Ticketmaster is the largest primary ticket outlet in the United States. It sells tickets for concerts, sports events, theater shows, and other live entertainment events. Many people rely on Ticketmaster to buy tickets for popular events that sell out quickly. However, Ticketmaster service fees, sometimes up to 25% of the ticket price, have led some consumers to look for alternative sites to purchase tickets.
What are some benefits of using Ticketmaster?
Ticketmaster offers some key benefits that have made it the dominant ticketing site:
- Large inventory – As the official ticketing partner for many major venues, teams, and artists, Ticketmaster has access to a huge inventory of tickets.
- Reliability – The site is generally stable and can handle the huge traffic for hot events. Customers can trust they’ll be able to complete purchases.
- Purchase guarantees – Ticketmaster verifies inventory and guarantees customers will receive valid tickets for their purchase.
- Refunds – Customers can get refunds if events are canceled or they need to cancel plans.
- Transferable tickets – Customers can easily transfer mobile tickets to someone else if needed.
What are the main complaints about Ticketmaster?
While Ticketmaster offers convenience for ticket buyers, there are some consistent complaints about their service:
- High fees – Service fees, sometimes over 25% of the base price, are frustrating to customers.
- Lack of transparency – All the fees are not shown upfront in searches, making the final price unclear.
- Scalpers – The use of ticket bots has allowed scalpers to buy up tickets quickly and resell at higher prices.
- Lack of competition – As the dominant ticketing company, some feel there are no alternatives to high fees.
- Technical issues – Large traffic spikes can sometimes lead to site crashes and technical glitches.
What are some alternative ticketing sites?
For those looking to avoid Ticketmaster fees and issues, here are some alternative primary and secondary ticketing sites:
Primary ticketing sites
- AXS – An official ticket seller for many major venues comparable to Ticketmaster.
- Etix – Provides ticketing services for many theaters, fairs, and festivals around the US.
- Universe – The official ticketing partner for Live Nation owned venues.
- Tixr – Provides ticketing services for concerts clubs, theaters, and more.
- eTix – Sells tickets for sports teams, concert venues, and other events around the US.
Secondary marketplaces
- StubHub – Large ticket exchange where fans can buy and sell tickets.
- Vivid Seats – Ticket reseller that offers a 100% buyer guarantee on valid tickets.
- SeatGeek – Aggregates inventory from different sellers and ranks deals.
- razorgator – Specializes in tickets to sports, concerts, and theater shows.
- TickPick – A no-fee secondary ticket marketplace with bid pricing.
How do the fees compare on these sites?
Comparing the fees on Ticketmaster vs some alternatives:
Site | Estimated Fees |
---|---|
Ticketmaster | 25% of ticket price |
AXS | 10-20% of ticket price |
StubHub | 10-15% of ticket price |
VividSeats | Around 10-20% of ticket price |
SeatGeek | 10-25% of ticket price |
TickPick | No fees – just bid price |
While some alternatives have lower fees in general, there can be large variances depending on the event. Smaller primary sellers like Etix and Tixr may have lower fees for niche events. Secondary sites fees vary based on seller competition and demand. But overall alternatives provide more fee transparency upfront.
Are there risks buying from alternative ticket sites?
There are some risks to weigh when buying from alternative ticketing sources:
- Less inventory – Smaller primary sellers will have fewer ticket options for high demand events.
- Potential scams – Some resale sites have fewer protections against fake or invalid tickets.
- No refunds – Resellers often don’t offer refunds if plans change or events cancel.
- Higher prices – Dynamic pricing on secondary markets can lead to inflated costs for hot events.
- Reputational concerns – Some alternatives have fewer reviews and company history.
However, many alternatives like StubHub and VividSeats offer buyer guarantees against invalid tickets. Overall, buyers should research seller reputations and policies when exploring alternatives.
How can I save money on event tickets?
Here are some tips to get the best deal on tickets:
- Buy early – Prices typically go up as event dates near, so buy early.
- Join fan clubs – Artist fan clubs often get access to presale ticket windows.
- Check venue boxes – Check venue sites directly as they avoid fees from third parties.
- Consider group deals – Some sites offer discounts for buying multiple tickets together.
- Bid on resale sites – Start bidding low on secondary markets and let competition drive up.
- Go for less popular events – Weekday or less in-demand events often come with lower prices.
- Use promo codes – Check sites for special promo codes before purchasing.
With some deal hunting tactics, patience, and flexibility, you can find great ticket prices even for premium events.
Conclusion
While Ticketmaster still offers unparalleled ticket inventory and reliability, customers have more options than ever before to purchase event tickets while avoiding high fees. Alternative primary sellers like AXS and Universe are growing in popularity. Secondary resellers like StubHub and VividSeats make ticket exchange transparent and protected. And upstarts like TickPick offer completely fee-free exchanges.
By comparing all options and searching for deals, savvy ticket buyers can still land great seats to top events without paying all the frustrating fees. While there are some risks in alternatives, the competition ultimately gives consumers more power in the ticket marketplace.