Ticketmaster is one of the largest ticket sales and distribution companies in the world. They sell tickets for concerts, sports events, theater shows, and more. Ticketmaster provides primary market tickets, which are tickets sold directly by the event organizer. They also provide secondary market tickets through their Ticketmaster Verified Resale platform. This allows fans to resell tickets they can no longer use.
There has been some confusion about whether all tickets sold on Ticketmaster are “verified resale” tickets. The answer is no. Ticketmaster sells both primary market tickets directly from the event organizer and secondary market resale tickets from other fans. Only the resale tickets are “verified” through Ticketmaster’s system.
What are primary market tickets?
Primary market tickets refer to tickets that are originally sold by the event organizer or venue through Ticketmaster when they first go on sale. These tickets are available directly through Ticketmaster’s site, app or by phone.
Most tickets sold on Ticketmaster are primary market tickets. When you buy a primary ticket, you are purchasing from the original source before the event occurs. These tickets are guaranteed valid and the prices are set by the organizer or venue.
Primary market tickets are not marked “verified resale” because Ticketmaster is the original source of these tickets before an event takes place.
What are secondary market tickets?
Secondary market tickets refer to tickets resold by fans and other ticket holders after the primary sales. This could include season ticket holders or someone who purchased a primary ticket but can no longer attend the event.
The secondary ticket market is where tickets are resold through third-party providers like StubHub or directly between buyers and sellers online. Ticketmaster’s secondary market is their Ticketmaster Verified Resale platform.
With Ticketmaster Verified Resale, fans can resell extra tickets in a safe, convenient way approved by event organizers. Sellers can set their asking price. All Ticketmaster Verified Resale tickets are guaranteed valid for entry, which protects buyers from fraud and counterfeits.
Why does Ticketmaster verify resale tickets?
Ticketmaster verifies resale tickets to:
- Ensure validity – Verified tickets are guaranteed to get fans into the event.
- Prevent fraud – The verification process protects buyers against invalid or duplicated tickets.
- Provide a safe marketplace – Both buyers and sellers can trust Ticketmaster’s secure system.
- Give access to tickets – Fans can access secondhand tickets directly through Ticketmaster when primary tickets sell out.
- Allow price flexibility – Resale allows market-based pricing determined by supply and demand.
The verification process gives fans more confidence in buying resale tickets. It also reduces the risk of counterfeits or other scams when purchasing tickets secondhand.
How does Ticketmaster verify resale tickets?
Ticketmaster uses an advanced verification process for all resale tickets on their platform. Here is how they verify tickets:
- Sellers list extra tickets through Ticketmaster’s Verified Resale marketplace.
- Ticketmaster checks that each resale ticket is valid and was originally purchased from an authorized source.
- The ticket barcode is confirmed directly with the event organizer and venue.
- Tickets found to be fraudulent or duplicated are rejected.
- Valid resale tickets are posted and can be purchased by buyers.
- Buyers receive a guaranteed valid ticket that can be downloaded or sent to their phone.
By communicating directly with event organizers, Ticketmaster can authenticate each resale ticket being relisted on their marketplace. This comprehensive verification gives buyers peace of mind and prevents counterfeit tickets.
Do all Ticketmaster tickets include verification?
No. Only tickets resold through Ticketmaster’s Verified Resale platform go through the verification process. Primary market tickets purchased directly from Ticketmaster are not marked “verified” because Ticketmaster is the original authorized seller.
When a fan buys a primary ticket from Ticketmaster, that ticket is valid and guaranteed. But it was not obtained secondhand, so it does not need to go through a resale verification process.
Some key differences:
| Primary Tickets | Verified Resale Tickets |
|---|---|
| Sold directly by Ticketmaster | Resold by fans through Ticketmaster |
| Original authorized source | Pre-purchase verification required |
| Not marked “verified resale” | Clearly labeled “verified resale” |
So in summary, only Ticketmaster’s resold tickets undergo their verification process, not all tickets they sell. Fans can buy primary market tickets with confidence directly from Ticketmaster without the “verified resale” tag.
Should I only buy verified resale tickets?
Verified resale tickets provide an extra layer of security that protects fans from potential fraud or scams when buying tickets secondhand. However, primary market tickets sold originally by Ticketmaster are also 100% valid.
Here are some tips on deciding which to purchase:
- Buy primary market tickets when available – This ensures you are getting tickets directly from the source.
- Turn to verified resale if primary tickets are sold out – Lets you access tickets securely after initial sales.
- Avoid unverified secondary tickets – Outside resale sites carry higher fraud risks.
- Compare prices – Sometimes primary tickets have lower prices than resale, so check both.
If purchasing resale is your only option, Ticketmaster Verified Resale provides protection against invalid tickets. But primary market tickets are also fully valid from Ticketmaster if bought early.
Can tickets transfer between buyers?
It depends on the event. Some primary market tickets and verified resales have transfer restrictions set by event organizers that prohibit reselling or transferring tickets. In those cases, only the original ticket purchaser can use the ticket for entry.
Many tickets though are fully transferrable. Primary market tickets from Ticketmaster can usually be transferred or resold on Ticketmaster’s Verified Resale platform. Verified resale tickets can also typically transfer between fans freely.
The details on transferability for an event are provided during the ticket purchase process. Fans should carefully check the transfer policy before reselling any tickets. Transferring when prohibited could result in tickets being cancelled.
Are service and shipping fees refundable?
Service and shipping fees on both primary market and resale Ticketmaster tickets are generally non-refundable.
If you choose to have paper tickets shipped to you, that shipping fee is typically non-refundable if you later need to return the tickets. The same applies to service fees assessed on all ticket purchases.
However, the base ticket price (also called the ticket net price) is refundable on both primary and verified resale tickets until the refund deadline, which is usually 48 hours before an event. Refunds can be issued back to the original payment method.
While the fees are generally not refunded, some exceptions may apply in certain cases if an event is cancelled or rescheduled. Contact Ticketmaster support for details on any extenuating refund circumstances.
Can I sell tickets I purchased on Ticketmaster?
You can resell many Ticketmaster tickets you directly purchased, either to friends or through Ticketmaster’s Verified Resale platform. However, transfer restrictions may apply in some cases, especially for high-demand events.
Here are some tips for reselling your Ticketmaster tickets:
- Check your tickets in your Ticketmaster account for any transfer restrictions before reselling.
- Primary market tickets can often be posted for resale on Ticketmaster’s Verified Resale platform.
- Use the Ticket Transfer option on the app to securely transfer directly to a friend.
- Avoid prohibited transfers, which could lead to order cancellations.
- Adjust your resale price on Verified Resale to account for fees.
Reselling through Verified Resale provides the most convenient, secure way to relist your eligible Ticketmaster tickets. Be sure to fully review the transfer policy for the event before reselling tickets purchased from Ticketmaster.
Conclusion
In summary, not all tickets sold on Ticketmaster are verified resale tickets. Only tickets resold through their Ticketmaster Verified Resale platform undergo the detailed verification process. Primary market tickets purchased directly from Ticketmaster are also 100% valid and authorized by event organizers, though not marked as “verified resale.”
While verified resale tickets provide an extra layer of protection for secondhand transactions, fans can buy primary market Ticketmaster tickets with full confidence. If you decide to resell eligible tickets, Ticketmaster’s Verified Resale marketplace enables secure, convenient resales approved by event partners. Carefully review all transfer restrictions before relisting any tickets originally bought on Ticketmaster.
