Anonymous wrote:W haven’t had these experiences but it makes me so nervous. We have to use StubHub or similar these days for popular events because they are sold out so quickly, or there’s a lottery etc. Like, what’s the other option if it’s just not available directly from the site?

This mess is why we needed Congress to pass and a president to sign the TICKET Act, a bill designed to regulate these third-party ticket resellers. The House passed the act, but it went into limbo in the Senate and now? The incoming administration will ax it. They're saying it's all about budget cuts but let's face it, there will be no appetite for regulating anything once Jan. 20 arrives.

So, Congress was aware of the issue, and wanted to fix it (at least, the House did) but we consumers will continue to be screwed. So much for supporting the "little guy" against the behemoth money-making ticket resellers....

https://www.recordingacademy.com/advocacy/news/house-senate-critical-steps-ticketing-reform 2023: moving toward reforming ticket sales practices.

https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2024/12/23/ticket-act-dumped-by-congress-budget-cuts/ Late 2024: Screw you, consumers.

W haven’t had these experiences but it makes me so nervous. We have to use StubHub or similar these days for popular events because they are sold out so quickly, or there’s a lottery etc. Like, what’s the other option if it’s just not available directly from the site?

Anonymous wrote:OP, I like the small claims court suggestion. Read every bit of fine print and then file. Email StubHub and ask them to explain exactly what happened in your situation to cause them to cancel your purchase so close in time to the event. Have you asked them to reimburse you for parking and whatever else? Give them a chance to explain and to make you whole, then when they don’t, file in small claims court. Make this your mission and if you have kids, make it a civics lesson.

I don’t understand why anyone is blaming OP. I’ve gotten to the Kennedy Center with very little time to spare. Sometimes schedules just work out that way. And if you “know” you have a reserved seat, it’s not a big deal to arrive very close to show time.

Such a stupid idea. It would cost more to sue than what they spent for parking. Complete waste of time. It’s their fault for buying from Stubhub instead of directly from KC.

We considered 3rd party KC tickets for NYE but were nervous about it and decided not to do it. Do you think they thought they could get more and resold them again?

OP, I like the small claims court suggestion. Read every bit of fine print and then file. Email StubHub and ask them to explain exactly what happened in your situation to cause them to cancel your purchase so close in time to the event. Have you asked them to reimburse you for parking and whatever else? Give them a chance to explain and to make you whole, then when they don’t, file in small claims court. Make this your mission and if you have kids, make it a civics lesson.

I don’t understand why anyone is blaming OP. I’ve gotten to the Kennedy Center with very little time to spare. Sometimes schedules just work out that way. And if you “know” you have a reserved seat, it’s not a big deal to arrive very close to show time.

That sucks but I think it just means stubhub is a bad idea. Lesson learned.

Anonymous wrote:Don’t buy tickets from StubHub!! I had this happen last year. Purchased tickets, seller pulled the tickets six months later (one month before concert), at that point all of the remaining tickets for the concert were sold out. We had purchased plane tickets, reserved a hotel, made other plans requiring tickets for the special anniversary weekend. It makes me angry just writing this. Never again!

The fact that StubHub allows sellers to renege on the arrangement is beyond appalling. I'm surprised they havent been sued in a class action and forced to stop allowing this. Insane.

Anonymous wrote:Don’t buy tickets from StubHub!! I had this happen last year. Purchased tickets, seller pulled the tickets six months later (one month before concert), at that point all of the remaining tickets for the concert were sold out. We had purchased plane tickets, reserved a hotel, made other plans requiring tickets for the special anniversary weekend. It makes me angry just writing this. Never again!

OMG! I’m so angry for you!

Don’t buy tickets from StubHub!! I had this happen last year. Purchased tickets, seller pulled the tickets six months later (one month before concert), at that point all of the remaining tickets for the concert were sold out. We had purchased plane tickets, reserved a hotel, made other plans requiring tickets for the special anniversary weekend. It makes me angry just writing this. Never again!

The only out of pocket amouny is parking (is it $20) because presumably gas was negligible ans you live close by. You’re not getting anything for your time. Who in the world would sue for $20? You’d pay around $50 just to file the law suit.

Anonymous wrote:How can StubHub take back the tickets? Usually the tickets are transferred to you (via Ticketmaster) and then they’re in your account. They can ask you to transfer them back, but you can say no.

Did they make a request for you to transfer back? Your story doesn’t make sense.

That's what I was trying to understand as well. How can StubHub email you tickets at 11 a.m. and then at 1:20 simply say, you no longer have them?

What happened to those seats in the next 10 minutes? Did the original ticket holders decide to attend and use them? I can't see how, if the tickets had been transferred earlier that same day. What a ripoff.

Did StubHub mistakenly sell the same seats twice over, and OP just got shafted while a second buyer got to use the seats?

I am NOT doubting you, OP! Just saying that for those of us unfamiliar with StubHub it's baffling, and yeah, I'd be way beyond furious after trekking to the theater, getting my family excited about a show, and being told at the last second it was no go. And I'm sure the Kennedy Center doesn't give a toss about disappointed patrons who didn't buy tickets directly from the Kennedy Center. Having read this, I'd never use StubHub, for sure.

How can StubHub take back the tickets? Usually the tickets are transferred to you (via Ticketmaster) and then they’re in your account. They can ask you to transfer them back, but you can say no.

Did they make a request for you to transfer back? Your story doesn’t make sense.

Regarding the ten minutes, when I go to KC I get to the venue about 20 min early but usually wait until ten minutes before to scan my ticket. At the KC I use those ten minutes to use the bathroom, enjoy the view from the fountain etc. it’s not like a broadway theater where you get your ticket scanned to enter the lobby. At the KC the lobby is accessible without getting your ticket scanned.

OP, I'm sorry that happened. How infuriating. I've never used StubHub, but have thought about it, and now I'm grateful to OP and the others who've warned against it. I'm not clear on one thing-- they can email you tickets that you have "in hand" (electronically) at 11 a.m. and then at 1:20 can simply cancel those tickets? So the email "sending" tickets is effectively not a guarantee you actually will see a show, until you're basically in the seats? OP, what did the Kennedy Center do--did you just see the StubHub email and leave, or did you see the email and then go to the box office and ask if there was anything they could do (standing tickets?), or did you find out about the cancelled tickets only when you went to the box office to pick up physical tickets?

I do get it, the show was sold out, but were the original ticket holders in those seats, after changing their minds? If not, it sounds like seats for a sold-out show went empty, and that would be nuts. And a huge waste.

Sorry OP. That really stinks. Agree they should at a minimum compensate you for your parking as well. I would suggest filing a better business bureau claim and see if you can get some resolution that way.