StubHub Versus SeatGeek

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Seatgeek or Stubhub – which should you use when you’re trying to find top-notch deals? Buying tickets to an exciting event can be stressful when you’re trying to find the best prices. Selling tickets at a reasonable bargain can be just as difficult. Learn when it comes to Seatgeek vs Stubhub fees which site is better. Or are you curious how these sites work for both the buyer and the seller? Read on to discover more facts and figures on Seatgeek or Stubhub below.

StubHub was founded in San Francisco in 2000, so it has nearly two decades of experience as an online marketplace. It has such a commanding presence in the industry that many people immediately think of StubHub when they want to purchase tickets online.

How Does StubHub Work?

Since StubHub is an online marketplace, it lets members buy and sell tickets. Selling tickets is a good option for people who have already paid for admission but cannot attend events. Buying makes it possible for people to purchase tickets to events that have sold out or have limited seating.

Regardless of whether you want to buy or sell tickets, you need to start by creating a profile on the website. (You can also sign up via Facebook.)

Buying Tickets on StubHub

If you want to buy tickets on StubHub, you can use the website to search for specific events or browse events happening near you. StubHub will show you a list of available tickets along with the section, row, seat number and price. Depending on the venue, StubHub can show you a map of where each ticket’s seat is.

Having all of this information makes it easier for you to find tickets that match your budget and interest. Instead of buying blindly, you know exactly where you will sit. Since StubHub lists all of the prices, you can compare them to find affordable options. You can even filter tickets by lowest price, best value and best seats.

Once you find the tickets that interest you, you can purchase them on the website without dealing with the individual seller. StubHub’s fee for buyers is an additional 10 percent of the ticket price. In most cases, you can choose to receive electronic or paper tickets. If you want paper tickets, StubHub may charge you a shipping fee to cover the additional cost.

Selling Tickets on StubHub

If you have tickets that you don’t need, you can always sell them on StubHub. You start by listing the tickets that you want to sell on the StubHub marketplace. The website makes the process as easy as possible.

When creating a listing, you tell StubHub how many tickets you have to a certain event. If you already have the tickets in hand, then you can choose to upload them as a PDF or ship them to the buyer via the postal service.

When uploading a PDF, you must use the original file sent to you by the first seller (such as Ticketmaster). StubHub has an informational video that will walk you through the process, so you don’t have to worry about running into problems.

After someone purchases your tickets, you either send the tickets to the buyer or the buyer can download the PDF from StubHub. Once the buyer receives his or her tickets, StubHub starts to process your payment. StubHub fees for sellers include a 15 percent processing charge. All payments are sent electronically via PayPal or direct deposit. It usually takes about five days for you to gain access to your money.

What Makes StubHub Stand Out?

StubHub stands out for having such a large number of tickets on its marketplace. Since the company has been serving consumers for so long, it has had a chance to grow its popularity. As one of the largest ticket marketplaces online, StubHub often has tickets that other websites lack. If you can’t find tickets from other online sellers, there’s still a good chance that someone on StubHub can help you.

Common Reviews of StubHub

StubHub gets an A- from the Better Business Bureau, which means it’s a reliable company that you can trust. For the most part, people enjoy using the company’s services because it lets them purchase tickets to events that interest them or sell tickets when they cannot attend events.

Even though StubHub gets a lot of positive reviews, it also receives negative comments from buyers and sellers. Some sellers complain that their sales were canceled abruptly. Because of this, they were left with tickets that they couldn’t use. In some cases, it was too late for the seller to relist the tickets.

Most complaints, however, come from buyers who weren’t satisfied with their experience using StubHub. Many of the negative reviews are from buyers who didn’t receive their tickets on time. Since independent sellers are supposed to send the tickets to their buyers, this isn’t really StubHub’s fault. Not everyone understands StubHub’s business model, though, so they blame the company.

The worst reviews come from people who say that StubHub wouldn’t reimburse them after receiving late tickets. FanProtect ensures that buyers won’t have to pay for late or lost tickets. According to these unhappy customers, though, the company did not uphold its promise.

Keep in mind that StubHub’s marketplace sells thousands of tickets per day. Unfortunately, mistakes will happen. Overall, though, the company manages to facilitate smooth transactions between sellers and buyers.

Is StubHub for Me?

StubHub is perfect for people who want to safely buy or sell tickets to sold-out concerts, sports games and other events. As long as you don’t mind paying a little extra for the convenience of using the company’s services, you will probably like StubHub.

About the Author

Jeff Hindenach

Jeff Hindenach is the co-founder of Versus Reviews. He graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism. He has a long history of journalism, with a background writing for newspapers such as the San Jose Mercury News and San Francisco Examiner, as well as writing for The Huffington Post, New York Times, Business Insider, CNBC, Newsday and The Street. He believes in giving readers the tools they need to get out of debt.

SeatGeek is a New York company founded in 2009. The online ticket marketplace does more than connect buyers and sellers. It uses an aggregator to help you find great deals from other ticket-selling companies.

Even though SeatGeek started with little funding, it became popular quickly thanks to positive reviews from CNET, VentureBeat and other well-known websites. The company has attracted funding from a variety of companies and individuals, including Ashton Kutcher and Yahoo!

How Does SeatGeek Work?

Before you can buy or sell tickets through SeatGeek, you need to create a profile for the website. If you don’t want to make a profile, you can connect to the site via Facebook.

Buying Tickets on SeatGeek

SeatGeek makes it easy for you to find tickets to specific events that interest you. Just type the name of the performer or team into the website’s search bar. It will give you immediate results. You can also browse events by city, and SeatGeek gives you a list of events happening in the area. If you find something that interests you, click on the event to learn more about it and buy tickets.

SeatGeek also has a What’s Hot section that introduces you to trending events. If you like popular music, this is a good option for seeing which performers are coming to your area.

Once you choose an event, SeatGeek gives you a list of tickets that you can compare by price and seat location. Individual sellers have control over how much they charge, so you should compare prices closely. You may find that one seller has a considerably lower price than others.

When you find the ticket you want to buy, put it in your shopping cart and proceed to the checkout. You will receive your tickets electronically or by mail after you finalize your purchase.

Selling Tickets on SeatGeek

As an online marketplace, SeatGeek lets individuals sell their tickets to buyers. This comes in handy if you have tickets to an event that you cannot attend.

If you have electronic versions of your tickets, you can upload them to the SeatGeek site. The website generates a listing based on the ticket information. You can make minor adjustments to ensure potential buyers have accurate details about your tickets.

SeatGeek lets you set your own price for tickets. Remember that other people may sell similar tickets to the same event. Setting your price too high could mean that buyers avoid your listing. Try to choose a competitive price that will attract buyers.

You can list tickets on SeatGeek for free. Assuming that you sell your tickets, though, SeatGeek takes a 20 percent cut. You may want to keep this in mind when setting your ticket prices.

SeatGeek will pay you shortly after your event ends. It can take up to five business days for the money to appear in your bank account. You can also have SeatGeek send money to your Venmo account.

What Makes SeatGeek Stand Out?

SeatGeek stands out for its Deal Score feature and its aggregator.

Deal Score is a great tool that helps buyers find seats that appeal to them. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get an excellent seat. With Deal Score, you have a better opportunity to evaluate tickets before you buy them. Thanks to information from Deal Score, you may find that you can get a superior seat while spending less money.

The SeatGeek aggregator also makes it easier for buyers to find great deals. The aggregator pulls information from other websites that sell tickets. By accessing this information, you can see ticket prices on other websites. If you can get a better deal by going to another site, then you are free to do so. Without the aggregator, you might not know that you have other options.

Common Reviews of SeatGeek

SeatGeek gets a mix of positive and negative reviews. Overall, though, most people seem to like using the company’s services. Happy customers say that they enjoy SeatGeek’s simple interface because it helps them compare tickets to events they want to attend. Many people also praise SeatGeek for including fees in the ticket prices. Most companies try to hide additional fees until customers reach the checkout. SeatGeek’s approach helps you compare tickets and prices without worrying that extra fees will make the tickets too expensive.

Of course, some people say that they have had negative experiences with SeatGeek. A small number of people complain that they received invalid tickets. Unfortunately, they did not know that the tickets were not valid until they tried to attend the events. Without qualifying tickets, they were turned away by the venue. On a positive note, many of these unhappy customers say that SeatGeek refunded their money. Those who traveled long distances to attend concerts, plays or sports games may feel angry at SeatGeek, but many companies don’t offer refunds once an event begins.

Is SeatGeek for Me?

SeatGeek is a good option for people who want to safely buy and sell tickets. Although some buyers and sellers complain about high service fees, most companies charge similar fees.

Overall, people have positive experiences with SeatGeek. Practically anyone who wants to buy tickets to sold-out events can find good deals in the SeatGeek marketplace. If you don’t find the events and deals that you want, you can try searching other marketplaces. In most cases, though, SeatGeek offers top deals that few companies can beat.

About the Author

Jeff Hindenach

Jeff Hindenach is the co-founder of Versus Reviews. He graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism. He has a long history of journalism, with a background writing for newspapers such as the San Jose Mercury News and San Francisco Examiner, as well as writing for The Huffington Post, New York Times, Business Insider, CNBC, Newsday and The Street. He believes in giving readers the tools they need to get out of debt.