This weekend I found myself standing in line outside the Bryce Jordan Center, attempting to get tickets to see Bruce Springsteen.  The Boss has been on my bucket list since I first heard Born In the USA when I was in high school.  And now he’s coming to State College and I have enough money to buy nosebleed tickets, so I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss this opportunity.

The problem with concerts in State College is that the cheap seats tend to sell out.  Sometimes very quickly.  I wanted to make sure I pursued all available options for ticket purchase.  So I participated in the wristband lottery for a right to stand in line at the BJC.  But when the number called to start the line put me near the back, I was prepared for that.  When the ticket sale started at 10 am, I started working the Ticketmaster app on my smartphone.  Turns out I was able to get tickets through my phone right away, so I stood in the cold for no reason (other than the amusement of the whole adventure—which was quite worthwhile).  The folks standing in line right behind me watched in amazement as I secured my tickets online and left them standing there, hoping.

The reality is that it’s always best to explore more than one option.  If you’re making a purchase of any sort, you want to make sure that you do your research.  Check prices at more than one store.  Read reviews to make sure you’re getting the best whatever it is that you’re buying (within your price range).  If you need a new coffee maker, for example, you don’t want to just grab the first one you see at whatever store you happen to be in.  Look at online reviews of various models.  Compare prices and sale flyers to see where you will find the best price.  Explore more than one option.

Whether it’s a coffee maker, Springsteen tickets, a new car, or anything else, it’s always good to explore more than one purchase option.  That way you’ll walk away confident that you got the best deal possible.  And you’ll likely be happier in the long run.