There are a few reasons why you may not be able to use PayPal as a payment option when purchasing tickets on Ticketmaster:
Ticketmaster Doesn’t Accept PayPal
The main reason is simply that Ticketmaster does not accept PayPal as a payment method for ticket purchases on their platform. Ticketmaster offers a limited selection of payment options, which currently includes major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover), Ticketmaster gift cards, and in some cases promo codes or vouchers.
However, PayPal is not one of the approved payment processors on Ticketmaster. So even if you have a PayPal account with a balance, there is no option to select PayPal at checkout on Ticketmaster.
Exceptions for Some Venues
There are some exceptions where certain venues or events may allow PayPal payments through Ticketmaster. This is not the norm, but in some cases, the event organizer or venue may have integrated PayPal as a payment option for their specific event.
For example, if you are purchasing tickets for a concert at a small local venue, there is a chance they may have enabled PayPal payments just for that event. But for most major concerts, sports events, Broadway shows, etc. booked through Ticketmaster, PayPal is not accepted.
Ticketmaster Has Exclusive Payment Processing
Another key reason is that Ticketmaster maintains exclusive payment processing on their platform and does not allow third-party payment platforms like PayPal to integrate. They want customers to use one of their approved payment options when booking through their site.
This gives Ticketmaster more control over the payment process, helps reduce fraud/disputes, and allows them to collect full payment upfront including any service fees. It also lets them capture valuable customer payment data and funnel all transactions through their own payment gateway.
Does Not Allow Payment Splits or Transfers
PayPal can sometimes allow split payments or transfers between multiple accounts/users. But Ticketmaster does not allow payment splitting or transfers – you must use a single approved payment method under one account to complete the checkout.
Transaction Fees and Revenue Share
By controlling the payment processing, Ticketmaster also maintains their full transaction fees and revenue share. If they opened it up to third-party platforms like PayPal, they would likely have to pay out a portion of the fees per transaction.
Ticketmaster Has Deals with Major Credit Card Companies
Ticketmaster maintains close partnerships and deals with major credit card brands like Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. By steering customers towards using those card brands to purchase tickets, Ticketmaster likely receives some benefits through their credit card deals.
Those brands also spend significant amounts on marketing and promotions to drive more consumers to use their cards for big ticket purchases. PayPal does not offer those same incentives or branding opportunities.
Consumer Credit Card Rewards
Pushing credit card payments also allows Ticketmaster customers to earn credit card rewards points and cash back on their ticket purchases. This gives consumers more incentive to pay with a credit card over other payment types.
Higher Profit Margins
There are also financial incentives for Ticketmaster, as credit card processing tends to be more profitable compared to services like PayPal that charge higher transaction fees. So limiting to credit card payments likely results in higher profit margins on payment processing.
Fraud and Risk Mitigation
Ticketmaster also cites fraud mitigation and risk prevention as a reason for limiting payment options. Credit cards allow users to dispute fraudulent charges, offer built-in fraud monitoring, and shift the liability away from the merchant. PayPal can also be risky for high-value sales because it allows buyers to more easily reverse payments or file disputes.
For expensive ticket inventory, Ticketmaster prefers credit card payments that offer more merchant protections and less transaction risk exposure. PayPal is seen as a riskier payment method for high-dollar purchases.
Credit Card Verification
Requiring credit cards also allows Ticketmaster to perform additional identity verification and implement security features like CVV codes, ZIP code verification, and address checks to validate legitimate cardholders.
Risk of Reversed Transactions
PayPal transactions can be disputed or reversed more easily by the buyer after the fact. For ticket sales, Ticketmaster does not want to risk a payment being reversed after tickets have been sent out, which could result in losses.
Integration and Administrative Issues
Enabling PayPal acceptance brings additional integration, administrative, and customer service responsibilities. PayPal would need to be seamlessly embedded within the Ticketmaster checkout process, require testing and monitoring, customer dispute resolution, and technical support.
Given Ticketmaster’s large user base, massive ticket inventory, and millions of transactions, fully supporting and managing PayPal would be an undertaking that likely does not make financial sense for their business model.
The manpower, resources, and overhead required to integrate PayPal is likely too costly relative to the potential benefits or added revenue.
IT and Development Resources
Substantial IT and development resources would be required to build a custom PayPal integration into the Ticketmaster platform and checkout process. Ongoing coding and debugging of issues would also be needed.
Customer Service Training
Adding PayPal would require comprehensive customer service training to address PayPal-specific inquiries, disputes, and troubleshooting steps beyond just credit card issues.
Additional Fees and Reconciliation
There would also be costs related to PayPal transaction fees, monthly accountreconciliation, payment transfers, and managing withdrawals to bank accounts.
Limited Adoption and User Demand
Enabling PayPal does not appear to be a highly demanded feature based on Ticketmaster customer feedback. Most customers are comfortable paying with major credit cards, so there is not a strong business case to invest in supporting PayPal.
Unless customers begin demanding PayPal in large numbers and requesting it frequently as an enhancement, Ticketmaster has little incentive to dedicate resources based on limited potential adoption.
No Mainstream User Appeal
PayPal is not considered a mainstream or highly popular payment method for purchasing event tickets. Customers expect to pay via credit card, so adding PayPal may see little usage.
Demographic Skews
Certain demographics like older generations may be less likely to have or use PayPal regularly. Ticketmaster serves all ages, so PayPal may only appeal to a limited subset of tech-savvy users.
Credit Cards Meet Most User Needs
Since most customers are able to pay for their tickets with a major credit card, enabling PayPal does not solve a major pain point or issue for the majority of Ticketmaster users.
Other Digital Payment Options Emerging
Ticketmaster appears more focused on emerging digital payment types that may eventually replace credit cards, rather than supporting PayPal which requires similar integration as traditional card payments.
For example, Ticketmaster is investing more in supporting mobile wallet platforms like Apple Pay and Google Pay which leverage user smartphone data.
Apple Pay and Google Pay
Wallet platforms like Apple Pay and Google Pay allow users to store their credit card information and pay quickly using their mobile device. These platforms are gaining adoption especially among younger demographics.
QR Code Payments
QR code payments allow customers to scan a code to pull up a payment portal and enter payment details. This allows for more flexibility across payment types and mobile optimization.
Facial Recognition Payments
Emerging facial recognition payment tech can allow users to scan their face to authenticate and process a payment transaction. This provides enhanced security, convenience, and a more high-tech user experience.
Digital Currency
Looking long-term, decentralized digital currencies and blockchain platforms may allow Ticketmaster to accept direct peer-to-peer payments without credit card fees or intermediaries. But these options are still in early stages of development.
They May Eventually Add PayPal Support
While Ticketmaster currently does not offer PayPal support, it is possible they may integrate it at some point in the future if the demand from customers is high enough or they can make a compelling business case.
If PayPal usage continues to grow globally while their own payment fees decline, Ticketmaster may find it advantageous to add PayPal as a payment option down the road.
Customer Feedback and Request Volume
If Ticketmaster sees an uptick in customer inquiries asking to use PayPal or for it be added as a payment method, they may decide the user demand is worth addressing.
Mainstream Adoption
If PayPal sees even higher rates of consumer adoption and becomes a mainstream payment option that customers expect to be able to use, Ticketmaster may feel obliged to add support.
Competitive Pressure
If other major ticketing platforms and Ticketmaster competitors begin accepting PayPal, they may follow suit to stay competitive.
Cost/Benefit Analysis
If the cost of integration decreases substantially or the potential revenue upside increases, at some point it may make good business sense for Ticketmaster to make the investment in accepting PayPal.
Conclusion
In summary, Ticketmaster does not currently accept PayPal as a payment method for event tickets primarily because PayPal is not integrated into their checkout process, they prefer credit cards for risk and profitability reasons, there are administrative and technical challenges to support PayPal, and limited customer demand. However, with the rise of digital payments, they may add PayPal as an option further down the road if it aligns with their business goals and customer needs.
For now, the only way to guarantee using PayPal for Ticketmaster tickets is finding specific resale tickets or venues that may offer PayPal as a limited-time payment option. Otherwise, customers should plan on using a major credit card, gift card, or voucher code when purchasing tickets on Ticketmaster.