Ticketmaster is the largest primary ticket outlet for major sporting events, concerts, and theater shows in the United States. When customers purchase tickets on Ticketmaster, they are charged various fees in addition to the base ticket price. These additional fees, referred to as “selling fees”, have become increasingly controversial over the years.
What are the different Ticketmaster fees?
There are several different fees that Ticketmaster may charge when you purchase event tickets on their platform:
- Service Fee – This is a fee that Ticketmaster charges for using their service to buy tickets. It is typically around 25% of the base ticket price.
- Order Processing Fee – This is a fee to process and fulfill ticket orders. It is usually around $5-$10 per ticket.
- Delivery Fee – If you have your tickets delivered (physically mailed) instead of using print-at-home tickets, this fee covers the cost of delivery. It is generally around $15-$25 per order.
- Facility Charge – This is a fee that the venue hosting the event charges, which gets passed on to the buyer through Ticketmaster. It varies by venue.
There may also be other more localized fees depending on the event, venue, and point of purchase. For example, some venues charge parking fees or print-at-home fees.
Are all Ticketmaster fees mandatory?
In most cases, yes – Ticketmaster fees are mandatory to complete a ticket purchase on their platform. The fees are non-optional. Some exceptions are:
- You may be able to avoid the delivery fee if you choose print-at-home tickets instead of physical ticket delivery.
- In very limited cases, Ticketmaster may offer “no fees” ticket promotions where they waive some of their service fees.
- Season ticket packages for long-running shows sometimes include fees in the base season ticket price, so no separate fees are charged.
Aside from those occasional exceptions, Ticketmaster does not provide a fees-free ticketing option. All their purchases will include some level of fees added on.
Why does Ticketmaster charge selling fees?
Ticketmaster provides the following justifications for their selling fees:
- Processing and Handling Costs – Operating their high-volume ticket sales platform requires hardware, software, customer service, and security expenditures. Fees help cover those costs.
- Event Coordination – Ticketmaster coordinates promotion, seat assignments, access control and more with venues/performers. There are costs involved in those services.
- Anti-Scalping Efforts – Their fees include the costs of monitoring and combating ticket scalping activities on their platform.
- Venue Fees – As the primary ticket outlet, Ticketmaster collects venue facility fees and passes them to the venues.
- Profit Motive – As with any business, Ticketmaster is a profit-seeking enterprise. Their fees are a revenue stream that boosts their bottom line.
Critics counter that their fees are excessive and exploit a lack of competition in the primary event ticketing business. But Ticketmaster maintains the fees are justified to deliver a convenient ticketing service.
Are Ticketmaster fees higher than other ticket sellers?
In most cases, yes – Ticketmaster’s service fees tend to be higher than alternative primary ticketing providers or the box office:
Fee Type | Ticketmaster Fee | Other Sellers Fee |
---|---|---|
Service Fee | 25% of ticket price | 10-15% of ticket price |
Order Processing | $5-$10 per ticket | $2-$5 per order |
Delivery Fee | $15-$25 per order | $5-$10 per order |
There are a few exceptions where Ticketmaster has comparable fees to other sellers:
- For major venues like sports stadiums that only use Ticketmaster for ticketing, there is no direct fee comparison.
- Their facility fees and print-at-home fees are usually similar to other ticketing platforms.
But in most head-to-head comparisons, Ticketmaster service and processing fees run about 50% higher than competitor sellers.
How much do Ticketmaster’s fees increase the ticket cost?
For an average ticket purchase, Ticketmaster fees can increase the total cost by 25% to 50%:
Sample Ticket | Base Price | Fee Amount | Total Price |
---|---|---|---|
Concert Ticket | $75 | $28.50 | $103.50 |
NFL Ticket | $150 | $45 | $195 |
Theater Ticket | $65 | $23 | $88 |
In the above scenarios, the fees increased the total ticket price by 38%, 30%, and 35% respectively. At the higher end for more expensive tickets, fees can sometimes even double the price paid versus the base cost.
Are Ticketmaster fees refunded if I cancel my tickets?
Ticketmaster’s policies on refunds for canceled tickets are as follows:
- If an event is canceled entirely, you receive a full refund including a refund of all fees.
- If you resell or return tickets for a credit, only the base price is refunded or credited. The fees are not refunded.
- If you choose to donate ticket value to charity instead of a refund, you can donate the full value including fees.
So in essence, the fees are only refunded if the event cancels. Otherwise Ticketmaster does keep the full fee amount even if you cancel or return the tickets.
Can Ticketmaster fees be avoided or reduced?
There are a few limited ways to potentially avoid or reduce Ticketmaster fees:
- Buy direct at the venue box office – This avoids Ticketmaster fees but is less convenient.
- Buy group tickets – Some events offer fee waivers on large group orders.
- Buy season ticket packages – The fees may get bundled into the base price.
- Buy during fee-free promos – Requires catching limited-time promotions.
- Buy from the fan resale market – Resale tickets can avoid new fees but have markups.
However, for the vast majority of standard ticket purchases, Ticketmaster fees are unavoidable if buying through their ticketing system. The company maintains that their fees provide valuable convenience for fans in return.
Are Ticketmaster fees legal?
Yes, Ticketmaster’s fees comply with current US laws and regulations. A few key points on the legality of their fees:
- The fees are disclosed during the ordering process, not hidden costs.
- They provide services in exchange for the fees, so it is not an unlawful add-on.
- Ticketing facilities like venues have a right to outsource ticketing and pricing.
- As the dominant ticketing platform, they have pricing leverage in the marketplace.
That said, their fee practices have drawn scrutiny from consumer groups and regulators over the years. Some jurisdictions outside the US have imposed caps on permissible ticket fees. But Ticketmaster has successfully defended and maintained their fees model under US law.
Conclusion
In summary, Ticketmaster service and processing fees typically add 25% to 50% to the base price of event tickets purchased through their platform. These controversial fees cover their operating costs, anti-scalping efforts, venue payouts and company profits. Buyers view the fees as excessive given Ticketmaster’s limited competition, but the company asserts that the total pricing remains within fair market value. While the fees are legal, they remain a source of frequent complaints among ticket buyers subject to them.