Is tickets center legit or scam? Review’s and complaints

Is Tickets Center Legit or a Scam?

Tickets Center is a ticket reseller website that has received mixed reviews over the years. Many people claim they are a scam while others say they received their tickets without any issues. As with any third party ticket seller, there is some risk involved when purchasing from them. In this post, I’ll take a deep dive into Tickets Center to help determine if they are legit or a scam.

Background and Customer Reviews

Tickets Center was founded in 2009 and is based in Delaware. On their website, they state they have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. However, upon further research, their BBB profile shows they only have 1 star out of 5 based on over 2,000 customer reviews. The vast majority of reviews complain about not receiving tickets after purchasing or getting invalid tickets.

Looking through sites like Trustpilot, SiteJabber, and ResellerRatings, the reviews are overwhelmingly negative. Out of thousands of reviews on these platforms, Tickets Center averages around 1-2 stars. Common complaints include being sent invalid tickets, not receiving tickets at all, poor customer service, and refusal of refunds.

Reddit is also full of posts from frustrated customers who claim to have been scammed by Tickets Center. Many discuss trying to dispute the charges with their credit card company or taking legal action. It’s clear from looking through online reviews that most people have had very poor experiences with Tickets Center.

Possible Reasons for Negative Reviews

So if the reviews are that bad, why would Tickets Center still be in business? There are a few possible explanations:

• Selling invalid/nonexistent tickets: Many believe Tickets Center profits by selling tickets that are invalid or don’t actually exist. They take the money and don’t provide the promised goods.

• Bait and switch: It’s possible they show listings for good tickets at face value initially to get sales. But then tell buyers those sold out and try to upsell much more expensive options instead.

• Poor inventory management: With the high volume of sales, it’s feasible their systems can’t keep accurate track of inventory levels. This could lead to accidental oversales of tickets that then can’t be fulfilled.

• Not prioritizing customer service: Based on reviews, it seems Tickets Center is very unresponsive to complaints and disputes. They may try to avoid providing refunds as much as possible.

• Legal loopholes: As a website based outside the US, they may be exploiting gaps in regulations and jurisdiction that make them difficult to hold accountable through legal or regulatory means.

So in summary, the combination of dishonest business practices, poor systems, and lack of accountability allow Tickets Center to potentially profit from unsatisfied customers at high volume. This would explain the ongoing negative reviews despite years of complaints.

Legit Tickets or Risk of Scam?

After assessing all this background information, the risks of purchasing from Tickets Center seem quite high based on their extensive negative review history. However, a few people do claim to have received legitimate tickets from them as well. So is it possible they are still on the right side of legit, or is it really just a scam?

A few key factors that indicate Tickets Center operates in a risky gray area:

• Lack of accountability – As an overseas company, legal recourse is limited if things go wrong.

• Inability to verify tickets – Purchasers have to trust tickets will be valid, as you can’t check details beforehand.

• History of complaints – Thousands of documented unhappy customers over many years is very worrying.

• Evasive customer service – They don’t seem transparent or helpful when problems inevitably occur.

On the other hand, it’s plausible a small percentage of orders could be fulfilled as advertised due to:

• Authentic ticket listings – Some tickets may be real initially if inventory is accurate.

• Random luck – A few customers getting legitimate tickets doesn’t mean the overall operation is trustworthy.

However, the sheer volume and consistency of complaints makes it very difficult to trust Tickets Center as a reliable source. The risks of being scammed or getting invalid tickets seem disproportionately high compared to reputable sources.

Protecting Yourself from Risk

Given the ambiguity around whether Tickets Center operates legitimately or as a scam, there are some best practices consumers should follow to avoid potential issues:

• Consider alternative sellers first – Look at primary ticket sites, venue box offices, or reputable resellers before Tickets Center.

• Research specific events/venues – Check resale policies and whether transfers are allowed for the show/game to ensure validity.

• Pay with credit card – Use a credit card to dispute charges if problems arise, instead of bank transfer with no recourse.

• Document your order – Take screenshots of listings, dates, costs etc. to have records if there are issues later on.

• Check tickets ahead of time – Ask the seller to provide barcodes or ticket numbers in advance to verify they exist.

• Have low expectations – Going into a Tickets Center purchase with eyes wide open to potential risks and problems is best approach.

• Prepare to dispute – Understand the dispute and refund request process thoroughly in case it becomes necessary.

With the right precautions, you may get lucky with a legitimate Tickets Center order. But in general, there are simply too many documented scam risks to recommend them as a reliable ticket reseller source. Stick with verified sellers when possible instead. Buyer beware applies in spades with Tickets Center.

Alternative Reputable Ticket Sources

If you’ve decided the risks with Tickets Center seem too high, here are some better alternatives to consider for purchasing resale tickets:

Ticketmaster

As the largest primary ticket seller, Ticketmaster also operates an official resale platform called Ticketmaster Resale. Tickets are 100% verified and you’re protected by Ticketmaster’s buyer guarantee. Prices may be higher than other sites though.

StubHub

Owned by eBay, StubHub is the largest ticket marketplace. They guarantee tickets or your money back if anything goes wrong. Wide selection of events but service and listing fees can add to costs.

Vivid Seats

Vivid Seats has millions of tickets from thousands of verified sellers. They have a buyer protection plan and only list tickets that are legally resellable for the venue. Fees are often lower than competitors.

SeatGeek

Specializes in live event tickets with a user-friendly mobile app and website. All listings are verified by scanning the barcode so you know they’re valid before purchase. Competitive pricing usually.

TickPick

No added fees allows TickPick to often offer lower final costs than other resellers. Tickets are securely delivered right to your phone or by mail. No hidden fees and a 100% buyer guarantee.

When purchasing resale tickets, use one of these reputable marketplaces instead of taking a gamble on Tickets Center. The extra peace of mind is worth paying a bit higher price compared to the risks involved with unknown resellers. Let buyer protection and guarantees be your priority over the lowest listing cost.

Conclusion

After an in-depth analysis of Tickets Center including their website, online reviews, business practices, and alternative ticket sources, the consensus is they should generally be avoided due to high scam risks. While a small number may receive valid tickets, the prevalence of complaints from unsatisfied former customers is simply too widespread to ignore.

When it comes to purchasing expensive and non-refundable tickets to an eagerly anticipated event, buyers deserve peace of mind that they are using a reliable and legitimate marketplace. The lack of transparency, accountability, and positive reviews surrounding Tickets Center indicate they do not meet that standard of trustworthiness.

Reputable marketplaces like Ticketmaster Resale, StubHub, Vivid Seats, SeatGeek and TickPick provide verified inventory, ID protection, and ironclad guarantees – giving buyers the confidence they deserve. So when it’s time to access the ticket exchange, punt on Tickets Center and put your resale business with proven industry leaders instead. Let the buyer beware, but don’t let scam risks ruin the show.