TicketSmarter is a legitimate secondary ticket marketplace website where fans can buy and sell tickets for sports, concerts, theater shows, and other live events. The company was founded in 2011 and is based in Chicago, Illinois. TicketSmarter has grown to become one of the largest ticket resale marketplaces in the country.
Is TicketSmarter legitimate?
Yes, TicketSmarter is a legitimate, real, and trustworthy ticket resale marketplace. Here are some key facts about TicketSmarter’s business and practices:
- TicketSmarter is an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and maintains an A+ rating.
- The company is in compliance with all state regulations regarding ticket resales.
- TicketSmarter guarantees all tickets sold on its marketplace and will refund or replace any invalid or fraudulent tickets.
- The website uses secure checkout with 256-bit SSL encryption to protect customers’ personal and payment information.
- TicketSmarter is a member of the National Association of Ticket Brokers (NATB), which has a strict code of ethics for ticket resale companies.
Additionally, TicketSmarter has helped over 1 million customers buy and sell tickets since 2011. The company has many positive reviews and feedback from users, further demonstrating it is a trusted ticket marketplace.
Who owns TicketSmarter?
TicketSmarter is owned by Digital Fuel Capital, a private equity firm focused on internet and technology companies. Digital Fuel Capital acquired TicketSmarter in 2017.
Prior to that, TicketSmarter was founded in 2011 by CEO Jeff Goodman. Goodman has over 20 years of experience in secondary ticketing and pioneered many of the customer-focused processes that TicketSmarter still uses today.
The current leadership team at TicketSmarter includes:
- Jeff Goodman, CEO
- Josh Pultz, CTO
- Dan Uslan, CCO
- Kathleen Friel, CMO
While owned by Digital Fuel Capital, TicketSmarter continues to operate as an independent online ticket marketplace under this experienced leadership team.
How does TicketSmarter work?
TicketSmarter works like most other secondary ticket marketplaces. Sellers can list tickets for sale on the site, while buyers can search event listings and purchase tickets.
Here are the key steps for buying and selling tickets on TicketSmarter:
Buying tickets on TicketSmarter
- Search for tickets to your desired event using the search bar or browsing tool.
- Filter ticket listings by location, quantity, price, listing type (tickets only or tickets with extras), and more.
- Click a listing to view details like seat location, delivery method, and seller details.
- Use the interactive seat map to pick exact seat locations.
- Choose your tickets and proceed to checkout.
- Enter shipping and billing information and complete purchase.
- Receive ticket delivery via email, mobile delivery, UPS, or FedEx.
Selling tickets on TicketSmarter
- List your event tickets for sale by entering details like event, venue, seats, quantity, and asking price.
- Upload your tickets via electronic transfer or physical delivery to TicketSmarter.
- TicketSmarter verifies your tickets are valid and listed correctly.
- Your tickets are listed for sale on the TicketSmarter marketplace.
- Once sold, the buyer’s payment is held securely by TicketSmarter.
- After the event, you receive payment for sold tickets into your payment account.
TicketSmarter offers seller tools like automated re-listing and price suggestions based on market demand. There are also protections like on-time delivery guarantees for buyers.
What fees does TicketSmarter charge?
TicketSmarter discloses all of its buyer and seller fees upfront. There are no hidden costs to use the TicketSmarter marketplace.
Buyer fees
When purchasing tickets on TicketSmarter, buyers pay:
- List price – The sale price set by the ticket seller.
- Service fee – A 10% fee on the list price cost added by TicketSmarter.
- Order processing fee – A fixed $10 fee per order.
- Delivery fee (if applicable) – Varies based on delivery method.
There are no hidden junk fees added at checkout. The buyer fees are clearly shown during the purchasing process.
Seller fees
When listing and selling tickets on TicketSmarter, sellers pay:
- 15% commission on the final sales price of tickets sold.
- $5 per order fulfillment fee.
Similar to the buyer side, TicketSmarter discloses its seller fees upfront before listing tickets for sale.
Is TicketSmarter better than StubHub?
TicketSmarter and StubHub are two of the largest and most reputable ticket marketplaces. Here is how they compare:
Feature | TicketSmarter | StubHub |
---|---|---|
Fees | Lower service and seller fees vs. StubHub | Higher fees, commissions, and shipping costs |
Ticket inventory | 2+ million tickets across 50,000+ events | Larger inventory, but fewer unique/niche events |
Tools | Dynamic pricing, relisting, custom alerts | Some pricing tools and demand analysis |
Buyer guarantees | 150% ticket value guarantee | 125% ticket value guarantee |
Ratings | A+ BBB, 4.7/5 Trustpilot | A+ BBB, 1.5/5 Trustpilot |
In summary, TicketSmarter tends to have lower fees, more unique event inventory, better seller tools and buyer protection. But StubHub does have a wider overall ticket selection across sports and concerts globally.
What events does TicketSmarter sell tickets for?
TicketSmarter provides a marketplace to buy and sell tickets to the following types of events:
Sports
- NFL football
- NBA basketball
- NHL hockey
- MLB baseball
- NCAA football and basketball
- MLS soccer
- UFC
- WWE
- PGA golf
- NASCAR
- US Open (Tennis)
- Kentucky Derby
Concerts
- Pop, rock, country, R&B, and hip hop tours
- Major summer festivals like Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Austin City Limits
- Holiday tours like Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Theater
- Broadway shows in NYC, Chicago, and touring productions
- Cirque du Soleil
- Disney on Ice
- Local theater productions
Comedy
- Stand-up comedy tours
- Comedy festivals
Other Events
- Monster truck rallies
- Talks, lectures & presentations
TicketSmarter has one of the most diverse event ticket inventories of any secondary marketplace, spanning hundreds of sports leagues, concert tours, theater shows and more.
Is TicketSmarter better than Vivid Seats?
TicketSmarter and Vivid Seats are top players in the ticket resale industry. Here’s how they stack up:
Feature | TicketSmarter | Vivid Seats |
---|---|---|
Fees | 10% service fee + $10 order fee | 10-20% service fee + $2-$25 order fee |
Ratings | A+ BBB, 4.7/5 Trustpilot | A+ BBB, 1.7/5 Trustpilot |
Buyer Guarantee | 150% ticket value | 125% ticket value |
Delivery Options | Email, mobile, FedEx | Email, mobile, UPS |
Inventory | 2+ million tickets | 5+ million tickets |
In summary, TicketSmarter has lower service fees, better buyer protection, and excellent customer ratings. Vivid Seats does have a larger overall ticket inventory. Both sites offer a great ticket buying experience and 100% verified tickets.
Is TicketSmarter or SeatGeek better?
TicketSmarter and SeatGeek are leading ticket marketplaces to buy sports, concert, and theater tickets. Here is how they compare:
Feature | TicketSmarter | SeatGeek |
---|---|---|
Fees | 10% service fee + $10 order fee | 10-20% service fee + $4-10 order fee |
Listings | Official primary + verified resale | Official primary + resale |
Tools | Interactive maps, re-listing | Interactive maps, Deal Score |
Ratings | A+ BBB, 4.7/5 Trustpilot | A+ BBB, 1.4/5 Trustpilot |
Guarantee | 150% ticket value | 110% ticket value |
In summary, TicketSmarter offers lower fees, a better ticket value guarantee, and higher customer ratings. SeatGeek provides a wider event inventory from more ticket sources.
Conclusion
In conclusion, TicketSmarter is a 100% legitimate, trustworthy online ticket marketplace. Key facts about TicketSmarter include:
- Founded in 2011, based in Chicago, privately owned
- Compliant with ticket resale laws and industry standards
- Secured website with guaranteed ticket transactions
- Competitive fees, money-back guarantees for buyers
- Wide selection of tickets across sports, concerts, theater, and more
- Highly rated by the BBB and customers
Customers can feel confident buying and selling tickets at real market value through the secure TicketSmarter.com platform. The company continues to innovate and improve the ticket buying experience for fans across thousands of live entertainment events.