In short, yes there are some key differences between Ticketmaster UK and Ticketmaster US in terms of website design, fees, delivery options, and inventory. However, the core ticket purchasing experience and technology is similar across both platforms.
Website design and layout
The Ticketmaster UK website has a slightly different look and feel compared to the US site. The UK site uses the .co.uk domain and has a UK-centric design with imagery and photos of UK venues and events. The main navigation menus are arranged differently, with tabs for different event types like Concerts, Sport, Arts & Theater, Family, Clubs & Festivals across the top. The US site has a cleaner design with just two main tabs for Concerts and Sports. Both sites are responsive and adapt well for mobile.
Fees and charges
There are some differences in the fees and service charges applied to ticket purchases on Ticketmaster UK compared to the US:
- Ticketmaster UK charges a booking fee per ticket purchased rather than per order. Fees range from £5-£12 based on the event.
- Ticketmaster US charges a set order processing fee per order, typically around $6-$12 per order.
- Ticketmaster UK adds a £3.65 fulfilment fee for postal ticket delivery. Ticketmaster US charges $5.95-$24.95 for home delivery depending on the method.
- Both sites charge variable fees for mobile ticket delivery.
- Ticketmaster UK includes 20% VAT tax on all purchases. Ticketmaster US adds sales tax depending on state.
- Ticketmaster UK has a maximum total fee per order of 12.5% of ticket face value. Ticketmaster US does not seem to have a stated cap on total fees.
Delivery options
Ticketmaster UK and US both offer home delivery, e-ticket, and mobile ticket options, but there are some differences:
- Ticketmaster UK offers Royal Mail Special Delivery as the standard postal option with no tracking. Ticketmaster US offers UPS with tracking.
- Ticketmaster UK e-tickets can be printed at home or accessed via app. Ticketmaster US e-tickets are strictly for home printing.
- Mobile tickets are integrated with Apple Wallet on Ticketmaster UK. Ticketmaster US mobile tickets live within the Ticketmaster app.
- Ticketmaster UK has a dedicated TicketFast delivery option for last-minute purchases. There is no clear equivalent on the US site.
Event inventory
Since Ticketmaster UK and Ticketmaster US serve different markets, the events available on each site are tailored for their locales. However, you can expect to find these general differences:
- More football (soccer), rugby, cricket events on Ticketmaster UK.
- More North American sports like NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL events on Ticketmaster US.
- More major UK music festivals like Glastonbury, Reading/Leeds, Isle of Wight on Ticketmaster UK.
- More US-based festivals like Coachella, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza on Ticketmaster US.
- Arts and theater inventory skewed toward UK venues and shows on Ticketmaster UK.
- Broadway, touring musicals, and US theater scene better covered on Ticketmaster US.
There can be some crossover on big global concert tours, but generally the events will be specific to each region. Users looking for tickets to events outside their locale will have limited options.
Purchase experience
Despite the differences outlined above, the core ticket buying process and technology is very similar between the two sites:
- Intuitive event search with filters for date, genre, price etc.
- Interactive seat maps to choose tickets.
- Shopping cart checkout process.
- Verified resale marketplace for sold out events.
- Single unified account login for app and website.
- Similar mobile app on iOS and Android.
So users in either country accustomed to using their local Ticketmaster platform should feel right at home if accessing the other country’s site. The main adjustments will be around event availability, delivery times, and pricing in £ vs $.
Customer service
Ticketmaster UK and US each have their own dedicated customer service teams trained to handle their respective markets. Some key points:
- Ticketmaster UK customer service reachable by web form, telephone, mail, Facebook, and Twitter.
- Ticketmaster US has email and phone support along with web form contact options.
- Ticketmaster UK has a London and Edinburgh office for in-person support. Ticketmaster US offices located in Los Angeles and Nashville.
- Customer service agents can only handle issues for events sold by their territory.
- Both sites have detailed help sites and FAQs to handle common inquiries.
- Ticketmaster UK offers accessibility and special requirements services for events.
So users will need to contact the appropriate team for their purchase. But they can expect relatively similar quality of experience dealing with either Ticketmaster customer service organization.
Final thoughts
In summary, Ticketmaster UK and Ticketmaster US share the same fundamental ticket purchasing platform and technology. But there are operational differences in fees, delivery, inventory, design, and support tailored for each localized market. Users in the UK should utilize Ticketmaster UK for the best UK event selection and pricing. Similarly, those in the US will find the most options for US events on the Ticketmaster US site. But no matter which site they buy from, fans can enjoy a smooth ticket buying experience.
