The short answer is yes, verified resale tickets on Ticketmaster can generally be trusted. Ticketmaster has implemented a verification process for resale tickets to ensure legitimacy and give buyers peace of mind.
What are verified resale tickets?
Verified resale tickets refer to tickets that are being resold through Ticketmaster’s official resale marketplace by fans and other third party sellers. These are not tickets being directly resold by Ticketmaster itself, but rather by individual ticket holders. However, Ticketmaster does verify these resale tickets to confirm they are legitimate.
The Ticketmaster verification process checks that:
- The tickets being resold match the tickets originally purchased from Ticketmaster for that event.
- The tickets have not already been refunded or resold through a different marketplace.
- The seller actually has possession of the tickets they are reselling.
Once tickets pass the verification process, they receive a “Verified Resale” tag. This tag lets buyers know Ticketmaster has authenticated the tickets.
Benefits of buying verified resale tickets
There are several key benefits to purchasing verified resale tickets instead of tickets through unregulated third party sites:
- Guaranteed authenticity – With Ticketmaster’s verification, you can be confident the tickets are real and will get you into the event.
- Avoid scams – Scammers often sell fake or duplicate tickets that leave buyers stranded. Verified tickets protect against this.
- Official delivery – You’ll receive the tickets directly via Ticketmaster’s official delivery methods.
- Access to support – If any issues come up, you can get help directly from Ticketmaster as the original ticket issuer.
- Covered by FanProtect Guarantee – Qualifying resale tickets may be eligible for Ticketmaster’s guarantee against invalid tickets.
Tips for buying verified resale tickets
Here are some tips to ensure a smooth experience when purchasing verified resale tickets on Ticketmaster:
- Carefully examine the ticket listing and seller profile for any red flags. Look at their ratings and number of transactions.
- Avoid sellers who have prices that seem suspiciously low compared to other resale listings. This could indicate invalid tickets.
- Stick to ticket quantities that match standard seating. For example, pairs, groups of 4, etc. Odd numbered groups may be suspect.
- Complete your purchase through Ticketmaster directly, not through an external website the seller may redirect you to.
- Pay with a credit card when possible to get added fraud protection from your card issuer.
- Make sure the tickets are verified resale and not just generic “resale tickets” without the official tag.
- Print out or safely store your ticket confirmation email and ticket barcodes until the event.
When to exercise caution
While verified resale tickets undergo scrutiny, there are some cases where you may want to be more cautious:
- Recently listed tickets – Be wary of tickets posted right after a sellout, as Ticketmaster may not have had time to fully vet them yet.
- High demand events – For major events that sell out instantly, fake tickets abound from scammers.
- Discounted prices – Heavily discounted tickets can be risky, unless seller has good reviews. Ensure the price makes sense.
- Bulk quantities – It’s rare for one seller to have a large block of contiguous premium seats, unless season tickets. Review carefully.
In these situations, take extra precautions like checking the seller’s reputation, paying with a credit card, not paying full amount upfront, etc.
What if tickets don’t work?
If you purchase verified resale tickets on Ticketmaster that end up being invalid, not working, duplicated, or otherwise have issues, you have recourse:
- Report the problem immediately to Ticketmaster Fan Support.
- Ticketmaster will investigate the issue and assist with next steps.
- If the tickets were verified resale, Ticketmaster may provide replacement tickets if available.
- If the tickets were covered by Ticketmaster’s FanProtect Guarantee, you may get a full refund.
- You can file a purchase dispute with your credit card company to attempt to recover the charge.
- Leave feedback about the seller on Ticketmaster to warn others of potential issues.
Ticketmaster does have measures in place to weed out bad actors. But as with any marketplace, there is some risk buying from third party resellers. Using common sense goes a long way.
Safe alternatives to resale tickets
If the risks of resale tickets seem too high, here are some alternatives to get tickets:
- Purchase from the primary market when tickets initially go on sale.
- Join fan clubs or mailing lists for presales before the general public onsale.
- Try for late release tickets as the event nears if more get released.
- Look for ticket giveaways through radio stations, sponsors, etc.
- Enter contests and sweepstakes to win free tickets.
- Wait last minute to buy on Gametime or at the venue box office day of event.
Though sometimes more expensive, verified resale tickets on Ticketmaster offer a legitimate way to get access to sold out events. With some precautions, buyers can have a high degree of confidence in the validity and security of the tickets.
The bottom line
Ticketmaster’s verification process for resale tickets provides significant benefits in authenticity and convenience over unregulated third party sites. Buyers should still exercise some caution, particularly for high demand events. Overall though, verified resale tickets can be trusted to gain entry when purchased through proper channels on Ticketmaster.