Can I transfer tickets through Ticketmaster even though it says tickets are not ready?

It is often possible to transfer tickets through Ticketmaster, even if the tickets are not ready yet. Here are some quick answers about transferring tickets on Ticketmaster when they are not ready:

Quick Answers

• Most tickets on Ticketmaster can be transferred, even before the tickets are ready for download or print.
• There are some restrictions though – for example, you may not be able to transfer tickets purchased through certain promotions or presales.
• If you try to transfer a ticket too early, you may get an error saying “Tickets are not ready yet. Please try again later.”
• Just because you get this error does not mean the tickets can never be transferred. It likely means the venue or event organizer has not released the tickets to Ticketmaster yet.
• Keep checking back every few days/weeks and try transferring again. As soon as the tickets are released to Ticketmaster, the transfer should go through.

When Can Tickets Be Transferred on Ticketmaster?

In most cases, tickets can be transferred as soon as they go on sale on Ticketmaster. However, there are some exceptions:

• Presale tickets – Tickets purchased during presales often cannot be transferred until the general onsale date. This is because the tickets are held before being released to Ticketmaster.
• Promotional tickets – Similarly, complimentary tickets or tickets purchased as part of special promotions may be restricted from transfers for a period of time.
• Delayed delivery – Some venues/events choose to delay the delivery of tickets to Ticketmaster. In this case, transfers are restricted until Ticketmaster receives the tickets.

So in summary, presale, promotional, and delayed delivery tickets often cannot be transferred right away on Ticketmaster. You’ll need to wait until Ticketmaster officially has the tickets before a transfer can be completed.

Why Does Ticketmaster Say “Tickets Are Not Ready” When I Try to Transfer?

There are two main reasons you may get the “Tickets are not ready yet” error on Ticketmaster when trying to transfer tickets:

1. The tickets were purchased during a presale or special promotion. As mentioned above, these tickets are sometimes restricted from being transferred until the general onsale.
2. The event organizer/venue has not released the tickets to Ticketmaster yet. It takes time after the initial sale before the tickets are fully processed and pushed to Ticketmaster’s systems. Until that release happens, Ticketmaster does not truly “have” the tickets, even though they were purchased on Ticketmaster. Hence the “not ready” error.

How Long Until Tickets Are Ready for Transfer on Ticketmaster?

There is no exact timeframe for when tickets will be ready for transfer on Ticketmaster. It depends on several factors:

• Type of event – Sporting events may take longer as leagues approve tickets
• Scale of event – Larger events take more coordination to release tickets
• When purchased – Presale vs general onsale tickets
• Individual venue/event policies – Some explicitly delay ticket transfers

As a general guideline though:

• Most tickets purchased during an general public onsale should be ready for transfer within 1-2 weeks.
• Presale and promotional tickets usually take 2-4 weeks before transfers are enabled.
• For very large events like playoffs or music festivals, it can sometimes take 4-6 weeks for onsale tickets to be transferable.

Can I Request a Transfer Before Tickets Are Ready on Ticketmaster?

Yes, you can start a ticket transfer request on Ticketmaster before the tickets are officially ready. Here are the steps:

1. Login to your Ticketmaster account and find the event you want to transfer tickets for.
2. Click on the “Transfer” button or “Transfer Tickets” link.
3. Enter the recipient’s name and email address.
4. Click the “Next” button to proceed.

At this point you may get the “Tickets are not ready yet” error message. But don’t worry – your transfer request will be saved by Ticketmaster.

As soon as the tickets are released and ready for transfer, your pending transfer will automatically be processed. So you don’t have to keep checking and re-doing the transfer.

What Happens if I Transfer Ticketmaster Tickets Too Early?

If you request a ticket transfer on Ticketmaster before the tickets are truly ready, here is what happens:

• The transfer will fail with the “Tickets are not ready” error.
• However, Ticketmaster will save your transfer request.
• Once the tickets are released, your saved transfer will automatically be processed.
• The recipient will then receive a transfer notification email from Ticketmaster.
• You will also receive an email confirmation once the transfer goes through.

So attempting an early transfer does not cancel or void the process – your request is saved by Ticketmaster until it can be completed. The transfer will occur automatically in the background once the tickets are ready.

Does Transferring Ticketmaster Tickets Change the Price?

Transferring tickets on Ticketmaster does not change the ticket price. The tickets are transferred at their original face value. There are no extra fees for doing a standard transfer.

However, if dynamic pricing was enabled for the event, the tickets could technically be repriced higher or lower after transferring:

• If prices go up, the new owner keeps the original lower price.
• If prices go down, the new owner gets the tickets at the new lower price.

So the underlying price may change independently, but the transfer itself does not alter or add fees to the price.

Can Ticketmaster Tickets Be Transferred Multiple Times?

Tickets can be transferred multiple times on Ticketmaster. There is no limit to how many times a ticket can be transferred.

Each additional transfer follows the same process – the current ticket owner initiates the transfer to a new email address. As long as the venue/event allows transfers, this can be repeated indefinitely.

However, it’s recommended that tickets are not transferred excessively, as this may increase the risk of fraud or complications verifying ownership.

How Do I Know if Ticketmaster Tickets Are Transferable?

To check if Ticketmaster tickets can be transferred, you need to log into your Ticketmaster account and find the event in your order history. Look for a “Transfer Tickets” link or button on the order details page.

If you see the transfer option:

• The tickets are transferable, either immediately or in the future when ready.
• Click the transfer link and follow prompts to initiate a transfer.

If you do NOT see the transfer option:

• The tickets are likely not transferable at all.
• This restriction is set by the venue or event organizer.

You can also try calling Ticketmaster customer support for confirmation if a transfer should be possible.

Conclusion

In summary:

• Ticket transfers on Ticketmaster are possible even when tickets are “not ready” yet.
• You’ll get an error trying to transfer too early, but your request is saved for automatic processing later.
• It may take anywhere from 1-6 weeks after initial purchase before transfers will go through.
• Check for a “Transfer Tickets” option in your Ticketmaster account to confirm transferability.
• Tickets can be transferred multiple times, with no limit.
• The ticket price remains the original amount paid after transferring.

So don’t be discouraged if you get a “Tickets not ready” error on Ticketmaster. Just try again periodically, and eventually your transfer should be completed automatically once the tickets are released.