AXS is one of the major ticket companies that provides ticketing services for live entertainment events. They sell tickets for concerts, sports games, theater shows and more. As with any ticket reseller, there are questions around how trustworthy they are and whether buying from them is a good idea.
What is AXS?
AXS is a digital ticketing platform and subsidiary of Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG). AEG is one of the largest entertainment companies in the world and owns stadiums, arenas, theaters, clubs, sports teams and more. AXS was created in 2011 to be the official ticketing provider for AEG venues and events. Since then it has expanded to work with additional venues and promoters beyond AEG.
AXS provides ticketing services through its website and mobile apps. On the AXS site you can purchase tickets for concerts, sports games, theater shows and other live entertainment events. They have ticket inventory that comes directly from event organizers and venues. AXS also operates as a ticket resale marketplace where people can resell extra tickets.
The Pros of Buying from AXS
Here are some of the benefits of purchasing tickets through AXS:
- Legitimate tickets – Since AXS gets inventory directly from event organizers and venues, tickets bought from them are 100% legitimate and valid.
- Large event selection – As one of the major players in event ticketing, AXS offers tickets to many major concerts, shows, games and festivals across North America.
- Refunds – AXS offers refunds in certain situations where events get postponed, rescheduled or canceled.
- Digital tickets – AXS utilizes mobile ticketing so you can get digital tickets on your phone easily.
- Fair prices – For high demand events, prices for AXS ticket resales tend to be competitive and at market value.
- Reputable company – AXS comes from AEG, one of the most established entertainment companies.
Potential Drawbacks of AXS
While AXS is generally trustworthy, there are some downsides to consider as well:
- High fees – AXS adds on substantial fees including service fees, facility fees, delivery fees and more.
- Limited inventory – For extremely high demand events, AXS may sell out quickly and have limited tickets.
- Resellers – The AXS resale marketplace contains overpriced tickets from resellers at times.
- Technical issues – There have been instances of the AXS website crashing during busy sales due to overloaded servers.
- Long waits – Popular events will have thousands trying to buy which can mean waiting in long online queues.
- No refunds in some cases – Refunds are not guaranteed if you can no longer attend or choose to resell.
AXS Ratings from Customers
Here is a look at customer ratings and reviews for the AXS ticketing service on popular review sites:
Site | AXS Rating |
---|---|
Trustpilot | 1 out of 5 stars |
BBB | 1.2 out of 5 stars |
Sitejabber | 2.5 out of 5 stars |
As you can see, customer sentiment towards AXS is poor and negatively skewed. Low ratings stem primarily from very high fees, poor customer service, technical problems, and bad experiences buying resale tickets.
Examples of Negative AXS Reviews
“I will never use Axs again after the horrible experience I had trying to buy tickets. Their website crashed repeatedly and when I finally got tickets, I got overcharged with fees.”
“Don’t buy from them! Fake tickets and zero customer service. They take your money and won’t refund when you don’t get real tickets.”
“Had an awful time trying to resell extra tickets I couldn’t use. Axs makes it impossible to resell at reasonable prices due to their fees.”
Examples of Positive AXS Reviews
“I had no issues buying Axs tickets for a concert at one of their venues. Everything went smoothly and the e-tickets worked fine.”
“They make it really easy to access your tickets online or through the app. Definitely recommend using Axs ticketing.”
“I like that Axs tickets cannot be counterfeited. Gives me peace of mind that my ticket purchase is legitimate.”
Key Factors to Consider When Buying from AXS
If you do choose to purchase tickets through AXS, here are some tips to get the best experience:
- Buy early – Tickets are less likely to sell out and tend to be cheaper if you buy well in advance of the event date.
- Beware of resale tickets – Resale tickets carry more risks so inspect carefully before purchasing.
- Check fees – Fees can add 50% or more to the ticket price so account for all costs.
- Use pre-sales – Take advantage of fan club and credit card pre-sales to get early access to tickets.
- Read the fine print – Understand the terms, policies, and guarantees before finalizing your order.
- Confirm your purchase – Double check all ticket details to verify you got the correct quantity, section, price etc.
Is AXS a Trustworthy Place to Buy Tickets?
Overall, AXS is a legitimate source of tickets as an official provider, but has garnered a bad reputation from poor customer experiences, technical issues, and excessive fees.
For low demand events, buying directly from AXS is usually fine. But for highly coveted events, you may want to explore other options.
Some signs AXS is untrustworthy include:
- Exorbitantly high ticket prices
- Extremely high fees or hidden fees
- Resale tickets that are underpriced
- Websites with AXS branding that are not the official AXS.com
- Third parties claiming to sell AXS tickets
- Inability to confirm or view ticket details before purchasing
Use caution when considering AXS for any high profile event purchase. Your best bet is buying directly through the official AXS website for primary market tickets. But extensive research, comparison shopping, and skepticism is warranted if venturing into AXS ticket resales.
Conclusion
AXS provides a mix of advantages and disadvantages as a ticketing provider. Convenience and legitimacy of primary tickets makes them trustworthy for low demand events. But technical problems, high fees, and reseller risks mean exercising caution for high demand events.
Do thorough research before any major ticket purchase through AXS. Check reviews, compare to other ticket sites, and evaluate any risks. For the highest confidence, primary market tickets directly through AXS tend to be the safest bet. But the company’s reputation and track record makes high-dollar resale tickets risky.
Given the many downsides uncovered, it may be wise to consider other ticket options before defaulting to AXS. But if you do decide to buy through them, purchase early, check for fees, read the fine print, and confirm details diligently. While AXS has its benefits, there are likely better options for finding trustworthy tickets to your favorite entertainment events.