There are a few potential reasons why you may have randomly received a Ticketmaster code:
- You signed up for Ticketmaster emails and are on their mailing list
- You entered a contest or promotion where codes were being given away
- You received a gift code from a friend or family member
- You received a targeted promotion based on your purchase history or browsing activity
- It was sent to you by mistake or accidentally
Ticketmaster periodically sends out codes and discounts to those on their mailing list as part of promotions, so if you’ve signed up for emails in the past, that is likely why you received a code. They also partner with businesses and brands to distribute codes as part of larger promotions across different industries and products.
You Signed Up for Ticketmaster Emails
If you’ve signed up for Ticketmaster’s email newsletter or created an account with them in the past, you are likely on their mailing list. They regularly send promotional emails and special offers to subscribers, including presale codes for upcoming events at Ticketmaster venues and various discounts like gift cards.
Being on their mailing list means you’ll occasionally get surprise codes even if you haven’t purchased anything recently or been browsing for events. This is part of their promotional campaigns to keep you engaged as a subscriber and customer. As long as your email preferences are enabled, you’ll periodically receive codes that they distribute to subscribers.
Checking Your Email Preferences
To check what email subscriptions you have enabled:
- Go to Ticketmaster.com and log into your account
- Click on ‘My Account’ and go to ‘Communication Preferences’
- Review the different options to see what you have selected
- Update preferences or unsubscribe as desired
Having an account doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll receive emails if you have opted out of promotional messages. But if you do want to receive access to presales and discounts, keeping your preferences enabled ensures you’ll be on the list when codes are sent out.
Unsubscribing If Desired
If you don’t want to receive any more surprise codes or promotional emails in the future, you can easily update preferences or unsubscribe:
- Click ‘Unsubscribe’ at the bottom of any Ticketmaster email
- Log into your account and change options under ‘Communication Preferences’
- Contact Ticketmaster customer service to have your account and info updated
Once you unsubscribe or opt out, you’ll no longer receive any messages going forward. This means you won’t get access to presales or special offers either. You can resubscribe at any time if you change your mind.
You Entered a Contest or Promotion
If you don’t recall signing up for Ticketmaster emails specifically, you may have received a code by entering a contest, sweepstakes, or other promotion:
- Radio station contests
- TV station promotions
- Live event or festival giveaways
- Brand partnerships (food, retail stores, etc)
- Social media competitions (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)
- Third-party sweepstakes websites
Ticketmaster routinely partners with other brands and businesses to provide prize packages and giveaways, which often include free tickets or ticket codes. If you entered any contests where this was a prize option, that is likely the source of the random code you received.
Even if you didn’t win the grand prize, they will sometimes send discounts and codes as a consolation to all contest entrants. So an entry could land you on Ticketmaster’s mailing list for future promotions.
Redeeming Third-Party Codes
If you receive a code through an outside promotion or contest, here are some tips for redeeming:
- Carefully read terms for any expiration dates or restrictions
- You may need to provide additional information or create an account
- Codes can only be used once and likely have limited ticket options
- Go through Ticketmaster directly, not third-party resellers
Always read the details closely so you can take full advantage of the code value. And act quickly if they have short expiration windows.
You Received a Ticketmaster Gift Code
Another possibility is you were given a Ticketmaster gift code directly from a friend, family member, or even co-worker:
- Gift for a birthday, holiday, or special occasion
- Prize or thank you gift from work or a business
- Shared code from someone who couldn’t use it
- Hand-me-down code from a previous promotion
Ticketmaster offers virtual gift cards that can be emailed for easy gifting. If someone knows you love going to live events, giving the gift of tickets makes for a great present.
Gift codes also allow recipients the flexibility to choose their own event and seats. The value can be applied to any Ticketmaster property or partner venue.
Using a Gift Code
If redeeming a gift code directly given to you:
- Log into your Ticketmaster account to apply value
- Enter gift code during checkout when buying tickets
- Value will be deducted from the total automatically
- May need to provide gift code info to sender if issues
Be sure to use the full value, as most gift codes expire and cannot be transferred once redeemed. So take advantage of the surprise gift to treat yourself to tickets for an upcoming concert or game.
You Received a Targeted Promotion
In some cases, the Ticketmaster code you received may be tied to your individual purchase history and browsing activity. Their marketing partners allow them to target customers directly:
Data Factor | Targeting Purpose |
---|---|
Previous ticket purchases | Send promotions based on artists/teams you’ve shown interest in before |
Account details and activity | Tailor offers to match your purchase frequency and spending |
Browsing and search history | Follow up on ticket selections not completed or still available |
Demographics and location | Send location-based offers for nearby venues and events |
The more Ticketmaster knows about you as a customer, the more personalized the offers. Codes tied to your personal account activity encourage you to come back and complete a purchase or attend more events.
Managing Your Personal Data
While targeted promos can provide perks and discounts, you can control how much of your data is used:
- Limit account sharing across devices
- Use privacy settings on browsers
- Frequently clear cookies, cache, and browsing history
- Opt out of location-based ads
- Turn off personalized ads
Reducing your shared data will limit how promotions are tailored to you specifically. However, you may still receive general mailing list codes and offers.
You Received a Code By Mistake
There is always a chance the Ticketmaster code was sent to you completely unintentionally:
- Human error in entering email addresses
- Random number/letter code generator mistakes
- System glitches in mass email blasts
- Contest website or form defects
- Previous owner of your email or recycled addresses
With millions of customers, promotions, and various partners in the mix, the occasional mistake can happen. Some codes slip through the cracks and end up reaching the wrong recipients.
If it’s clearly a coveted code you were never intended to receive, the ethical thing is to not redeem it. But for a general discount that could go to anyone, you likely can take advantage of their error for some free savings.
Attempting to Identify the Source
Before redeeming a seemingly random code, try to identify the origin:
- Ask contacts if they forwarded or gifted it
- Check account and subscriptions for opt-ins
- Search email history for related contests or promotions
- Look up the specific code details
- Contact Ticketmaster customer service
Getting context helps determine if it was shared intentionally or not. But if the code is already expiring, you may need to simply use your best judgment.
Using Your Surprise Ticketmaster Code
Once you’ve identified the likely source of your surprise Ticketmaster code, you can decide the best way to use it:
Code Type | Using the Value |
---|---|
General promo code | Apply towards sports/music tickets for upcoming events |
Gift card/gift certificate | Use for any Ticketmaster ticket purchases |
Presale access code | Buy tickets early before general public on-sale |
Concert/event-specific code | Redeem offer for one particular show |
Sweepstakes prize code | Claim reward tickets as prize redemption |
Be sure to pay attention to any expiration dates or fine print associated with the code. Some need to be redeemed quickly or have restrictions on shows you can use them for.
Tips for Maximizing Codes
To take full advantage of surprise Ticketmaster codes:
- Act fast if the code is limited or expiring
- Compare ticket prices to find best seats/value
- Use towards more expensive tickets to maximize savings
- Combine with other promos and discounts when possible
- Buy early during presales to get best selection
Having a code makes ticker buying easier and more affordable. But you’ll want to strategize to get the most bang for your buck.
Conclusion
Random Ticketmaster codes can come your way through promotions, contests, gifts, targeted marketing, and simple mistakes. If you have an account with them, are frequently entering sweepstakes, or receive one directly from a contact, you may get surprised with ticket savings. Take advantage of the opportunity for discounted seats to a great event. Just be sure to read all fine print and details to maximize the value. With the right strategy, your surprise code can become a great perk.