Ticketmaster is one of the largest ticket sales and distribution companies in the world. They sell tickets for concerts, sports events, theater shows and more. Many major venues and events exclusively use Ticketmaster to handle all their ticket sales. This gives them a huge share of the ticket market.
But with this market dominance comes controversy. Ticketmaster has been accused of monopolistic practices, excessive fees and poor customer service. Critics say they use their position to charge higher prices and fees.
So is Ticketmaster still a good way for customers to buy tickets? Or are there better options available today? Below I’ll examine the pros and cons of using Ticketmaster in 2022.
The Pros of Using Ticketmaster
Here are some of the main benefits of buying tickets through Ticketmaster:
Wide Selection of Tickets
As one of the largest ticket companies, Ticketmaster sells tickets for a huge range of events and venues. Whether you want tickets to a big concert tour, a local theater show or a sporting event, Ticketmaster is likely to sell them. This means you can find almost any ticket you want in one place.
Reliable and Trusted Company
Ticketmaster has been selling tickets for over 40 years. It’s a large, established company that works directly with venues, artists and promoters. Because of this, you can trust that any ticket bought through Ticketmaster is 100% legitimate. Some smaller ticket resellers may sell fake or fraudulent tickets.
Purchase Security and Support
Ticketmaster offers safe and secure online purchasing. Their website uses encryption technology to protect your personal and payment information. If any issues come up, they have a dedicated customer support team to help you with order changes, cancellations or questions.
Ticket Guarantee
Ticketmaster provides a ticket guarantee with all orders. This means if an event is canceled or you can’t attend for some valid reason, you can get a full refund for the ticket costs. Not all ticket sellers offer any guarantees like this.
Special Deals and Presales
Ticketmaster often handles presales, special offers and fan club deals for major tours and events. This gives you early access to purchase tickets before the general public sale. You may also get access to special ticket packages, VIP options or ticket lotteries. These exclusive deals are only available directly through Ticketmaster.
The Cons of Using Ticketmaster
Despite the benefits above, there are also some downsides to buying from Ticketmaster:
High Fees and Service Charges
The biggest complaint about Ticketmaster is their fees. On top of the ticket face value, they add on a ‘Service Fee’ and sometimes an ‘Order Processing Fee’. For popular events these fees can add a substantial amount to the overall ticket cost. Some feel these fees are excessive and overpriced.
Dynamic and Fluctuating Pricing
For high demand events, Ticketmaster uses ‘Dynamic Pricing’. This means ticket prices can change over time based on demand. The more fans that want to go, the higher prices will rise. Some feel this dynamic pricing is unfair and leads to tickets becoming unaffordable.
Lack of Transparency
Many customers complain that Ticketmaster’s fees and pricing are not transparent enough. The final ticket cost including fees is often unclear until the end of the purchase process. Some feel Ticketmaster hides the full costs intentionally.
Website Problems During Peak Sales
When tickets for major events like playoffs or concerts go on sale, Ticketmaster’s website and apps often suffer problems. Crashes, long queue times, errors and glitches are common. This makes the ticket buying process frustrating for customers.
Reselling Partnerships
Ticketmaster has official partnerships with ticket resale marketplaces like StubHub. Critics argue this is a way for Ticketmaster to profit twice from the same ticket sale. The fees and markups end up costing customers more money.
Ticketmaster Fees and Pricing
As fees are a major complaint about Ticketmaster, let’s take a closer look at how their pricing works. Below are some examples of Ticketmaster’s various fees and charges:
Service Fee
This is a fee Ticketmaster charges on all ticket purchases. It’s on top of the face value price set by the event organizer. The service fee helps Ticketmaster cover their ticketing operation costs and make a profit.
Some example service fees:
Ticket Price | Service Fee |
$50 | $12 |
$100 | $18 |
$200 | $25 |
As you can see, the fees are quite substantial, often 25-30% of the base ticket price. The exact fees vary based on the event.
Order Processing Fee
On top of service fees, some events also charge an order processing fee. This additional cost covers the expenses of processing and handling orders.
Dynamic Pricing
For very popular events, Ticketmaster uses demand-based pricing. As demand goes up, they dynamically raise prices over time. Fans that buy early get lower prices, while last-minute buyers pay the highest rates.
Time Before Event | Ticket Price |
3 Months | $100 |
1 Month | $150 |
1 Week | $200 |
Dynamic pricing has led to situations like $500+ concert tickets because demand was so high.
Alternatives to Ticketmaster
Because of the high fees and pricing, many consumers are looking for alternative places to buy tickets. Here are a few options:
Official Venue Box Offices
One option is to buy directly from the venue’s box office if they sell tickets. Many theaters, stadiums and clubs sell tickets onsite without any Ticketmaster fees. However, the box office usually only sells tickets for events at that specific venue.
Ticket Resale Sites
You can find third-party ticket resale marketplaces like StubHub. Fans resell extra tickets they purchased previously. There are risks buying resale, but sometimes you can find tickets below face value. There are also resale sites where fans set their own prices.
Ticket Lotteries
For very popular shows or games, you may be able to enter a ticket lottery to win seats. Fans submit their info and get randomly selected to buy event tickets at face value. This avoids crazy secondary market pricing.
Fan Club Presales
Many music acts and sports teams hold special presales for their fan club members. Joining the band’s fan club may give you access to tickets before the general public.
Wait For General Public Onsale
If you miss the presale, wait for when tickets go onsale to the general public. Prices are usually lowest at this initial onsale. You’ll still pay Ticketmaster fees, but may avoid surge pricing.
Is Ticketmaster Still Worth Using?
Despite the high fees and complaints, Ticketmaster still has some advantages that may make it worthwhile for some buyers.
Here are a few cases when using Ticketmaster still makes sense:
– The event you want to attend only sells tickets through Ticketmaster.
– You really want access to presales or special fan club offers.
– You value the security, guarantees and support from a large reputable company.
– You want to secure tickets early and avoid stress closer to the event.
– You find Ticketmaster’s prices comparable or even cheaper than reseller prices.
For many major concerts, games and theater shows, Ticketmaster provides the easiest and most reliable way to buy tickets. That peace of mind may be worth it if you want to ensure you get in to a hot event.
However, casual fans may want to consider alternative sources that offer lower prices and fees. It depends entirely on your priorities as a ticket buyer.
Tips for Saving on Ticketmaster Fees
If you do choose to purchase through Ticketmaster, here are some tips for avoiding high fees:
– Buy early during presales to get lower pre-surge pricing.
– Use a Ticketmaster discount or promo code – they often have special offers.
– Buy tickets together to save on fees – fees are per ticket.
– Purchase tickets in-person at a Ticketmaster outlet to skip delivery fees.
– Buy group tickets – they usually have discounted fees for groups 6+.
– Sell extra tickets yourself instead of having Ticketmaster facilitate exchanges.
– Avoid UPS delivery which adds the most fees compared to USPS or will call.
– Consider section seating in the upper levels or ends where dynamic pricing is lower.
– Join fan clubs and mailing lists for presale ticket access before general pricing.
– Use a cashback credit card or shopping portal when purchasing tickets to earn cashback rewards.
Conclusion
Ticketmaster is still the dominant force in event ticketing due to its long history, vast inventory, and partnerships with major venues. For high demand shows and games, it provides buyers with presale access, security, guarantees, and customer support.
However, those benefits come at the cost of high service fees, confusing dynamic pricing, and a near-monopoly position. For casual fans, the extra costs may not be worthwhile. Luckily, alternatives like box office purchases, ticket lotteries, resale sites, and fan presales provide some options beyond Ticketmaster.
There is no definitively “right” answer as to whether Ticketmaster is still worth using today. It depends on your budget, priorities, and willingness to take risks. With Ticketmaster’s recent announcement that they will start selling tickets directly on artist websites, the ticketing landscape could be set for even more changes ahead.