How to avoid fees on concert tickets?
Top strategies include how to avoid fees on concert tickets
Tickets to concerts cost a pretty penny at the best of times, so when you add all the extra fees that get chucked on at the end, it just sucks. From service charges, processing charges, and facility charges to a long list of charges, you get to pay more for your tickets at the end. Some fees, however, are inevitable, but this does not mean that tickets for concerts are unobtainable at a cheaper price and that the budget cannot be exploited. Below are some of the things you should avoid when purchasing your concert tickets to avoid getting charged with the worst fees.
Contact the venue’s box office to purchase tickets.
Unfortunately, there will always be some hidden fees that cannot be avoided but to ensure that you do not pay for other unnecessary fees when buying concert tickets, it is advisable to buy from the venue’s box office. In a typical case, you will skip many of the processing charges that are associated with buying tickets online or through a ticketing company if you buy directly from the box office, whether it is by personally visiting the ticketing center or ordering through the phone. The only thing to note is that most theaters do not operate 24/7; therefore, try to check out the time the venue is open before going there and if you are to make payments at the box office, then it is advisable to carry cash along.
Make use of the Artist or Promoter Pre-Sale
Most bigger concerts involve some form of pre-sale before the tickets are released to the general public. Pre-sales do not attract many charges and taxes as the tickets are sold through the artist or the concert promoter. For this, you will have to register with the artist or band in advance and subscribe to their fan club or mailing list so that you are informed when preorders go live. This may take a little bit of planning but in the long run and overall, it is cheaper.
Purchasing the Fan Club or VIP Packages
Large artists and groups usually provide some form of fan club access, VIP standing, or other exceptional seating to devoted enthusiasts. Despite this, the packages may appear costly initially; still, they are coupled with the most costly ticket, accompanied by other privileges like meeting the artist, autographed products, or exclusive seating. However, many of these items are bundled in these special ticket packages and can prove to be cheaper in the long term as opposed to piecemeal purchases.
Skip the Resale Sites
Now, while buying a ticket from a resale market like StubHub, do not be surprised by high fees that go much above face value. This is due to the many handling fees that are charged by the sites themselves, not forgetting the fees set by the seller. It is not just the fare that you pay when flying; within the overall ticket price, shipping, service charges, and other fees can increase the price tag by 50% or more at times. In the case of selecting a distribution channel strategy, it is better to avoid reseller channels where possible.
The last-minute strategy refers to a case whereby the organization waits for the deadline to approach to start working on the project.
Another rule of thumb is to wait until the very end to purchase tickets; the idea is sort of counterintuitive yet practical. Before concerts take place if there are still tickets available in the market, the artist or promoter of a concert will release more chairs and lower ticket prices to ensure that all the seats will be occupied. This, however, comes with a certain risk and could be priced much lower or even not have any fees at all if you are buying directly. Just know that availability is not something you can count on.”
Choose E-Tickets When Possible
Most primary ticket sellers have now combined e-tickets and mobile delivery options for the tickets at no additional charge. As these are not physical products and you do not have to transport them via mail services, it is possible to avoid these inconveniences more often. The recommendation here is to make sure that the tickets are purchased from a reliable supplier and then register the e-tickets under the name of the purchaser at the entrance to the venue.
To address this issue, a fee-free ticket platform should be adopted.
A relatively newer way is to buy the tickets directly from a ticket vending platform such as Gametime or TickPick that does not charge any fees. These sites integrate their no-fee policy into their core strategies so there is no additional cost and you can only be charged the face value for tickets. It means that such inventory may be less extensive; however, it is an effortless way to make sure that you are purchasing from a reputable seller.
Purchase at the PHYSICAL STORES
A tip that some might consider old-fashioned yet still practical is that tickets should be bought at physical stores to avoid some online charges. Supermarket customer service desks also sell tickets in person for selected shows and the fees are always low compared to those of online ticket-selling companies such as Ticketmaster. You can also save on shipping charges while purchasing this way. It is as simple as calling them from time to time to check whether the tickets you are interested in are in stock before heading to the store.
Use Ticket Promo Codes
For those who want to buy tickets through an online platform, it is recommended to type in the search engine terms to look for promotional codes that can eliminate some of the charges. Ticket purchase sites such as Ticketmaster for instance, will always have promo codes for first-time buyers available occasionally. Cuts such as $5 or $10 per ticket should be considered and can greatly add up, particularly when purchasing for a group of people.
Split Bulk Orders Strategically
When purchasing many tickets at one time, make the purchases in different transactions with distinctly different credit cards and shipping addresses if you can. Additional charges may also be incurred depending on the number of tickets in an order on certain ticketing systems. Possibly, divide the orders into 2 or 4 tickets, which can help reduce the quantity discounts fees significantly.
In conclusion, it is as simple as that: if you want to avoid being charged a fee for a concert ticket, you have to think ahead and work a little. However, you probably can’t completely avoid fees and if you implement certain ones among those I have listed today, you are bound to enjoy more of your ticket price. That way, you may get those better seats or more shows with the cash you saved from not having to buy through a ticket broker!
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