Presale tickets allow fans to purchase tickets to concerts and shows before the general public. Presales are usually offered to fan club members, customers of a sponsor company like a credit card or mobile phone provider, or users who have signed up for an artist’s email list. Presales frequently provide access to better seats at face value prices before scalpers can buy them up and mark up the costs. This leads many fans to believe that presale tickets are always cheaper than regular prices. However, this is not necessarily the case when purchasing through Ticketmaster.
How Presales Work on Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster is the largest primary ticket outlet for major concerts and shows in the United States and works directly with promoters, venues, and artists to sell the tickets. When a presale is offered for an event, a portion of tickets are set aside to be sold specifically during the presale window before the main public on-sale date.
Fans must have a presale code or link in order to access tickets during the presale time. These codes are usually distributed by the artist’s fan club, the promoter running the event, or the sponsor company. The number of tickets set aside for presales can vary greatly depending on the artist and demand. For very popular performers, sometimes only 5-10% of the venue’s tickets are made available for presales.
Pricing Differences Between Presales and Main Onsales
There is a common perception that presale tickets are priced lower than those released to the general public. In some cases, this can be true if the artist or promoter wants to reward loyal fans with early access to discounted seats. However, Ticketmaster does not have any specific policy in place to guarantee that presale tickets will be cheaper.
The face value ticket prices are set by the event organizer and venue. Ticketmaster facilitates the presale by managing the inventory and codes on their platform. It is ultimately up to the artist and promoter to decide whether they want to discount presale tickets compared to general onsale prices.
In many cases, presale and general onsale ticket prices are identical. Some popular shows even raise prices incrementally as the onsale dates approach to take advantage of growing interest and demand. While artists may sometimes offer special lower pricing on presales, Ticketmaster does not require this.
Service Fees and Processing Charges
The key pricing difference between presale and general onsale tickets often comes down to service fees charged by Ticketmaster. These added fees cover the costs of ticketing services and vary based on the event. In some cases, Ticketmaster offers reduced service fees during the presale period to incentivize early ticket buying. The processing fees per ticket can be $5-$10 lower compared to general onsale. With fees attached to every individual ticket, those savings add up quickly, especially for larger group purchases.
Promoters and artists also occasionally work with Ticketmaster to lower some specific fees for fan club or artist presales. For major tours, fan club presales regularly have lower associated service fees compared to general fan presales and public onsales. This allows fan club members who pay a membership fee to save more money when purchasing multiple tickets together.
Advantages of Presales Over General Onsale
In addition to potentially lower service fees, there are a few other key benefits of presale tickets from Ticketmaster:
– Earlier access to tickets – Presales allow you to buy tickets before the general public. For very popular shows, the best tickets can sell out in minutes once a public onsale starts. Presales give you first pick.
– Access to presale-only tickets – In some cases, tickets are reserved exclusively for presales and are not even made available later during general onsales. Presales can unlock access to tickets that would otherwise be unobtainable.
– Avoid sellouts and resellers – Presale tickets give fans a chance to get tickets from Ticketmaster before reseller sites can acquire and mark up tickets. This avoids paying inflated prices on secondary resale markets.
– Convenience of prepurchase – Having tickets secured early through presales allows fans to avoid stressing about sellouts later. It also gives time to arrange travel for concerts that require flights and hotels.
– Better selection of seats – Being early to purchase gives presale customers the widest selection of available seats before many of the best tickets are claimed during an onsale rush.
Conclusion
The pricing and discounts available during Ticketmaster presales can vary substantially based on the event promoter and artist policies. While presale ticket prices themselves may not differ much from later general onsale prices, presale customers can save significantly through lowered service fees and processing charges. Presales also provide other advantages like earlier and exclusive ticket availability that make them a preferable purchasing option for many savvy fans. Overall, presale tickets purchased directly through Ticketmaster are usually but not always cheaper than general onsale tickets for the same events when factoring in the additional fees attached to each ticket.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do presales work?
Presales allow certain groups of fans early access to purchase tickets before the general public onsale. Presale access codes are required and distribute through fan clubs, promoter emails lists, sponsor companies, radio stations, and other selected groups determined by the event organizer. A portion of tickets are held back exclusively for presales before being released for the public onsale.
What are some tips for getting presale ticket codes?
– Join an artist’s official fan club – Official fan clubs often get the earliest presale codes.
– Sign up for Live Nation and Ticketmaster newsletters – Their mailing lists will advertise presales.
– Follow your favorite artist on social media – Presale announcements are made through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.
– Listen to local radio stations – Radio presale codes are promoted on air.
– Check band and venue websites – Presale details are frequently posted online.
Are there other fees besides service fees?
Yes, Ticketmaster adds on a number of additional fees when you purchase concert and event tickets. These can include:
– Order processing fee – This covers the costs of processing an order online or via phone.
– Facility charge – This extra fee goes to the venue hosting the event.
– Shipping fee – If tickets are mailed, a shipping and handling fee applies.
– Taxes and government fees – Local taxes and jurisdiction fees get tacked onto ticket orders.
All those extra charges quickly add up and increase your overall ticket cost. Service fees make up the largest percentage of added fees, but are not the only expenses.
How much cheaper can presale tickets be?
There is no set rule for how much cheaper presale tickets are compared to general onsale prices. Presale discounts vary based on the policies for each event. Some common presale savings include:
– $5-$15 lower fees per ticket – The bulk of presale savings comes from reduced service fees.
– 10-20% off select seating sections – Some events offer percentage discounts on certain seat locations.
– Buy one get one half off – BOGO deals are used to incentivize presale ticket purchases.
– Free upgrades – Floor seats, VIP, or front row upgrades given to presale buyers.
– Merchandise bundles – Presale ticket and merch bundles priced lower than separate purchases.
The best way to maximize presale savings is to buy early and shop around different presales to find the best deals. Popular shows with high demand often offer the biggest presale discounts.
What are the different types of presales?
Some of the most common presale types include:
– Fan club presale – Official fan club members get access to the earliest presales.
– VIP presale – Purchasing VIP ticket packages allows access to presales.
– Venue presale – Venues sell presale tickets to their email lists and loyalty programs.
– Local presale – Special presales are held for residents of the city where the event is.
– Sponsor presale – Companies sponsor presales for customers and email lists.
– Radio presale – Radio stations promote presales for listeners to call in or sign up online.
– General presale – Presales open to anyone who can find and use the special access code.
– Artist presale – Artists run presales directly through their websites and fan communities.
Are presale tickets refundable?
Presale ticket refund and cancellation policies are generally the same as regular tickets purchased during a general public onsale. However, refund availability can vary by event. Some key points on presale ticket refunds:
– Refunds are determined by the event promoter and venue policies. Ticketmaster informs customers of the refund rules during the purchasing process.
– Tickets for canceled events are generally fully refunded including fees, but refunds for postponed/rescheduled shows vary.
– Refunds for fan club presales are typically only issued to the original purchaser and cannot be transferred.
– Refunds only given within a short window following the presale before the event.
– Resale and transfers of presale tickets are restricted in most cases.
Check the specific refund terms closely before finalizing your presale ticket purchase. Policies differ widely between events.
Do presale tickets sell out fast?
Due to the limited quantity of tickets allocated for presales, they can sell out extremely quickly. Some key factors include:
– Popularity of the artist – The biggest performers like Taylor Swift or BTS only release a tiny fraction of tickets during presales.
– Fan club size – Massive fan club membership ensures instant sellouts.
– Venue size – More tickets available for larger arenas versus smaller clubs.
– Buzz and hype – Newly announced events or reunited groups also drive intense presale demand.
If you want the best chance for popular shows, log in early, use fast internet, have payment ready, and keep trying if you can’t access tickets right as the presale begins. Persistence can pay off to score presale tickets.
Is it better to wait for the general public onsale?
In most cases, buying presale tickets is more advantageous than waiting for the general onsale. Presales allow you to:
– Buy tickets ahead of sellouts
– Get tickets before resellers can buy them
– Gain early access to the best seat options
– Take advantage of presale-only ticket allotments
– Get special discounts and promotions
– Avoid stressful competition with the masses
Public onsales are extremely crowded especially for hot shows. Presales give you a major head start. The only reason to wait is if you somehow miss all the presale options.
| Advantage | Presale Tickets | General Onsale Tickets |
|---|---|---|
| Ticket availability | Guaranteed portion of tickets on hold | Must compete with all buyers |
| Pricing | Often discounted service fees | Standard service fees |
| Seat selection | Wider open selection | Remaining seats after presales |
| Competition | Limited presale buyers | All fans competing at once |
| Perks | Access to presale promotions | None |
Is Ticketmaster the official source for presales?
Ticketmaster has partnerships with many major venues, promoters, sports leagues, and colleges to be an official presale retail outlet. However, Ticketmaster does not cover every presale opportunity. Official fan club presales are also commonly run directly through an artist’s website instead of Ticketmaster. Local venue presales may use their own ticketing platforms as well. Independent promoters and festivals run presales through their own channels. While Ticketmaster has among the largest volume of presales, fans should check an event’s official website and social media to find all presale options.
In Conclusion
The key takeaways when assessing whether Ticketmaster presale tickets are cheaper than general onsale prices:
– Presale ticket face value prices are set by event organizers not Ticketmaster. Discounts are not guaranteed.
– Reduced Ticketmaster service fees during presales are usually where savings occur.
– High demand shows with scarce tickets are more likely to have better presale deals.
– Artists with fan clubs tend to offer the most presale incentives to members.
– Presales still provide other advantages like access to best seats even if discounts are minimal.
– Check all presale options beyond just Ticketmaster for a show to maximize savings.
While Ticketmaster presales may not always have tickets priced lower than general onsales, they offer the best opportunity to buy tickets from the official source and avoid marked up reseller prices. Savvy fans can shop strategically during presales to find the biggest deals on their desired events.
