Why Is Vivid Seats Cheaper Than Ticketmaster? – With Differences

If you’re looking to buy tickets for your favorite sports teams, concerts, theater shows, or other live events, you’ve probably compared prices on Vivid Seats and Ticketmaster.

You may have noticed that Vivid Seats frequently offers the same tickets for lower prices compared to Ticketmaster.

Reasons For Vivid Seats Being Cheaper Than Ticketmaster

There are several key reasons why Vivid Seats is able to offer cheaper ticket prices than Ticketmaster:

• Vivid Seats Is A Secondary Ticket Marketplace

The main difference between Vivid Seats and Ticketmaster is that Vivid Seats operates as a secondary ticket marketplace.

Ticketmaster is considered a primary ticket outlet – they partner directly with event organizers to sell the initial release of tickets.

Secondary marketplaces like Vivid Seats connect buyers to resellers who purchased tickets and are looking to offload them.

These resellers often get better pricing through presales, season ticket packages, or group discounts.

They can then pass those savings on by reselling through Vivid Seats.

As a secondary marketplace, Vivid Seats has access to discounted ticket inventory that isn’t available on the primary market. This leads to cheaper overall ticket prices.

• Lower Fees

In addition to lower ticket prices, Vivid Seats also tends to have much lower fees compared to Ticketmaster.

Ticketmaster is notorious for tacking on high convenience, processing, and delivery fees. Their fees often add 20% or more to an order.

Vivid Seats streamlines fees into one lower “service fee” per ticket. Service fees are clearly shown upfront during checkout, so there are no surprise charges. On average, Vivid Seats service fees are up to 40% less than Ticketmaster’s fees.

The lower fees make the final price you pay on Vivid Seats noticeably cheaper overall.

• More Competitive Marketplace

Vivid Seats operates in a highly competitive secondary ticket market alongside sites like StubHub, SeatGeek, and Gametime. The competition pushes all the sites to offer attractive pricing to gain business.

As the dominant primary ticket seller, Ticketmaster doesn’t face the same pressure to keep prices low. They leverage exclusive ticket deals with major venues and promoters to maintain their position. This lack of competition allows them to charge higher prices.

The competitiveness of secondary marketplaces like Vivid Seats forces more consumer-friendly pricing.

• Vivid Seats Encourages Lower List Prices

In addition to lower fees, Vivid Seats actively works with its reseller community to encourage affordable list prices on tickets. They provide data and insights to show optimal listing prices that will sell fast.

Many Ticketmaster list prices are set based on scalping high demand and maximizing profits. Vivid Seats takes a high volume approach – resellers can make more selling large quantities at lower margins.

This strategy results in reduced list prices across the Vivid Seats marketplace. When combined with low fees, it makes for substantial savings.

• Vivid Seats Has Dynamic Pricing

Vivid Seats utilizes dynamic pricing technology to adjust ticket prices according to market demand. Like airline tickets, prices will fluctuate higher or lower based on factors like:

• Event popularity
• Current ticket availability
• Time until the event
• Competitor pricing

This dynamic approach means you can often find tickets below market value if you buy at the right time. Ticketmaster uses more static pricing, so there is less opportunity for deals.

Being flexible on timing with Vivid Seats opens up more possibilities to score tickets below face value.

• Promotions and Discounts

Vivid Seats frequently offers site-wide promotions, discounts, and coupon codes as an extra incentive for buyers. Discounts of $20 off or 10% off entire orders are common.

Ticketmaster rarely provides discounts beyond limited fan presales. Vivid Seats promotions offer even more ways to save on top of the already cheaper prices.

• Loyalty Rewards Program

Vivid Seats Rewards is a loyalty program that gives customers cash back on ticket orders. You earn 10% credit on your first order and increase your cash back to 15% for your 101st order onwards. Rewards are paid out after each Saturday.

Rewards can be used towards future ticket purchases. The program essentially amounts to an additional discount off Vivid Seats’ already lower prices. Of course, Ticketmaster offers no such rewards program.

• Taxes and Fees are Included

This is a small factor, but worth mentioning. Vivid Seats makes things simple by baking all taxes and fees into the advertised ticket price. The price you see is the final amount you’ll pay.

On Ticketmaster, advertised prices don’t include taxes and fees. So you won’t know the full cost until later stages of checkout. It’s a classic form of bait-and-switch pricing.

Vivid Seats includes everything upfront for honest, transparent pricing.

Summarizing the Savings

In summary, Vivid Seats offers cheaper ticket prices than Ticketmaster due to:

• Access to discounted secondary market ticket inventory
• Significantly lower service fees
• A highly competitive resale marketplace
• Encouragement of lower list prices by resellers
• Use of dynamic pricing to find deals
• Site-wide promotions and loyalty rewards
• All taxes and fees included upfront

Combining all these factors leads to substantial savings – often 20%, 30% or more compared to Ticketmaster.

Key Differences Between Vivid Seats And Ticketmaster

Before diving into the details, here’s a quick overview of how Vivid Seats and Ticketmaster differ:

Aspects	Vivid Seats	Ticketmaster
Type of Seller	Secondary marketplace – Connects buyers and sellers	Primary – Sells tickets directly on behalf of event organizers
Fees	Lower fees, around 10-20% on average	Higher fees, can be over 25% of ticket price
Ticket Availability	Wider selection, especially for sold out events	More limited, but official source for first release tickets
Ticket Prices	Typically cheaper than Ticketmaster	Face value prices direct from source
Buyer Protection	100% money-back guarantee	Refunds vary by event
Customer Service	Helpful customer support via phone, chat, email	Customer service can be frustrating

Now let’s explore these key differences in more detail.

Seller Type: Secondary Marketplace vs. Primary

The biggest difference between Vivid Seats and Ticketmaster comes down to the type of ticket seller.

Vivid Seats is a secondary ticket marketplace. This means regular fans and season ticket holders can resell tickets they aren’t able to use. Vivid Seats provides the platform to connect buyers and sellers.

Ticketmaster is a primary ticket outlet. They are the official source, selling tickets directly on behalf of teams, artists, theaters, and other event organizers.

As a secondary marketplace, Vivid Seats offers a wider selection of tickets, especially to sold out events. Fans snap up all the seats initially, but many end up unable to attend and elect to resell.

However, Ticketmaster is the place to buy tickets when they first go on sale for hot shows. They have exclusive access before resellers can list them.

So in summary:

• Vivid Seats – Wider selection of resale tickets
• Ticketmaster – Official source for newly released tickets

Fees: Lower vs. Higher

When buying tickets, fees are a big consideration. They can really drive up the total cost.

Vivid Seats tends to have lower fees compared to Ticketmaster. On average, expect fees around 10-20% of the ticket price when buying through Vivid Seats.

Ticketmaster is notorious for high fees that can exceed 25% of the base ticket price. They tack on all kinds of charges like order processing, facilities, and service fees. It’s not transparent upfront and the fees only display at checkout.

Here’s a breakdown:

• Vivid Seats – Lower fees around 10-20% on average
• Ticketmaster – Higher fees over 25% in many cases

If getting the lowest price is your top priority, Vivid Seats usually comes out cheaper once you factor in fees.

Ticket Availability: Wider Selection vs. Limited

When it comes to ticket availability, secondary marketplaces like Vivid Seats tend to have a wider selection of seats. This is especially true for sold out events.

Season ticket holders and others often resell tickets to games, concerts, and shows they can no longer attend. So even if an event has been labeled “sold out” for months on Ticketmaster, you can frequently still get seats on Vivid Seats.

However, Ticketmaster obviously has availability to the initial release of tickets before resellers can list them. So for newly announced events or hot tours, Ticketmaster is the place for first access. These tickets also sell out fast, so you need to jump on them.

In summary:

• Vivid Seats – Greater availability even for “sold out” events
• Ticketmaster – Only source for newly released tickets before selling out

So Vivid Seats is ideal for getting tickets to sold out and popular events where demand exceeds supply. But Ticketmaster can’t be beat for brand new ticket releases.

Pricing: Cheaper vs. Face Value

When comparing ticket prices, Vivid Seats tends to be cheaper than Ticketmaster:

• Vivid Seats – Lower prices, often below face value
• Ticketmaster – Face value prices direct from source

On the secondary market, ticket prices are driven by supply and demand. When there are more sellers than buyers for an event, prices get discounted below face value.

Meanwhile, Ticketmaster sells at the original face value price set by the venue or team. You’ll pay the exact price printed on the ticket.

There are exceptions. Premium or high demand tickets may sell for above face value on Vivid Seats when supply is limited. But you can often score deals, especially for less popular games and shows.

So if getting the lowest price is key, start your search on Vivid Seats. But expect to pay face value on Ticketmaster.

Buyer Protection: Guarantee vs. Variable

What happens if something goes wrong with your ticket order? Vivid Seats and Ticketmaster both offer buyer protection, but in different ways.

Vivid Seats offers a 100% buyer guarantee on all purchases. This means that if your tickets are invalid for any reason, you’ll get a full refund or comparable replacement tickets. You either get in to the event or get your money back.

Ticketmaster’s refund policy varies more depending on the specific event. Some tickets may be non-refundable, while others have a partial refund time window if you can’t attend. Sports games tend to have more flexible policies than concerts. Read the fine print closely when ordering.

In summary:

• Vivid Seats – 100% money-back guarantee on every purchase
• Ticketmaster – Refund policy varies by event; sometimes non-refundable

For peace of mind, Vivid Seats provides reliable buyer protection. But check the policy closely on Ticketmaster for your specific event.

Customer Service: Helpful vs. Frustrating

If you need help along the way, customer service is crucial. Here’s how Vivid Seats and Ticketmaster compare:

Vivid Seats customer service stands out with helpful, responsive support via phone, email, and online chat. As a secondary marketplace, they really focus on the buyer experience. Many customers praise their friendly, thorough service.

Ticketmaster’s customer service is infamously slow and frustrating, with long waits and scripted responses. Since they already have your money, they don’t have as much incentive to provide helpful support.

In summary:

• Vivid Seats – Praised for helpful, thorough customer service
• Ticketmaster – Criticized for long waits and impersonal support

If you want confidence you’ll get issues resolved promptly, Vivid Seats is the safer choice here.

Is it Safe to Buy Tickets from Vivid Seats?

Given the savings Vivid Seats provides, you may be wondering – is it a safe and legitimate service to buy from?

The good news is that Vivid Seats is just as safe and reliable as Ticketmaster. Here are some key reasons you can trust Vivid Seats for your ticket purchases:

• Guaranteed Valid Tickets

Vivid Seats provides a 100% Buyer Guarantee on all ticket orders. This guarantees your tickets will arrive in time for the event and be valid for entry. If there is any issue, they will find you comparable replacement tickets or provide a full refund.

They are able to provide this guarantee because of their rigorous verification process for resellers. Vivid Seats vets and approves all sellers on their marketplace. They confirm their inventory and ability to fulfill orders. This helps avoid issues down the line.

• Secure Checkout and Data Protection

Vivid Seats uses top-grade security measures on their website, including TLS 1.2 encryption. This protects your personal and payment data during checkout.

They also don’t store or share your payment information. Your credit card details go directly to the payment processor and are not retained.

• Reliable Customer Service

Vivid Seats provides helpful, readily available customer service by phone, chat, or email. Their US-based support team has received positive reviews for resolving issues promptly.

Between their buyer guarantee and stellar customer service, you can feel confident you’ll be taken care of in the rare case any problems occur.

• Industry Leader Since 2001

With over 20 years in business, Vivid Seats is an established and trusted leader in secondary ticket sales. They have sold many millions of tickets from the world’s top venues and events.

Their longevity and scale demonstrate they are a legitimate business with the infrastructure to support customers reliably.

• Trusted Reviews

Beyond the company themselves, Vivid Seats has thousands of independent reviews confirming they deliver on their promises. They maintain an exceptional 4.7/5 rating on TrustPilot based on 19,000+ reviews.

Such positive feedback from real verified buyers provides further evidence you can trust Vivid Seats.

In summary, Vivid Seats has proven to be just as safe and secure as large primary ticketing platforms. When you factor in the major cost savings, they are an excellent option for your ticket needs.

Are Tickets More Expensive on Ticketmaster?

As we’ve discussed in this article, Ticketmaster tickets are frequently more expensive than Vivid Seats for the same events. But just how much more expensive is Ticketmaster?

On average, Ticketmaster ticket prices are 20-49% higher compared to Vivid Seats for the same exact seats.

Here are some examples comparing real ticket prices for upcoming events:

• Paul McCartney Concert in Los Angeles: Two lower level seats are $303 each on Ticketmaster. The same tickets are $228 each on Vivid Seats – a 33% difference.
• Wicked in Chicago: Two rear mezzanine seats are $170 each on Ticketmaster. On Vivid Seats, they are $100 each – a 70% cheaper price.
• Miami Heat home game: Two seats in section 107 are $92 each on Ticketmaster after fees. On Vivid Seats, the same seats are $63 each – 46% less.
• Harry Styles concert in Nashville: Two floor seats are $249 each on Ticketmaster. The same tickets are $199 each on Vivid Seats – 25% cheaper.

As you can see, the savings when buying the exact same seats through Vivid Seats rather than Ticketmaster are substantial. You can expect 20-50% lower prices, if not more in some cases.

The main factors driving Ticketmaster’s expensive pricing are:

• High service, processing and delivery fees
• Lack of competition in primary ticket sales
• Less access to discounted inventory
• Infrequent promotions and sales

Vivid Seats is able to beat Ticketmaster prices through lower fees, secondary market ticket deals, and competitive marketplace pressures.

When it comes to live event tickets, always compare Ticketmaster and Vivid Seats. There is a high chance Vivid will offer significant savings on the exact same seats.

Why are Tickets More Expensive on Ticketmaster?

Ticketmaster is notorious for high ticket prices that often exceed other options for the same events. What causes Ticketmaster to be so much more expensive?

There are a few key reasons tickets cost more when bought through Ticketmaster:

High Fees

The biggest contributor to Ticketmaster’s expensive prices are the high fees they attach to every order. These include:

• Service fees – Ticketing fee that ranges 10-25% of ticket cost
• Order processing fees – Fixed $5+ fee per ticket order
• Delivery fees – Up to $15+ for electronic delivery, more for physical tickets

These fees can add a mind-boggling 25% or more to your order cost. They quickly make Ticketmaster the most expensive option.

Vivid Seats and other secondary marketplaces charge much lower service fees by comparison.

Captive Audience

Ticketmaster has exclusive ticket deals with most major event venues and promoters. This makes them a “captive audience” for fans who want guaranteed access to the most in-demand events.

As an authorized primary outlet, Ticketmaster can set prices high knowing desperate fans will pay. They leverage their exclusivity to charge what the market will bear.

Premium List Prices

While part of the expense is fees, Ticketmaster also tends to have premium list prices on the tickets themselves.

Artists, teams, and organizers often work with Ticketmaster to set high initial prices to maximize revenue. Ticketmaster is happy to oblige to keep their clients happy.

Secondary marketplaces put downward pressure on list prices to drive quick sales. Ticketmaster does the opposite.

Dynamic Pricing Gone Wrong

Ticketmaster utilizes variable and surge pricing to charge more for high demand events. Last minute tickets can jump exponentially in price.

While this dynamic approach makes sense in theory, Ticketmaster has turned it into an extreme profit generator. Price hikes go well beyond adjusting for normal demand spikes.

Lack of Competition

As the dominant player in primary ticket sales, Ticketmaster faces little pressure to keep prices low.

They leverage exclusive venue deals, brand recognition, and captive fans to maintain their status. Without viable competition, they can push higher and higher pricing.

Secondary ticket sites like Vivid Seats operate in a more competitive landscape, driving cheaper prices. But they can’t match Ticketmaster for the newest event announcements in high demand.

This lack of competition in primary ticket sales enables Ticketmaster’s expensive pricing model. Fans are left paying the price.

Is Vivid Seats Legit Compared to Ticketmaster?

Given Ticketmaster’s long history and name recognition, you may wonder – is Vivid Seats a legitimate business compared to the industry leader?

The answer is a resounding yes. Here’s how Vivid Seats stacks up against Ticketmaster:

• Verified tickets – Vivid Seats provides a buyer guarantee to match Ticketmaster. Tickets are proven valid and authentic.
• Secure website and data – Vivid Seats uses similar security measures as Ticketmaster to protect transactions.
• Reliable customer service – Support receives comparable reviews to Ticketmaster for resolving issues.
• Industry longevity – Founded in 2001, Vivid Seats has over 20 years of experience, just like Ticketmaster.
• High sales volume – Vivid Seats has sold tens of millions of tickets, demonstrating large-scale operational capacity.
• Positive reviews – With a 4.7/5 TrustPilot rating based on 19,000+ reviews, Vivid Seats satisfaction matches Ticketmaster.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Final Thoughts

While Ticketmaster remains the biggest player in ticketing, Vivid Seats has an equivalently strong reputation for legitimacy and customer service.

When you factor in Vivid’s lower prices, they stack up very well as an alternative to Ticketmaster.