Can you get a refund on verified resale tickets?

Getting a refund on verified resale tickets can be tricky and depends on the specific resale platform’s policies. However, there are some steps you can take to try to get your money back if you can no longer attend the event.

Check the Resale Platform’s Refund Policy

The first thing to do is carefully review the refund policy of the resale platform you purchased from. Platforms like StubHub, Vivid Seats, and Ticketmaster all have different policies regarding refunds on resold tickets.

For example, StubHub generally offers refunds if:

• The event is canceled – You will typically get a full refund including fees
• The seller cancels the order – You will get a full refund including fees
• The tickets are invalid/not delivered – You will get a full refund including fees

However, if you can no longer attend for personal reasons, StubHub does not offer refunds on verified resale orders. Instead, they advise you to relist the tickets for sale yourself to try to recoup costs.

Meanwhile, Vivid Seats allows you to cancel orders and get a full refund within 14 days of purchase. After 14 days though, all sales are final and non-refundable.

Ticketmaster’s verified resale marketplace offers no refunds once tickets have been purchased. All sales are final.

So it’s critical to understand the policies before buying to know your options if plans change.

Resell the Tickets Yourself

If the resale platform does not allow refunds based on your situation, reselling the tickets yourself is likely your best option for trying to recoup the purchase price.

You can re-list the tickets on the same resale platform you bought from or explore other secondary marketplaces like Vivid Seats, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, eBay, etc. Price the tickets competitively but realistically based on current market rates.

Be sure to advertise the tickets for sale as soon as possible, as you are more likely to find another buyer when tickets are in high demand right after going on sale.

Reselling the tickets yourself does come with some risks:

• There is no guarantee you will find another buyer
• You have to wait for the new buyer to pay you
• You may have to sell lower than face value to attract buyers

However, reselling provides the opportunity to potentially recoup some of your initial ticket investment.

Eat the Cost

If neither a refund nor reselling are viable options, then you may have to eat the cost of the tickets. This is an unfortunate situation, but sometimes unavoidable with no-refund policies.

To avoid eating costs in the future:

• Only buy from resale platforms that offer refunds
• Purchase ticket insurance if available
• Read all policies thoroughly before completing any ticket purchases

Eating the cost is never ideal. But if you have exhausted all other options, it may be the only choice until policies change industry-wide.

File a Credit Card Chargeback

For high-cost tickets, filing a chargeback with your credit card company is another potential avenue if you are unable to get a refund directly from the seller.

Chargebacks allow you to dispute a charge and request money back from your bank or credit card company. Some common reasons for ticket chargebacks include:

• The event was canceled, postponed, or rescheduled
• The tickets are fake or counterfeit
• The tickets were not delivered by the seller
• The tickets do not match the listing description

To file a chargeback:

1. Contact your credit card company or bank
2. Explain why you are disputing the charge
3. Provide supporting documentation like order confirmation, ticket listing, communication with seller, etc.

If approved, the funds will be returned to your account. Just keep in mind that sellers will have a chance to contest the dispute.

Chargebacks should only be used as a last resort since they can come with fees and negatively impact sellers. But for expensive tickets they provide some recourse if you are unsatisfied.

Potential Roadblocks to Chargebacks

Some obstacles you may face when filing a credit card chargeback for event tickets:

• No refund policies – Resale platforms’ no refund policies can undermine claims
• Delivered tickets – Even unusable tickets are considered “delivered” which can complicate disputes
• Time limits – Many banks impose limits around 90-120 days after purchase

These limitations make chargebacks difficult for resale tickets, but they can still be worth pursuing in some scenarios with proper documentation.

Conclusion

Getting a refund on verified resale tickets is very difficult in most cases. Resale platforms create restrictive policies that leave buyers with little recourse.

Your options mostly include:

• Reselling tickets yourself
• Eating the cost
• Filing a credit card chargeback

To avoid this headaches in the first place:

• Buy only from sites with liberal refund policies
• Purchase ticket insurance if available
• Read all policies thoroughly before buying

With preparation and diligence, you can minimize the risk when buying verified resale tickets.

Here are some tips when buying resale tickets:

Tips for Buying Verified Resale Tickets

• Review seller ratings and reviews
• Confirm tickets are transferable
• Check ticket delivery method and fees
• Understand all policies before purchasing
• Use secure payment methods like credit cards
• Purchase ticket insurance if available
• Track ticket delivery and follow up if issues
• Register the tickets under your name when possible

Following these tips can help avoid problems and ensure a smooth experience buying verified resale tickets.