I absolutely want to go see Coldplay this fall in Montreal but I missed the first sale. Are there any reliable resale sites or tricks to get good seats without paying triple the price? I'm on a tight budget so I don't want to get scammed on Kijiji or stuff like that.
Ticketmaster and the official venue websites (like the Arena or whatever venue is hosting the concert) often have resale sections where sellers have to stick to a price cap - that's your best bet to avoid getting ripped off. Otherwise, check out StubHub or Vivid Seats, which are more reputable resale platforms than Kijiji, even though prices are usually higher on those. Honestly, for an artist like Coldplay in the fall, you should also check if there aren't a few seats left in the second-to-last rows in the regular sale - sometimes some show up a few days before the show when people change their orders.
For resales, it's true that official platforms like the one integrated into Ticketmaster offer some protection with price caps, but honestly that doesn't guarantee you the best deals. The thing is, the tickets that show up there disappear super fast, and often there's not much that's really interesting since people rarely sell at the floor price. If you really want to avoid getting ripped off, stay suspicious of regular classified ads - it's too easy to get scammed with fake tickets or transfers that don't go through.
What I recommend is checking directly with the venue hosting the concert in Montreal to see if it has its own resale platform (some venues have internal systems). Also, set up notifications on good resale sites in case new listings pop up, but be quick - good seats go in minutes. And honestly, don't just check VIP seats or front rows that cost a fortune: regular seats in a good spot in the center or in the mezzanine are often just as nice and way cheaper.
I tried to snag tickets for something similar last year and honestly, the official resale sites are still your best bet - you know, the ones built right into the ticketing platforms - because there's at least a paper trail and buyer protection. People cancel their plans all the time at the last minute, so checking regularly a few days before or even the day before can seriously get you decent seats at face value.
Otherwise, sign up for alerts from the venue directly (like on their website) - sometimes they release late inventory or blocked seats that open up. And if you find something on other platforms, ask for proof of purchase, never do direct transfers, and if it feels sketchy just pass on it 🚩
Try setting up alerts on the resale pages of different Montreal venues (not just Ticketmaster) because sometimes tickets reappear as people cancel, and you can grab something decent before it gets resold at crazy prices. One thing a lot of people forget is to check local Facebook groups for Montreal or Coldplay fan communities - there's often people selling directly without going through resellers, so you can negotiate a more reasonable price while staying safe since you're dealing with someone from the area.
Resale platforms are great, but don't forget you've also got a shot straight from the venues themselves - sometimes they hold onto tickets for cancellations or they pop back up a few days before the show 😊 One thing that works well: hit up the venue's customer service directly and ask if you can get on a waitlist, it's free and nobody thinks to do it. Also, if you follow the Montreal venues' Instagram/X accounts, they often post tickets last-minute or flash promos that you miss on the big sites. And yeah, it takes a bit of stalking but that's usually where you find decent seats without paying triple 🎸
Private resellers on Kijiji or Facebook will cost you a lot, that's true, but also check out the fan clubs or newsletters from Montreal venues - sometimes they offer presales with remaining seats at regular price. Otherwise, Stubhub and SeatGeek are usually more transparent than local classifieds, even if it's not free.
Have you checked out push alerts on the official apps for the venues? I missed a concert a while back and I turned on notifications everywhere - on the venue app, on Ticketmaster, stuff like that. Tickets free up all the time because people cancel or change their plans, and if you catch it quick you can grab decent seats without breaking the bank. Official platforms are really your friend here, unlike Kijiji where you've got no protection and scammers love to hang out.
Official platforms with price caps are nice in theory, but honestly, the good seats disappear fast and your choices get pretty limited. What works better is checking the resale sections regularly on different Montreal venues' sites - not just Ticketmaster - because tickets keep popping back up as people release them. Set push notifications if the platform offers them, or just refresh the page a few times a day during the fall.
One thing nobody really mentioned: call the venue directly where the show's happening. Sometimes they keep tickets in reserve for accessibility issues or last-minute arrangements, and they can point you toward officially released seats. It's not as cool as scoring a good resale ticket at regular price, but it protects you from Kijiji scams and you don't end up paying those inflated resale fees. Avoid unverified third-party sites - verification is your friend when you're watching your budget.
I've already been in your situation and it's really frustrating. The real trick is to check regularly for cancellations - tickets get released constantly because people change their minds or sell their seats through official channels. Turn on notifications on Ticketmaster and on the venue's website directly, not just once. Also, keep an eye out for group deals or presales that might pop up again - sometimes promoters release allocations late. Absolutely avoid Facebook groups or Kijiji unless you know the person in person; that's where you'll really get scammed or end up with fake tickets.
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