Zigabid – A Ticket Revolution

Dave Matthews Band

Dave Matthews Band hasn’t tour since 2010, but don’t think that means they’re touring lightly this year. Their new tour kicks off in May and winds down in late September. With a few festival dates in between, and a few two-night stands, fans across North America will have their chance to see the band perform. The band will likely play new songs off of their next upcoming album, which is set to release later this year.

Buy tickets for Dave Matthews Band on Zigabid.

Madonna

The ruling Queen of Pop announced her MDNA world tour shortly after her performance at the Super Bowl. Her US dates start on August 28, in Philadelphia at the Wells Fargo Center. Madonna recently dropped her second single off her MDNA album, titled “Girls Gone Wild,” which originated from EDM rockstar Benny Bennassi and his cousin Ale. Check out our guide to buying Madonna tickets below.

Buy tickets for Madonna on Zigabid.

Drake

Drake is currently on the “Club Paradise” tour with Kendrick Lamar and A$AP Rocky. The crew is going to smaller venues, in college areas, to play for his fans who have supported him since the beginning. The tour has been making waves, and will be in California starting this weekend, on March 4th. You can enter to win tickets

Buy tickets for Drake on Zigabid.

The NBA is finally coming back.  Over the next several months Staples Center will be the basketball Mecca for Laker fans, Clipper fans, and the Angeleno transplants coming out to see their visiting hometown teams.  If seeking out tickets for specific seats it helps to know the Staples Center and its layout.  From our years of selling Lakers season tickets as well as going to games, we’ve got the insight you need.

Fancy Shmancy Seats:
Like a little luxury to go with your game watching experience?  The Premier section is for you.  Enjoy slightly larger seats for extra comfort and waitress service.  The section is located just above the 100 level and gives you an elevated, yet still close to the game experience.  If you find yourself in the lettered rows of the 100 level section, these are located just a couple rows from the court and will get you a few premiums as well.

Prime Court View:
Anywhere near center court will offer you a good view of the entire court.  You’ll find prices to be exceptionally higher on certain rows when looking for tickets.  Rows 4-6 in sections 101 and 111 give you the best possible view of the game and are sought after by many buyers.

The Best Game Experience:
If you want the best insight on the game, seat yourself in the lettered rows of section 119 or 102.  These sections are right behind the player benches.  From here you can listen in on every time out and catch all the back and forth between the referees, players, and coaches.  You’ll be able to tell your friends the next day exactly what Kobe said to get that “T”.

Greatest Lower Level Value:
Working on a budget and want to sit in the lower level, the 200 section seats are the way to go.  These are located at the ends, behind the baskets, and have the lowest face value for the level.  While the seats may not be a prime court view, you’ll still be low and close enough to the action.

Upper Level Seating:
If you typically don’t mind upper level seating, but have never been to Staples Center it’s best to know these seats are more “upper” than your typical “upper” level. Compared to an arena like our neighbor the Honda Center which has one level of luxury boxes and 4 rows of club seating, Staples Center boasts 3 levels of luxury boxes and 12 rows of club seating.  It’s not a spot you want to end up if you’re deathly afraid of heights.

Now you know where to go and what you’ll get.  All that’s left is to negotiate your ticket price!

Buy Staples Center tickets at Zigabid

Just spotted this on Craigslist:

Becareful, we bought tickets twice now. Both shows our tickets were HARD tickets, but they wanted cash. I checked ID, wrote down license plate. etc…. I went back to the guys work and he doesn’t even work there. I am out $2000 over the last two nights.

Use Paypal or a credit card. Don’t get burned on here or out front of the venue. WARNING FAKE JAY-Z KANYE tickets don’t pay cash Watch the Throne live and not later on a dvd! Like I need too

they had a ticketmaster receipt….. but tickets were bought with a stole credit card and thus voided before I got to the show.

STOP PAYING there thiefs cash. Everyone takes paypal.

 If only they had sooner read our blog on Cash vs Credit on Craigslist.  The only thing we’d disagree on is paying with PayPal.  PayPal is the easiest way to get ripped off online.

It’s time once again for the Rose Bowl game and is one of the busiest times of the year for Zigabid.  The big game draws in customers old and new, both local and from the home states of the participating teams.  For many first time buyers, especially those unfamiliar with the Rose Bowl, deciding on a seat can be difficult.  We’ve broken down the sections and rows at the Rose Bowl to help you decide what’s best to buy and what to stay away from.

(Click for bigger version)

High or low, which row to go?
For many events and shows, a lot of people think the closer they are the better.  Such is not the case on the gridiron.  There’s 100-yards of field to follow the game on and being five rows from the field doesn’t really offer the best of full vantage points.  At the Rose Bowl, you’re better off sitting in the last 21 rows (rows 56-77) than the first 15 rows.  If you’re somewhere in the middle nine rows (rows 16-24), you’ll have a decent view.  Try looking into rows 46-55 which will give you a much improved view.  The prime cluster of sections at the Rose Bowl are rows 24 to 45.  That is where you really want to sit for the best experience.  Don’t even give a thought to the lettered rows.  Lettered row seats are flat on the ground where you can expect to see camera men running back and forth in front of you.  Sure, you might see a great play if you’re in the end zone, but you’ll barely see the rest of the field.  From the sidelines, your view will be no better than what players see from the bench. You’re likely to find us selling those to mortal enemies or customers we’d rather not see come back!

Good Rows: 15-25, 56-77
Better Rows: 46-55
Best Rows: 25-45
Don’t Even Consider Rows: 1-15, Lettered Rows

You’ve found your row, now what’s the best section?
Sure, you know what rows you’re shopping for and definitely know which school’s side you’ll be on, but which section do you pick?  It’s pretty simple, just start at the 50-yard line and make your way out from there.  Being dead center gives you a full, equal view of the field.  At the Rose Bowl, you’ll find the center sections are 4 and 5 (on the Pac 12 side) and 18 and 19 (on the Big 10 side).  If you end up just left or right of center in sections 16/17, 20/21, 2/3, or 6/7, don’t fret as you’ll still have a better view than other folks at the stadium.  From here, you’re left with the corner end zones (sections 14/15, 22/23, 8/9, and 1/28) and the dead end zones (sections 10-13 and 24-27).  They’re not the best of sections, but you’re better off in any of the corner sections over the end sections.  Sitting in the end zone is better than no seat if seeing the whole field isn’t a huge concern.

One other thing to keep in mind with the Rose Bowl seating is seats vs. benches.  If you sit anywhere between sections 1-8 or 15-22, you’ll find yourself in a comfortable seat with a back to lean on.  Any other section and you’ll find yourself on a cold bench, but at least you’re in sunny Southern California away from the bitter cold of the Midwest and the like.

Good Sections: 16/17, 20/21, 2/3, 6/7
Best Sections: 18/19, 4/5
Corner End Zone Sections: 8/9, 14/15, 22/23, & 1/28
Just Happy to be There End Zone Sections: 10-13, 24-27

For an historic bowl game like the Rose Bowl, tickets will always be in demand on the secondary market.  It’s good to have some knowledge what you’re getting into when shopping around for tickets.  Hopefully after reading this article, you’ll be armed with the information to find exactly what you’re looking for.

Now what are you waiting for, start negotiating your ticket price now!

Buy Rose Bowl tickets at Zigabid 

Craigslist is a great one-stop hub for many things including concert, sports, and event tickets.  It has also been a prime place for bulk sellers to get free advertising and unload last minute deals on inventory.  People are hungry for last minute deals, yet are hesitant to pull the trigger with the fear of being scammed.  As a company that deals with craigslist consumers, the number one question encountered when speaking to a potential buyer is “how can I trust you with my credit card information?”  This sparks the debate: Cash vs. Credit on craigslist.

If you do your research on past craigslist scam stories, you’ll see two big common factors:

1. They all met the seller in person.
2. They all paid in cash.

Yet most people still insist they’d rather meet in person and not give their credit card information when buying tickets.    This isn’t to say that you should give your credit card to just anyone over the phone, but there are a few things you can verify that will ensure safety:

1. If dealing with a seller that is from a ticket company, find out if they have a physical address, website, etc for credibility.
   a.) Even better if you can verify their business on Google’s Street View feature.
2. Are you calling a toll free or business landline or just a random cellphone number? Numbers can be traced back on Google if it is a business line and you should be able to find a business name/address.
3. When paying with credit card, make sure you receive a receipt.
4. If having tickets shipped to you, make sure the seller supplies a tracking number.

If dealing with a business, customer service is their number one goal since they want you to come back as a customer and tell your friends about their company.  So fulfilling your order is a must for them.  Another upside to using a credit card is the extra added security.  In the worst case scenario you get ripped off, you will get credited back by the credit card company.  On the other hand, if you give cash to a stranger who runs off, that money will likely not come running back to you.

So don’t immediately write off a seller on craigslist if they’re unable to meet in person.  If they’re transparent and give you the information you need to fully verify them, you’re in good hands.  If they’re not cooperative, then be weary.

On the flip side of all this, businesses that deal on craigslist are equally as weary with the customers they deal with.  Fraud works both ways and ends up more expensive for the business.  When businesses have to deal with orders paid for with stolen credit cards, not only must a refund be issued but penalty and processing fees are incurred as well.  The company ends up losing money because of this.  If you want to save yourself and the company you’re dealing with any trouble then be sure to use a card that is either billed to the same address it is being delivered to or an address verified by the credit card company.

Buyers and sellers alike have their worries when dealing through craigslist, but if everyone takes the proper steps to ensure safety, everyone will be happy at the end of the day.

Do you offer any premium ticket packages such as the ones offered by Live Nation?

Yes we do! Often at prices that are the same or less than Live Nation charges, and with better service. Live Nation has premium VIP seating programs at all of their own venues. When you sign up for a season ticket package, you often get a large discount off the premium prices they charge for a 3 or 5 show package. Additionally, they will only sell packages of at least 3 shows.

Zigabid will often let you pick any show you’d like, but not always at a lower price than Live Nation. Our prices are not influenced by face value, but by the actual market price. So let’s say a show has a face value of $250, like Janet Jackson at Gibson Amphitheatre – Live Nation won’t sell you tickets for less than $350 each. Zigabid sold the same seats at $150 each the week of the show. All of our seats come with the same amenities. Whether you need that suite or courtside tickets for the Lakers or dead center in the first 10 rows for Eric Clapton, we’re here to help. Give us call for your premium seating needs! We are here to help and will always pick up the phone.

So the show is sold out, the venue hasn’t held back any tickets, and now everybody‘s look for tickets. Now what? The first thing you need to do is bookmark the web page for the event at the primary ticket provider. Occasionally, tickets will also be held back for the artist, media, labels, or other luminaries, and if any of  those people do not want tickets, they will often be released back to the primary ticketing provider. No tickets or eight tickets might be available; there’s no certainty left at this stage of your ticket-buying process, but you don’t really have many options left, do you? If there are tickets available, grab what you need and alert other people on Craigslist or message boards who have posted wanted messages to increase your karma (and perhaps make some good ticket-buying contacts for next time).

Simultaneously, along with checking your bookmarks multiple times a day, you need to be on Craigslist, eBay, and your preferred ticket broker’s website. With these three websites at your disposal, you need to gauge the supply against the amount of bidders on eBay, amount of wanted postings on Craigslist, and the supply on the broker site of choice. Be aware that inventory may overlap between all three sales venues.

So you had another engagement or just didn’t know the show was going on sale, you dropped the ball, and now the show you want to go to is sold out. Don’t worry, you still can! Now you just have to engage the ticket-buying process in a different manner. If we’re talking about Here’s what you do if its a small or mid-size club show: try calling the club that the show is at to see if they’ve held back some tickets that can still be sold with little to no fee. If the club happens to be sold out, or hasn’t held back tickets, try to jump quickly on eBay and Craigslist before other ticket buyers realize the show might be sold out. If you can find the right person who has an extra ticket or two before everyone is hounding them for a ticket, you might still be able to pay around face value before the market is swamped with demand.

You might be asking, “Aw, homework, do we have to?” The answer is YES. Do you know how brokers and scalpers got all those tickets? They know the ticket purchasing process through buying tickets every week. They practice, practice, practice. So go and practice ticket buying as a broker would, but for personal use instead of re-sale. Open your account at the appropriate vendor website and have your credit card ready! You can lose tickets if you take too much time entering your information while purchasing them. Just because the tickets are in your cart doesn’t mean the deal is done! Go through all the purchasing steps for different shows and make sure you have an email or a printable receipt to confirm your purchase.