The University of Wisconsin-Madison sold out of its allotment of Rose Bowl tickets quickly, leaving many Badger fans scrambling for their chance to see them in play in Pasadena. Many of those ticket buyers will be looking to travel agencies and private sellers for their chance to go to the big game and state consumer protection officials are urging caution when shopping.
State Trade and Consumer Protection Administrator Sandy Chalmers says buyers should stick to known businesses when going through a broker like a travel agency. When considering a package deal, Chalmers says you should make sure the contract shows the airline you’ll be flying and what hotel you’ll be staying in. You should also make sure you have the tickets in hand before leaving Wisconsin.
Buyers should also watch out for ticket packages that lure them in with a low base price, but then try to add on many basic travel details through extra fees.
When dealing with resale sites or online auctions, Chalmers says it’s important to ask for a picture of the tickets before sending any money. Buyers should also remember never to wire payment because there is almost no chance of recovering the cash if it’s a scam.
Chalmers says it’s best to pay with a credit card, although you should never give the number out over the phone or through e-mail to a seller you don’t know. For private sales, buyers should use a trusted third party payment method.
The bottom line, Chalmers says, is that if a price seems too good to be true on Rose Bowl tickets, then it probably is.
AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (1:18)
