Presale Tickets Vs Normal Tickets: Which Is Cheaper?

Presale tickets go on sale before normal tickets are made available to the general public. They aren’t necessarily cheaper or more expensive than regular tickets. But buying them has some advantages, such as securing your seat early, avoiding ticket scalpers, and getting access to exclusive deals or packages. Presale tickets are typically sold to VIPs, loyal customers, as part of a promotion, or to large groups. They’re usually the same price as general access seating. However, whether or not they’re cheaper or more expensive depends on the venue and demand for seating. In some cases, ticket prices may go down or up closer to the event date, so it’s best to be aware of market conditions before buying.

At some venues, presale tickets are the best seats in the house and include special box seating or promotions. Normal ticket prices may increase as the event date gets closer or sells out. Many people buy presale tickets and sell them later for a profit, which is called ticket scalping.

For shows in extremely high demand that sell out quickly, presale tickets are generally cheaper and usually worth it. But it’ could be better to buy tickets at the gate for shows that don’t sell out because prices can drop.

When I want to see a show I don’t think will sell out, I usually wait and buy regular tickets because prices usually come down right before the show. In many cases, I’ve bought tickets for much less than face value on the day of a concert. However, if I know a show will sell out fast, like a Taylor Swift concert or an NFL playoff game, I buy presale tickets whenever I can.

Are Presale Tickets Cheaper?

Whether presale or regular tickets are cheaper depends on the demand, venue, and promotion. At face value, there’s no difference in price between presale and regular tickets. However, if an event sells out quickly, sellers will almost always up their prices and charge more than face value. Presale tickets are usually cheaper than regular tickets if the show is in high demand.

However, for smaller shows that don’t sell out, there usually isn’t a difference, and many regular tickets are cheaper if you buy them on the day of the show at the gate.

Here in New Jersey, no registered ticket broker shall resell or purchase with the intent to resell a ticket for admission to a place of entertainment at a premium over 50% of the price paid to acquire the ticket, plus lawful taxes. This means they can sell a $100 ticket to a show for $150 + taxes.

If you compare equal-quality seats, there’s no difference in the face ticket value price between a regular and a presale ticket. The only difference is that presale tickets go on sale before regular tickets, so you have a better chance of getting a good seat and a ticket before they sell out.

Here in NJ and NY, about 50% of the time presale tickets to events, games, shows, and concerts are cheaper because hot shows sell out in minutes. Normal tickets are either sold by protomers for high prices or by scalpers.

But the other 50% of the time, you can buy tickets for under face value at the gate the day of the event.

Whether or not presale tickets end up being cheaper depends on the event, performer, venue, promotion, and ultimately the demand.

Are Presale Tickets More Expensive?

Presale tickets can be more expensive if the event doesn’t sell out or sells badly. In many cases, you can buy tickets for less than face value on the day of a show if it doesn’t sell out. But there’s a risk in waiting for a better price because you could end up with a bad seat.

For a hot event like a Taylor Swift concert or an NFL playoff game, presale tickets are usually cheaper. Significant events and concerts sell out fast, and regular tickets typically sell for higher than face value.

Generally, if I can buy presale tickets at face value to a concert, game, show, or event I want to see, I usually do. Here in New Jersey, regular tickets almost always sell out in minutes and cost over face value.

Are Presale Tickets Worth It?

The demand for presale tickets can be very high for top events, potentially making them limited and hard to get. The price of a pre-sale ticket varies based on the demand for the ticket, the venue, and the event. If you can get a presale ticket for a hot show at face value, it’s usually worth it if the show sells out, especially if you’re getting a good seat.

A presale ticket is worth it if you get a great seat at face value before the regular tickets are sold. Many concerts sell out in minutes which causes ticket prices to go up. In this case, presale tickets are worth it.

The event sponsor, artist, promoter, or venue usually sends a password and a secure link to select groups or individuals with an offer to buy presale tickets. These could include fan club members, past ticket buyers, or a large company that buys lots of tickets.

Being offered a ticket presale doesn’t guarantee you a ticket. Generally, presale tickets are offered to more people than there are tickets, so you usually have to act fast. If presale tickets sell out before you buy yours, you’ll have to buy regular tickets when they become available.

There are many benefits to buying a presale ticket.

No waiting in line.
Can buy the ticket at face value.
Avoid scalpers.
Ticket prices usually increase if a show is in high demand.

The allocation of seats for presale tickets is often different from general tickets. At many venues, presale tickets are the best seats and may include special box access, but they don’t necessarily guarantee a great seat. It all depends on which presale ticket you buy and the venue.

Are Presale Tickets Better Seats?

Whether or not presale tickets are better seats depends on the event, promoter, and venue. Most venues and promoters offer the very best seats to VIPs and big companies that then sell them as part of a promotion or sell them away to select customers. These seats can often include special box access. However, not all the best seats are sold presale. You can get fantastic seats at a show by buying a normal ticket. However, there’s usually more competition which makes them harder to get.

In my experience, the best seats are sold presale and easier to get if you’re on the right list. I recommend joining the mailing list of venues, promoters, and official fan clubs and using credit cards that provide presale tickets.

Chances are, if you’re on a bunch of lists, someone will have a good seat available for presale before tickets are sold to the general public. Joining a bunch of mailing lists is worth it because you can always turn down the presale ticket offer and not buy. However, be prepared to receive constant offers by email.

What Are Presale Tickets?

Presale tickets are sold during a special ticket sales round before regular tickets are available to the general public. Presales are usually offered to special groups of customers, such as fan club members, previous ticket purchasers, or customers of large companies. Presale tickets are sold before general tickets and are allocated to special groups of VIPs or loyal customers. To participate in a presale, eligible customers usually receive an email with a password or an access link.

Presale tickets are bought before they’re available to the general public. However, this does not make them more or less expensive than regular tickets. In many cases, they’re the exact same price. Pricing depends on the venue and demand.

The benefit to buying presale tickets for an in-demand show is that you can get them before tickets sell out and for face value. As an event gets closer and sells out to the public, ticket prices generally get much higher.

Presale tickets are usually cheaper if the show sells out and is in high demand.
Presale tickets can be more expensive if a show doesn’t sell out and prices fall before the show.

Ticketmaster ticket presales allow fans with codes to buy tickets before the general public. However, a code doesn’t guarantee you a ticket. Presale codes are always entered before you choose your tickets, and tickets can sell out faster than you can input your code.

Whether or not presale tickets are worth it depends on the show. If you can buy Super Bowl tickets presale at face value, they’re probably worth it. The game will likely sell out in minutes, increasing ticket prices.

Difference Between Buying Normal Vs Presale Tickets

A presale ticket is a ticket sold to a concert or event before being available to the general public. Typically they’re sold by the venue, a company, or the promoter. Standard tickets are regular tickets sold to the general public as soon as tickets to the event go on sale.

Normal and presale tickets are exactly the same; the only difference is when they go on sale and who can buy them. Anyone can buy a normal ticket to a concert or event, but only eligible people can buy presale tickets.

	Presale Tickets	Normal Tickets
Availability	VIPs, groups, companies, past customers, registered individuals	General Public
Timing	Presale tickets go on sale before normal tickets are available to the public	On the release date
Price	Usually sold at face value	Can be sold for a range of prices
Quality	At many venues, presale tickets are the best seating available	A range of seating options
How To Buy	Bought online through a secure link and password.	Bought online or the event venue

The price of presale tickets can be lower than normal tickets if the event is in high demand and seats sell out quickly. However, if the event doesn’t sell out, you can usually get better prices at the gate on the day of the event.

Buying a presale ticket gives you access to ticket sales before the release date so you can get a good seat and price before they sell out. In comparison, normal tickets can only be purchased on the specified release date and can sell out quickly, which can drive up the price.

Are Presale Ticket Seats Better?

Presale ticket seats are seats sold before the release date. In many cases, venues and promoters sell the best seats to presale customers, not the general public. This means you can buy the best seats, usually for face ticket value. But buying a presale ticket doesn’t guarantee you’ll get better seats closer to the stage. Some presale tickets are better than others, and prices will vary just like regular tickets. However, since you’ll have access to tickets before the general public, there’s a better chance of getting a good seat at a fair price than waiting until they go on sale.

As a general rule, I buy my concert and event tickets presale when I think a show will sell out and I want a particular seat.
I don’t always buy my ticket presale if I don’t care about where I sit. Sometimes I prefer a lawn seat which is usually easy to get.

For example, if you can get Taylor Swift or Justin Bieber tickets on presale and at face value, I’d definitely buy them. The shows generally sell out in minutes, and tickets sell for well over face value. In this case, presale ticket seats are definitely better.

Overall, I think presale ticket seats are better. You can pick your seat and buy a ticket before the general public, so there’s less competition for the best seats.

Normal Tickets vs. Presale Tickets: Which Is Cheaper?

Whether presale or regular tickets is cheaper depends on the demand, venue, and promotion. At face value, there’s no difference in price between presale and regular tickets. However, if an event sells out quickly and there’s high demand, sellers will almost always up their prices and charge more than face value.

Here in New Jersey, no registered ticket broker shall resell or purchase with the intent to resell a ticket for admission to a place of entertainment at a premium in excess of 50% of the price paid to acquire the ticket, plus lawful taxes. This means they can still sell a $100 ticket to a show for $150 + taxes.

Since many venues and promoters sell their best seats to VIPs and large companies, presale tickets tend to be a little more expensive at face value than regular tickets because the seats are better. However, if you compare equal-quality seats, there’s no difference in face value price between a regular and a presale ticket.

How To Find Presale Ticket Seats?

The best way to find presale ticket seats is by registering with each venue or promoter. Once you register and join the email list, you’ll receive emails instructing you when presales will be available for every show. Once they go on sale, you’ll be emailed a code and a link that you can click to buy your tickets.

In addition to venues and promoters, you can also join fan clubs or gain access to presale tickets through various companies, social media platforms, and companies.

Venue Presale Tickets

Many presale tickets are sold by the venue hosting the event. The link to buy tickets will typically be emailed to you, which takes you directly to the presale offer. Sign up for their mailing list to buy presale tickets from a venue. It’s usually located on their website.

For example, I get presale ticket offers from Madison Square Garden because I’m on the mailing list.
To receive venue presale ticket offers, you must sign up for each venue individually.

Signing up for presale ticket offers at your favorite venues is quick and easy to do. You’ll receive offers for any shows they have presale tickets available for. However, expect to get lots of other email offers too.

Promoter Presale Tickets

Promoters like Metropolis Music handle booking, marketing, ticketing, production, and accounting, including selling presale tickets. To become eligible for presale tickets sold by a promoter, join their mailing list or register on the promoter’s website.

Each promoter has their own presale tickets, so you have to register with each one individually.
Once you’ve registered to the Metropolis website, log in when presale tickets are available to buy them. Links will be emailed to you when they’re on sale.

Buying presale tickets from promoters is a great way to get good seats for hot shows at face value. However, be prepared to receive lots of promotional emails as well as notifications when tickets go on sale.

Company Presale Tickets

Many companies, such as American Express, offer their customers presale tickets to events and concerts as part of their membership benefits plan. Company presale tickets are exclusive deals available to customers only and are often restricted even further to membership tiers. For example, you may have to be a gold or platinum tier member to receive certain offers from a company.

Fan Clubs

Many fan clubs provide access to exclusive content and presale ticket to their members. An artist’s official fan club provides fans with opportunities to participate in giveaways and other contests. You may also get a chance to acquire presale codes for tickets to shows and events.

To join an official fan club, go to the applicable website and register. You’ll; receive offers and promotions like access to ticket presales by email.

Social Media Platforms

Follow your favorite artists on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to stay informed about their current events and concerts. Look out for information on presale codes for upcoming events. Most big shows, performers, promotions, and venues will let fans know when tickets will go on sale via social media. I’ve been to a bunch of shows with presale tickets I got by following artists I like on Facebook.

Credit Cards

Many Credit Card companies provide customers with special deals on tickets and events just for being a member. Go to your credit card company’s website and opt-in to receive special deals on presale tickets. A fantastic credit card company for promotions like this is American Express. They send me offers with links to buy presale tickets all the time.

Summary: Presale Tickets Vs. Normal Tickets: Which Is Cheaper?

At some venues, presale tickets are the best seats in the house and include special box seating or promotions. Normal ticket prices may increase as the event date gets closer or sells out. Many people buy presale tickets and sell them later for a profit, which is called ticket scalping.
For shows in extremely high demand that sell out quickly, presale tickets are generally cheaper and usually worth it. But it’ could be better to buy tickets at the gate for shows that don’t sell out because prices can drop.

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