When purchasing tickets online for concerts, sports events, and other live entertainment, buyers are often faced with a maze of fees that can significantly drive up the total cost. Two of the biggest players in the ticket resale market are Ticketmaster and StubHub, but their fee structures can be confusing to compare. This article will analyze and compare the various fees charged by Ticketmaster and StubHub to determine which site generally has higher fees for buyers.
Ticketmaster Fees
As the largest primary ticket outlet for live entertainment events, Ticketmaster charges a variety of fees on top of the base ticket price set by the event organizer. These fees can include:
- Service fee – This fee goes to Ticketmaster for providing the ticket sales platform and ranges from around 10-20% of the base ticket price.
- Facility charge – This extra fee is passed on to the venue hosting the event.
- Order processing fee – A flat per-ticket fee that covers the costs of processing the ticket order.
- Delivery fee – For mailed tickets, this covers the cost of postage and handling.
In many cases, buyers are not shown the full ticket price including all fees until late in the Ticketmaster purchase process. Savvy buyers can estimate the total fees by looking for the “Estimated total” on the seating chart page. Overall, Ticketmaster service and processing fees typically add around 25% or more to every ticket purchased on their site.
StubHub Fees
As a ticket resale marketplace, StubHub connects buyers and sellers of secondhand event tickets. Their fee structure includes:
- Buyer service fee – Ranges from 10-20% of the ticket’s sale price. This fee goes to StubHub.
- Electronic delivery fee – Around $5 extra for e-tickets instead of paper tickets mailed to the buyer.
- Order processing fee – A flat per-order fee, usually around $5.
- Seller fee – Charged to sellers and ranges from 10-20% of the sale price.
StubHub provides an “all-in price” upfront that includes the fees charged to buyers. However, the fees charged to sellers are not shown. StubHub’s buyer fees are similar to Ticketmaster, generally adding around 25% on top of the ticket price set by the seller.
Detailed Fee Comparison
To compare Ticketmaster and StubHub fees in more detail, let’s look at a breakdown of fees charged for a $100 concert ticket purchased from each site:
Fee Type | Ticketmaster | StubHub |
---|---|---|
Service fee | $20 (20% of ticket price) | $15 (15% of ticket price) |
Order processing fee | $8 per ticket | $5 per order |
Delivery fee | $2.50 (for standard mail) | $5 (for e-ticket) |
Total Fees | $30.50 | $25 |
Based on this breakdown, the total Ticketmaster fees would be $30.50 for the $100 ticket, a 30.5% markup. StubHub’s fees would total $25 for the same $100 ticket, a 25% markup. While StubHub’s individual fees are slightly lower, the totals end up being fairly comparable between the two sites.
When Ticketmaster Fees Are Higher
Although their fees are similar on average, there are certain scenarios where Ticketmaster’s fees can be significantly higher than StubHub’s:
- High demand events – For very popular concerts and games where tickets sell out quickly, Ticketmaster dynamically scales their fees up. Service fees can exceed 25% for hot-selling tickets.
- Cheap tickets – The flat order processing fees make Ticketmaster relatively more expensive for low-cost tickets.
- Many tickets – Ticketmaster charges order processing fees on a per-ticket basis, so the costs stack up quickly when buying lots of tickets.
When StubHub Fees Are Higher
On the other hand, there are times when StubHub’s fees can exceed Ticketmaster’s:
- Speculative sellers – Some sellers list tickets on StubHub for well above face value hoping to profit. The 15-20% service fees on inflated speculative prices can mean higher total fees.
- High delivery fees – Buyers not choosing e-ticket delivery can pay over $20 in shipping fees for StubHub tickets mailed internationally.
- Seller fees – Sellers may pass their 10-20% StubHub fees back to buyers by inflating prices.
Strategies to Minimize Fees
Savvy shoppers can reduce the bite of fees by using these strategies:
- Compare all-in pricing – Be sure to compare the total price including fees, not just base ticket prices.
- Buy during presales – Check fan club and credit card presales where there are often no fees.
- Go for e-tickets – Opt for electronic ticket delivery to avoid mail/print fees.
- Buy singles – Consolidate orders to just one ticket when possible to reduce per-order fees.
- Buy from box office – Buy directly from the venue box office to potentially avoid fees.
Conclusion
When looking at their standard service, processing, and delivery fees, Ticketmaster and StubHub end up charging buyers fairly comparable amounts in total extra fees. However, Ticketmaster fees tend to be higher for very popular events with expensive tickets, while speculative sellers can drive up StubHub fees. By comparing all-in pricing and using fee minimization strategies, buyers can reduce the impact of fees and find the best deals.