TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) -- So you want tickets to the big game or the hot concert, but they're already sold out. What do you do? Ticket brokers are eagerly waiting online, but prices vary and scammers are lurking. So how do you know who to trust and where to get the best deal? We find out in this Angie's List report.
The Internet has made it simple to find tickets to that sold out show or ballgame. The question is: how much are you willing to shell out -- and will you actually get what you pay for?
"Shopping for tickets online might seem easy, but comparing prices actually can be difficult because when you're looking at prices you may not realize the final price until you go through the checkout funnel with added fees," said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie's List.
That's a common tactic for many "virtual" brokers, which don't stock tickets themselves. They resell someone else's tickets and make their money with additional charges.
"Unfortunately, sometimes those sites are set up where they're hoping you get all the way to the end, you put all your information in and you won't leave because you've done all that work," said ticket broker Mike Peduto.
Peduto has been brokering tickets for 30 years, and he knows there are scammers out there taking some of his business. He urges people to do their research and steer clear of any site that demands payment by wire transfer or avoids speaking directly with you.
"If you can't reach them, especially by phone, that's pretty much a give-away that they're not going to have the same level of customer service as somebody local," said Peduto.
Look for someone that's a member of the National Association of Ticket Brokers, which holds companies to a strict code of conduct, and offers some recourse if something goes wrong.
Peduto says a good broker can offer insights on seats in venues you might not know, and maybe even a ticket trick or two.
"I would say more often than not, the prices come down as you get closer. One thing I would say, if you only need two tickets, waiting until the last minute you can sometimes save some money," said Peduto.
Before you buy tickets, review the terms of sale or service information on the broker's website, so you know exactly what to expect. And honest mistakes can happen. A broker could send you the wrong tickets, so check them right away, don't wait until the day of the event.
Remember you can catch the latest Angie's List report every Tuesday morning on WTXL Sunrise.
