Why Ticket Presales Matter (And Why You Need the Right Tools)
Google isn’t telling you about the hidden tools ticket brokers use
I’ve been in the ticketing game long enough to know the difference between wishful thinking and real strategy. Fans think the “general onsale” is the big moment. Wrong. By then, the best seats are gone, the cheapest price points are gone, and you’re fighting over leftovers. Premium Platinum Demand and Hype driven madness.
The truth is simple: presales are the real market. If you care about getting good seats—or making money reselling—you need to take presales seriously.
Presales: Where the Real Action Happens
Every time an artist announces a tour, a flood of presales follow. Credit card companies, fan clubs, radio stations, and promoters all want their cut. Venues love it, because they move prime inventory before the general public even sees the map.
So if you’re sitting around Googling “presale code for Taylor Swift” or refreshing Twitter, you’re already behind. Those codes are usually expired, wrong, or spread so widely that they’re useless by the time you try them. By the time you figure it out, the inventory is gone.
Meanwhile, the people who know what they’re doing are already inside presales buying the best seats at face value.
Venue Presales: The Sleeper Advantage
One of the most overlooked opportunities is the venue presale. These are usually offered to people on a venue’s mailing list or through local promotions. The codes aren’t always shouted from the rooftops, but the access is real—and often includes some of the sweetest seating in the building.
For resellers, venue presales can be a goldmine. The venues often hold back prime sections to reward loyal customers, and those sections translate into high-demand resale inventory. Whether it’s lower bowl seats, VIP packages, or club access, venue presales consistently deliver the kind of tickets that move fast on the secondary market.
Artist Presales: Direct From the Source
Artist presales are another gem. Fan clubs, newsletters, and official artist channels often hand out codes that unlock choice seats—sometimes better than what shows up in a credit card or promoter presale. Why? Because artists want their most loyal fans front and center.
If you’re in the resale game, those artist-held tickets are perfect inventory. Fans who miss the presale will happily pay a premium later, especially for floor or front-section seats. If you’re buying for yourself, these presales are often the difference between sitting in the rafters or right by the stage.
The Right Tools Make All the Difference
Here’s the part most people miss: you don’t need to waste hours chasing codes. The tools are out there, and they’re cheap compared to what you stand to gain.
- Presale.Codes – $10/year. Straightforward and reliable. You log in, get the codes, and buy early. No noise, no nonsense. For fans or casual resellers, this is the single easiest way to get in the game.
- Box Office Fox – $99/year. This is for the serious operators. Along with codes, you get market data, venue insights, and tools to evaluate which shows will move and which won’t. If you’re reselling, this kind of intelligence is the difference between a profitable season and a string of bad buys.
I don’t waste time searching or scrolling. I use both. Presale.Codes gives me the fastest path to access. Box Office Fox gives me the depth of research to make smart moves.
Why Resellers Can’t Afford to Skip Presales
Let’s be blunt: if you’re buying tickets to flip them later, presales are non-negotiable.
Buy a pair of floor seats at face value during a presale, and you’ve got an asset that can double or triple when general onsale dries up. Miss that window, and you’re competing with every other reseller in the aftermarket—driving your margin down to nothing.
This isn’t theory. It’s the hard reality of the ticket business. Presales are where profit margins are created. Everything after that is just fighting for scraps.
Stop Overthinking, Start Winning
I hear people say they “don’t want to pay” for presale services. Then they spend hours trying to chase down codes on Google or Reddit. That’s time wasted—and money left on the table.
- Ten bucks for Presale.Codes is nothing. You’ll make that back on your first successful flip.
- Ninety-nine bucks for Box Office Fox is nothing if you’re serious about reselling. The research tools alone will save you from making bad buys that could cost you hundreds.
You either value your time, or you don’t.
Bottom Line
Presales are the first inning—and most of the game is decided right there. If you’re not in, you’re behind.
- Use Presale.Codes ($10/year) if you want fast, reliable access to presale passwords.
- Use Box Office Fox ($99/year) if you’re serious about buying and reselling tickets with intelligence.
I don’t waste time with Google searches, and I don’t dick around on social media hoping for a freebie code. I use the tools that get the job done. If you want good tickets—or profitable flips—you should too and concentrate on choosing events with goof resale potential.
Presales are everything. Don’t miss them.