It’s a common question – if you have tickets to an event that you purchased from somewhere other than Ticketmaster, can you still resell them on Ticketmaster? The short answer is yes, in most cases you can sell tickets on Ticketmaster that you didn’t originally purchase there. However, there are some caveats and restrictions in place that you need to be aware of.
Ticketmaster is the largest primary ticket outlet in the United States, meaning they have partnerships with many venues, sports teams, and live event organizers to be an official source for original ticket sales. They also own several large resale marketplaces where tickets can be resold, often at higher prices than face value. So even if you didn’t originally buy from Ticketmaster, their resale sites like Ticketmaster Resale and Ticketmaster Plus can usually accommodate listings for a variety of ticket sources.
Ticket Transfer vs. Resale
There are two main ways you can “resell” a ticket on Ticketmaster if you didn’t buy it there originally:
Ticket Transfer
Many tickets sold on Ticketmaster allow for free ticket transfers to another person through their system. This allows someone who originally purchased a ticket to electronically transfer it to someone else’s name. The new ticket holder would need to create a Ticketmaster account to receive the ticket transfer.
Transfers have some limitations:
– The original ticket purchaser has to initiate the transfer within the Ticketmaster system. If you purchased a transferable Ticketmaster ticket secondhand, you likely could not transfer it yourself.
– Transfers usually have to be completed before the event date. Day-of transfers are not allowed.
– Some tickets, like college sports tickets and VIP packages, may not be transferable.
Ticket Resale
Reselling a ticket means listing it for sale on a secondary marketplace like Ticketmaster Resale at a price you determine. This does not have to be the original purchaser – anyone in possession of a ticket can list it for resale on these marketplaces. Some key things to know about reselling non-Ticketmaster tickets:
– The ticket must scan successfully at the venue for it to be resold on Ticketmaster. Meaning it’s a legit, valid ticket.
– The original ticket seller has to opt to “post” the ticket for sale on your behalf. As the reseller, you don’t have direct access to post listings.
– Certain high-demand tickets are prohibited from resale – for example, lottery-won Hamilton tickets.
– There are seller fees collected by Ticketmaster on completed resale transactions.
So in summary – if you have a valid working ticket in your possession, even if you didn’t buy it on Ticketmaster originally, you can likely resell it on their secondary marketplaces. But for transfers and restrictions you need the cooperation of the original ticket buyer.
How to Resell Non-Ticketmaster Tickets
Here is a step-by-step guide to reselling tickets not purchased on Ticketmaster using their resale services:
1. Verify Your Tickets
First you need to verify that your tickets are valid and resellable. There should be a barcode or QR code that can be scanned at the event venue to grant entry. The tickets cannot be counterfeit or copies. Make sure there aren’t any notices that they are “non-transferrable.” Premium seats like VIP boxes often cannot be resold.
2. Contact Original Purchaser
Get in touch with whoever originally bought the tickets from the venue, team, etc. Explain that you want to resell the tickets on Ticketmaster Resale or a similar marketplace. They will need to initiate the resale posting process from their Ticketmaster account.
3. Provide Resale Information
Give the ticket buyer all the details they need to list the tickets on your behalf. This includes the exact section, row and seat numbers. Have them create a resale listing for each ticket individually. Also provide your desired resale price – this can be higher or lower than original face value.
4. Transfer Tickets
To complete the resale process, the original buyer has to electronically transfer the tickets to your Ticketmaster account. You’ll want to register for an account if you don’t have one yet. The tickets will be removed from the original buyer’s account once transferred.
5. Accept Transferred Tickets
When the tickets show up in your account, you need to accept the ticket transfer. This completes the process and “posts” the newly listed tickets for resale on the marketplace.
6. Manage Resale Listing
As the new seller, you can now manage the resale listing. Ticketmaster allows you to change the asking price, add seating details, upload photos, and provide other listing information. Make updates as needed to attract buyers!
7. Get Paid
Once a resale buyer purchases your listed ticket, you’ll receive payment (minus Ticketmaster fees) shortly after the transaction processes. Congrats, you successfully resold a non-Ticketmaster ticket!
Pros and Cons of Reselling on Ticketmaster
Reselling tickets through Ticketmaster has some notable advantages:
Pros
– Large built-in audience – TM has massive site traffic and buyer reach.
– Established trustworthy marketplace – buyers feel confident in ticket authenticity.
– Convenient digital ticket transfers.
– Reasonable 10-15% seller fees.
Cons
– You don’t directly control postings as the reseller.
– Limited to certain event tickets only.
– Restrictions on high-demand tickets to deter scalping.
– Must compete with professional ticket brokers.
So while Ticketmaster facilitates easy convenient resale, you do lose some control compared to independent secondary marketplaces. But overall millions of tickets are resold each year through Ticketmaster by fans who originally bought them elsewhere.
Other Ways to Resell Non-Ticketmaster Tickets
If you can’t or don’t want to use Ticketmaster’s systems, there are a few other options to resell tickets purchased elsewhere:
1. StubHub
Stubhub is a major secondary ticket marketplace similar to Ticketmaster Resale. As the ticket holder, you can directly create listings on StubHub without needing the original buyer. Fees are competitive and it draws high buyer traffic.
2. Vivid Seats
Vivid Seats is another large player where everyday sellers list various event tickets. Like StubHub, you don’t need ticket origin information and can post directly.
3. Craigslist
For a more DIY local approach, you can create a ticket resale listing on Craigslist classifieds. Meetup in person to exchange the tickets. No fees, though less built-in buyer protection.
4. Facebook Groups
Join Facebook Groups for the team or venue and offer tickets for sale to group members. Often less competitive pricing in these community groups.
5. Outside the Venue
Some sellers take an old-fashioned approach – hang out outside the venue before the event and offer to resell tickets to attendees. Risky if you get stuck with extras though!
So in summary – StubHub, Vivid Seats, Craigslist, Facebook, and outside resale are alternatives if Ticketmaster transfer/resale doesn’t work for your unwanted tickets. Each option has pros and cons to weigh.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you sell paper tickets on Ticketmaster?
Physical paper tickets generally cannot be resold on Ticketmaster, since they rely on electronic ticket transfers. However, if you list paper tickets for sale, you can arrange to meet the buyer to exchange them for cash.
What happens if tickets don’t sell on Ticketmaster?
If your resale tickets don’t end up selling, the original ticket buyer who posted them will get the unsold tickets back in their account automatically after the listing expires.
Is reselling tickets legal?
Reselling event tickets is legal in most states in the U.S. Some states prohibit sales above face value, but otherwise there are no major restrictions on individuals reselling tickets.
Can venues tell if you resold their tickets?
It depends on the venue’s specific policies, but many can track ticket purchases and transfers to see if a non-original buyer used the ticket. Season ticket holders may risk losing privileges if caught reselling.
What are Ticketmaster’s seller fees?
Ticketmaster charges around 10-15% in total fees on any resold ticket. The exact fees vary based on the event. There is no fee to transfer a ticket without resale.
How do I transfer tickets to someone else on Ticketmaster?
If the tickets are transferable, the original purchaser has to initiate the transfer to the recipient’s Ticketmaster account. As the recipient, you accept the transfer into your account.
Can you sell mobile tickets on Ticketmaster?
Most mobile tickets issued directly from the venue’s app cannot be resold on Ticketmaster. There is no way to electronically transfer these to a new buyer. Printed ticket copies would have to be exchanged in person.
The Bottom Line
Selling tickets not originally purchased on Ticketmaster is possible on their resale platform, but requires coordination with the original ticket buyer to post and transfer to you. Independent sites like StubHub allow you to directly list any valid tickets you possess. Make sure to understand the requirements and restrictions before attempting to resell tickets in order to avoid problems. With some additional effort, you can successfully offload your Ticketmaster alternatives.