What are convenience fees?
Convenience fees are extra charges tacked on to ticket purchases made online or over the phone. They are essentially processing fees that cover the cost of providing the convenience of being able to buy tickets without having to go to the venue’s box office. Convenience fees can range anywhere from a few dollars to over $20 per ticket depending on the event. They generate significant revenue for ticket sellers.
Why do convenience fees exist?
Convenience fees exist because selling tickets online and over the phone requires infrastructure that costs money to build and maintain. This includes:
– Website development and hosting
– Call center staffing
– Credit card processing fees
– Fraud protection costs
– Shipping of physical tickets
– Customer service
Venues, artists, and promoters generally don’t want to pay for these extra costs out of their own pockets. So the expenses get passed onto consumers in the form of convenience fees.
Are convenience fees always mandatory?
No, convenience fees are not always mandatory. Sometimes you can avoid them by:
– Purchasing tickets directly from the venue’s box office in person
– Buying tickets with cash at certain retail outlets like grocery stores or pharmacies
– Getting tickets through certain membership programs like fan clubs or credit card reward programs
– Using promo codes that waive fees
– Finding a seller that simply doesn’t charge convenience fees
However, for very popular events, convenience fees are usually unavoidable if you want to buy tickets online or over the phone. That’s because the event organizers specifically direct all sales through Ticketmaster or other ticketing platforms that charge fees.
Strategies for avoiding convenience fees
Here are some of the best strategies for avoiding pesky convenience fees when buying tickets:
Buy directly from the venue box office
This is the most straightforward way to avoid fees. Buy your tickets in person at the venue’s box office and you won’t get charged extra processing fees. The only drawback is you may have to go there in person and can’t purchase tickets online.
Check discount retail outlets
Some ticket sellers provide inventory to discount retailers like Walmart and Costco that resell them without fees. For example, you can sometimes find Disneyland tickets at Costco without the usual fees Disney charges online.
Use a fan club presale
Big artists often give their fan clubs access to buy tickets before the general public. And fan club ticket purchases often don’t have convenience fees. Just keep in mind supplies are usually very limited.
Join an Amex card with ticket perks
Certain American Express cards offer cardholder-only access to buy tickets without fees before they go on sale to the general public. The American Express Platinum and Gold cards are two options.
Buy season or package deals
If you plan to attend multiple events, buying season tickets, ticket packages, or VIP packages can sometimes be a way to buy tickets without per-ticket convenience fees. The fees get bundled into the overall package price.
Scour for promo codes
Promotional codes will sometimes pop up that allow you to waive convenience fees on ticket purchases. Sign up for seller and band email lists to stay on top of any fee-waiving code offers.
Use a ticket reseller that doesn’t charge fees
A few ticket reselling platforms like StubHub and Vivid Seats offer the option to buy tickets with no fees. Just be aware their ticket prices tend to start higher than competitors to make up for it.
Buy at the last minute
Some ticketing platforms will remove convenience fees on unsold tickets as events approach. Try waiting until the last minute to buy if an event still has tickets available.
Finding no-fee tickets for specific events
The best strategy for avoiding fees can vary depending on the specific concert, game, festival, or show you want to attend. Here are some tips for popular types of events:
Concerts
– Check the artist’s official website for fan club and email list presales
– Buy at the venue box office on the day of show if not sold out
– Find a Ticketmaster presale code to buy during presales
Sporting Events
– Buy season tickets to avoid per-game fees
– Check team’s website for special ticket packs without fees
– Buy group tickets since fees are sometimes waived on large orders
Theater Shows
– Buy at the theater’s box office without fees
– Join supporting membership programs like theater angel societies that provide fee-free access
Festivals
– Buy festival passes in person at the gate if available
– Volunteer to work at the festival in exchange for free or discounted tickets
Comedy Shows
– Buy at club box office day of show
– Skip online sellers and get tickets directly from the comedian’s website
Estimating the convenience fee amount
When buying tickets online, it can be hard to estimate the exact convenience fees you’ll be charged since sellers don’t usually disclose the amounts upfront. However, you can make a reasonable guess based on these general industry fee ranges:
Ticket Price Range | Estimated Convenience Fee |
---|---|
Under $10 | $2-$5 per ticket |
$10-$50 | $5-$10 per ticket |
$50-$100 | $10-$15 per ticket |
Over $100 | $15-$25 per ticket |
Of course, these are just rough estimates. Fees will vary between different sellers, events, seasons, and locations. High demand events will usually have higher fees.
Other hidden fees besides convenience fees
Along with convenience fees, keep an eye out for these other hidden fees when purchasing tickets:
– Order processing fees – Similar to convenience fees but encompass more general operational costs. Usually $5-$10 per order.
– Delivery fees – Charged for physical ticket shipping and mobile ticket transfers. Can be $2-$15 per order. Waived for print-at-home tickets.
– Facility fees – Added by the venue to cover costs, not the ticket seller. Typically $5-$20 per ticket.
– Service fees – Vaguely defined fees covering operational expenses. Look for them on resale sites.
– Taxes and surcharges – Events tickets are subject to sales tax and venue surcharges that can add 10-20% or more.
Is it worth paying convenience fees?
Whether you should pay convenience fees or not depends on these tradeoffs:
Paying Fees Advantages:
– Secure tickets for high demand events
– Skip box office lines and crowds
– Ease of purchasing tickets 24/7 online
– Ability to select exact seat locations
– Convenience of digital tickets
Avoiding Fees Advantages:
– Save money on every ticket purchased
– Get best value on low demand events
– Experience buying in person
– Avoid surprise fees at checkout
For very popular events where tickets sell out in seconds, paying fees is often unavoidable if you really want to go. But for lower demand events, taking the time to buy directly can mean big savings.
Other ways to save money on event tickets
Avoiding convenience fees is one of the best ways to save on tickets. But you can also save by:
– Getting discounted tickets through memberships like AAA or student advantages
– Finding ticket coupon codes online
– Buying in bulk for group discounts
– Seeing weekday shows instead of peak weekends
– Skipping VIP perks and buying basic tickets
– Buying partial view or obstructed view seats
– Attending dress rehearsals at theaters
– Volunteering at festivals and events in exchange for free entry
– Entering radio call-in contests to win free tickets
– Visiting smaller venues like clubs that have lower ticket prices
– Getting last minute deals on unsold tickets
Conclusion
Convenience fees are an annoying reality when buying tickets online and over the phone. But with some effort, research, and planning, you can often find ways to avoid the fees and save money. Buying directly through venues, fan clubs, and special offers are the best ways to avoid fees. For very popular events, you’ll have to weigh the convenience of secure online ticketing versus the savings of buying in person without fees. With unsold tickets, waiting until the last minute can sometimes mean fees get removed too. While convenience fees are bothersome, don’t let them deter you from seeing your favorite sports teams, concerts, theater shows, comedy acts, and other live experiences and events.