best websites to buy concert tickets
Best Websites to Buy Concert Tickets
With so many websites popping up, it is becoming increasingly confusing to decide where to order concert tickets from. Which is why, we have shortlisted some of the best concert ticket websites on the Internet for you.
Did You Know?
The Moondog Coronation Ball, held in Cleveland on March 21, 1952, is considered to be the first rock-and-roll concert ever!
If it weren't for the numerous online services that help buy concert tickets, a lot of fans would rise up in revolt! Imagine having to wait in line on the day of the concert, hoping and praying that you are one of the lucky ones to get the ticket. Fortunately, such archaic methods have made way for faster and assured means of booking concert tickets. Additionally, the fans get to choose the nearest and affordable seats from the seating chart, and they also get to avail discounts in some cases. Most importantly, people get to visit multiple ticket sites and choose the one that is selling tickets at the best price. Such websites have added features such as security and service guarantee, shipping options, reselling ticket after purchase, gifts, and offers. This Buzzle article lists the top 10 websites for buying concert tickets.
Name: ticketmaster
This website is by far the best online source for buying concert tickets in the US. They merged with Live Nation in 2010 to form Live Nation Entertainment which also enables booking of tickets for live events. Their tickets can be printed instantly, and there is no hassle of having to ship the ticket to the customer. It also allows an extensive list of participating venues and teams the option of returning or exchanging the tickets for better ones, within 2 days of purchase until one week before the actual concert. It goes on to guarantee a complete and automatic refund in case a concert is canceled. Finally, in case it does not have the tickets in stock, they direct the customer to a reliable concert ticket partner site.
Special features: The 'Ticketmaster Fan Guarantee' assures the sale of 100 percent official tickets that are sold at face value. These tickets are sourced directly from the performing artists and venues.
Get buying: www.ticketmaster.com
Name: StubHub!
StubHub! was founded in 2000, and is owned by eBay. Apart from providing buyers with concert tickets for a huge array of artists, It is also one of the leading online sources for resale of concert tickets. It is, indeed, the world's largest fan-to-fan ticket marketplace. Their 'FanProtect Guarantee' caters to the needs of both buyers and sellers, wherein buyers are assured that their tickets will be delivered on time and shall be valid for entry. The customer support handles all issues and does not allow sellers to contact the prospective buyers.
Special features: The buyer is refunded in case the event is canceled and not rescheduled. On the other hand, sellers are allowed to list their tickets for free and can adjust the price of their tickets before actually selling it. A small percentage (15%) is charged for every sale made by the sellers. It also offers deals, rewards, and event packages to their customers.
Get buying: www.stubhub.com
Name: CheapTickets
CheapTickets is owned by Orbitz Worldwide, an online global travel company. The tickets are not sold at face value and instead decided by the seller. The tickets offered by the website are not sourced directly from the actual artist team or venue. Instead, CheapTickets is a marketplace for selling of concert tickets by resellers who list their own prices. Once the sale is done, the transaction is deemed complete and final. CheapTickets does not permit any refunds, exchange, or transaction cancellation in case of any date and time changes, or if the concert is cut short midway.
Special features: They allow buyers to use their original tickets for a rescheduled concert. In case the concert is canceled and not rescheduled, the buyer is eligible for a complete refund minus any shipping fee incurred.
Get buying: www.cheaptickets.com
Name: ticketnetwork
The Connecticut-based company began in 2002 and has since become one of the most reputable online sources for buying and selling concert tickets. Since the launch of their website in 2007, the company has been offering 7.5 million+ event tickets per day. Independent sellers have been able to list their tickets on TicketNetwork Online Exchange.
Special features: In order to insure that their buyers are able to shop safely, the website offers a money-back guarantee of 125% in case of failure to deliver by seller, late shipping, cancellation and non-rescheduling of concert, wrong or invalid ticket, etc.
Get buying: www.ticketnetwork.com
Name: VIVIDSEATS
Being the fastest-growing online source for buying and selling concert tickets, VIVIDSEATS was founded in 2001. The tickets for sale on this website are listed by independent as well as professional resellers. Therefore, they are a secondary market that offer tickets at prices that are determined by their resellers based on the demand and availability, which can either be above or below the face value of the actual ticket. Secondly, all orders for tickets are treated as requests and need to be confirmed by the seller based on the availability of the tickets.
Special features: VIVIDSEATS offers 100% Buyers Guarantee that offers full-service customer care, safety, and security during transaction and maintaining privacy, delivers tickets much before the event, and refunds the buyers in case of cancellation of the event.
Get buying: www.vividseats.com
Name: ticketsnow
This website was founded in 1999 and includes Ticketmaster and Live Nation within its family of websites. As per the ratings of Media Metrix and Alexa, this website is one of the world's favorite and most trusted source for booking premium seats and tickets. They have the largest inventory of secondary market tickets, professional licensed brokers, and independent ticket sellers on the Internet. They guarantee complete refund or substitution of comparable or better tickets in case tickets ordered for are unavailable.
Special features: They also provide customer service that helps track all their orders and ensure absolute privacy and protection to their customers while shopping for concert tickets.
Get buying: www.ticketsnow.com
Name: TICKETCITY
TICKETCITY was founded in 1990 in Austin, Texas. Since then, they have offered tickets for 115,000 events all across the world and served more than 500,000 clients. The TicketCity Guarantee offers valid and authentic tickets only, and ensures safe and secure transactions along with timely delivery of tickets. Their tickets are priced by their suppliers based on the current demand and availability of the tickets. They do not allow cancellation of tickets, and the same has been mentioned in their terms and conditions. Buyers are eligible for a refund in case the concert is canceled and not rescheduled. Their FAQ page answers several pertinent customer questions in detail.
Special features: Customers can contact the website for booking and buying tickets for concerts that are not listed on the site.
Get buying: www.ticketcity.com
Name: gotickets.com
This website has the prestigious Better Business Bureau (BBB) seal, which catapulted the website's credibility and trustworthiness in the global online market. They are also members of the National Association of Ticket Brokers. They also provide their customers with FedEx tracking information so as to help them keep a track of their order.
Special features: Being more than two decades old, gotickets.com continues to sell tickets without any hidden fees, service charges, and with utmost transactional security.
Get buying: www.gotickets.com
Name: Razorgator
Razorgator was founded in 2001 and works in the secondary concert ticket market. Since then, they have served over 1 million customers and sold over 3.5 million tickets for 250,000 events. They too are members of the Better Business Bureau. They are a great source for getting premium seats. They, however, do charge 10% service fee on the ticket price set by the seller.
Special features: Razorgator provides some unique features such as offering interactive seating charts, live customer chat assistance, and prepaid, pre-addressed shipping label that allows sellers to dispatch the tickets to the buyers without paying shipping fees and expediting the process.
Get buying: www.razorgator.com
Name: COAST TO COAST TICKETS
This website sells their tickets above face value or at the original price of the concert ticket. That being said, they also offer premium seats and a huge selection of concerts. Secondly, they charge 18% service fee, which is much higher as compared to other competitors. The seller is charged 10% of the selling price per ticket, which seems reasonable. Unfortunately, buyers cannot print their tickets and have to wait for it to be shipped through FedEx. The website does not offer any gift cards or interactive seating chart.
Special features: From time to time, they offer discounts on their tickets.
Get buying: www.coasttocoasttickets.com
So, the next time your favorite ticket website runs out of tickets to an upcoming concert, you have the option of comparing other websites and choosing the one that offers you the best deal.