Selling event tickets can be tricky, especially when those tickets are purchased through a major ticketing company like Ticketmaster. While you may want to sell your Ticketmaster tickets to a friend if you can no longer attend an event, there are some important factors to consider first.
Ticket Transfer Policies
Before selling or transferring a Ticketmaster ticket, it’s essential to check the specific transfer policy for that event. Ticketmaster has different policies depending on the event promoter, venue, and ticket type.
Some common Ticketmaster ticket policies include:
- Non-transferable – Cannot be sold or transferred under any circumstances
- Non-transferable except to certain groups – Can only be transferred to a family member, friend, etc.
- Fully transferrable – Can be sold to anyone without restrictions
The transfer policy will be printed on the ticket itself or available on the Ticketmaster event page. If tickets are non-transferable, it’s illegal to sell them to anyone under any circumstances.
Checking the Transfer Policy
To check if your Ticketmaster tickets can be transferred or sold, follow these steps:
- Go to the Ticketmaster account dashboard and find the event under “My Events.”
- Select the event name to open the event details page.
- Scroll down to the “Ticket Transfer” section.
- The policy will be listed here, stating whether transfers are allowed, prohibited, or restricted.
If no policy is displayed, you’ll need to contact the event venue or promoter directly to learn more about permissible transfers or sales for that event.
Transferring Tickets on Ticketmaster
If your Ticketmaster tickets are transferrable, the easiest way to sell them to a friend is through Ticketmaster’s official ticket transfer process. This lets you securely change the ticket buyer name and send the tickets directly to your friend’s Ticketmaster account.
To transfer tickets on Ticketmaster:
- From your Ticketmaster account, select the event you want to transfer tickets for.
- Click “Transfer Tickets” and select the specific seats/tickets to transfer.
- Enter your friend’s name and Ticketmaster account email address.
- Confirm the transfer details and complete the process.
Your friend will then receive an email confirmation that the tickets have been transferred to their account. Make sure to only transfer tickets to someone you know and trust, as transfers cannot be reversed or canceled.
Transfer Fees
Ticketmaster typically charges a transfer fee when moving tickets to a new buyer. This is often around $5-$20 per ticket. As the original ticket buyer, you are responsible for paying any transfer fees.
Selling Ticketmaster Tickets
If you want to sell your Ticketmaster tickets for more than face value to a friend or anyone else, first make sure this is allowed under the event’s ticket policy. Selling non-transferrable tickets is illegal and puts you at risk of fraud or cancellation.
Assuming resale is permitted, there are several options for safely selling Ticketmaster tickets, including:
- Ticketmaster’s Official Resale Marketplace – This is Ticketmaster’s approved platform for reselling tickets while abiding by all official transfer rules. Prices are set by sellers.
- StubHub – Popular trusted third-party resale site. Ticketmaster tickets must be electronically transferred through Ticketmaster before sale.
- Vivid Seats – Another authorized Ticketmaster resale marketplace. All sales are guaranteed and protected.
- Craigslist – Direct sale site where you list your own ad. Riskier than other options.
- Facebook Groups – Buy/sell groups for specific events or teams. Use caution when dealing with strangers.
When reselling anywhere, carefully review the site/group policies and only accept legitimate forms of secure payment. Avoid taking cash, wired money, or transfers from people you do not know.
Using Caution on Resale Sites
Here are some tips for safely selling Ticketmaster tickets on resale sites or platforms:
- Always make sure your tickets can be resold before listing them
- Select sites with buyer guarantees, fraud protection, verified identities
- Review site/group policies regarding scams and prohibited sales
- Avoid direct bank/wire transfers as payment methods
- Only send tickets electronically to the buyer’s verified account
Never meet up for a cash exchange in person if you do not know the buyer. This leaves you at risk of fraud, theft, or physical harm.
Other Ways to Transfer Tickets
If Ticketmaster doesn’t allow official transfers or sales, you may still be able to unofficially transfer your tickets to a friend. However, these methods come with some risks. Options include:
- Printing tickets – If you have paper tickets, you can physically hand them off to your friend. But you’ll want to avoid illegally selling printed non-transferrable tickets above face value.
- Changing pickup method – You may be able to call the box office and assign someone else to pick up tickets at will call under your name. This is not possible with all Ticketmaster tickets.
- Screenshot – You can send your friend a screenshot of the digital ticket barcode to use. But Ticketmaster often frowns upon this unofficial method.
These unofficial methods may work but frequently violate Ticketmaster policies if done improperly. Make sure to thoroughly check rules ahead of time before attempting.
Penalties of Resale Policy Violations
If you resell or transfer non-transferrable Ticketmaster tickets, there can be serious consequences including:
- Cancellation without refund – Ticketmaster may void and cancel tickets sold against policy
- Blacklisting – Accounts violating policies may be banned from future Ticketmaster sales
- Legal action – Those engaged in illegal ticket resale may face civil suits or criminal charges
- Financial losses – Buyers of canceled tickets often cannot get their money back if sales violated resale policies
It’s not worth jeopardizing your Ticketmaster account or risking legal consequences just to make some extra money reselling tickets. Always follow stated policies.
Avoiding Resale Policy Penalties
To avoid potential issues when transferring or selling Ticketmaster tickets, be sure to:
- Carefully check the official transfer policy
- Use Ticketmaster’s approved transfer method if allowed
- Only resell on authorized resale sites or exchanges
- Never illegally resell non-transferrable tickets for over face value
- Follow all written Ticketmaster, venue, and artist rules
As long as you abide by all policies, you can minimize risks from reselling Ticketmaster tickets. When in doubt, your safest option is always to use Ticketmaster’s official transfer process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about selling Ticketmaster tickets to friends or other buyers:
Can I sell a Ticketmaster ticket for more than I paid for it?
You can only legally sell Ticketmaster tickets above face value if the tickets are fully transferable and resale is permitted. Non-transferable tickets can never be resold for more than you paid.
What if I sell a ticket that gets canceled or invalidated?
If Ticketmaster cancels tickets because they were sold improperly, neither the buyer or seller will receive a refund in most cases. This is why carefully checking policies first is so important.
What if my friend can’t make the event I transferred tickets to?
If tickets have been directly transferred to your friend’s Ticketmaster account, only they can further transfer them to another buyer. You cannot transfer the tickets back to your own account.
Can I sell tickets on Facebook or Craigslist if Ticketmaster says no resale?
No, you should never sell non-transferrable Ticketmaster tickets on third-party sites, as this still violates Ticketmaster policies.
What are the penalties for reselling tickets?
Penalties for illegal ticket resale include civil lawsuits, account termination, criminal charges, financial losses, and ticket invalidation or cancellation.
Conclusion
Selling Ticketmaster tickets to friends or other buyers seems straightforward. However, improperly reselling non-transferrable tickets can carry stiff penalties. Always carefully check event policies before any transfers or sales. When allowed, use Ticketmaster’s official resale platform for a smooth, guaranteed transaction.
With the right preparatory research, you can seamlessly sell your Ticketmaster tickets without issue. But ignoring resale rules puts you at unnecessary risk of losing money and access. Following Ticketmaster guidelines preserves your account privileges and prevents legal trouble down the road.
