event. Duplicates will be rejected.
As long as you make your ticket purchase directly through SeatGeek and report any major issues right away, you’ll be covered by the Buyer Guarantee.
The Bottom Line
SeatGeek provides a Buyer Guarantee to give customers peace of mind and assurance when buying tickets. If your event is canceled or your tickets don’t work, SeatGeek will make it right with replacement tickets or a full refund.
Here are some key points on SeatGeek’s ticket guarantees:
- All purchases made directly through SeatGeek are eligible for the guarantee.
- You must report ticket issues within 5 days of the event.
- Qualifying issues get you a refund or replacement tickets of equal/greater value.
- SeatGeek covers the costs – you get your full purchase amount back, including fees.
- Make sure to buy Verified Tickets from Certified Sellers for added protection.
While no ticket purchase is 100% risk-free, SeatGeek provides assurance against major problems through their Buyer Guarantee. So you can feel confident that your tickets will be valid and honored when buying through their marketplace.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does SeatGeek’s Buyer Guarantee cover?
SeatGeek’s guarantee covers issues where your tickets are unusable to get into the event, like canceled events or counterfeit tickets. It provides a refund or replacement tickets in these cases.
How long do I have to claim the guarantee?
Claims must be made within 5 days of the ticketed event date. Contact SeatGeek customer support to start your claim.
Can I get a refund for bad seats/views?
No, the guarantee only covers complete ticket failures, not issues with seat quality or obstructed views.
What if my ticket order exceeds the guarantee amount limit?
For very expensive purchases over $10,000, additional verification may be required. Contact SeatGeek support for help with high-value orders.
Am I guaranteed tickets if an event sells out?
No, the guarantee only applies if purchased tickets end up being unusable or invalid for entry. It does not promise tickets for sold out events.
The Importance of Buying from Trusted Sellers
While SeatGeek provides a safety net with their Buyer Guarantee, it’s still important to be careful when choosing tickets. Purchase only from reputable, verified sellers to minimize the risk of ending up with fake or fraudulent tickets. Here are some tips:
- Check for SeatGeek’s Verified Ticket and Seller Certified badges on listings.
- Avoid third-party sellers without proper verification from SeatGeek.
- Be wary of prices or deals that seem “too good to be true”.
- Review seller ratings and feedback before purchasing.
- Make sure web addresses look official – no odd variations of seatgeek.com.
- Always complete your purchase directly through SeatGeek’s platforms.
Following these tips will help ensure you receive valid event tickets and maximize your chance of avoiding issues down the road.
Example of a Fraudulent Seller
Imagine you come across an online ticket seller called “SeatGeekTickets”. Their website looks similar to SeatGeek’s and they have tickets listed for sale to an upcoming concert you want to attend. However, some red flags include:
- The web address is “seatgeek-tickets.org” instead of seatgeek.com
- The tickets are listed at extremely low prices compared to other sites
- There are no seller reviews or rating visible on the site
- They are not listed as a Verified or Certified Seller on SeatGeek’s official marketplace
These signs indicate it is likely a fraudulent operator or scalper misrepresenting themselves as SeatGeek. You would have a high risk of getting scammed buying from them. Always verify legitimate sellers for your own protection when purchasing tickets online.
How SeatGeek Stacks Up to Competitors
SeatGeek is one of several major online ticket marketplaces. Here’s how its buyer protection compares to some top competitors:
Site | Guarantee Details |
---|---|
SeatGeek | Full refund or replacement tickets if event canceled or tickets invalid for entry. |
StubHub | Full refund if event canceled and not rescheduled. No coverage for invalid tickets. |
VividSeats | Full refund if event canceled. 100% Buyer Guarantee for invalid tickets. |
Ticketmaster | Full refund if event canceled. FanProtect Guarantee for invalid tickets provides 120% credit. |
SeatGeek is competitive by offering a full refund guarantee against both event cancelations and fake/invalid tickets. Terms are straightforward with no convoluted credit systems. Quick claim response times also give them an edge.
SeatGeek vs. StubHub
Comparing SeatGeek vs StubHub, a key difference is that StubHub’s guarantee only covers event cancelations. It does not provide any protection if you end up with fake or invalid tickets. SeatGeek goes a step further by also guaranteeing your tickets will gain entry. This gives extra peace of mind when buying through SeatGeek.
Examples of Successful Guarantee Claims
Here are some examples of situations where customers successfully got their money back or new tickets using SeatGeek’s Buyer Guarantee:
Cancelled Concert
Emma purchased 2 tickets for $75 each to see her favorite band in concert. The day before the show, the band announced they had to cancel the tour due to their lead singer falling ill. Emma contacted SeatGeek within 5 days of her ticketed date. She provided her order confirmation and the cancellation announcement. SeatGeek confirmed the event was cancelled and issued Emma a full $150 refund for her unusable concert tickets.
Fake Sports Tickets
Noah bought tickets on SeatGeek to a big college basketball game for $60 each. When he tried to enter the arena, the ticket scanner displayed “Invalid Ticket”. Apparently the ticket barcodes had already been scanned and used for entry by another fan. Noah promptly reported the fake ticket situation to SeatGeek. After confirming his account of events, they provided Noah with replacement tickets for the game, upholding their Buyer Guarantee.
Tips for Avoiding Ticket Scams
While SeatGeek offers strong buyer protection, avoiding ticket scams in the first place is ideal. Here are some tips to stay safe when buying tickets online:
- Only buy from official primary ticket sellers like SeatGeek or directly through the venue’s box office.
- Check for seller certifications and ticket verifications like those offered by SeatGeek.
- Never pay with cash, wiring money, gift cards, or other irreversible payment methods.
- Be wary of sellers advertising prices much lower than all other listings.
- Avoid websites with no physical address or customer service contact info.
- For resellers, review their reputation and customer reviews before purchasing.
If a deal seems too good to be true, it very well may be. Use common sense precautions and stick to reputable sellers like SeatGeek to avoid falling victim to ticket scammers and frauds.
Recognizing Scam Tactics
Some common tactics used by ticket scammers include:
- Impersonating real ticket sellers with mock websites.
- Using email addresses not matching the domain name.
- Requiring wire transfers or gift card payments.
- Advertising very cheap tickets to hype demand.
- Generating fake ticket barcodes that won’t scan.
- Re-selling previously used tickets.
Pay attention to these red flags when shopping for event tickets. Protect yourself by only purchasing from reputable sellers that provide buyer protections.
Final Thoughts
SeatGeek provides important peace of mind for ticket buyers through their generous Buyer Guarantee. If your event gets cancelled or your tickets end up being fake or unusable, SeatGeek has your back. They’ll make it right with replacement tickets or offer prompt refunds in these situations.
Make sure to follow the guarantee terms by:
- Completing your purchase directly through SeatGeek
- Buying from certified, verified sellers
- Reporting any issues within 5 days of your event
While no tickets are 100% risk-free, buying through SeatGeek provides assurance against major problems. Between safe purchasing tips, seller verifications, and SeatGeek’s money-back guarantee, you can shop for tickets with greater confidence.