Ticketmaster has long been the dominant force in ticket sales for live events like concerts, sports games, and theater shows. However, with service fees that can add 25% or more to the base ticket price, many consumers are searching for cheaper alternatives to buy tickets.
Why are Ticketmaster’s fees so high?
Ticketmaster charges fees for services like order processing, customer service and technology investments. These fees can include:
- A “service fee” – often 10-15% of the base ticket price
- An “order processing fee” – typically around $5-10 per ticket
- A “facility charge” or other venue-specific fees
According to Ticketmaster, these fees help them cover their operating costs and make investments in technology like their website and mobile apps. However, some consumer advocates argue these fees are excessive and let Ticketmaster profit too much off each sale.
Are there ways to avoid Ticketmaster fees?
There are a few ways fans can dodge some Ticketmaster fees:
- Buy directly from the venue box office – Many venues will sell tickets directly without the same fees. But the box office usually has limited hours and inventory.
- Use the artist presale – Tickets sold during presales promoted by the artist often have lower or no service fees.
- Look for fee-free deals – Occasionally Ticketmaster runs special promotions waiving fees.
However, for very popular events, it’s often hard to avoid Ticketmaster altogether. They have exclusive ticket sales contracts with many major venues and promoters.
What are the best Ticketmaster alternatives for buying tickets?
Here are some of the top ticket platforms that compete with Ticketmaster in certain markets:
| Ticket Platform | Overview |
|---|---|
| AXS | Used by AEG venues and events. Lower fees than Ticketmaster typically. |
| SeatGeek | A resale marketplace, but partners with some artists and teams for primary sales too. |
| Vivid Seats | Mainly a resale site, but has some primary sales partnerships as well. |
| StubHub | EBay’s large ticket resale marketplace. |
There are also many ticket platforms used by specific sports teams, concert promoters, theaters and other venues. These can sometimes offer better prices than Ticketmaster for their events.
Is ticket resale a cheaper Ticketmaster alternative?
Sites like StubHub and Vivid Seats let fans resell event tickets, often at prices above or below face value. This can provide options when Ticketmaster primary prices are high, especially closer to event day.
However, there are some downsides to ticket resale:
- No guarantee of authenticity or fraud protection
- Prices can be inflated for very high demand events
- Worse seat selection closer to event time
- Need to pay inflated shipping costs in some cases
Still, with caution, ticket resale can offer significant savings in some cases compared to Ticketmaster.
Should Ticketmaster be broken up to increase competition?
Some politicians have argued that Ticketmaster’s dominance is bad for consumers, squeezing fans with high fees. As a remedy, they propose splitting Ticketmaster into two companies:
- A ticket sales division
- A ticket inventory management division for venues
This could introduce more competition into primary ticket sales. However, Ticketmaster says they help venues maximize ticket inventory and fight scalpers. Venues might lose revenue if Ticketmaster’s model changed drastically.
Does Ticketmaster provide any unique benefits?
Though their fees are frustrating, Ticketmaster argues they provide services that others can’t easily replicate, including:
- Ensuring ticket inventory isn’t oversold
- Detecting fraud and bots trying to sweep up tickets
- Offering technical support for venues
- Providing an easy-to-use consistent platform across different events
Fans take these benefits for granted. But building a similar national ticketing operation from scratch would be incredibly capital intensive for any competitor.
What additional fees should fans watch out for?
Beyond just Ticketmaster’s fees, there are some other common charges to be aware of when buying tickets:
- Printing fees – Up to $5 fee for printing tickets at home in some cases
- Shipping fees – Next day or two day shipping costs $20+ typically
- Facility fees – Added by the venue, not Ticketmaster
- Convenience fees – For paying with a credit card instead of cash
Many of these extra fees kick in at the very end of the purchase process, so buyers should read carefully.
What’s the best way to buy tickets for lowest overall cost?
Here are some tips for getting tickets while avoiding excessive fees:
- Check venue box office first, if practical
- Buy during presales and special deals
- Use Ticketmaster sparingly for exclusives
- Consider ticket resale, with caution
- Avoid “convenience” fees when possible
- Read all fees carefully before final purchase
It takes some effort, but being a savvy ticket buyer can save a lot of money compared to just defaulting to Ticketmaster.
Conclusion
Ticketmaster service fees are a frustrating reality for fans, especially given their dominant market position. While it’s hard to avoid them completely, there are ways to find cheaper tickets if you’re willing to look beyond Ticketmaster.
Competitors like AXS and SeatGeek offer lower fees in certain cases. Venue box offices and artist presales are other options. And ticket resale, though risky, can yield big savings on high demand events.
Hopefully in the future, there will be more competition and pressure on Ticketmaster to lower some fees. But for now, fans have to hunt around a bit and be open to alternative platforms if they want the best ticket prices.
