Is there a buy now pay later for Ticketmaster?

With the rising costs of live events, more and more consumers are looking for ways to spread out the costs of buying tickets from Ticketmaster. One way to do this is through buy now, pay later (BNPL) services. BNPL allows customers to make a purchase immediately but spread out the payments over a set time period. This can make buying expensive tickets more affordable. But does Ticketmaster currently offer a BNPL option? Let’s take a look.

What is buy now, pay later?

Buy now, pay later services allow customers to purchase goods or services immediately and pay for them over time, often interest-free. There are a few different types of BNPL services:

• Installment loans – These break a purchase into equal installment payments over a set time period, like 3 or 6 months.
• Revolving credit – This allows customers to make multiple purchases up to a set credit limit and pay the balance off over time.
• Split payments – The purchase amount is split into 2-4 equal payments made every 2-6 weeks after the purchase.

Some of the most popular BNPL providers include Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna, PayPal Pay in 4, and Zip. These services partner with retailers to offer payment plans at checkout. It provides an alternative option to credit cards.

Benefits of using BNPL services

There are some key benefits to using BNPL services:

• More affordable payments – Spreading out payments can make expensive purchases more budget-friendly.
• Pay over time – BNPL allows you to get what you want immediately while paying later.
• Avoid credit card debt and interest – BNPL plans are often interest-free if payments are made on time.
• Build credit – On-time BNPL payments are usually reported to credit bureaus to help build credit scores.
• No late fees – Most BNPL services do not charge late fees.

For expensive one-off purchases like event tickets or travel, BNPL can be an attractive payment option for many consumers.

Does Ticketmaster currently offer BNPL?

At this time, Ticketmaster itself does not directly offer any buy now pay later options for event tickets purchased through its platform. However, there are some workarounds that allow you to use BNPL when buying tickets from Ticketmaster.

Using a BNPL provider’s virtual card

Some BNPL companies like Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna, and Zip offer virtual card numbers you can use to make purchases. Here’s how it works:

1. Get approved for a BNPL account with a provider that offers virtual cards.
2. When checking out tickets on Ticketmaster, choose the BNPL provider’s virtual card number as your payment method.
3. The BNPL provider will finance your purchase from Ticketmaster. You’ll make payments to the provider over time based on your BNPL contract.

This allows you to use BNPL without Ticketmaster needing to directly integrate it on their platform. The major downside is that not all BNPL providers offer virtual cards.

Using a BNPL debit card

Another option is getting a BNPL debit card from a provider like Zip. This works similar to a virtual card:

1. Apply and get approved for a Zip BNPL debit card.
2. Use the Zip debit card as your payment method when purchasing Ticketmaster tickets.
3. Zip will finance your purchase. Make payments to Zip in installments over time.

The advantage of BNPL debit cards is they can be used anywhere that accepts debit cards. The limitation is having to get approved for the specific BNPL provider’s card.

Using PayPal “Pay in 4”

PayPal offers a BNPL option called Pay in 4 that lets you split purchases into 4 interest-free payments made every two weeks. You can use it to buy Ticketmaster tickets a few ways:

• Check if PayPal Pay in 4 is available during Ticketmaster checkout. If so, choose it as your payment method.
• Pay for your Ticketmaster purchase using your PayPal wallet, then use Pay in 4 when prompted.
• Send money to someone using PayPal who can then purchase the tickets for you using Pay in 4.

PayPal Pay in 4 is convenient since many people already have a PayPal account. The downside is it’s only available for PayPal users.

Why doesn’t Ticketmaster currently offer BNPL?

There are a few potential reasons why Ticketmaster itself does not offer buy now pay later options currently:

• Limited event ticket inventory – There is a finite amount of tickets available for any given event. Allowing BNPL may make inventory management more complex.
• Logistical challenges – Integrating BNPL into the Ticketmaster platform would require building partnerships with providers and updating the checkout flow.
• Risk of default – Customers who agree to BNPL when booking tickets may default on payments if they cannot attend the event for some reason.

However, the major BNPL providers have been rapidly expanding into new industries and working with more online retailers. Integrating BNPL into ticketing platforms could attract more customers and event organizers in the future.

Will Ticketmaster offer BNPL in the future?

While Ticketmaster currently does not directly offer a buy now pay later option, there are signs that this could change in the near future:

• In 2021, Ticketmaster’s parent company Live Nation Entertainment acquired a majority stake in SeatGeek, a rival ticketing platform that has partnered with Affirm to provide BNPL.
• Ticketmaster has been making its platform more digital and user-friendly with features like digital tickets and contactless entry and payments. BNPL would fit this digital focus.
• Demand for BNPL continues to grow rapidly. Research firm Juniper Research predicts BNPL spending will exceed $995 billion globally by 2026. Ticketmaster will want to tap into this demand.
• Major event ticketing platforms like SeatGeek and AXS now offer BNPL. As a leading ticketing company, Ticketmaster will need to follow suit to stay competitive.

With these industry trends, it seems likely Ticketmaster will integrate direct BNPL options on its platform in the next few years. Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna, and PayPal would be ideal BNPL partners given their widespread brand recognition and scale.

The bottom line on BNPL for Ticketmaster

While buy now pay later is not directly available on Ticketmaster currently, there are some workarounds through third-party BNPL providers. Paying in installments can make purchasing expensive concert, sports, and theater tickets more manageable. Given the rise in consumer BNPL adoption and demand, expect to see direct BNPL options offered by Ticketmaster and other major ticketing platforms soon.

For now, consider alternative payment options if you want to spread out your Ticketmaster purchase. Popular choices include:

• BNPL providers like Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna, PayPal Pay in 4, or Zip
• Ticketmaster’s interest-free payment plan (for orders over $99)
• Credit cards with promotional 0% APR periods
• Taking out a small personal loan

With the right payment method, you can more comfortably fit expensive Ticketmaster tickets to upcoming concerts, shows, and sporting events into your budget.