| Ticketmaster |
What they're selling: Tickets to numerous arts and sporting events.
Shipping: $1.50 to $2 for regular mail delivery, $10 to $20.50 for UPS deliveries on schedules ranging from second-day air to overnight Saturday delivery. Expect to pay $5 to $7 in service charges per ticket.
Gift wrapping: None.
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Return Policy: Only if event is cancelled or postponed; refunds only processed at local customer service centers.
Discounts: None.
Critique: The site is easy to use, though popular events often require several tries to find the correct number of seats in your price range.
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| TicketWeb |
What they're selling: Tickets to arts and a few sporting events.
Shipping: 75 cents per ticket for regular mail delivery. Add $1 to $2 in service charges; additional surcharges apply to orders placed via phone.
Gift wrapping: None.
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Return Policy: Only if event is cancelled or postponed.
Discounts: None.
Critique: The site is easy to use and provides ample information, including reviews of performers.
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| The Kennedy Center |
What they're selling: Tickets to events at the Kennedy Center
Shipping: $5 handling charge includes postage if purchased more than 10 days before the event; otherwise, tickets are held at the box office.
Gift wrapping: None.
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Return Policy: All sales final, no cancellations or refunds.
Discounts: None.
Critique: An intuitive site with ticket-purchasing info clearly laid out. In-depth descriptions of the productions, including RealAudio excerpts.
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| Smithsonian Associates |
What they're selling: Tickets to events at the Smithsonian Institution.
Shipping: No additional charge.
Gift wrapping: None.
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Return Policy: If event is cancelled or postponed, or if returned tickets are postmarked ten-days before the show date, minus a 25 percent fee.
Discounts: None.
Critique: The site is not particularly intuitive and there's no FAQ page, but it shows ample information on the performers and events.
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| GoTickets.com |
What they're selling: Online ticket broker for hard-to-find and sold-out arts and sporting events.
Shipping: FedEx Letter shipping fee included in ticket price.
Gift wrapping: None.
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Return Policy: : Tickets will be resold on a consignment basis; you will be assessed a service fee of 25 percent of full value.
Discounts: It's a premium service, there are no discounts.
Critique: The site is well organized, divided by region and nature of event. It also prominently displays the Better Business Bureau seal, which is reassuring, given the sheer numbers of ticket brokers doing business (with or without BBB certification) online.
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