Ticketmaster service fees have become increasingly expensive and controversial in recent years. The fees, which can sometimes cost more than the actual ticket price, are how Ticketmaster makes the bulk of their profits. This has led many consumers to look for ways to avoid paying the extra fees when purchasing event tickets.
What are Ticketmaster service fees?
Ticketmaster service fees refer to the processing charges and additional costs added when you purchase event tickets through Ticketmaster. The fees go by different names like “convenience charges,” “order processing fees,” or “delivery fees.” But they all serve the same purpose – to generate additional revenue for Ticketmaster on each ticket sold.
These fees can add a significant amount to your overall ticket cost. For popular events, Ticketmaster service fees might be $25-$30 or even more per ticket. The fees apply whether you buy tickets online, over the phone, or in person at a box office that uses Ticketmaster.
Why does Ticketmaster charge service fees?
Ticketmaster defends the fees as the costs of providing their ticketing services and platform. However, critics argue the high fees are an easy way for Ticketmaster to make large profits, often exceeding the amounts paid to event organizers. Here are some of the reasons Ticketmaster cites for service fees:
- Payment processing – The costs of online payment processing and fraud protection
- Platform hosting – Maintaining their website/app and all its ticketing infrastructure
- Customer service – Call center and other customer service expenses
- Ticket delivery – The costs of printing and delivering paper tickets by mail or courier
While there may be some validity to these justifications, many feel the current fee amounts are unreasonable and disproportionate to the actual costs. The lack of transparency around exactly how the fees are calculated also raises suspicions.
Are Ticketmaster service fees mandatory?
Yes, Ticketmaster service fees are essentially mandatory any time you purchase tickets directly through Ticketmaster, whether online, by phone, or at an outlet. There is no way to avoid them completely unless you use an alternate seller or ticketing platform.
You may be able to reduce the amount of fees by choosing electronic ticket delivery instead of paper tickets being mailed to you. But you cannot get around paying some level of fees if Ticketmaster is processing your order.
Ways to avoid Ticketmaster service fees
While Ticketmaster service fees can’t be avoided when buying directly through Ticketmaster, there are some workarounds you can use to bypass or reduce the fees:
Buy from the box office
For events at smaller venues, you may be able to purchase tickets directly from the venue’s onsite box office and avoid online fees. Of course, this requires you to purchase tickets in person at the venue.
Use a ticket resale site
Many tickets end up being resold on sites like StubHub, VividSeats, SeatGeek, etc. Buying from a reseller does not involve Ticketmaster service fees. However, the ticket prices on resale sites may be marked up higher.
Buy from the event’s official website
In some cases, the event organizers or venue may sell tickets directly through their own website rather than outsourcing to Ticketmaster. This allows them to avoid service fees. But distribution options are more limited.
Get tickets as a gift
If you have a family member or friend willing to purchase tickets on your behalf as a gift, they will pay the Ticketmaster fees. You can then reimburse them for the base ticket price without the fees.
Use a ticket exchange/resale service
Some events have official ticket exchanges or resale partners where season ticket holders can sell seats they aren’t using. There may be lower/no fees using these exchange services.
Join a fan club
Artists or teams sometimes offer fee-free ticket presales for members of their official fan clubs. Joining a fan club just for presale access may not be cost-effective though.
Get a refund of the fees
In very limited cases, you may be able to get a refund of the Ticketmaster fees by contacting their customer service if you meet certain criteria. But don’t count on being able to get your fees back.
Are there any legal ways to avoid Ticketmaster fees?
There are currently no proven legal methods to completely avoid Ticketmaster service fees without utilizing one of the workaround methods listed above. Simply refusing to pay the fees is not an option if you want to purchase tickets through Ticketmaster.
Some consumer advocacy groups have lobbied governmental regulators about Ticketmaster’s fee practices being unfair and anti-competitive. But so far, no policies or laws have been enacted to ban or strictly regulate their fees. Unless the legal landscape changes, Ticketmaster service fees remain a mandatory cost of buying through their system.
What are some questionable methods people try?
Those intent on avoiding Ticketmaster service fees at all costs have tried some questionable tactics over the years, including:
- Using “ticket broker” services of dubious legality
- Purchasing stolen credit card numbers or gift cards to buy tickets anonymously
- Using bots or automated tools to buy up tickets faster
- Circumventing ticket purchase limits by setting up multiple accounts
Needless to say, these methods are unethical at best and illegal at worst. There are serious risks like having your tickets cancelled, being banned from future purchases, or even facing criminal charges. It’s better to avoid the fees using legitimate means or simply pay them if necessary.
Are Ticketmaster service fees going away or decreasing?
There is mounting pressure on Ticketmaster to lower or eliminate service fees from consumer rights groups, politicians, event organizers, and fans. Several lawsuits have also questioned whether Ticketmaster is engaging in deceptive pricing or monopolistic practices.
That said, Ticketmaster remains the dominant primary ticket seller with tremendous influence in the industry. The convenience of using their massive platform keeps many events, venues, and fans relying on them.
While competitors like AXS and SeatGeek are starting to disrupt the market, Ticketmaster’s fees show no signs of going away completely anytime soon. The likelihood of modest decreases in certain fee amounts seems more realistic in the near future if public scrutiny intensifies.
Are there instances where Ticketmaster has reduced fees?
In select cases, Ticketmaster has relented on service fees in response to specific backlash or legal issues:
- Pearl Jam boycott – When the band protested Ticketmaster fees in the mid-90s, they refused to use Ticketmaster for a tour. The bad PR and lost revenue led to modest fee decreases.
- Class action settlement – A 2021 class action lawsuit settlement provided discount code coupons to partially refund fees for certain events.
- Verified resale – In 2022, Ticketmaster began waiving fees on tickets resold through theirVerified Resale platform as an incentive.
However, these reductions have been isolated cases. Overall, Ticketmaster fees continue to rise and remain high compared to other merchants. Public pressure for broader fee reductions will need to intensify drastically before major changes occur.
Tips for minimizing Ticketmaster fees
While Ticketmaster fees can’t be avoided completely, here are some tips to help minimize the amount:
- Buy early – Fees are usually lower further in advance and rise as the event nears. They may also be waived during presales.
- Fewer tickets = lower fees – Fees increase per ticket, so buying fewer tickets reduces the total.
- Skip paper tickets – Choosing electronic ticket delivery avoids fees like “UPS delivery.”
- Use discounted pre-paid cards – This can slightly reduce payment processing fees.
- Join fan clubs – Special presales sometimes have lower/no fees for fan club members.
Again, these measures only minimize fees slightly. But every bit of savings counts when service fees can be so high. With strategic timing and choices, you may save $5-10 per ticket.
Conclusion
The short answer is no – there is no way to completely avoid paying Ticketmaster service fees if you want to purchase tickets through their platform. The workarounds either involve using a different seller or buying from the source before tickets reach Ticketmaster for distribution.
Some feisty fans may try to fight the system, but Ticketmaster has a virtual monopoly that won’t disappear overnight. While advocating for lower fees is reasonable, outright refusing to pay them will only result in not getting tickets. For now, the best options are either minimizing the fees or absorbing them as an annoying cost of seeing your favorite events.