When purchasing tickets for concerts, sports events, or other entertainment, the fees charged on top of the base ticket price can really add up. Ticketmaster, the largest ticket retailer in the US, is notorious for tacking on high fees. But are there alternatives that charge lower fees? Here’s an in-depth look at some of the major ticket retailers and their fee structures.
Ticketmaster
As the largest primary ticket outlet in the US, Ticketmaster sells tickets for the majority of major concerts, shows, and sporting events. They have exclusive partnerships with many large venues and promoters. This gives them a huge share of the primary ticket market.
Ticketmaster’s fees consist of:
– Service fee – This ranges from $5-$20 for most tickets. It covers the costs of providing online ticket purchasing.
– Order processing fee – Typically around $5 per ticket order.
– Facility charge – This is a fee added by the venue, usually $2-$10 per ticket. Ticketmaster collects and remits this fee back to the venue.
With these various fees, a $50 base price ticket could easily cost $70-$80 by the time you check out on Ticketmaster. For top shows and events, fees can sometimes even double the base price.
Ticketmaster Fees for Sample Events
Event | Base Price | Fees | Total Price |
---|---|---|---|
Adele Concert | $99 | $29.75 | $128.75 |
NBA Playoff Game | $150 | $38.15 | $188.15 |
Broadway Show | $59 | $18.45 | $77.45 |
As you can see from the sample data, Ticketmaster routinely adds 30-40% to the base price in fees. Their defend this by saying these fees allow them to provide exceptional service and security in ticketing. But many consumers are frustrated by fees that can quickly make ticket prices unaffordable.
StubHub
StubHub is one of the largest ticket resale marketplaces. Instead of selling primary tickets, users resell tickets they’ve purchased. StubHub charges much lower fees compared to Ticketmaster:
– 10% fee charged to sellers
– Around 15% in fees charged to buyers
For a $100 ticket, the seller would get $90 after StubHub’s 10% cut. And the buyer would pay $115, with StubHub charging an additional $15 on top.
While StubHub’s fees are lower overall, there are some drawbacks:
– No guarantees on ticket authenticity
– Often more expensive than face value prices
– Fewer consumer protections compared to primary ticketing
StubHub is a good option for hard-to-find tickets. But you do take on some additional risk buying through a resale marketplace.
Vivid Seats
Vivid Seats is StubHub’s biggest competitor in ticket resales. They charge a slightly lower seller fee at 8% of the sale price.
Buyer fees are around 20% on average. On a $100 sale, the seller would get $92 after the 8% seller fee. The buyer would pay $120, with Vivid Seats collecting $20 + their seller fee.
Compared to StubHub, fees are lower on average for both buyers and sellers. But Vivid Seats has fewer user protections in place. There are risks buying tickets through any resale marketplace.
Gametime
Gametime is a mobile-focused ticket marketplace. Their specialty is last minute tickets, targeting fans who want to attend events on game day.
Gametime’s fee structure is a bit unique. They charge:
– No fees for sellers
– A 15% “discount fee” charged to buyers
The “discount fee” essentially takes the place of processing fees. Gametime’s business model is driving high volume ticket transactions right up until start time for events. They incentivize this by offering last minute deals that undercut competitors.
Gametime only sells mobile tickets transferred instantly to your phone. For last minute ticketing, Gametime’s 15% fee and mobile experience is convenient. But they don’t offer as many protections as other resellers.
TickPick
TickPick brands itself as a “no fee” ticket marketplace. They charge:
– No fees for buyers or sellers
– Just the price shown is what you pay
This seems too good to be true. So how does TickPick make money?
They build their fees into the ticket price you see listed. You don’t pay anything explicitly labeled as a “fee.” But sellers likely mark up prices on the backend to account for the 10% cut TickPick takes from each transaction.
This “all-in pricing” approach certainly feels simpler for buyers. But it also makes it hard to tell if you’re getting a good deal, since you can’t accurately break out fees.
Direct from the Box Office
For some events, the absolute lowest fees will be buying directly through the box office at the venue. Many box offices only charge exact face value for tickets. Some will charge small processing fees around $5 per order.
Box office direct sales avoid all the fees charged by middlemen ticket retailers. However, box office sales often come with big limitations:
– Limited inventory available
– Must purchase in person
– No online sales/transfers
– Sales only on event day
If you are lucky enough to score box office tickets, you’ll pay the rock bottom fees. But convenience is greatly reduced compared to online ticketing.
Third-Party Ticketing Apps
In recent years, several mobile apps have popped up to specifically target Ticketmaster fees. These include apps like SeatGeek, TickPick, and Gametime covered above.
These apps often use dynamic pricing, with prices fluctuating based on demand. They absorb the Ticketmaster processing fees in the price you pay.
Benefits of third-party apps:
– Avoid most Ticketmaster fees
– Greater price transparency in some cases
– Last minute deals
Downsides:
– Mobile Only, no desktop option
– Lower fraud protections
– Customer support can be spotty
Tips for Minimizing Fees
Here are some tips to pay less on fees when buying tickets:
– Buy early – Fees are lowest right when tickets initially go on sale. Prices and demand typically go up over time.
– Buy group tickets – Some ticket sellers offer discounted fees on group orders of 4+ tickets.
– Buy directly – When possible, buy through the box office, team/band website, or venue site to avoid resale markups.
– Use ticket apps – Mobile apps like Gametime can help you score last minute deals with lower fees.
– Avoid print-at-home fees – If you’re buying online, make sure to select mobile ticket delivery to dodge print-at-home convenience fees.
– Buy season tickets or bundles – Sport franchises and some venues offer large discounts when you buy season tickets or ticket packs.
– Join fan clubs – Musicians and performers sometimes offer fee-free presales for fan club members when they announce tours.
The Bottom Line
No matter where you buy tickets, fees are practically unavoidable these days. But you can minimize fees by shopping around different retailers, buying early, and using mobile apps. If convenience trumps cost for you, sellers like Ticketmaster may still provide the best overall experience. But you can save a lot on fees if you are willing to hunt for deals across multiple marketplaces.
Key Takeaways
– Ticketmaster charges the highest fees (often 30-40% above base price) but offers reliability and protections buyers want.
– Resale sites like StubHub and Vivid Seats offer lower fees, but you lose safety nets buying there.
– Gametime and TickPick use alternative fee models, but can lack transparency.
– Direct box office sales offer lowest fees, but very low convenience.
– Third party apps can help avoid Ticketmaster while offering unique advantages like last minute deals.