StubHub is one of the largest and most well-known secondary ticket marketplaces, offering a wide selection of tickets for sporting events, concerts, theater shows, and more. As with any secondary ticket site, there are some pros and cons to buying tickets on StubHub.
The Pros of Using StubHub
Here are some of the key advantages of using StubHub:
- Large inventory – StubHub offers tickets to over 10 million events across more than 60 countries worldwide. You can find tickets being resold for everything from small club shows to huge arena concerts and championship games.
- Reliability – StubHub has been in business since 2000 and has a generally positive reputation. Many buyers report having smooth, successful transactions on the site.
- Buyer guarantees – StubHub provides 100% guarantees to buyers, promising:
- Valid tickets that will arrive in time for the event.
- A full refund if the event is canceled and not rescheduled.
- Replacement tickets or a refund if tickets sold were invalid.
- FanProtectTM purchase protection – This provides a full refund for tickets if the buyer can no longer attend an event for covered reasons, like injury or weather problems.
- Secure marketplace – StubHub uses encryption, fraud detection, and other security measures to protect buyer and seller transactions.
- Customer support – Buyers have access to 24/7 customer service by phone, chat, or email in case any issues come up before, during, or after a ticket purchase.
- Last-minute options – Fans can find tickets on StubHub up until just hours or minutes before many event start times.
The Cons of Using StubHub
While StubHub offers some significant advantages, there are also some potential downsides to keep in mind:
- Higher prices – As a secondary marketplace, StubHub ticket prices are driven by supply and demand and can be marked up well above face value. Fees also drive up the final price.
- Counterfeit tickets – While rare, there is still a risk of fraudulent or invalid tickets on StubHub as on any secondary site.
- Complicated transfers – The transfer process for electronic tickets can involve multiple steps and be confusing for some buyers and sellers.
- Timing issues – Last-minute ticket transfers can be complicated by logistics and timing. Replacement tickets may not arrive in time if there are problems.
- Annoying fees – StubHub fees for buyers include delivery charges, service fees, and order processing fees that add 10-25% or more to your final ticket purchase price.
Are Tickets Guaranteed to Be Valid on StubHub?
StubHub provides a “valid ticket guarantee” on all ticket purchases. This promises that the tickets sold will be authentic, delivered on time, and grant entry to the event. If a problem does occur, StubHub pledges they will find replacement tickets of equal or better value or provide a full refund.
This guarantee is reassuring for buyers. However, there is still a small risk of issues like:
- Fake or copied barcodes on secondhand tickets.
- Tickets being incorrectly marked as available by the seller when they had already been sold elsewhere.
- Delays in electronic ticket transfers preventing tickets from arriving in time.
These situations are uncommon, but not impossible. StubHub’s support team is generally effective at resolving problems, but hiccups can still happen in the secondary ticket market.
Are StubHub Tickets Priced Fairly?
StubHub ticket prices are set by sellers on the secondary market, based on demand, and typically well above the original face value price. Sellers can ask any price they like for tickets on StubHub.
Some common StubHub pricing factors include:
- How in-demand an event is – More scarce, exclusive, or high-profile events command much higher secondary market prices.
- The original ticket price and venue – Floor or front row seats to big concerts at major arenas will have huge markups.
- Market supply and competition – Less competition from other resellers often leads to higher asking prices.
- Timing – Prices usually go up as the event date gets closer and fewer tickets remain available.
Whether StubHub prices seem “fair” is subjective. If cheaper tickets are scarce or an event is sold out, paying a premium on StubHub may be worth it to fans. Buyers unwilling to pay inflated prices can also keep monitoring for deals. Sellers will sometimes lower prices at the last minute if tickets remain unsold.
StubHub fees on top of the ticket price also contribute to buyers paying well above face value. Fees can add $10-$50 or 10-25% extra per ticket purchased in many cases.
How Safe and Secure is Buying Tickets on StubHub?
StubHub prioritizes buyer security by implementing multiple protections, including:
- Encryption – Website and app data transmissions are encrypted end-to-end.
- Fraud monitoring – StubHub screens transactions for suspicious patterns and inconsistencies.
- Seller verification – Sellers must provide credit cards, IDs, and other details to prove identity.
- Guarantees – StubHub’s guarantees protect buyers financially in case of invalid tickets, changes, or other issues.
- Fan Support – StubHub’s support team is available by phone, email, chat, and social media to quickly assist with any problems before, during, or after an event.
These measures make buying from StubHub very safe overall. Financial threats like credit card fraud are well controlled. Most risks come from the small chance of a seller providing invalid or unusable tickets. But even then, StubHub’s guarantees provide reimbursement and support.
Some tips to stay safe when buying tickets on StubHub include:
- Review seller ratings – Purchase from sellers with a long history of positive feedback.
- Leave time for deliveries – Make purchases at least 48 hours before an event in case replacement tickets are needed.
- Save order confirmations – Keep records of all transaction details in case you need to dispute a charge or request a refund.
- Link accounts – Connect your StubHub account to your event venue account for easier ticket management and transfers.
Following StubHub’s security practices and utilizing their buyer protections makes the ticket buying process very reliable for fans. Fraud is extremely rare and support teams quickly fix any issues that do appear.
Does StubHub Offer the Best Ticket Prices?
StubHub does not necessarily offer the cheapest secondary market ticket prices across the board. As one of the largest resale sites, they tend to have plenty of inventory for high-demand events. But pricing is still set by individual sellers.
Other factors to consider for finding the best StubHub prices include:
- Competition – Smaller resellers may undercut prices on hot tickets to contend with StubHub’s brand recognition.
- Timing – Last-minute deals frequently appear as sellers lower prices on unsold tickets close to event time.
- Filters – StubHub’s search filters make it easy to sort by quantity, price, listing time, and more.
- Seller ratings – Higher-rated StubHub sellers often have better prices and reliability.
Tips for finding the lowest StubHub ticket prices:
- Compare to other secondary sites like VividSeats, SeatGeek, or Ticketmaster.
- Check listings in the week leading up to events for price drops.
- Filter search results from lowest price first.
- Limit searches to only 4+ star rated sellers.
While not always the absolute cheapest, StubHub’s huge selection, seller competition, guarantees, and support still make it one of the best options for buying resale tickets.
Is Buying Tickets on StubHub Worth the Fees?
Fee Type | Amount |
---|---|
Delivery fee | $4.95-$19.95+ per ticket depending on method |
Service fee | 10-25% of ticket cost |
Order processing fee | $5.95 per ticket order |
StubHub charges several different fees to buyers on top of the ticket price set by sellers. Their delivery, service, and processing fees quickly add up.
On a $100 ticket, you might pay:
- $15 for electronic delivery
- $15 service fee (15%)
- $6 order processing fee
Bringing your total cost to $136, a 36% markup!
These fees allow StubHub to profit from transactions on their marketplace. They can reduce earnings for high-volume sellers.
StubHub fees are similar to competitors like VividSeats and Ticketmaster. In some cases, their delivery and processing fees are cheaper.
The convenience of using StubHub’s large marketplace and protections likely makes their fees worthwhile to most buyers. But price-sensitive fans should consider:
- Comparing total costs across sites like SeatGeek.
- Using ticket transfer options to avoid delivery fees.
- Purchasing well in advance to avoid higher last-minute fees.
- Buying groups of tickets to reduce per-ticket order processing fees.
If paying 20-30% above ticket price is too much, other discounted options like fan ticket exchanges or promotions may be available.
Conclusion
Overall, StubHub remains one of the most trusted and robust options for buying tickets to popular live events. Their large supply, guarantees, and support services make purchasing seamless. While pricing and fees are not the lowest, they provide ample convenience and protection to fans. StubHub is likely to continue as a top secondary ticket source for years to come.