Got burned on Craigslist buying SEMA tickets now I'm scrambling--can anyone help out?
 

Went on CL to buy some tickets and now they have disappeared and taken my money. There were warning signs and I was stupid and far too trusting. Seller was communicating and seemed legit but now I know better.

Anyway now my brother and I don't have passes to get in and I'm scrambling to find them--any ideas? Thank you.

Good Luck - SEMA is really tough to get into unless you have tickets issued to an a vendor that is displaying at the event. The company I work for are members but we still struggle to get tickets. Plus they are going to check your IDs against the ticket names.

So, you paid someone for tickets on the promise they would mail them to you?

Agreed. SEMA runs a tight ship.As they should. They do a lot for our community. If you spend a substantial amount of $$$ with a vendor, they may help you get a pass.

It is a vendor/retailer show. Respect SEMA.

The tickets have your personal info on them and they require Id at the door.
It took them two weeks to approve me and at first they didn’t and I had to appeal their decision and I’ve been in the business for 25 years.
Don’t know how you’re getting in but I wish you luck
Tony

here are some good FAQs..

https://automotiveaftermarket.org/aftermarket-industry-trends/how-to-get-into-the-sema-show/

thanks for suggestions and info. I'm still going and may try my luck with someone else's passes if I can locate some. Two years ago when I went they were not checking id's all the time. There is quite a bit of stuff do see outside the convention center as well.

I'm going and it was a lot of effort even though I work for an automotive supplier with over $3 billion in revenue and have a genuine reason for going. They are not happy as our company have sent people for three years without buying a space. It took two weeks to get my ticket approved. I don't think you're going to find a way in without a real legitimate company AND reason to be there.

all you need is a ladder and a pokerface...

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Here we have a furniture trade show twice each year...largest in the world and bigger than SEMA....so large we have to import more "working girlz" from Vegas.

Vegas keeps trying to steal it....so the ladies don't have to travel as far I reckon :)

bump for some last minute help thanks

Try a hard hat, a vest, a tool belt, and a clipboard...

Follow-up--Well Tuesday morning my brother and I both found passes from Craigslist. Lots of scammers on CL. I mean I would say 80% of them are, maybe higher. Most of them were difficult to communicate with and flakey with texts and emails. We found a guy late Tues morning with a couple to sell and met us at the Sahara--he wouldn't sell them to us on premises at Westgate. Anyway we both ended up with badges with Japanese names and were Students from Japan, we are both very Caucasian. Despite these names on the passes, we reluctantly paid him since we had no other options and walked to the show entrance. Walked right past the security with no issues for 2 days--they were more concerned with everyone having their pockets empty and walking through the metal detectors. I don't think anyone was even looking at badge names or authenticity. Had a great time!

Congrats, Takashi!

Tell your brother, Jiro, the we all said "hi."