Searching the internet for great deals can be tiresome. I know because I share your pain. I’m always looking for great bargains on electronics, and sometimes I just quit and move on. Cheap tickets are available, you just need to know how to locate them.
Locating the cheapest tickets online is not always easy. There are a couple of great deal hunters web sites available like SeatGeek, but their inventory is limited. Sometimes these savy search engines do not have access to most of the seats available on the secondary ticket market.
For example, StubHub has over 1,000 tickets available for the Atlanta Braves vs. Seattle Mariners game on Wednesday, June 4. Yet, SeatGeek only lists a few hundred. I am a frequent user of SeatGeek because their algoriethm is unique and I enjoy seeing how they rate deals. They are great at what they do, but supply is limited.
So how do you find the best deals on seats?
I encourage clients to build a relationship with their local broker. The National Association of Ticket Brokers has a list of all members in your area. Give the tool a chance and see what you discover. Sometimes, the companies in your area have exclusive contacts at nearby venues.
Once you find the tickets that you like, you can save tons of money by eliminating the middle man. Enter enterprise brokers and large fan exchanges.
Large brokers deal with millions of customers and you’ll likely end up in an ocean of clients. They process your order and move along. Some of these companies provide excellent customer service, while others just want to make a sale.
The latest marketing shtick in the secondary ticket industry is, “no service fees.” What these web sites really should be saying is, instead of adding a minimal processing price, they build-in a 30% service fee into the price of the ticket!
You end up paying a pretty penny for your tickets – after you’re misled to believe that you received an amazing deal. Next time, I encourage you to shop around on web sites to compare prices. While some sites may have eliminated fees, others offer different perks. Find out what makes the most sense for your wallet.
Recap
- If you want great deals on tickets and are not familiar with a local broker, visit the NATB site to find a local member.
- Then, visit the companies’ website and see what tickets they’re offering.
- Compare prices to other web sites.
- Make it happen!
Whatever route you take, grab your seats. There are so many places that brokers list their tickets. So once you find a great deal, order the tickets before they sell somewhere else.
