Introduction: The Growing Dilemma of Buying Tickets

In the world of live events, securing tickets to your favorite concert or sporting event can feel like a race against time. Whether you’re trying to get your hands on an exclusive seat for a sold-out show or securing passes for a high-demand sports event, the ticket-buying experience has become more complex than ever. Platforms like Viagogo have emerged as popular choices for ticket buyers looking to score tickets from resellers, but are they always the best option? Today, we’ll explore six key differences every ticket buyer should know, including how platforms like Viagogo stack up against traditional primary ticket sellers. And, if you’re looking for a discount on your next purchase, you might want to keep an eye out for a Viagogo discount code to help lower the price.

1. Resale Market vs. Primary Ticket Sales: The Basics

Viagogo is a secondary (resale) ticket marketplace. Unlike primary ticket sellers like Ticketmaster, which sell tickets directly to consumers at face value, Viagogo allows individuals and professional resellers to sell tickets that they no longer need or want to other consumers. This fundamental difference in how tickets are distributed affects the pricing, availability, and overall experience.

Primary Ticket Sellers:

  • Sell tickets directly to the public at face value, usually when tickets first go on sale.
  • Prices are fixed at the point of sale, and the platform acts as a direct connection to the event organizer.

Viagogo and Resale Platforms:

  • Tickets are often sold above face value, especially for high-demand events.
  • The price you pay is not determined by the event organizer, but by the person reselling the ticket, which can lead to inflated costs.

Why It Matters:

If you’re buying tickets from a Viagogo discount code or any resale platform, you’re not always getting them at face value. You’re also likely paying more for the convenience of accessing hard-to-get tickets.

2. Pricing & Fees: Why the Sticker Price Isn’t What You’ll Pay

One of the most significant differences between Viagogo and primary sellers is pricing. While Viagogo discount codes might give you a slight edge, the reality is that pricing can be far from straightforward.

Viagogo Pricing:

  • Tickets on Viagogo are set by resellers. This means prices fluctuate based on demand, and they are often much higher than the face value of the ticket.
  • Additional service fees are added at checkout, often without being fully disclosed upfront. These hidden fees, commonly referred to as “drip pricing,” can make the total price much higher than anticipated.

Primary Ticket Sellers:

  • The price is fixed at the point of sale, and while there might be additional fees for booking or shipping, they are generally disclosed upfront.
  • You’re more likely to pay the price that’s displayed at checkout without unexpected additional costs.

Why It Matters:

The true cost of purchasing tickets on Viagogo may not be clear until you’re already deep in the checkout process. Always factor in those extra fees when deciding if buying resale tickets is worth it.

3. Buyer Protection: Who Has Your Back?

When purchasing tickets from any platform, buyer protection should be a top priority. Viagogo offers a buyer guarantee, but how reliable is it?

Viagogo Protection:

  • Viagogo guarantees ticket authenticity. If your ticket is invalid or you cannot attend the event, you can request a replacement ticket or a full refund.
  • However, many users report challenges with Viagogo’s support, especially when issues arise with ticket delivery or last-minute cancellations. If your ticket comes from a third-party reseller, there may be delays or problems that are outside of Viagogo’s control.

Primary Ticket Sellers:

  • Primary sellers typically have direct relationships with event organizers, so issues such as ticket cancellations or invalid tickets are less likely to occur.
  • They also often offer more direct customer support, with a clear process for refunds or replacements.

Why It Matters:

While Viagogo does provide a form of buyer protection, issues with resellers and their inconsistent practices can create risks for buyers. On the other hand, primary sellers typically offer a more streamlined process for resolving issues with tickets.

4. Transparency: How Clear Is the Pricing?

Have you ever felt misled by the pricing on a ticketing platform? If you’ve bought tickets on Viagogo, you may have encountered “drip pricing,” where additional costs appear only at the final stages of the checkout process. This practice has been a point of criticism for resale platforms, and Viagogo is no exception.

Viagogo Transparency:

  • Many buyers report that they were caught off guard by added service and delivery fees that were only revealed after they had already selected their tickets.
  • These fees can increase the price by up to 30% in some cases, and they are often hard to notice until it’s too late.

Primary Ticket Sellers:

  • The fees for booking, shipping, or processing are typically shown upfront, allowing buyers to clearly understand the total cost before they complete the purchase.

Why It Matters:

For many buyers, the lack of upfront transparency on Viagogo can feel like a bait-and-switch. When comparing platforms, make sure you’re aware of all the fees before you click “buy.”

5. Availability & Access: What You’re Really Getting

When tickets are sold out on primary platforms, Viagogo can offer a second chance to purchase tickets from resellers. This is especially valuable for popular events where primary tickets sell out in seconds.

Viagogo’s Advantage:

  • Viagogo gives fans access to tickets for sold-out shows or events, even after the primary ticketing platform’s tickets have been exhausted. If you missed the original sale, this is often your only option to get in.

Primary Ticket Sellers:

  • Once tickets are gone, they’re gone. Primary ticket sellers typically do not have a “backup” for sold-out events, and tickets are not available after they sell out.

Why It Matters:

While Viagogo offers the benefit of access to sold-out events, that availability comes at a cost. Be prepared to pay a premium and be cautious of the reliability of those tickets.

6. Ethics & Regulations: The Growing Pressure on Viagogo

The ethical considerations around Viagogo have been heavily debated, especially regarding the resale of tickets above face value and the practice of professional resellers dominating the marketplace. Governments in several regions have scrutinized Viagogo for these practices.

Viagogo’s Scrutiny:

  • Viagogo has been criticized for contributing to ticket price inflation, as tickets are often resold by professional brokers who can charge whatever price the market will bear.
  • There are also growing calls from consumer rights organizations and lawmakers for stricter regulations on the resale of tickets at inflated prices.

Primary Ticket Sellers:

  • Primary sellers are bound by contracts with event organizers, limiting their ability to mark up tickets and ensuring more predictable and fair pricing.

Why It Matters:

If ethical ticket buying matters to you, the practices at Viagogo may not align with your values. While it’s legal to sell tickets for higher prices, some consumers feel that this practice takes advantage of fans.

Conclusion:

In the world of ticket buying, Viagogo offers undeniable convenience, especially when it comes to accessing sold-out events. However, the trade-offs are clear: inflated prices, hidden fees, and the risk of dealing with unreliable resellers. While Viagogo’s buyer protection policies provide a level of security, there is still significant uncertainty, especially with last-minute cancellations or invalid tickets.

Before you buy, consider whether the extra cost is worth the convenience of getting a ticket to that once-in-a-lifetime event. And, if you’re lucky enough to find one, using a Viagogo discount code can help mitigate some of the costs. But be sure to read the fine print and understand all the fees, so you can make an informed decision.