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2 This publication is designed to provide general information regarding the subject matter covered and is not considered legal advice. Laws vary from country to country and from state to state and are subject to change. Because each situation is different, readers are advised to make decisions based on their own conclusions. The author has taken responsible precautions in the preparation of this report and believes the research stated is accurate as of the date of publication. However, the author does not assume responsibility for any errors or omissions and specifically disclaims any liability resulting from the use of or application of the information contained within this publication F1FanAdvisor.com. All Rights Reserved. No reproductions, copying of use of any portion of this work is permitted without the express written permission and authorization of the publisher.

3 The 5 Costly Mistakes to Avoid When Purchasing Formula 1 Tickets A Free Report for Purchasing Your Formula 1 Tickets ANGRY F1 FANS LEFT HIGH AND DRY AS TICKET COMPANY FAILS 1, SPA TICKET CONFUSION FOR THOUSANDS OF F1 FANS 2. This is what can happen when innocent Formula 1 fans fall victim to fake ticket selling shops offering Formula 1 tickets that never arrive. During the Formula 1 race year, a number of ticket selling scams typically pop up as online ticket selling shops. The most common ways F1 fans are scammed through these ticket shops is by paying in advance for tickets that never arrive. This is after paying a hefty amount for the ticket which includes paying for service charges and additional shipping fees. Fake Formula 1 ticket selling scams can take many forms. Many of these scams look like legitimate companies that offer Formula 1 tickets but after the fans make the purchase, they never receive their tickets and later learn that the company was a scam. This is exactly what happened in June of 2012, when many F1 fans found themselves without tickets after they purchased tickets from a ticket shop known as Simply The Ticket for the British GP at Silverstone. Many F1 fans that had intended to travel to Valencia for the European GP were scammed as tickets did not arrive despite paying for them. For example, Hayley Pearson who lives in Great Moulton, South Norfolk, had a few days off and had planned to go to the European Grand Prix. She decided to purchase her tickets from Simply the Ticket. She booked tickets on the site and then never received them. Another example was Ben Miller, who was set to take his girlfriend to Valencia for the F1 race but did not receive his tickets from the company either. Ben tried contacting Simply The Ticket but Simplytheticket.com was not able to be reached and there was news that the website had been taken down and the company had gone bust. What happened to Mrs. Pearson and Mr. Miller can also happen to you. In another similar incident in August of 2012, the Dutch media reported that around 6,000 F1 fans who bought tickets for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps were not able to attend the event because their tickets did not arrive despite paying for them. If this was not enough, at the Indian GP event several F1 fans were duped by online ticketing vendors. The modus operandi of these fake F1 ticket vendors was simple. They claimed themselves as 1 Allen, J. 2012, June 18. Angry F1 fans left high and dry as ticket company fails. Jamesallenonf1.com. Retrieved from f1 fans left high and dry as ticket company fails/ 2 Popoiu, O. 2012, August 11. Spa ticket confusion for thousands of fans. F1zone.net. Retrieved from ticket confusion for thousands of fans/15287/

4 authorized ticketing partners, sending SMS messages saying You have won a free Forumla-1 ticket in the India Grand prix mobile draw promo 3. This even led the organizers of the Indian GP to issue a warning to F1 fans to be aware of the scamsters selling F1 tickets at a lower price 4. These scams could have been easily avoided if the fans were aware of all the official ticketing partners or could have checked the details behind the ticket sellers carefully. Unfortunately, not many F1 enthusiasts have the ability to perform background checks on ticket selling shops and thus could possibly be left outside the gates on race day either without tickets or with fake tickets. Not a good situation. If this can happen to over 6,000 people, it can happen to you. No matter the stories, the fake F1 ticket selling shops seem to involve websites that ask you to pay money and then don t get back to you with your tickets. The sad truth is there is often little or no recourse to get your money back if the tickets don t arrive or are not legitimate. How can you protect yourself? Fraud in the industry is evolving and it is important for you to be on guard for any situation that seems suspicious. If you are deciding to go see a race live, there is a host of things that you need to know about when buying your tickets beforehand. This report is a compilation of the top five results that were found by mystery shopping various ticket selling companies and is intended to aid you with avoiding some very significant mistakes. Some of the findings will seem to be common sense and others will be more surprising. Either way, we at F1FanAdvisor are sure you ll find them valuable. 3 NDTV September 26. Indian Grand Prix: Beware of F1 Tickets Scam. Retrieved from grand prix beware of f1 tickets scam India Today. 2012, October 25. Indian GP organisers warn against fraudsters even as website continues to sell cheap tickets on twitter. Retrieved from gp formula one jpsi bicracing/1/ html

5 The 5 Costly Mistakes Mistake #1. Not Exploring All Your Ticket Buying Options This is the first and the most common mistake that people make when purchasing F1 tickets. Normally, people are not aware of the many different resources that are available for purchasing F1 tickets. As a result, they may buy tickets from a company that they re not sure about. In reality, there are many online ticket shops that sell F1 tickets with many F1 fans often asking themselves: Where is the BEST and SAFEST company I can buy my F1 tickets from? For example, did you know that F1 tickets are available directly through the Racing Associations that operate the tracks or by the Tour Operators themselves? Many fans don t know that. The official Formula 1 internet site offers such packages and tours whereas there are also other specialty tour operators. The tour operators usually offer hotel deals and transportation between the airport, hotel, and the track. Usually the price of the ticket for the event ranges depending on many variables but is typically based on a per-day, per-seat basis. Apart from the official Formula 1 internet site, there are many other providers for F1 tickets as well. There is a continually evolving list here: (*note: this list does not guarantee or imply the listed company s ability to provide tickets or to obey applicable laws; it is simply a compilation of many popular ticket selling companies). Many of these providers supply and deliver tickets for races anywhere in the world and many of them are global companies, often with fantastic deal packages. There is also what are called F1 ticket Resellers. These companies are not primarily F1 ticket agencies but have become big players in the industry. These companies act as a safe trading ground for fans looking to purchase F1 tickets each season. However, there is potential for inflated ticket prices so they may not be suitable for people on a limited budget. *Very important do your homework. Read the ticket company s small print. Read the About Us section on the company website. See if they re Authorized to sell F1 tickets or if they re a legitimate ticket selling site. Look for happy-customer testimonials. Do the legwork you ll thank yourself. Mistake #2. Paying Too Much for the Actual Ticket This is the most common mistake that most Formula 1 fans make. Obviously the price of tickets varies as per the seating area, the days you wish to attend, the race location, and the facilities or hospitality you wish to receive during your stay. Sometimes people make the mistake of booking tickets, travel and accommodations separately thinking that it will be less expensive and they can get some extra leverage. But at the end of the day when they calculate the total amount they ve paid separately, it turns out they may be paying more than they would have for an all-inclusive package containing the race tickets, flights, rental car and the hotel. Additionally, some of the all-inclusive packages from the best providers come with special discounts for two people or couples that you would not have received if purchasing tickets separately. However, if you are

6 alone and do not wish to attend all 3 days of the event, less expensive packages are available for you as well. Another reason why many people end up paying too much for their F1 tickets is that they are either unaware or forget to ask about the current promotions offered by the various online ticket shops. Due to the cut-throat competition in the F1 ticket selling business, several online ticket shops have various promotional offers and offer attractive discounts as a part of their price-matching efforts. Some online shops provide discounts for immediate booking of tickets or packages. Sometimes if you wait for the right time, you may wind up paying too much for tickets since the price of tickets goes up as the date of the race gets closer. Obviously you don t want to pay too much for your tickets; you want to pay a reasonable amount so that you can enjoy the race within your chosen budget. Check around to all the ticket shops carefully from the start. Choosing an all-inclusive package especially if you wish to enjoy the race with your family can be a great option when compared to purchasing tickets and travel separately. Mistake #3. Not Knowing the Hidden Costs Involved Everybody hates hidden costs. When you purchase your F1 tickets from an online ticket shop, you assume you ll be paying the current normal ticket price that is listed at the ticket shop. But many ticket buyers, especially new ones, get burned by not knowing the hidden costs involved within the purchase. So, here s how it happens; you get to the point in the ticket transaction where you re paying for your tickets and you suddenly notice that you re paying much more than you anticipated. We ve all experienced this before when purchasing an item online whether it be buying a book, flowers, electronics, etc. This scenario often happens when the tickets shops charge you hidden extras such as credit card processing fees, over-inflated ticket delivery costs, taxes, and other miscellaneous fees. For example; a $235 per night package for 2 adults can have you paying taxes and service fees to the tune of $42 or more, which isn t always necessary. Additionally, when paying with your credit card, a fee of a certain percentage of the total transaction value is added to your cost but that s typical. This fee varies as per your credit card company but the result of this fee is the same you end up paying more than the price listed on the ticket shop. Although the cost of the base ticket is same everywhere, the difference in the hidden fees can make a huge difference. Mistake #4. Choosing the Wrong Ticket Delivery Method This one seems simple but has led to late ticket delivery and even worse; missed races. Depending on the online ticket shop, venue, or the event you are purchasing your F1 tickets for, the options available for ticket delivery may vary. The most common delivery methods are print or home tickets, standard mail (where offered), registered mail, and venue collect. The costs of these delivery methods vary on the kind of delivery method you choose.

7 Often, in the excitement of purchasing the race tickets, many choose the wrong ticket delivery method and often complain about paying too much in delivery costs, not receiving their tickets on time, misplacing the ticket, and so on. Choosing the best ticket delivery method should be made based on the cost you are willing to incur for the ticket delivery and the available options which best suit your motivation level. The most popular delivery method is print or home tickets. This is where tickets are dispatched via shortly after booking. All you need to do is print out all the ticket pages and bring them to the event to gain entry. Be careful when selecting a ticket delivery method and verify the shop provides a delivery method that best suits your needs. Mistake #5. Failing to Check ALL the Details One common mistake people make is they fail to read the details before purchasing their tickets. These details include reading the date(s) of the event or the days the ticket entitles you to enter the circuit, the information about the seat, the information about cancellations, the refund policy, the Terms & Conditions, and other important information. When you request or purchase tickets from online ticket shops, you are confirming that you have fully read their Terms & Conditions and you agree to be bound by them. As a result, you should only order tickets after you have read and understood all of the online ticket shop s Terms & Conditions. Yes, it s boring reading but the Terms & Conditions is actually an extra layer of protection for you since it can help you select the best online ticket shop with Terms & Conditions that suit your needs the best. Although most of the online ticket shops have the same refund policies, you should not overlook the information provided in the Terms & Conditions. Think about it; you re spending a lot of money for your race tickets and planning a significant trip; things may change regarding your schedule and circumstances. You may need a backup plan and the Terms & Conditions may help confirm it for you. Remember - the information provided in this Free Report is not official legal advice; it is simply intended to help you become aware of some of the most common mistakes that have been made while purchasing F1 tickets and some important ways to avoid them. It s important to understand all the potential risks, costs, scheduling and transaction complexities, and the liabilities involved in the F1 ticket buying process so your F1 race experience is great from beginning to end.

8 Make Your F1 Ticket Purchase Easy & Secure 1. Buying tickets for a Formula 1 race should be a fun and exciting event. Being aware of The 5 Costly Mistakes to Avoid when Purchasing Formula 1 Tickets is a great first step in the purchasing process. Evaluate all the points stated in this Free Report carefully and apply them to your own unique situation. Once you have done that, make a commitment to act on them. 2. Ask the right questions to the ticket companies who may be involved in your ticket purchasing process. Examples may be: Are you an Authorized Agent or an Authorized Seller or an Official Agent or other? Read the small print on their website and make an informed decision. How fast can I get my tickets? What are the hidden fees that your company will charge me? What happens if I want to change my plans after purchasing tickets? Do you offer any guarantees for your services? 3. Know your desired goals involved when buying your F1 tickets. Do you just want a quick and easy purchase? Perhaps your main objective is to save money during the process of planning your F1 race? Maybe you re not interested in shopping on the internet and dealing with all the hype? 4. Use the information in this Free Report. The information provided in this Free Report was designed to help you to become aware of some of the pitfalls you could experience when purchasing F1 tickets and to help you avoid them. After reading this Free Report and following these four final steps, determine your goals and determine what s most important to you. After creating your plan for an amazing F1 race trip, act on it immediately so you can use what you ve learned while it s still fresh in your mind. Mike Coraluzzi, the Chief Marketing Officer at F1FanAdvisor.com is not only a huge fan of Formula 1 racing but is widely recognized as a leading researcher on auto racing sales and marketing. Mike is a huge behind the scenes advocate for F1 fans worldwide. To contact Mike, simply mike@f1fanadvisor.com.