Can you get a refund on Bruce Springsteen tickets?

Getting a refund on Bruce Springsteen tickets can be difficult, but it is possible in certain situations. Springsteen is one of the most popular touring artists in the world, regularly selling out stadiums and arenas. This high demand means tickets are expensive and resell for even higher prices on secondary markets. However, unexpected life events or changes in plans can make fans unable to attend a show they already bought tickets for. In these cases, understanding the options for getting a refund is important.

Can you get a refund directly from the original ticket seller?

Whether you can get a refund directly from an original ticket seller, such as Ticketmaster or the box office, depends on the refund policy in place at the time you purchased the tickets. Refund policies vary for each Springsteen tour and show. Generally, the closer you purchased tickets to the show date, the less likely a refund will be available. Here are some common Ticketmaster refund policies for Springsteen shows:

Springsteen on Broadway refund policy

Springsteen’s hugely popular Broadway residency from 2017-2018 had an unusually strict no refund policy, even if tickets were purchased months in advance. This was due to the high demand.

Springsteen and the E Street Band regular tour refund policy

For Springsteen’s regular concert tours with the E Street Band, the refund policy depends on when you purchased tickets:

• If tickets were purchased more than 30 days before the show, a full refund is usually available if you request it at least 7 days before the show.
• Within 30 days of the show, only exchanges for another show on the tour are allowed, not straight refunds.
• Within 7 days of the show, exchanges and refunds are usually not possible.

So the earlier you request a refund for a regular Springsteen tour, the better chance you have of getting your money back directly.

When might you be eligible for a refund?

There are a few scenarios where you may be eligible for a refund on Springsteen tickets, even from official sellers with strict policies:

• The show is postponed or canceled – Postponements or cancellations due to weather, artist illness, or other extenuating circumstances are valid reasons for a refund. Keep in mind the show must be outright canceled for this policy to apply, not just rescheduled to a later date.
• You purchased disability accessible seating but no longer require it – If you legitimately needed accessible seating at the time of purchase but ended up not needing it (for instance if you healed from an injury), refunds are usually available.
• You are military or other exempt category and get deployed or reassigned – If you are in the military, government, or another category with special exemptions and get sent away by superiors, refunds are often granted.

Outside of special cases like these, most venues stand firm on no refunds within 30 days of a show. Springsteen tickets are just too hot of a commodity.

Can you get a refund by reselling your tickets?

If you cannot get a refund directly, reselling your Springsteen tickets through an approved resale marketplace can get you your money back. However, whether you can recoup the full amount depends on market factors:

Springsteen ticket resale prices

As you can see from the table, the earlier you list your Springsteen tickets for resale, the closer you will get to a full refund. Closer to show time, demand increases and you may even make a profit! However, nothing is guaranteed with resale.

Also keep in mind:

• List prices are not necessarily selling prices. You may need to lower your price if tickets go unsold.
• Sellers pay a commission to the resale platform, usually around 15% of the sale price.
• Super high demand shows may command a premium on resale, but others may struggle to sell.

Popular resale sites like StubHub guarantee you will get a buyer, which helps avoid losing all your money. But never list tickets for sale at unrealistic prices no one will pay. Do your research on current market rates first.

What are the risks of reselling Bruce Springsteen tickets?

While reselling tickets is an above-board practice, there are some risks and drawbacks to keep in mind:

• Scams – Some “buyers” have no intention of actually paying. Only use trusted platforms and never complete transactions outside of them.
• Counterfeits – Similarly, beware fake “sellers” listing fake tickets to defraud buyers.
• Canceled sales – If a show is postponed or canceled, any pending sales will also be voided.
• Losing money – As covered earlier, you aren’t guaranteed to recoup the full cost, especially closer to show time.
• Losing out on attending – Once tickets are sold, you’ve lost your chance to change plans and attend the concert.

So while reselling provides an option if you can’t get a refund, it does come with some risk. Consider if you absolutely must sell, or if you should hold out hope of attending.

When should you avoid buying Springsteen tickets from resellers?

On the buyer side, there are also risks to purchasing resale Springsteen tickets. In some cases, it may be smarter not to buy:

• Prices are unreasonable – If prices are exorbitantly marked up, you could end up drastically overpaying.
• The show is still far away – Prices tend to drop as the event nears, so avoid buying way in advance.
• The seats have an obstructed view – Know which seat locations to avoid in the venue.
• The tickets could be fake – Scrutinize sellers carefully for red flags of fraud.
• You can still buy directly – If tickets are still available through official channels, buy there to avoid markups.

Buying Springsteen tickets resale is fine to grab hard-to-find seats, but use caution and discretion with your purchase.

What are other options besides refunds for unusable Bruce Springsteen tickets?

If you absolutely cannot get a refund and cannot resell your tickets, there are a few last ditch options to recoup some value:

• Donate or gift them – Giving tickets to a friend, family member, charity, or radio contest lets them enjoy the show when you cannot.
• Use as a business expense – If you purchased tickets for employee rewards, client entertainment, etc, they still have some value as a tax write-off.
• Sell below face value – Rather than letting tickets go completely unused, you can sell them at a deep discount just to get something back.
• Eat the cost – As a final option, absorb the lost money as an unfortunate cost of changed plans. Springsteen puts on an amazing show, so chances are you will want to see him again in the future anyway!

While not ideal, thinking creatively can help you minimize wasted money on unused Springsteen tickets.

Key takeaways on getting refunds for Bruce Springsteen tickets

A few key points to remember:

• Refunds directly from the box office or Ticketmaster are only available far in advance, unless the show is canceled.
• Reselling tickets through trustworthy platforms will let you recoup partial costs, but prices drop as showtime nears.
• If all options fail, look for creative ways to gift, donate, or otherwise recover some value from the tickets.
• Take time to weigh if eating the cost is worth definitively losing your chance to see The Boss live!

While not always possible, exploring all angles can help maximize your chances of getting money back for unused Springsteen tickets. Don’t give up hope. The Boss would want you to get rocking at one of his legendary shows someday!