Tickets purchased through Ticketmaster can be resold, but there are some important factors to consider. Ticketmaster has rules in place around reselling tickets that buyers and sellers need to follow.
Can You Resell Ticketmaster Tickets?
Yes, it is possible to resell tickets purchased on Ticketmaster. However, Ticketmaster has certain restrictions in place when it comes to reselling tickets. Some key things to know:
- Ticketmaster limits ticket resale to specific partner resale marketplaces. Tickets cannot be resold just anywhere.
- Tickets can only be posted for resale at or below the original ticket price. They cannot be marked up higher than face value.
- Ticketmaster restricts how soon after purchase tickets can be resold. Typically there is a waiting period before resale is allowed.
- If tickets have already been sent to the buyer’s Ticketmaster account, they must be transferred back to the seller’s account before reselling.
- Tickets cannot be resold if prohibited by the event organizer or venue. Some events do not allow any resale.
As long as these rules are followed, Ticketmaster ticket buyers can resell eligible tickets on partner resale sites. However, the process is more restricted compared to general secondary ticket marketplaces.
Why Does Ticketmaster Restrict Resales?
Ticketmaster implements these resale restrictions to:
- Prevent ticket scalping and significant markups over face value prices.
- Discourage the quick resale of tickets just to make a profit.
- Ensure an orderly ticket marketplace without inflated secondary prices.
- Let event organizers maintain some control over ticket distribution.
- Generate additional revenue for Ticketmaster via commissions on resold tickets.
While fans may want unlimited freedom to resell tickets, Ticketmaster’s rules aim to balance buyer and seller interests with fair prices.
What Are Ticketmaster’s Approved Resale Sites?
Ticketmaster currently works with these partner resale marketplaces for ticket redistribution:
- Ticketmaster Resale – Ticketmaster’s own resale site, allowing season ticket holders and buyers to re-post tickets.
- NFL Ticket Exchange – Official resale marketplace of the NFL, partners with Ticketmaster.
- NBATickets.com – NBA’s authorized ticket exchange, provided by Ticketmaster.
- Vivid Seats – Large independent resale marketplace with a Ticketmaster transfer integration.
- StubHub – Major third-party resale site with integration to post Ticketmaster tickets.
Sellers must have a valid Ticketmaster account and use one of these sites to re-list eligible tickets purchased on Ticketmaster.
What Are the Steps to Resell My Ticketmaster Tickets?
If you want to resell tickets bought on Ticketmaster, follow these steps:
- Check if the event allows ticket resales or not. Some organizers prohibit it.
- Make sure enough time has passed after initially buying the tickets if there is a resale waiting period.
- Select one of Ticketmaster’s authorized resale sites to sell the tickets on.
- Transfer the ticket back to your Ticketmaster account if it was already sent to you.
- Post the ticket for resale on the partner marketplace at or below face value.
- The buyer will purchase the ticket and Ticketmaster will transfer it to them.
- You will receive payment after Ticketmaster takes a commission on the resale transaction.
This process allows you to resell within Ticketmaster’s rules and redistribute tickets safely.
What Happens if I Resell Ticketmaster Tickets Outside of Approved Sites?
If you resell Ticketmaster tickets on non-approved secondary sites, there can be penalties:
- Ticketmaster may cancel your ticket, rendering it invalid for the buyer.
- Your Ticketmaster account can be suspended or blacklisted from future purchases.
- For season ticket holders or repeat violations, all account privileges may be revoked.
- You may be prohibited from purchasing tickets for specific teams, venues, or events in the future.
- There can be fees involving the invalidated ticket and lack of refunds for the buyer.
It violates the purchase terms and conditions agreed to when buying Ticketmaster tickets. They strictly enforce resale only on partner marketplaces.
Can I Resell Printed Tickets or Hard Tickets?
For paper tickets or hard tickets printed or shipped for an event, different rules may apply. These physical tickets can be resold outside of Ticketmaster’s system. However, there are still some restrictions:
- The tickets cannot be resold above face value or marketed as “Sold Out”.
- The event may prohibit any resales of printed tickets if notified.
- As the original ticket buyer, you are still accountable for any issues with the ticket.
- Resale on StubHub or other major marketplaces has more protections in place.
- Local classifieds or small exchanges have higher risks of fraud for buyers and sellers.
In general, printed Ticketmaster tickets have fewer restrictions but also provide less fraud protection than resale through their approved exchange sites.
What Fees Are Involved in Reselling my Ticketmaster Tickets?
When reselling tickets on Ticketmaster’s partner marketplaces, you will incur commission fees taken out of the final sale price:
Resale Site | Fee % |
---|---|
Ticketmaster Resale | 15% |
NFL Ticket Exchange | 15% |
NBATickets.com | 12% |
Vivid Seats | 10-20% |
StubHub | 15% |
These marketplace commissions are how Ticketmaster profits from ticket resales. There may also be a ticket transfer fee.
Are there Limits on How Much I Can Resell My Tickets For?
Yes, Ticketmaster does limit your resale price when re-listing tickets on their approved exchanges:
- You cannot resell for more than the original face value paid.
- No price markups are allowed – only selling at or below face value.
- Some event organizers set minimum resale prices, like 50% of face value.
- Season ticket holders may have special pricing rules if reselling those packages.
- Attempting to sell above face value can get your posting removed and account suspended.
These rules prevent ticket scalping and inflated resale prices. Ticketmaster aims to keep prices fair and accessible to fans.
Can I ResellTicketmaster Tickets on StubHub, VividSeats, or Other Resale Sites?
You can resell Ticketmaster tickets on these approved partner exchanges:
Resale Site | Can Sell Ticketmaster Tickets? |
---|---|
StubHub | Yes |
VividSeats | Yes |
eBay | No* |
Craigslist | No |
Gametime | No |
SeatGeek | No |
*eBay allows resale of printed/hard tickets but not digital Ticketmaster transfers
StubHub and VividSeats have direct integrations with Ticketmaster to enable resales. Other popular marketplaces are not authorized redistributors of Ticketmaster tickets.
Can I Sell Partially Used Ticketmaster Tickets?
If you purchased a multi-day package or ticket bundle from Ticketmaster, you may want to resell any unused portion if you cannot attend all the events. Here are the limitations on splitting up tickets:
- Tickets can only be resold as a complete package, not split up.
- Multi-day festival or concert passes must be resold together covering all days.
- Sporting event season ticket packages must be resold as the full package.
- Single tickets cannot be peeled off from larger Ticketmaster bundles or packs.
- Splitting up ticket bundles across multiple buyers is not allowed.
The aim is to prevent cherry-picking the best seats or events from a packaged deal for resale. The tickets must be resold intact as purchased from Ticketmaster.
Can Ticketmaster Cancel My Sale After Posting for Resale?
Yes, there are certain circumstances where Ticketmaster may cancel and remove tickets already posted for resale:
- The event organizer or team owner restricts resales after initial listing.
- The ticket is found in violation of Ticketmaster’s resale policies.
- Suspected fraud or speculation in ticket resale purchases.
- Tickets tied to restricted or blacklisted user accounts.
- Court orders, venue decisions, or regulatory rules requiring cancelation.
- Technical issues or glitches with the ticket inventory or listings.
- Changes to season ticket holder accounts impacting associated postings.
If Ticketmaster cancels already listed tickets, you will receive an email notification explaining why. The tickets are then removed from sale.
Should I Use the Ticketmaster Fan-to-Fan Resale Marketplace?
Ticketmaster Resale is Ticketmaster’s own resale exchange for redistributing tickets. There are some benefits to their marketplace:
- Seamless integration and transfers with your Ticketmaster account.
- May have wider event and seat selection as a first-party site.
- Trusted security and fraud protection policies.
- Earnings can be credited back to your Ticketmaster account.
- Supports Ticketmaster’s FanExchangeTM Verified Resale for confirmed authenticity.
Downsides can include the higher 15% commission fee and lower buyer traffic vs established 3rd party exchanges. Overall, it provides a solid officially authorized resale option.
Should I Resell Ticketmaster Tickets on StubHub Instead?
StubHub is a leading resale ticket marketplace compatible with Ticketmaster sales. Reasons you may want to use StubHub instead include:
- Much wider buyer traffic and sales reach.
- Typically 10-20% lower commissions, at 15% for TM tickets.
- Trusted brand name recognition and buyer protections.
- Established platform with over 20 years in the industry.
- Additional seller tools and support services.
Drawbacks can include less seamless integration reselling Ticketmaster tickets and a more impersonal experience. But for maximizing sales, StubHub is a strong option.
Should I Avoid Reselling My Ticketmaster Tickets?
There are some downsides to reselling Ticketmaster tickets that may make you reconsider:
- Processing can be slow and complex jumping through resale hoops.
- High commissions from 15-20% eat into your potential profits.
- Sales and transfers may not be guaranteed due to cancelations.
- Restricted ticket availability as many events prohibit resales.
- Lack of price control with markups disallowed.
- Extra fees involved for both buyers and sellers.
- Risk of account bans for violating Ticketmaster’s policies.
With all the limitations in place, you may make very little trying to resell tickets. It requires significant effort for a minimal ROI. For these reasons, you may just want to avoid the hassle and keep your purchased tickets.
Conclusion
Ticketmaster allows ticket resale but implements many restrictions through their approved partner marketplace model. Tickets cannot just be freely resold at marked-up prices anywhere the seller chooses. There are limits in place on resale timeframes, prices, platforms, and bundles. While providing a mechanism for redistributing tickets, Ticketmaster maintains strong control over the secondary market. Strict policies aim to prevent scalping and ensure fair pricing, but greatly reduce seller flexibility. Buyers and sellers need to conduct any Ticketmaster resales within the defined rules to avoid account consequences. Otherwise, the risk may outweigh the rewards.