3 Ways to Buy Concert Tickets Without Paying Exorbitant Fees

Back in the 1970s, ticket buyers commonly paid a service charge of $0.50 to $0.75 per ticket to attend an event, according to the Hustle. But these days, you can expect to pay considerably higher fees than that when you buy concert tickets through a service like Ticketmaster. And in some cases, the amount you spend on fees can be comparable to the cost of your ticket itself.

If you find that infuriating, you're not alone. But a big part of the problem is that Ticketmaster in particular, which seems to have no problem imposing high fees, dominates the online ticket-selling market. The Hustle reports that between 70% to 80% of major U.S. venues have exclusive contracts with Ticketmaster. That gives it plenty of leeway to charge whatever it wants. 

If you're tired of being hit with ridiculously high fees every time you attend a concert, you should know there may be alternatives to paying them. Here are some you can look at.

1. Use a credit card with great perks to offset higher fees

Your credit card probably won't get you out of paying fees for online ticket purchases. But in some cases, using a specific card at a specific venue might result in a discounted ticket price, which could offset the fees you're charged. At New York's Madison Square Garden, Chase cardholders, for example, sometimes get perks like preferred seating and discounts on tickets.

Also, some credit cards just plain offer great rewards programs. So if you're able to score extra cash back on a ticket purchase, it could help make up for a higher fee you're forced to pay.

2.  Buy your tickets at the box office

Many venues have a good old-fashioned box office you can line up at to buy tickets when they go on sale. If you buy your tickets at the venue hosting a given show, you generally won't face fees -- or at least not the same exorbitant ones Ticketmaster is known for. 

Of course, this won't work in every situation. If tickets to a show you want to see go on sale at 10 a.m. and you're required to be at your desk at work at that time, then your best and only option may be to sneak onto Ticketmaster and attempt to score some tickets online. But if you're buying tickets to an event that isn't going to sell out within an hour, and one with general admission so you don't have to worry about seating, then heading over to the box office could be a real money-saving move.

3. Buy your tickets from a seller directly

Sometimes, people buy concert tickets for personal use only to not be able to attend the shows they were hoping to. When this happens, they'll often attempt to sell their tickets using sites like StubHub which, like Ticketmaster, can impose very high fees. 

But sometimes, a seller will first try to unload their tickets via social media. So if there's a local show you're looking to attend, it could pay to check your town's Facebook page and see if anyone is selling tickets for it fee-free.

It's really a shame that the cost of attending a concert has gotten to be so expensive due to the fees involved. But if you're willing to make the effort, you might manage to find ways to avoid those fees -- and open the door to seeing more of the acts you love.