Ticketmaster is one of the most popular ticketing websites for concerts, sports events, theater shows and more. While it provides a convenient way to purchase tickets, Ticketmaster is also notorious for adding on substantial fees to the base ticket price that can really drive up the total cost. These annoying fees include order processing fees, service fees and more. So how do you avoid paying all the extra fees on Ticketmaster?
Understand the Different Ticketmaster Fees
First, it’s important to understand the types of fees Ticketmaster commonly charges:
- Convenience Fees – This fee covers the cost of processing your order online or over the phone. It can range from $5-$20+ per ticket.
- Order Processing Fee – A flat fee added to each ticket order. Usually around $5-$10 per order.
- Service Fee – Essentially Ticketmaster’s profit margin, this fee is a percentage of the ticket price (often 25% or more!).
- Facility Charge – This goes to the venue hosting the event to cover their costs.
- Shipping Fees – If you have your tickets shipped, you’ll pay $2-$5+ for this convenience.
So as you can see, the fees can really add up, sometimes doubling the base price of the ticket! Here are some tips to avoid paying excessive fees on your next Ticketmaster order.
Buy Directly From the Venue Box Office
Cutting out the middleman is one of the best ways to avoid fees. Check if the venue or promoter selling the tickets has their own box office where you can purchase tickets directly. Many venues sell through their own website or physical box office without adding all the extra fees you’ll find on Ticketmaster.
There are some concerts, sports events and theaters that sell exclusively through Ticketmaster, making this impossible. But it never hurts to check – you can potentially save a lot of money if you’re able to buy directly! Just be aware that the venue’s box office will likely have much more limited hours than Ticketmaster’s 24/7 service.
Use Ticketmaster Discount Codes
Ticketmaster offers special discount codes and sales from time to time that can help knock some dollars off your order. You can find Ticketmaster promo codes online or on their website. The discounts are typically fairly minimal ($10-$20), but any savings add up.
Some of the most common Ticketmaster promo codes include:
- NEWTIX – $15 off your first Ticketmaster order (new customers only)
- HOLIDAY – Saves up to $20 on tickets in November – December
- SUMMER – Saves up to $20 on tickets in May – August
Their deals tend to focus on specific events, seasons, or groups like students, military, or Mastercard holders. It takes some hunting, but always try to find a code before you check out! You can also sign up for Ticketmaster emails where they will advertise upcoming promo code deals.
Use a Prepaid Card
Ticketmaster charges your method of payment separate processing fees. One way to get around this is by purchasing a prepaid Visa or Mastercard gift card to use for your Ticketmaster order. The prepaid card won’t be charged any extra processing fees.
You can buy a prepaid card at most drugstores and grocery stores. Load it with enough funds to cover the ticket cost and fees. Just be aware that prepaid cards often come with purchase fees, so this may just shifting the fees instead of eliminating them.
Buy Tickets as a Group
If you’re attending an event with friends or family, buying tickets together in one order can help you save on fees. Ticketmaster charges the order processing fee PER ORDER, not per ticket. So ordering together means you only pay that fee once.
For example, 5 friends order tickets separately and each pay a $10 order processing fee. That’s $50 in fees alone! But if they place one order together, they only pay $10 for that fee, saving $40.
There are some logistical challenges if you need to pay separately, but tools like PayPal make it easier to collect funds and make one group payment.
Wait Until the Last Minute
This risky strategy can pay off big if you score a deal…but can also backfire if tickets sell out. Ticketmaster fees are determined by the ticket face value. So if an event hasn’t sold well and they slash prices, the fees will be lowered too.
Third party resellers like StubHub may offer last minute tickets for super cheap just to get them off their hands too. Keep a close eye on prices leading up to an event you want to attend. If they tank, you can swoop in and find tickets plus fees for much less. But you also may miss out, so only try this if you’re feeling lucky!
Avoid UPS Delivery
Choosing to get tickets shipped to you adds a delivery fee onto your Ticketmaster order. Typically it’s an extra $2-$5 per ticket to have them shipped UPS.
Skip the delivery fee entirely by choosing “Electronic Ticket” as your delivery method instead. You’ll receive a digital ticket barcode to print out or scan from your phone. No need to wait for shipping!
If you prefer having the hard tickets, see if you can choose “Standard Mail” instead. This uses regular USPS mail instead of UPS. It takes a bit longer but doesn’t incur the UPS premium.
Maximize Your Purchase
Some of Ticketmaster’s fees are flat rates, so they have less impact if your purchase amount is higher. For example, paying a $10 order processing fee on a $40 ticket stings more than paying $10 on a $200 ticket.
If you’re buying multiple tickets for a group or for several events, consider doing it in one transaction. Add as many tickets as you can to your cart before checking out. The flat fees will be applied once instead of on multiple orders.
Use a Ticketmaster Gift Card
Purchasing a Ticketmaster gift card allows you to prepay your ticket fees and lock in savings. When you use a Ticketmaster gift card, you avoid the fees charged for using a debit/credit card to purchase tickets.
Gift cards can only be used on the Ticketmaster website, not on venue or promoter sites. But they let you secure tickets ahead of time without paying processing fees until you make the purchase. Look for gift card deals to maximize the savings.
Sign Up for Season Ticket Packages
If you plan to attend multiple events put on by a specific promoter or at a specific venue, check if they offer season ticket packages. This allows you to purchase tickets for the whole season upfront.
By packaging all the tickets together, the per ticket service fees and processing fees are usually reduced. The more tickets you commit to buying, the more you save. Just make sure to check ahead that the package has events you actually want to attend.
Join Ticketmaster Rewards
Ticketmaster Rewards is a loyalty program that lets you earn points on Ticketmaster purchases. As you rack up more points, you’ll unlock better rewards and discounts.
Perks include presale ticket access, VIP packages, sweepstakes entries, ticket discounts and more. Redeeming points can help offset some of Ticketmaster’s service fees. Plus you earn points on all purchases even without specific rewards.
Choose E-Tickets
Opting for e-tickets rather than physical tickets is an easy way to avoid certain Ticketmaster fees. E-tickets allow you to skip shipping fees and ticket printing fees.
With e-tickets, you’ll receive a barcode via email to scan from your smartphone when entering the event. No need to wait for printed tickets to arrive. And you avoid fees for shipping, ticket stock, and printing.
Just make sure to download the barcodes ahead of time in case of technical issues. As long as your phone battery is charged, you’re good to go!
Check Resale Sites
Third party ticket resale sites like Vivid Seats, Stubhub, or SeatGeek are worth checking out when buying tickets. There’s no guarantee, but you can sometimes find tickets being resold for below face value even including their fees.
Brokers take losses on tickets they can’t sell to cut their losses. Set up price alerts and you may get lucky scoring tickets super cheap. There’s risk of counterfeits, but reputable sites offer buyer guarantees.
Go Incognito
This sneaky hack tricks Ticketmaster into showing you tickets with lower fees! Ticketmaster’s website uses cookies and browsing history to dynamically adjust prices and fees.
Open a private “incognito” browsing window and search for tickets there. Ticketmaster will assume you’re a new customer and display lower fees. Once you add the tickets to your cart, switch back to regular browsing to purchase as normal.
Avoid Convenience Fees with In-Person Purchases
Convenience fees are charged when you purchase tickets online or by phone. But you can avoid the $5-$20 per ticket convenience fees by purchasing tickets in person.
Head to an official Ticketmaster outlet location to buy tickets. Ticketmaster has over 200 retail locations, mostly in larger cities. Find your closest outlet on their website.
The tickets will still have the other standard Ticketmaster fees. But you’ll dodge those pesky convenience fees by buying in person. Just make sure to bring cash or card to complete your purchase onsite.
Join Ticketmaster Verified Fan
For super popular events, Ticketmaster sets aside tickets specifically for Verified Fan members. This helps prevent bots and scalpers from buying up all the tickets.
As a Verified Fan, you get exclusive access to a certain allotment of tickets for in-demand shows and concerts. To get Verified Fan status, you must register ahead of time when an event is announced to prove you’re a real fan.
While it doesn’t directly save you money, it does give you way better access to the good tickets before they sell out. And then once you have the tickets, you can use the other tips here to minimize fees.
Conclusion
Ticketmaster’s confusing array of fees can really drive up the cost of enjoying live entertainment. But with the right strategies, you can greatly reduce or even eliminate the extra fees tacked onto your ticket order. A little planning goes a long way towards saving money on some of your most anticipated events of the year.
Be willing to hunt around for ticket discounts, sign up for rewards programs, buy direct from venues when possible, and maximize your purchases. Skip the delivery fees by choosing instant e-tickets. And try incognito browsing or buying in person to dodge convenience fees.
With all these handy tips, you’ll be prepared to unlock big savings the next time you buy tickets. Enjoy those concerts, plays, games and more without all the annoying fees eating into your budget.
