Making the most of those summer festival experiences

Who doesn’t love a good festival? Summer is the time for festivals and fun. Maybe you’re looking to attend a music festival, foodthemed festival or arts and craft show. Regardless of what you choose, you want to make the most of your experience.

Whether you’re buying tickets for a festival you’ve been waiting for or buying supplies for the festival festivities, it’s important to protect yourself and your money. So, while you’re enjoying the season’s festivals, remember to do so within your budget and protect yourself from scammers.

In some cases, people see amazing deals on tickets for area festivals. They click on the social media link, which takes them to a professional website. They purchase the tickets and think they are good to go, only to discover the event doesn’t exist, is disappointing or the tickets are bogus.

Better Business Bureau offers these tips to consider when festival shopping:

■ Research before you buy.

Search online for the name of the festival and make sure the name advertised matches the website. Scammers often use names that sound similar to those of real festivals.

■ Plan your expenses in advance. Ensure you have budgeted for festivals you plan to attend. This includes ticket prices, as well as food, activities and souvenirs you want to buy. Try to keep in mind extra fees that may arise. Talk to people who have been to your festival. What did they find essential to have?

■ Look out for discounts. There are third parties, which allow you to purchase discount coupons or deals. Check the underlying conditions carefully and buy only from authentic websites.

■ Avoid tickets sold on Craigslist and other free online listings.

■ Ensure the ticket seller protects buyers. Find one that provides a full refund if the ticket turns out to be fake.

■ Check the company refund and exchange policies before making purchases. Be sure to obtain the vendor’s physical location and telephone number in case you need to return or exchange an item after the event.

■ Evaluate if you really need what you buy.

■ Watch out for too-good-tobe-true deals. Don’t be pressured to buy on the spot.

■ Always pay with a credit card so you can dispute the charge if it turns out to be a scam.

■ Consider volunteering at a festival. In some cases, festivals provide volunteers with free tickets.

■ Never buy tickets on websites that aren’t secure. Look for the “https” in the url and the locked padlock symbol.

■ Be wary of prices that are too good to be true.

For more information about shopping for festival season, visit BBB.org or call 937-222-5825 or 800-776-5301. BBB can provide lists of BBB Accredited Businesses in the industry and Business Profiles on ones you may be considering.