SeatGeek Review

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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.