The format creates competition, said Sean Pate, a company representative for StubHub, because sellers are unlikely to inflate prices if seats of an equal value are listed for less.
Supply also can push prices down, along with timing.
At StubHub, listings for sellers expire within four days of an event. So, if you wait until a week before the concert, you may be able to pick up discounted tickets from sellers anxious to get rid of their supply.
Meanwhile, tickets that are listed a few months before a concert date tend to be the most expensive. Those tickets are aimed at die-hard fans willing to pay any price, especially for exclusive seats.
*Beware the fees.
Even if competition has helped push down some ticket prices, it is still a good idea to shop around.
Take Neil Diamond tickets, for example. The songwriter is scheduled to perform in St. Paul, Minn., this July as part of his tour. On StubHub, the cheapest tickets were $95 each. The service charge fees for a pair were $19, plus $11.95 for shipping. Grand total: $220.95.
On Ticketmaster, similar seats for the same day are $53 each. The service charge for a pair is $23.90. Standard mail shipping is free. Total cost: $129.90.
Which one do you think is most likely to get you singing "Sweet Caroline"?
yourmoney@tribune.com.
Carolyn Bigda writes for Tribune Media Services.
