When you’re trying to purchase tickets on Ticketmaster for a popular concert or sporting event, you may see a message stating that there is “limited availability”. This often appears when ticket demand is very high and seats are selling out quickly. Seeing this can be stressful for fans who want to secure tickets before they are all gone. So what exactly does “limited availability” mean on Ticketmaster and how does it impact your chances of getting tickets? Here is a closer look at what’s behind this message.
It Means Tickets Are Selling Fast
The main thing the “limited availability” notification signifies is that tickets are in high demand and selling out rapidly. It’s Ticketmaster’s way of letting you know seats are going fast and inventory is shrinking. This creates a sense of urgency to try to checkout quickly before the remaining tickets are purchased.
The limited availability notice tends to appear when presales and general public sales first open. This is when the bulk of tickets get snatched up right away by eager fans who have been anticipating the onsale. If you try to buy at a later date, you may no longer see the limited availability message since most of the tickets were already sold during the initial rush.
So if you see the message upon your first attempt at checking out, it means you should act fast before the tickets you want are gone. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that desired seats and ticket quantities will dwindle.
Only a Percentage of Tickets May Be Left
Seeing the limited availability notice doesn’t necessarily mean just a handful of tickets are left. But it does indicate that a limited percentage of seats remain compared to what was originally available.
The total inventory started out as 100% when sales first opened. The “limited availability” message starts appearing once a certain percent of tickets get purchased, which can vary based on the event. For extremely popular shows where tickets sell out immediately, it may appear after only 30% get bought. Less popular events may not trigger it until 70-80% of seats are taken.
So when you see the message, it means only a fraction of the originally available tickets are left. While the exact number remaining is unclear, it signals that supply is constrained. If you hope to still score seats, don’t delay in making your purchase.
Ticket Limits May Be Reduced
Along with reduced inventory, you may also find Ticketmaster reduces ticket purchase limits when availability gets limited. At the start of sales, there may be higher max limits, such as 8 or 10 tickets. But as more seats get bought, Ticketmaster may lower limits to 4, 2 or 1 ticket per person.
This helps prevent people from buying up all the remaining tickets in bulk. It gives more individual fans a chance to still get seats. So if you see lower ticket limits in place, it’s another sign of limited availability.
You may also notice presales that were initially open to the general public get changed to fan club or credit card presales only. Again, this helps limit the customer pool so more deserving fans can still get access.
Prices May Increase
As availability declines, you’ll often see ticket prices go up. Ticketmaster utilizes “dynamic pricing,” where prices adjust based on demand. The highest demand shows can have prices increase while lower demand events may see drops.
With high demand events, prices typically start lower and then climb as tickets get purchased. Unless a price ceiling is in place, expensive “platinum seats” may get added. So when availability gets limited, expect prices on remaining seats to go up.
If there’s a specific price range you’re hoping to stay within, don’t delay buying when you see what you want. Otherwise, it may get more expensive the longer you wait as dynamic pricing kicks in.
Fewer Seat Locations Available
When ticket availability first opens, you’ll usually have a choice of seats in all sections – lower level, upper level, floor, front row, etc. But as sales continue, you’ll notice fewer seat location options remain available.
The most popular seat sections like floor and front row will sell out fast. Also, entire ticket sections may sell out completely, leaving only single seats here and there. You’ll start to see a scattered map with fewer total seats left.
So if you hope to get certain seats together or a preferred location, act quickly. The longer you wait when supply is limited, the fewer seating choices you’ll have.
Purchases May Require Verification
To help prevent ticket buying bots and scalpers from snatching up remaining inventory, extra verification steps may be added for purchases. This means you may have to verify your identity and ensure you’re a real human customer.
Examples include:
– Completing a captcha verification.
– Submitting your phone number for a verification code.
– Providing the 3 or 4-digit security code on your credit card.
– Uploading a photo of your credit card used for purchase.
These extra steps help filter out bad actors trying to bulk purchase tickets. While an inconvenience, it does give everyday fans a better chance at tickets when availability is low.
You May End Up in A Queue
During high demand onsales, you may have trouble accessing the Ticketmaster website or get stuck waiting in a virtual queue. This is done to control heavy traffic all trying to purchase at once. Without queued access, the website would simply crash from overload.
Accepting a queue spot essentially assigns you a random place in line to checkout. So you may have to wait awhile before getting access to tickets, at which point inventory may be even more limited. Queues help manage demand, but also make it harder to buy during the initial rush.
Checkout Fast If You See Tickets You Want
The biggest takeaway when you see “limited availability” is to act decisively if tickets you want appear available. Having a Ticketmaster account already set up with your info, payment details and delivery preferences will help expedite checkout. Procrastinating or taking time to mull over seat options will only risk those tickets selling out first.
Don’t waste time trying to find the “perfect” seats. If tickets are in your price range and general section preferences, quickly select them and checkout before they disappear from your cart. Keep trying if you don’t succeed at first, as seat releases ebb and flow during onsales. Persistence and speed are key!
Have Backup Plans Ready
With high demand events, you may not always succeed in getting tickets, even if you try right at the onsale time. Website crashes, queues, declines and sellouts do happen. So it helps to have backup plans in case you don’t score tickets the normal way. Here are some options to consider:
– **Return to the site later:** More ticket releases can open up over time leading up to the event, especially once initial sales calm down.
– **Try alternate presales:** Look for fan club, artist, venue, or credit card presales you may qualify for.
– **Buy on resale sites:** Sites like StubHub may have tickets, albeit likely at inflated prices. Still cheaper than scalpers outside the venue though.
– **Attend a different show date:** Look at other shows on the tour if your city has multiple dates.
– **See if the event will be streamed:** Some concerts stream on platforms like Live Nation or TikTok. Not as good as in-person but still an option.
– **Be open to last minute tickets:** Prices often drop at the last minute as sellers panic they can’t sell their extras.
– **Arrive early to the venue:** Sometimes last minute tickets are sold at box office right before the show.
Having backup ideas takes the pressure off so you don’t feel like it’s your only chance to get tickets. And who knows – you may still score seats later even if the initial onsale doesn’t go your way!
Is It Worth Buying from Scalpers or Resale Sites?
When an event is sold out, you’ll inevitably find third-party sellers hawking tickets for inflated prices. StubHub, Vivid Seats, Craigslist, and scalpers outside the venue are options, albeit expensive ones. Is it ever worth buying from them? Here are some things to consider:
**Weigh how badly you want to attend** – Are you just casually interested or is this a lifelong dream? Paying a premium may be worth it for a truly special, once-in-a-lifetime show. But harder to justify if you’re just mildly interested in going.
**Compare prices across sellers** – Prices can vary widely, so shop around. StubHub and other mainstream sites tend to be cheaper than individual scalpers.
**Verify tickets are legitimate** – Scammers do sell bogus tickets, so check seller reviews and policies on fraud protection. Paying with a credit card gives you better protection.
**Consider the ethics** – If you want to avoid rewarding scalpers, resellers are technically a legal gray area. But paying extreme markups does incentivize the practice.
** factor in convenience** – Trying to score last minute tickets can be time consuming and you risk coming up empty. Resale sites guarantee a ticket, albeit at a premium. Could be worth it to avoid hassle.
There’s no definitive right or wrong answer here – it’s about what makes you comfortable. Set a max price you’re willing to pay and see if any options exist within that range. But also be prepared to potentially not go if nothing pans out. Limited availability means you can’t always get tickets.
Is It Worth Joining the Fan Club?
For major artists like Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, and Beyonce, joining their official fan club gives you access to special presales. Since these presales are before the general public onsale, does it improve your odds of scoring limited tickets? Here are some things to weigh:
**Presale window is still limited** – Fan club presales typically only last 24-48 hours before the general onsale. Tickets still sell out quickly.
**Fan clubs have membership costs** – You’ll have to pay a monthly or annual fee, usually $25-$50.
**Earlier access doesn’t guarantee tickets** – Popular presales still sell out right away. No presale grants you exclusive ticket access.
**You need to plan ahead** – Joining right as presales open is often too late. You’ll have to join months in advance.
**Artists sometimes restrict presales** – Some require you purchase merch or have ticket purchase history to get presale codes.
Ultimately there are no guarantees with presales or regular onsales. Joining a fan club improves odds marginally but doesn’t ensure tickets. Weigh the costs vs. benefits for your needs. For very popular groups, it may provide peace of mind. But for more niche artists, general onsales are still decent shot.
Should You Use Multiple Devices to Buy Tickets?
With only limited tickets available, some fans use multiple devices like smartphones, tablets and laptops to try and scoop up tickets faster. Is this a smart tactic or are there downsides? Here’s an overview:
**Pros**
– Gives you multiple pathways to possibly access tickets
– Allows you to use multiple Ticketmaster accounts for ticket limits
– Provides backup if one device has technical issues
**Cons**
– Costs more if buying multiple devices just for tickets
– No guarantee of getting tickets even with more devices – can still sell out
– Makes it harder to coordinate checkout process across devices
– Could contribute to website crashes by overloading servers
– Violates Ticketmaster’s terms against using bots, scripts etc.
Using 2-3 personal devices you already own seems reasonable as a backup. But buying 5+ devices solely for ticket buying crosses ethical lines and violates terms of service. While not illegal, it does go against intentions of a fair sale.
A few devices is fine but avoid extremes. Focus most on being ready to checkout quickly as soon as you have access. That speed matters far more than number of devices you use.
Is It Best to Buy Tickets Immediately or Wait?
If you see available tickets should you pounce immediately or continue monitoring sales to possibly find better seats? Here are some key considerations:
**Buy immediately pros:**
– Locks in tickets before other fans buy them
– Gets you better selection in early onsales
– Provides peace of mind that you have tickets
**Wait to buy pros:**
– May allow you to get better seats if you’re patient
– Lets you see if more sections open up later
– Enables monitoring prices if fluctuations happen
– Provides chance for website errors to resolve
There’s validity to either approach. With extremely popular shows where you’ll take any ticket, buying immediately gives you the best odds of getting something. But for more niche artists or events, you may have flexibility to wait and continue searching.
If you do wait, have a final cut-off date where if you don’t find what you want, you lock in whatever’s available. Don’t wait too long or you risk getting shut out altogether.
Conclusion
The “limited availability” notification from Ticketmaster signals high demand and dwindling inventory. It means you should act decisively if you see seats you want before they disappear. Have payment details ready for checkout and move quickly through the purchase process. Keep trying if at first you don’t succeed. Consider backup plans in case you can’t get the exact tickets you desire. And weigh whether to buy immediately or keep monitoring sales.
While challenging, scoring tickets to top events is still possible with preparation and persistence. Understand the tactics that give you the best shot. With limited availability, a smart ticket buying strategy is essential. So stay optimistic, be ready to adapt, and don’t give up! Your concert-going patience and dedication may still pay off.