Can I print Ticketmaster tickets and give them to someone else?

Purchasing tickets to concerts, sporting events, and other live entertainment through Ticketmaster is very common. After buying tickets, a natural question arises: Can I print the Ticketmaster tickets myself and give them to someone else? The short answer is usually yes, with some important caveats. In most cases, Ticketmaster tickets can be printed at home or a local printer and given or resold to another person. However, the specific policies depend on the event and where it is taking place. Let’s take a comprehensive look at the ins and outs of printing and transferring Ticketmaster tickets.

The Basics of Printable Ticketmaster Tickets

In the past, Ticketmaster would mail out physical paper tickets to customers after a purchase. Nowadays, the majority of Ticketmaster tickets are electronic mobile tickets or printable tickets that can be downloaded and printed at home. This printable option offers more flexibility for buyers:

• Printable tickets from Ticketmaster allow customers to distribute tickets easily without having to manually mail them out.
• Printable tickets also provide protection against lost, stolen, or forgotten tickets. Customers can simply print another copy if necessary.
• If plans change, printable tickets make it easier to give or sell tickets to others electronically.
• Printable tickets reduce waste compared to traditional physical tickets.

However, it’s important to understand that printable Ticketmaster tickets are meant for personal use only by the original purchaser. The tickets have the original purchaser’s name and order information on them. Ticketmaster’s stated policy is that tickets should not be resold or transferred without permission from the official event provider.

Can Ticketmaster Tickets Be Transferred or Resold?

While Ticketmaster would prefer customers not resell or transfer tickets, the reality is many people do so anyway. Ticketmaster generally allows people to print tickets and give them to friends, family, or even sell them. There are some key things to keep in mind though:

• Many major event tickets cannot be resold or transferred at all. Sporting events, concerts, festivals and other major events will often have strict no-transfer policies.
• Season tickets or multi-event ticket packages typically cannot be broken up and resold or transferred separately.
• In general, cheaper tickets are more transferable while high-demand and expensive tickets have more restrictions.
• Transferring tickets for a higher price than face value (scalping) is illegal in many jurisdictions.

The specific transfer policy depends completely on the event. It is very important to check the event and venue website for details. Ticketmaster’s site only provides the following general guidance on transfers:

“Tickets may not be resold or offered for resale above the stated face value – violators risk revocation of tickets without refund. Tickets resold in the secondary marketplace may be revoked if resold.”

If tickets do not have strict no-transfer policies, reselling through secondary markets like StubHub is an option. Many event providers work with secondary ticket partners to allow official resales. However, prices are often inflated on secondary markets.

Can I Print Tickets and Sell Them on StubHub, Craigslist, eBay, etc?

Sellers can list and sell printable Ticketmaster tickets on secondary markets like StubHub, Craigslist, eBay, Facebook Marketplace and others. However, similar caveats apply:

• Make absolutely sure the tickets do not have a no-transfer or no-resale policy. Otherwise they could be revoked.
• StubHub and other large secondary markets will flag non-transferable tickets and not allow them to be listed.
• Check the venue’s website for guidance on reselling tickets. Many have sections allowing official resales.
• If reselling privately, agree to meet in person for ticket transfer to reduce risk of fraud.
• Avoid scalping tickets at inflated prices, which is illegal in many places.

Here are some examples to illustrate the nuances:

• NCAA March Madness basketball tournament – cannot resell or transfer tickets.
• New York Yankees baseball tickets – can transfer tickets freely.
• Coachella Music Festival – can resell tickets at face value only.
• U2 Concert Tour – can resell tickets at market value.

These examples demonstrate the need to check event policies before reselling Ticketmaster tickets. While usually allowed, transferring tickets is a grey area and comes with some risk. Sellers are responsible for complying with policies.

How Does Ticket Transfer Work on Ticketmaster?

In some cases, Ticketmaster provides tools to officially transfer tickets from one customer to another. This is the safest way to resell Ticketmaster tickets. However, it is only available selectively for certain events that opt-in. Here is how official transfers work:

1. List tickets for sale through Ticketmaster’s Official Resale platform.
2. The original purchaser and new buyer agree on a resale price.
3. The tickets are electronically transferred to the buyer through Ticketmaster.
4. The original customer receives payment minus a commission fee.

Official ticket transfers through Ticketmaster provide the following benefits compared to private resales:

• Guaranteed valid tickets.
• Secure payment processing.
• Avoid ticket revocations.
• Reasonable commissions and prices.

However, Ticketmaster’s official transfer system is not universally available. Each event provider has to opt-in to allow ticket resales through their platform. For popular concerts, games, and events, it is worth checking Ticketmaster for official transfer options before using sites like StubHub and Craigslist.

Can eTickets Be Transferred Multiple Times?

With electronic tickets, some people wonder if they can be transferred repeatedly from one person to the next. The answer is typically no – most eTickets can only be transferred once, if at all.

Ticketmaster’s electronic ticketing system is designed to discourage mass transfers. Once tickets are transferred to a new recipient, that person takes ownership. The tickets cannot then be forwarded to someone else. Some key ticket policies include:

• Tickets are usually only transferable once through Ticketmaster, if transfers are allowed.
• After that initial transfer, the tickets are locked to the new recipient.
• If tickets are screen-shotted or printed to transfer unofficially, they will most likely be declined at the venue.
• Only the original ticket purchaser can request replacement tickets if unofficially transferred tickets are declined.

These policies exist to combat scalping and ensure valid tickets. In general, fans should avoid purchasing tickets unofficially transferred multiple times, as they likely will not work at the event entrance. To be safe, only buy tickets directly from Ticketmaster or transferred once via their official system.

Pros and Cons of Transferring Printable Tickets

Here is a quick rundown of some of the key pros and cons that come with transferring printable tickets instead of selling them back to Ticketmaster or event provider:

Pros

• Often receive a higher resale dollar value.
• Avoid Ticketmaster commission fees.
• More convenient than mailing physical tickets.
• Easier to sell locally via Craigslist, Facebook, etc.

Cons

• Risk of ticket revocation if unofficial transfers prohibited.
• Potential for Craigslist, StubHub, or eBay fraud.
• Unofficial transfers can complicate ticket management.
• Printable tickets may not work for last-minute transfers.

These pros and cons demonstrate that transferring printable tickets instead of official resales offers some rewards but also notable risks. It is critical to assess the specific event policies before deciding to resell printable tickets unofficially.

Tips for Transferring Printable Ticketmaster Tickets

If you do want to print tickets at home and transfer them unofficially, here are some tips to do it safely and effectively:

• Always check event website for transfer policy before reselling.
• Transfer tickets electronically where possible for security.
• If printing tickets, only give them to recipient in-person.
• Never post ticket codes publicly online.
• Avoid selling at dramatically inflated prices.
• Be very wary of online ticket transfer scams.
• Leave time before the event in case transfers do not work.

Also, remember that transferring tickets comes with an inherent risk of revocation or fraud. Following best practices can help reduce those risks when sharing printable tickets.

Conclusion

In most cases, Ticketmaster tickets can be printed at home or locally and given or resold to others. However, events often place restrictions on transfers to limit scalping and fraud. Before reselling any tickets, check the specific event, venue, and ticket resale policies. If allowed, transfers should be done securely and in-person where possible. While providing flexibility for fans, transferring printable tickets does come with notable risks to weigh carefully.