Taylor Swift is one of the most popular musicians in the world, with a massive global fanbase. As a result, getting tickets to see Taylor Swift perform live can be incredibly difficult, with huge demand that far outstrips supply. This leads many fans to wonder – can you resell or scalp Taylor Swift tickets on sites like Ticketmaster?
Can You Resell Taylor Swift Tickets on Ticketmaster?
The short answer is yes, you can resell Taylor Swift tickets on Ticketmaster, but there are some caveats. Ticketmaster has an official ticket resale marketplace that allows fans to resell event tickets they can no longer use. So in theory, if you have a Taylor Swift ticket you cannot attend, you could list it for resale on Ticketmaster.
However, for high demand artists like Taylor Swift, there are often special restrictions in place. For her recent ‘Reputation’ tour, Ticketmaster implemented a “Verified Fan” system. This required fans to register in advance and be vetted as genuine Taylor Swift fans before they were allowed to buy tickets. It also prohibited any resale of those verified tickets on Ticketmaster.
This “Verified Fan” system was implemented to try to get tickets directly into the hands of real fans instead of scalpers looking to profit. So for the Reputation tour, Taylor Swift tickets could not be resold on Ticketmaster. It remains to be seen if similar restrictions will be in place for Taylor’s next tour.
The Ticketmaster Verified Fan System
Here is a more detailed overview of how the Ticketmaster Verified Fan system works for high demand tours like Taylor Swift’s:
- Fans must register in advance and provide personal information like name, email, phone number, etc.
- Ticketmaster uses an algorithm to vet each registration and verify they are genuine fans, not scalpers or bots.
- Verified fans are then emailed a code that gives them access to buy a limited number of tickets.
- Tickets purchased through Verified Fan cannot be resold on Ticketmaster’s exchange.
- Any fan caught reselling their Verified Tickets may have their account banned.
The goal is to make sure human fans get first access to purchase tickets. Tayor Swift and her team want to avoid scalpers buying up all the tickets first just to flip them for a profit on secondary sites.
Why Are Tickets Restricted for Taylor Swift Shows?
There are a few key reasons why Taylor Swift tickets are highly restricted from resale:
- High demand – There are millions of Taylor Swift fans worldwide but she can only perform so many shows. This creates a supply and demand imbalance that drives up resale prices.
- Combat scalpers – Swift wants to prevent scalpers from buying up tickets just to sell them at astronomical resale prices to desperate fans.
- Fan experience – Restricting resales helps ensure tickets get into the hands of genuine fans who will appreciate them.
- Reputation – It also helps Taylor Swift avoid any negative publicity from fans being priced out by scalpers.
Artists like Swift want to reward their loyal fans with fair access to tickets, not enable scalpers to profit. So restrictions on reselling tickets helps protect real fans.
What Restrictions Might Be in Place for Future Taylor Swift Tours?
While every tour is different, here are some restrictions Taylor Swift could implement for future tours based on past policies:
- Use of Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan system again to vet buyers
- Limit of 2-4 tickets per verified fan
- No resales permitted on Ticketmaster’s exchange
- Strict ID and purchase verification requirements
- Possible requirement to have a TaylorSwift.com account
- Bans on bulk buying by scalpers
- Special dynamic pricing to discourage scalping
- Cancellation of any suspected scalped tickets
- Fewer tickets held for general on-sale (more for Verified Fans)
The exact restrictions will depend on the venue policies, but Swift’s team will likely employ some safeguards to get tickets to real supporters and minimize scalping opportunities.
What Has Swift Said About Scalping and Resales?
Taylor Swift has openly criticized scalpers and unfair ticket resale practices. Some quotes:
- “Scalpers take advantage of the most vulnerable people… Fans who just want to come to a show end up paying for much more than the ticket.”
- “It really ticks me off that non-fan scalpers find loopholes and get these tickets.”
- “I’d rather play for 1,500 people who came to hear the music than 15,000 who just want to hear one song and leave.”
So Swift is not afraid to call out shady resale practices that hurt fans. She has proactively worked with Ticketmaster to implement systems like Verified Fan to try to get tickets directly to real supporters. Expect anti-scalping efforts to continue for future Swift tours.
How Much Do Taylor Swift Tickets Get Resold For?
Because demand drastically exceeds supply, Taylor Swift tickets can get resold for astronomical amounts compared to face value. For example:
| Tour | Face Value Price | Resale Price |
|---|---|---|
| Reputation Tour | $149-$450 | $800-$5,000+ |
| 1989 Tour | $150-$850 | $500-$15,000+ |
| Red Tour | $35-$125 | $200-$2,000+ |
As you can see, tickets frequently end up resold for 5-10x their initial face value. The most coveted floor seats or VIP packages can end up reselling for insane 20-30x markup. This is precisely why Swift has tried to crack down on scalping.
Where Do Scalpers Resell Taylor Swift Tickets?
Since Ticketmaster blocks resales for Swift’s tours, most scalped tickets end up on secondary market third-party sites. Some of the most common are:
- StubHub
- Vivid Seats
- SeatGeek
- RazorGator
- ACE Ticket
- TickPick
- Gametime
- eBay
- Craigslist
Scalpers will list the tickets they secured on these secondary exchanges at inflated prices. Desperate fans who got shut out during the Ticketmaster Verified Fan presales often overpay on these resale sites.
The Risks of Buying Resale Taylor Swift Tickets
There are major risks buying resale Taylor Swift tickets instead of directly from Ticketmaster:
- Tickets could be counterfeit or reported lost/stolen
- Scalpers could sell the same ticket to multiple buyers
- Tickets may not arrive in time or at all
- No recourse if denied entry to venue
- Possible high fees on resale sites
- No guarantees or purchase protections
Reputable resellers like StubHub do provide buyer guarantees. But there are still risks dealing with unofficial scalpers. It’s best to purchase verified TaylorSwift.com presale tickets directly if possible.
Conclusion
In summary, while you can technically resell Taylor Swift tickets, it is restricted and risky. Swift’s team implements strict safeguards like Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan system to get tickets directly to real supporters not scalpers. This limits venues for scalpers to profit off desperate fans. Your best bet is to register for presales as a Verified Fan when Taylor announces her next tour. This will give you fair access to buy face value tickets before the scalpers can scoop them all up at marked-up prices.
