PSA - Avoid Stubhub if you care about attending the ticketed event

[Anonymous]

Found this thread because I just had a similar experience with Stubhub. Bought tickets for a concert and after I bought it stated that the tickets would not be transferred until 3 hours before the concert which I thought was crazy. The night before concert I messaged Stubhub and they said not to worry. Well OF COURSE tickets never transferred. I called Stubhub 3 hours before show and they said they would send me a link to obtain replacement tickets. Never got the email with the link. I called again like 1 hour before show (couldn't call during the prior two hours because I was traveling to get to the show). I stayed on the line with the agent until they provided a link and the replacement tickets had transferred to my account. Seats were comparable to what I had originally purchased but prices had gone up since I bought - so it seems Stubhub took a loss on that. This was super stressful and I don't think I will be using Stubhub again.

[Anonymous]

Exact same experience today. Stubhub never again. And 10 days to get my refund. THEYVE HAD MY 900. FOR 4 TIX. SINCE SEPTEMBER, 9 MONTHS AGO. I'm going to be contacting my state's attorney generals office to lodge a formal complaint. STUBHUBs business practice is unacceptable and borderline fraud. Hopefully my AG will look into it. Sounds like the problem is getting worse.

[Anonymous]

Sorry this happened. I use stub hub often to buy and sell and have not had an issue--knock wood. I will only purchase tickets that are available via instant mobile download, so I get the tickets immediately.

[Anonymous]

I just sold Eagles tickets on Stub Hub and did the instant upload so the buyer would have them immediately. It should be required.

[Anonymous]

Just heard on NPR that the DC attorney general has sued StubHub for various things including jacked up prices. Good for the DC AG and I hope the suit is succesful.

[Anonymous]

I’ve had this happen to me as well. You are very vulnerable as a buyer if the market value of the tickets increased significantly since you purchased your tickets on stubhub. Example: let’s say you bought Taylor swift tickets before her tour started and they were $800. Fast forward a few months, her tour begins, media hypes it, market value is suddenly 2k for those same seats. A seasoned seller on Stubhub will cancel your order, pay the penalty to stubhub, re-list your same tickets for $2k and still come out ahead. It sucks but that is the reality.

Ticketmaster originally implemented the delayed ticket availability (where your tickets aren’t available until 3 days before the show) to try to prevent scalping, but this loophole on stubhub has made it worse. Buyers on stubhub won’t be able to avoid this unless stubhub stops allowing sales until tickets are in hand (and they have no incentive to do that).

[Anonymous]

Friend has this happen with SeatGeek at Olivia Rodrigo. These companies must have a way to verify the tickets and retain them in advance so eliminate the scams. SeatGeek could not provide alternative tickets to my friend and she was forced to go home before the concert started. (Her supposedly real tickets would not scan.)

[Anonymous]

Dealing with StubHub is the worst experience that could ever be imagined.
I had ordered tickets from StubHub for the Garth Brooks concert at Ceasars Palace on September 26, 2024, The tickets were paid for on August 12 by credit card, 46 days before the concert. The Garth Brooks concert was a surprise anniversary gift for my wife for our 60th. On September 14, I received an email from StubHub stating “Your tickets are ready! Click on the “Accept Button” to retrieve your tickets.
Upon clicking on the “Accept Tickets” button, I received the following email.
“Oops! Something went wrong. The tickets associated with this URL have been removed. Please contact your point of purchase to request a new URL if you believe this to be in error. Error 404” From that day I have spoken to and chatted with Customer Service people at StubHub over 14 times and sent letters.
We drove from Mesa, Arizona to Las Vegas and was at Ceasars Palace early on September 26. I am turning 87 and my wife is turning 80.
On September 26, 2024, at 4.04 pm, two hours before the concert, I received an email from StubHub stating
“We apologize, but unfortunately, seller is not able to provide the tickets that you originally ordered.
Don’t worry! You are covered by our guarantee, and we want to ensure that you receive tickets for this event. (Choose Alternative Tickets)
The old bait-and-switch. They never ever had the tickets. StubHub purposely destroyed our 60th wedding anniversary. I would warn anyone against using StubHub for anything.

[Anonymous]

I’ve stopped attending concerts. If everyone did that, they would have to improve the situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve stopped attending concerts. If everyone did that, they would have to improve the situation.

Dumb and not a solution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dealing with StubHub is the worst experience that could ever be imagined.
I had ordered tickets from StubHub for the Garth Brooks concert at Ceasars Palace on September 26, 2024, The tickets were paid for on August 12 by credit card, 46 days before the concert. The Garth Brooks concert was a surprise anniversary gift for my wife for our 60th. On September 14, I received an email from StubHub stating “Your tickets are ready! Click on the “Accept Button” to retrieve your tickets.
Upon clicking on the “Accept Tickets” button, I received the following email.
“Oops! Something went wrong. The tickets associated with this URL have been removed. Please contact your point of purchase to request a new URL if you believe this to be in error. Error 404” From that day I have spoken to and chatted with Customer Service people at StubHub over 14 times and sent letters.
We drove from Mesa, Arizona to Las Vegas and was at Ceasars Palace early on September 26. I am turning 87 and my wife is turning 80.
On September 26, 2024, at 4.04 pm, two hours before the concert, I received an email from StubHub stating
“We apologize, but unfortunately, seller is not able to provide the tickets that you originally ordered.
Don’t worry! You are covered by our guarantee, and we want to ensure that you receive tickets for this event. (Choose Alternative Tickets)
The old bait-and-switch. They never ever had the tickets. StubHub purposely destroyed our 60th wedding anniversary. I would warn anyone against using StubHub for anything.

I am so sorry!!! I had a similar situation occur but not nearly as bad as yours! Terrible!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dealing with StubHub is the worst experience that could ever be imagined.
I had ordered tickets from StubHub for the Garth Brooks concert at Ceasars Palace on September 26, 2024, The tickets were paid for on August 12 by credit card, 46 days before the concert. The Garth Brooks concert was a surprise anniversary gift for my wife for our 60th. On September 14, I received an email from StubHub stating “Your tickets are ready! Click on the “Accept Button” to retrieve your tickets.
Upon clicking on the “Accept Tickets” button, I received the following email.
“Oops! Something went wrong. The tickets associated with this URL have been removed. Please contact your point of purchase to request a new URL if you believe this to be in error. Error 404” From that day I have spoken to and chatted with Customer Service people at StubHub over 14 times and sent letters.
We drove from Mesa, Arizona to Las Vegas and was at Ceasars Palace early on September 26. I am turning 87 and my wife is turning 80.
On September 26, 2024, at 4.04 pm, two hours before the concert, I received an email from StubHub stating
“We apologize, but unfortunately, seller is not able to provide the tickets that you originally ordered.
Don’t worry! You are covered by our guarantee, and we want to ensure that you receive tickets for this event. (Choose Alternative Tickets)
The old bait-and-switch. They never ever had the tickets. StubHub purposely destroyed our 60th wedding anniversary. I would warn anyone against using StubHub for anything.

Did you get alternative tickets? This sounds like such a stressful situation. I wonder if the seller was a scammer?

[Anonymous]

Stubhub and similar resellers are banned in a lot of Europe and honestly it’s so much better. You can only buy and sell tickets at face value through official platforms, so concerts are still reasonably priced to attend. More fair for everyone.

Wish the U.S. would do the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Found this thread because I just had a similar experience with Stubhub. Bought tickets for a concert and after I bought it stated that the tickets would not be transferred until 3 hours before the concert which I thought was crazy. The night before concert I messaged Stubhub and they said not to worry. Well OF COURSE tickets never transferred. I called Stubhub 3 hours before show and they said they would send me a link to obtain replacement tickets. Never got the email with the link. I called again like 1 hour before show (couldn't call during the prior two hours because I was traveling to get to the show). I stayed on the line with the agent until they provided a link and the replacement tickets had transferred to my account. Seats were comparable to what I had originally purchased but prices had gone up since I bought - so it seems Stubhub took a loss on that. This was super stressful and I don't think I will be using Stubhub again.

And what’s crazy is this:

The seller is charged the full amount of the tickets and a large penalty if they don’t deliver the tickets. So stubhub had the money

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Found this thread because I just had a similar experience with Stubhub. Bought tickets for a concert and after I bought it stated that the tickets would not be transferred until 3 hours before the concert which I thought was crazy. The night before concert I messaged Stubhub and they said not to worry. Well OF COURSE tickets never transferred. I called Stubhub 3 hours before show and they said they would send me a link to obtain replacement tickets. Never got the email with the link. I called again like 1 hour before show (couldn't call during the prior two hours because I was traveling to get to the show). I stayed on the line with the agent until they provided a link and the replacement tickets had transferred to my account. Seats were comparable to what I had originally purchased but prices had gone up since I bought - so it seems Stubhub took a loss on that. This was super stressful and I don't think I will be using Stubhub again.

And what’s crazy is this:

The seller is charged the full amount of the tickets and a large penalty if they don’t deliver the tickets. So stubhub had the money

This is part of the business plan.

They are only required to refund the purchase price to the buyer. They will make an effort to get you new tickets, but no guarentees that they will provide tickets instead of a refund. If prices have gone up, Stubhub makes more money if they issue a refund and keep the fees and penalty from the seller.

From their website:

StubHub's FanProtect Guarantee
Buy tickets with confidence:
-Get valid tickets to any event or your money back
-We go out of our way to find replacement tickets if there is an issue with your order
-If your event is canceled and not rescheduled, you will receive a credit worth 120% of the amount you paid for the impacted event or the option of a cash refund