Are you looking to get tickets for an upcoming concert or sporting event? With many shows selling out quickly, you may be wondering if using a ticket reseller like Vivid Seats is a safe option.
When prices are high and availability limited, third-party sellers can provide access to hard-to-find tickets. But is Vivid Seats a platform you can trust?
This comprehensive guide examines if Vivid Seats is legitimate and secure for buying tickets in 2024. We’ll explore how the site works, pricing, buyer protections, customer experiences, and more to help you make an informed decision.
What is Vivid Seats Exactly?
Founded in 2001, Vivid Seats is an online ticket marketplace that connects buyers and sellers to facilitate ticket resales and exchanges.
As of 2024, it’s grown into one of the largest secondary ticket platforms in the United States. Vivid Seats has sold over 100 million tickets worth billions of dollars during its 20+ years in business.
Unlike primary sellers like Ticketmaster, Vivid Seats doesn’t actually generate any tickets directly. Instead, it serves as a middleman marketplace between:
- Buyers looking for tickets
- Sellers who have extra tickets they want to resell
For events like concerts, sports games, theater shows, and more, buyers can search Vivid Seats to find desired listings from individual sellers. Sellers can list their extra tickets to reach interested buyers.
So Vivid Seats provides the platform to connect buyers and sellers in the secondary ticket market. It never takes direct possession of tickets – it simply facilitates the transactions.
How Does Buying and Selling Tickets on Vivid Seats Work?
If you want to buy tickets or sell them as an individual seller, here’s an overview of how Vivid Seats’ process works:
For Buyers:
- Search for and select the event you want tickets for
- Browse available listings and purchase the desired tickets from a seller
- Tickets delivered electronically or physically shipped
- Accept tickets by selected delivery date
For Sellers:
- List any extra tickets you want to resell for upcoming events
- Choose asking price and delivery method for your listings
- Once sold, deliver the tickets to the buyer as promised
- Receive payment (minus Vivid Seats commission) after confirmation
For both sides, Vivid Seats acts as the intermediary to complete transactions. Buyers can search thousands of listings while sellers access a large interested audience.
How Do Vivid Seats’ Ticket Prices and Fees Compare?
As a marketplace, Vivid Seats doesn’t set base ticket prices – sellers choose their own asking prices. However, Vivid Seats does charge some additional fees.
Seller Fees
For sellers, Vivid Seats charges a 10% commission on each ticket sold. Listing tickets is free.
Buyer Fees
For buyers, there are two primary fees:
- Service fees – Estimated between 20-40%+ of the base ticket price
- Delivery fees – Range from $7-$25+ depending on method
These fees are in addition to the seller’s ticket price. Some reviewers report the fees can add 50% or more to the total cost.
Compared to other resale sites, Vivid Seats’ base ticket prices are often cheaper. But once fees are added, the final price may exceed other sites.
What Buyer Protections and Guarantees Does Vivid Seats Offer?
To provide confidence for buyers, Vivid Seats offers a 100% Buyer Guarantee on all purchases. It covers:
- Valid tickets – You’ll receive authentic tickets accepted at the event
- Accurate orders – The tickets match what was ordered
- Delivery – Tickets arrive in time for the event
- Refunds – Full refunds if the event is canceled
This guarantee is meant to give buyers peace of mind on their purchase. However, based on customer reviews, Vivid Seats does not appear to always honor the guarantee consistently.
What Do Customer Reviews Say About Vivid Seats?
On third-party review sites, Vivid Seats earns mixed but generally mediocre ratings:
- ConsumerAffairs – 1.2/5 stars based on 1,413 reviews
- SiteJabber – 4.5/5 stars based on 2,362 reviews
- ResellerRatings – 2.61/5 stars based on 9,182 reviews
The most common complaints include:
- Fake or invalid tickets
- Excessive hidden fees tripling costs
- Poor customer service
- Difficulty getting refunds or compensation when promised
But there are also many positive reviews from satisfied buyers:
- Smooth transactions and great prices
- Valid tickets and easy delivery
- Good experiences with customer service
Opinions seem split, with some loving Vivid Seats while others report major issues.
Is Vivid Seats Considered a Safe and Legitimate Ticket Reseller?
Based on the above factors, is Vivid Seats a trusted platform? Here’s an overview of what we can conclude:
The Good
- Vivid Seats is a legitimate business – founded in 2001 and A+ BBB rating
- Provides buyer protections like guarantees and fraud coverage
- Large inventory gives more options for rare events
- Generally competitive pricing before fees
The Bad
- Being a secondary marketplace carries inherent risks
- Negative reviews show inconsistent reliability
- Buyer guarantee not always honored according to complaints
- Total fees can significantly impact price
So while Vivid Seats is a legal company with buyer protections, there appear to be reliability issues based on customer feedback. The secondary market model also carries inherent risks that make safety uncertain.
Tips for Safely Buying Tickets on Vivid Seats
If you decide to purchase through Vivid Seats, here are some tips to help mitigate your risk:
- Carefully vet sellers – Buy from highly rated sellers with many reviews when possible. Avoid new unestablished profiles.
- Verify all ticket details before finalizing purchase – Double check the event, seat locations, delivery method, date, and more before checkout.
- Use credit cards – This provides fraud protection in case issues arise. Avoid risky payments like wire transfers.
- Confirm receipt well before event – Make sure your tickets arrive with ample time to address any potential problems.
- Avoid last-minute purchases – Buying closer to the event leaves less room for error and cancellation risks.
What Are Some Alternatives to Vivid Seats?
Vivid Seats makes finding tickets easy. But if you’re concerned about reliability, consider these alternative secondary marketplaces:
- StubHub – Larger site with a long history and A- BBB rating
- Ticketmaster – Official ticket sales for many major events
- SeatGeek – Smaller but well-reviewed ticket reseller
- TickPick – Has no hidden fees which keeps costs transparent
- eBay – Use trusted top-rated sellers with proven track records
While no secondary source is risk-free, these alternatives have better reputations according to most reviews.
The Verdict: Is Vivid Seats Safe for Buying Tickets?
Vivid Seats offers a legitimate secondary ticket marketplace with buyer protections and extensive inventory. But based on mixed customer experiences, there are reliability issues to consider.
For peace of mind, we recommend weighing factors like pricing, service reputation, and buyer guarantees closely. Precautions like vetting sellers and confirming order details are advised.
While some have positive experiences with Vivid Seats, you may prefer to purchase through a more reputable platform to minimize your risk. The secondary ticket market inherently carries uncertainties.
Ultimately, assess your specific situation. If you can verify a trusted seller and transaction details, then Vivid Seats could provide access to sold out events. But proceed with caution – many reviewers report frustrating experiences.
With smart precautions, you can potentially find deals safely. But other established sites may give buyers greater confidence and consistency.
Hopefully this guide gave you the insights needed to determine if Vivid Seats fits your ticket buying needs in 2024. Do your research and evaluate the associated risks and protections to make the best decision. Safe ticket hunting!
