Ticketmaster is one of the largest ticket sales and distribution companies in the world. It sells tickets for concerts, sporting events, theater shows, and more. Many people use Ticketmaster as a convenient way to buy tickets online and have them delivered or ready for pickup. However, some consumers have concerns about whether Ticketmaster is safe and reliable for buying tickets. This article will examine the pros and cons of using Ticketmaster and provide tips for safely buying tickets through their platform.
The Pros of Using Ticketmaster
Here are some of the advantages of buying tickets through Ticketmaster:
Large inventory of tickets
As one of the biggest ticket companies, Ticketmaster has contracts with many major venues and events across North America and beyond. This gives them a large inventory of tickets for sale covering a wide range of concerts, games, shows, and more. For popular events, they may have access to tickets that smaller vendors do not.
Convenience of online ticket buying
Ticketmaster allows customers to browse upcoming events, check seat availability, and securely purchase tickets online. This is much more convenient than having to go to a physical box office. Online purchases can be made 24/7. After purchase, you can have mobile tickets instantly delivered or printed at home.
Protection against fake tickets
There is always a risk of buying counterfeit tickets from unofficial sellers. But when you order through Ticketmaster itself, you can have peace of mind knowing you will receive authentic tickets that will be accepted at the venue gate. Their Verified Tickets program uses encrypted barcodes and ID checks to prevent fraud.
Refunds and support
If an event is postponed, canceled or you can no longer attend for a covered reason, Ticketmaster will refund the ticket. You can contact their customer support by phone or online chat to get assistance with any ticket issues before or after purchase.
The Cons of Using Ticketmaster
However, there are also some downsides to consider when buying tickets through Ticketmaster:
High fees
Ticketmaster is notorious for tacking on substantial fees during the checkout process. These can include processing fees, service fees, and facility charges that really add to the base ticket price. Some fees seem excessive. For expensive tickets, the total fees can increase the overall cost by 20-30%.
Lack of price transparency
It can be frustrating that Ticketmaster does not display the full ticket prices including fees upfront on the initial ticket listing. The additional charges are only added at checkout. This makes it hard to accurately compare Ticketmaster’s prices to other vendors unless you go through the whole purchase process.
Upselling and add-ons
Ticketmaster heavily promotes add-ons like parking passes and upsells such as ticket insurance during the checkout process. These extras tack on even more to your total order cost. Some customers find the pressure tactics annoying if you just want to buy regular admission tickets without any extras.
High-demand tickets sell out fast
For very popular events, tickets listed on Ticketmaster can sell out within minutes. Their servers have been known to crash during frenzied online sales for in-demand concerts where masses of fans overwhelm the system. Even if you are on right as sales begin, they may be gone in seconds.
Reselling at higher prices
Ticketmaster has relationships with ticket brokers and resellers who may offer the same tickets on Ticketmaster at higher markups over face value. This controversial practice means fewer affordable tickets for regular consumers who did not buy from the initial on-sale.
Tips for Safely Buying Tickets on Ticketmaster
If you decide to purchase tickets through Ticketmaster, here are some tips to help make sure it’s a safe process:
Use their online checkout process
Only buy from Ticketmaster.com or their official mobile app, not a third party website that may scam you. Look for their Verified Tickets certification. Follow their official online checkout process for purchasing and use a credit card for maximum protection.
Beware of “speculative tickets”
Ticketmaster allows resellers to list tickets through their site for in-demand events that haven’t gone on sale yet or before they officially own the tickets. Look out for “Speculative Tickets” disclaimers which means the tickets are not guaranteed.
Check for refund policies
Read the details on Ticketmaster’s refund policy in case you need to cancel your purchase. Refund eligibility can vary depending on the event type. Make sure you understand any time limits or restrictions.
Compare all order charges
Account for all fees, taxes, and shipping costs added at checkout so there are no shocking extra charges on your final bill. Consider the total order cost when evaluating deals.
Use buyer protections
Pay with a credit card for fraud and purchase protections. Review your final receipt and ticket details carefully to ensure you got the correct tickets before the refund period expires.
Transfer tickets securely
If reselling or transferring tickets, only use Ticketmaster’s official exchange system and avoid screengrabs or PDFs which can be falsified. Disable screen sharing if transferring mobile tickets to prevent scams.
Alternatives to Ticketmaster
If you find Ticketmaster’s fees and service unsatisfactory, here are some other ways you can purchase tickets:
Buy directly from the venue box office
Many venues sell tickets through their own box office, by phone, or website. Purchasing direct can sometimes have lower fees. However, the box office may have a more limited ticket inventory.
Use other ticket vendors
Competing ticket companies like StubHub, VividSeats, SeatGeek and AXS sell tickets to many of the same events as Ticketmaster but may have different pricing and fees. Shop around and compare.
Join fan club presales
To get early access before the general public sale, look for presale codes provided to members of an artist or team fan club or mailing list subscribers.
Take advantage of special offers
Promotions like free ticket giveaways from radio stations, credit card rewards programs, or season ticket holder presales can provide ticket access without the high fees.
Buy at the venue on event day
Venues sometimes sell discounted last-minute tickets at the box office on the day of the event for seats that never sold. But availability is hit or miss.
Is Ticketmaster Worth the Fees?
With its huge ticket inventory and convenient online purchasing, Ticketmaster remains one of the most popular sources for tickets. But are the high service fees worth it? Here are the pros and cons of accepting Ticketmaster’s charges:
| Pros of Paying Fees | Cons of Paying Fees |
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Whether Ticketmaster’s fees seem reasonable or not, the convenience factor of their massive ticket inventory and smooth online purchasing experience often makes customers willing to pay more for the service and security provided.
The Future of Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster continues to dominate the primary ticket sales market with exclusive deals on many major live entertainment events. However, there are some recent trends that could affect the future of Ticketmaster:
Growing secondary resale market
More tickets are now resold through secondary exchanges like StubHub. Ticketmaster is competing by integrating resale inventory into their platform. They also launched TradeDesk to allow season ticket holders to resell game and event tickets.
Pressure to reduce fees
As consumers grow frustrated with escalating fees, there is increasing scrutiny from lawmakers on Ticketmaster’s lack of pricing transparency. Legal challenges could aim to lower their charges.
Competition from tech companies
There is more interest from major technology firms in entering the ticketing space. For example, Live Nation partnered with Amazon on campaign to sell concert tickets on Amazon Prime. More big players could disrupt Ticketmaster’s dominance.
Shift to mobile ticketing
The wider adoption of digital tickets on smart phones could cut down on Ticketmaster’s processing costs over time, which might translate to lower fees. However, Ticketmaster charges fees on mobile tickets too.
More direct artist-to-fan sales
Some performers are bypassing traditional ticket outlets by selling directly to fans through their websites and fan clubs. But major artists still rely heavily on Ticketmaster for promotion and distribution.
Conclusion
Ticketmaster is firmly established as the leading event ticketing retailer worldwide. Their huge inventory offers ticket availability other sellers can lack for hot shows and games. While customers may dislike their confusing fees, many accept them as the cost for convenient and secure ticket purchasing. Still, comparison shopping other vendors can identify cheaper options in many cases. If the tickets you want are only available on Ticketmaster, buyer protections like their refund policy provide some safety net. For all its flaws, Ticketmaster remains the go-to ticket source for millions. But growing discontent over fees and more competitors entering the space could require Ticketmaster to adapt its business model to continue thriving into the future.
