Viagogo in criticism: Buyers risk high prices and fake tickets!

Viagogo in criticism: Buyers risk high prices and fake tickets!

München, Deutschland - Viagogo has recently been the official ticket partner for the handball final Four and is still massive. The platform, which acts as an intermediary between private buyers and buyers, has increasingly proven to be problematic for consumers. As the Kölnerstadt-Anzeiger are reported for big events and sports. Often out of print quickly. As a result, many buyers fall back on secondary market platforms such as Viagogo, Ebay or Stubhub, only to get tickets - but often at excessive prices and with numerous risks.

The consumer advice centers have repeatedly warned of the dangers associated with buying a ticket on such platforms. More and more reports on fake tickets, personalized tickets for non -transferable events and entries sold several times are piling up. Organizers and artists therefore advise you to acquire tickets exclusively via official channels such as Eventim or Ticketmaster.

risks and price transparency

According to the consumer advice center, tickets on Viagogo are often more expensive than at the official sales outlets. The surcharge can be up to eight times higher than the original price. During an examination in April and May 2019, market guards determined that tickets cost almost three times the original price. For many buyers, this price level is often an unpleasant surprise, since the platform does not provide transparent information about the possible additional costs. In addition, Tfaters such as the original ticket price have been specified since May 28, 2022, but this is not sufficient to eliminate the lack of transparency in pricing.

In addition, the guarantees of Viagogo often appear questionable for buyers. They usually contain nothing more than the legally prescribed rights, which leads consumers to the realization that they are often left alone in the event of a problem. Complaints about false tickets, such as receiving standing room instead of seats, or different space categories are not uncommon. Contacting the provider is often difficult, as it is often missing from direct contacts.

criticism of consumer advocates

The criticism of Viagogo can not only be heard from consumer advocates. The Bavarian Consumer Center has already threatened and warned legal steps to the company several times so that improved transparency regarding services and prices can be achieved. A judgment of the Munich Higher Regional Court decided that Viagogo must disclose the identity of commercial sellers and also do not be able to advertise with a guarantee for valid tickets if personalized tickets are mediated.

The negative perception of viagogo is also reflected in the reviews on platforms such as Trustpilot. Despite Viagogo's claim that over 99% of the orders run smoothly, consumers' skepticism remains against these promises. Artists and clubs are increasingly taking measures to prevent access with non-official tickets. The 1. FC Köln expressly does not accept tickets from non-official second market platforms and proceeds against their sale.

Despite the ongoing criticism and the high prices, Viagogo remains an important platform in ticket sales, and politics is working on regulatory measures to determine clear guidelines and price limits for the ticket office market. However, consumers must continue to be aware of the risks that the purchase of tickets on such platforms brings and should always look for official sales outlets in order to avoid unpleasant surprises.