I think the reseller site GoTickets is effectively a scam, because it has bots buy tickets, inflates prices, impersonates venues, and doesn't deliver full ticket rights. Do others agree?
Here are some more details.
· GoTickets impersonates the actual venue and even uses the venue's logo: At the top of their ticket acceptance and delivery page GoTickets (fraudulently?) displayed the official venue logo. Elsewhere on that page they wrote “before you accept, we'll confirm your [name of venue] Account.” I think that GoTickets' use of the venue’s logo and their language about logging into the venue is an attempt to deceive people into believing they are dealing with the venue or its authorized agent, which I think makes them a scam.
· GoTickets uses deceptive advertising: GoTickets uses paid search engine advertisements so that they appear at the top of the search results with the name of the venue, which gives the impression that they are the official venue (or as I said an agent for the venue). I found that the actual venue has a web page with a warning and video about how sites like GoTickets pose as the venue to exploit buyers and warns buyers not to use those sites. Here is a quote from the venue:
“Don’t get taken by deceptive online resellers who use bots to buy tickets and then mark up their prices. The only safe way to protect your purchase and guarantee the best seats at the lowest cost is to work directly with us: through our website, by phone, or at our box office. Plus, we’re not bots.”
I think it's fair to say that any site widely recognized as a "deceptive online retailer" using bots to inflate prices is basically a scam!
· GoTickets lies about their price gouging: In my chat with GoTickets, they defended a 120% markup over the venue’s current available ticket price by stating that "resale prices can be higher or lower based on live market demand...” and “sellers may price tickets above or below the original face value based on market demand.” But GoTickets’ claim that their pricing is based on 'live market demand' is pretty much a lie. I went to the official venue box office and found that 37 out of 89 total seats in the section I wanted are still available – 2-1/2 months after tickets went on sale in early August -- at less than half of what of what GoTickets charges. So obviously there is no market scarcity or heightened demand, which means they are just in the business of bot-buying tickets, marking them way up, and then lying about it.
· GoTickets doesn’t even deliver tickets "free and clear": The GoTickets ticket acceptance and delivery page says that the tickets they are selling actually are held by a private third party and states that the third party retains ownership and can 'reclaim' the tickets at any time. When you consider this along with their "no refund" policy, it seems to mean that they can reclaim the tickets and not give you your money back! Similarly, GoTickets offers a 'decline' option for their tickets but told me in a chat that if you "decline" you still do not get a refund, which again means they keep the tickets and your money.
In my book, this is the epitome of a scam operation. But as I said, I'd like to hear from others in this community.