stubhub.com - scam?

February 18, 2008 7:21 AM

Has anyone used stubhub.com to buy tickets? I want to buy tickets for an MLB opening day game, though these are yet 'officially' on sale. Will I be screwed buying one from this site? I assume it's from someone selling their ticket? Though I don't see how they have said ticket to sell now as they are not yet available.
posted by xmutex to sports, hobbies, & recreation (25 comments total)

Couldn't they be season ticket holders? Even if they don't have tickets in hand, they will soon.
Stubhub.com is like Ebay. It is Ebay.
posted by LoriFLA at 7:29 AM on February 18

I haven't used Stubhub, but I agree that the people selling are most likely season ticket holders with extra tickets that they won't use.

Also, depending on the team they might have a more official way for season ticket holders to sell their extras. For example, I've bought Cardinals tickets from the Prime Seat Club, which is an official way to buy other people's tickets.
posted by burnmp3s at 7:36 AM on February 18

I've bought tickets from StubHub, no problem.

Also, ESPN links to StubHub for their baseball tickets, so they're probably reputable.
posted by kirkaracha at 7:36 AM on February 18

The lottery tickets are available, aren't they? also, people sometimes resell their season tickets.

stubhub's legit, weird as it seems - as long as they keep their offices some specified number of feet away from the arena, it is legal for the tix to be resold through them. I know many people who've used it. The only thing is that if someone sells their season tix,you may not get exactly the same seat you purchase online - if you buy row F, they will promise you row F or "better", i.e., closer... as selling yr season tix isn't technically legal. But it's still not illegal for stubhub to let people sell them through them.
posted by mdn at 7:37 AM on February 18

I've bought tickets on StubHub without issue.
posted by mosch at 7:37 AM on February 18

I've bought NFL tickets from StubHub from outside the US and had them posted to my hotel to be collected at check in. No problems.
posted by Jakey at 7:39 AM on February 18

Stubhub is good, and their seating diagrams are better than Ticketmaster. Stuff shows up very quickly.
posted by charlesv at 7:42 AM on February 18

Stubhub is a partner with MLB, so while you might be scammed, it's probably the place you're least likely to be scammed. As far as I know, they're the only authorized online reseller of MLB tickets.
posted by drezdn at 7:43 AM on February 18

Here's a link to back up my claim.
posted by drezdn at 7:44 AM on February 18

I've bought lots of LA Kings hockey tickets via stubhub. Never a problem.

The seating diagram charlesv mentions is a real plus. It lets buyers choose seats based on the better diagram, rather than click back and ask Ticketmaster to do another random search through their inventory.

Another plus? Lightly attended events (such as most LA Kings hockey games) can be had at 30-40-50% off face-value.
posted by notyou at 7:58 AM on February 18

Bought MN Wild tix through StubHub - no problem.
posted by unixrat at 8:09 AM on February 18

I've used them for a Broadway show. The transaction went fine, although at checkout there was (surprise!) a hefty commission which goes to StubHub.
posted by NucleophilicAttack at 8:34 AM on February 18

I use stubhub all the time. Never been scammed. YMMV
posted by JohnnyGunn at 8:43 AM on February 18

I use them for baseball tickets all the time. Never had a problem.
posted by gaspode at 9:12 AM on February 18

I used them for a sold-out Police concert last summer, no issues.
posted by tkolar at 9:29 AM on February 18

I've bought from Acetickets.com, which is similar, and it was all good. And yeah, for the sports games it's almost entirely people selling their season tickets.
posted by 1 at 9:33 AM on February 18

Beware. I got screwed on tickets to a Police concert. We showed up to the arena and they scanned the tickets and it showed that those tickets had already been used. I think they have some kind of system for reporting rip offs like this but I haven't had the time or the energy to go through with it. I just cut my losses and will never use them again.
posted by Justin Case at 9:57 AM on February 18

I have also used them several times with no issues (except to my bank balance), and received tickets that looked like part of the season ticket package. As drezdn says, they're the "official ticket marketplace" of MLB, on the Yankees' site it says:

StubHub has been selected by MLB as the Official Ticket Marketplace of MLB.com and the Yankees. Commencing for the 2008 season, you may post Yankees Tickets for resale on StubHub through www.yankees.com with no restrictions on resale price. For more information, please visit www.yankees.com.
posted by jamesonandwater at 10:01 AM on February 18

Used them for tickets to a sold-out Tool show in Spokane, WA with no problems.
posted by Roach at 10:24 AM on February 18

Bought tickets on StubHub to a Yankees-Redsox game at Yankee Stadium, and aside from the outrageous price, the whole experience was painless and easy. And if there were ever a game ripe for scammers, that would be it.
posted by Doctor Suarez at 10:37 AM on February 18

I bought tickets from them no problem as well. They even allowed me to pay a little so I could have these certain tickets held and then just let me pay the rest later.
posted by grablife365 at 10:43 AM on February 18

StubHub are (as others have said) are the "official" secondary market for baseball teams. If you're looking at Washington Nationals tickets for Opening Day in our brand new ballpark in DC, then StubHub would be the place to go. However I would expect to pay a high premium for those tickets - we have season tickets in the new park and have been offered over $200 each for two $25 seats (and we don't have the tickets in hand yet, although as season ticket holders we will have them).
posted by 543DoublePlay at 11:26 AM on February 18

I've used StubHub quite a few times and never had a problem. When you buy tickets, they give you a toll free number to call if you have any problems at the gate. I've never had to use it, but can only presume they'll help you resolve any problems on the spot.
posted by slogger at 12:54 PM on February 18

As loriFLA obliquely touched upon, StubHub was purchased by EBay a year ago, so I doubt they're a "scam" in the traditional sense of the word. Whether they're a ripoff or not depends on your economics. That the ticket you want is listed but not yet on sale might point to some other practice they have, like presales "chance to buy" programs or something.
posted by rhizome at 2:23 PM on February 18

I've used StubHub about a half dozen or so times and never had a problem. Usually if there is a delay in getting tix shipped it's because their season tickets that aren't printed yet.

The very first time I used them I ordered tix that were no longer available from the seller and they gave me tix in the same section/row for the same price. They also pretty much guarantee admission to an event should something go wrong as long as you take their phone number with you. They also always ship FedEx so at least you know your tix won't get left on a porch or something bc of UPS.

Ordered Red Sox vs Toronto tix and don't expect them until closer to April if it makes you feel any better.
posted by doppleradar at 7:20 AM on February 19