This is a common question for those buying tickets on Ticketmaster. The company is one of the largest ticket vendors in the world, selling tickets for concerts, sports games, theater shows, and more. With so many high-profile events listed on the site, customers want to know the rules around returns and exchanges in case their plans change.
The short answer
In most cases, yes – all sales are final on Ticketmaster. This is standard policy for the ticketing industry. There are some exceptions though, which will be explained below.
Ticketmaster’s official refund policy
According to Ticketmaster’s website, all sales are final except in certain limited circumstances. Here is their official policy:
“Tickets are fully transferable but non-refundable. Unused tickets cannot be refunded or exchanged unless the event is cancelled or rescheduled. In that case, you will be offered a refund for the face value of the ticket. Service and shipping fees are never refundable under any circumstances.”
So in summary:
- Tickets can be transferred or sold on secondary markets
- No refunds or exchanges for unused tickets (except event cancellation/postponement)
- Only the ticket’s face value is refunded if the event is cancelled, not the fees
This strict no refund policy is standard across most major ticket sellers and is designed to protect the event organizers and artists who rely on advanced ticket sales. Allowing refunds and exchanges would create uncertainty in their revenue projections.
Are exceptions ever made?
While Ticketmaster sticks firmly to their no refund policy in most cases, there are some limited exceptions where they may offer refunds or exchanges:
- Event cancellation or postponement – As noted above, full refunds of the ticket’s face value (but not fees) will be issued if the event is cancelled or moved to a new date.
- Ticketing error – If there was an error in how the tickets were sold, such as duplicate orders or incorrect ticket information, Ticketmaster will cancel the order and refund the total cost.
- Extreme circumstances – In rare cases of extreme hardship, like a medical emergency or death in the family, Ticketmaster may grant a courtesy refund upon request and proof of circumstances.
Other than situations like these, customers should not expect to get their money back for tickets purchased on Ticketmaster. Reselling the tickets is the best option.
Can I get a refund if I simply can’t go?
Unfortunately, changing your mind or having a personal scheduling conflict does not qualify you for a refund on Ticketmaster. Some reasons they will reject refund requests:
- You bought the wrong tickets by accident
- You purchased tickets for multiple event dates and want to return extras
- You can no longer attend due to a change of plans
- You decided you no longer want to go
None of these are grounds for a refund under normal circumstances. Again, your only recourse is to resell the tickets if you can no longer attend the event.
Reselling or exchanging tickets
If you need to get rid of tickets purchased on Ticketmaster, you have a few options:
- Ticketmaster Ticket Exchange – You can relist and resell your tickets on Ticketmaster’s own resale marketplace. Fees apply to both buyers and sellers.
- Transfer to a friend – You can transfer tickets to someone you know. This is done via Ticketmaster’s ticket transfer function.
- Sell on a secondary site – major resale marketplaces like StubHub, VividSeats, SeatGeek allow reselling of tickets.
Selling or exchanging is the only way to recoup the money spent on unwanted tickets. While not a full refund, it allows you to get some value back if your plans fall through.
Steps to request a refund
If you believe your situation qualifies for a refund based on Ticketmaster’s exceptions policy, here is how to request one:
- Contact Ticketmaster customer support by phone or email. Explain why you are requesting a refund and provide documentation if possible.
- Ticketmaster will review your case and make a determination. Note that they have sole discretion on refund decisions.
- If approved, refunds are generally processed back to the original payment method. Allow 2-4 weeks for the money to appear.
- Refunds only apply to ticket face value purchases, all fees paid are forfeited.
Even in approved cases, there is no guarantee of getting fees refunded – only the base ticket price. So a refund may be less than you originally paid.
Tips to avoid issues
To avoid running into problems with Ticketmaster’s no refund policy, keep these tips in mind when purchasing tickets:
- Double check event details like dates, venues, seat locations before completing the purchase.
- Only buy tickets you are 100% sure you can attend. Don’t speculate on events.
- Set reminders for the on-sale and transfer deadlines so you don’t miss them.
- If reselling, list tickets early to get the highest resale price.
- Read all policies carefully so you know the restrictions.
Conclusion
In nearly all cases, Ticketmaster ticket purchases are final sales with no refunds except for event cancellation. This strict policy is similar across all major primary ticket sellers and is done to protect event organizers. Customers should carefully review dates, details, and policies before completing a ticket purchase. If plans change, try to resell or transfer tickets instead of seeking a refund. With millions of tickets sold each year, Ticketmaster sticks firmly to their no refunds allowed policy in most situations.