Be a savvy concertgoer
It's not even spring yet, but tickets for big summer concerts are going fast.The best way to score a ticket at its face value is to buy them when they are first released. If those tickets are sold out, you'll have to buy them from resellers, commonly called the "secondary market." Websites such as StubHub.com and eBay.com let ticket holders sell unwanted tickets.There are some ways to save a few dollars, even if the show you want is sold out:Get first dibs. If the concert you want to see hasn't begun to sell tickets, check to see if there's a presale. Presales are usually for people who use certain credit cards. The credit card type honored will depend on the artist. Sometimes the presale will let American Express card holders buy tickets early, other times it will be Citi credit cards or MasterCard. Check to see if your credit card company offers presales.Wait it out. If you miss buying tickets when they're first released, be patient. About 48 hours before the concert, sellers start cutting prices to get rid of tickets, says Alison Salcedo, a spokesperson at StubHub.com. Tickets can be emailed to you, or you can pick them up from the venue right before the show.Blocked views. More artists are selling tickets behind the stage to make as much money as possible, says Villanova University economist David Fiorenza. Those seats are often much cheaper than others.Where to buy. If the event you want to attend is sold out, your best bet is to buy tickets from StubHub.com or eBay.com. Both websites have buyer protections that refund your money if the tickets turn out to be fake.-- The Associated PressHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
