Ticketmaster is the largest ticket sales and distribution company in the United States, selling tickets for concerts, sporting events, theater shows, and more. Many tickets purchased through Ticketmaster are non-transferrable or have restrictions on reselling. However, Ticketmaster does offer options for reselling tickets through their Ticketmaster Resale marketplace.
Ticketmaster’s Policies on Reselling
Ticketmaster has a few different policies regarding reselling tickets:
For tickets purchased directly through Ticketmaster
– Some tickets cannot be resold at all, as determined by the event organizer or venue. This is usually the case for very high-demand events where organizers want to prevent scalping.
– Many can be posted for resale exclusively through Ticketmaster’s Ticketmaster Resale platform. Sellers can set their own price but may be subject to price caps or floors.
– Ticketmaster generally prohibits reselling tickets on other secondary marketplaces like StubHub if transfer restrictions are in place. Doing so could result in cancelation of the tickets.
For tickets purchased on secondary marketplaces
– If you purchased a ticket through a reseller on Stubhub, VividSeats, or another secondary marketplace, the ability to relist those tickets can vary. Some are fully transferrable while others may still have restrictions imposed by the original issuer.
– Ticketmaster does not itself restrict reselling tickets that were originally purchased on the secondary market. However, you still need to check if any restrictions are in place with the original ticket issuer.
So in summary, Ticketmaster does provide a platform for reselling many of its tickets, but it does not universally permit or guarantee the ability to resell any ticket purchased through its system. Restrictions may be in place on a case-by-case basis.
Why Ticketmaster Places Restrictions on Resales
Ticketmaster imposes resale restrictions and prohibitions on certain tickets for a few key reasons:
To prevent scalping and unfair pricing
By making some high-demand tickets non-transferable and prohibiting resale on secondary markets, Ticketmaster tries to prevent scalpers from immediately buying up tickets and reselling them at a huge markup. This aims to keep tickets affordable and available to genuine fans.
On behalf of event organizers
Sports teams, concert promoters, and other event organizers often request that Ticketmaster implement resale restrictions as part of their business agreements. They want to maximize their own revenue and prevent secondary sellers from profiting.
To drive resellers to Ticketmaster Resale
Ticketmaster can collect additional commission fees when tickets are resold through its own Resale platform. So it has incentive to prohibit reselling on competing platforms.
How Ticketmaster Resale Works
For tickets that are permitted to be resold, Ticketmaster provides a resale marketplace through Ticketmaster Resale. Here are some key things to know about how it works:
Sellers can set their own asking price
Unlike some other secondary marketplaces, Ticketmaster does not impose any mandatory pricing on resale tickets. Sellers are free to price tickets at whatever amount they choose.
Price caps may be in place
While sellers can pick a price, some events have price ceilings imposed by the venue or organizer. Resale prices for a given ticket cannot be listed higher than a specified cap.
There are seller fees
Much like other secondary marketplaces, Ticketmaster charges fees to sellers who relist their tickets. This includes both a percentage fee based on the ticket price as well as a per-ticket posting fee.
Tickets still need to be transferred securely
Listings on Ticketmaster Resale are merely advertisements. To complete the actual ticket transfer, sellers need to coordinate with the buyer and formally change the ticket’s name to the buyer through Ticketmaster’s system. This helps prevent fraud and misuse.
Refunds and support are available
If buyers never receive the tickets, Ticketmaster pledges to refund the full purchase amount. They also offer customer support to help facilitate exchanges between buyers and sellers.
Reasons You May Be Unable to Resell a Ticketmaster Ticket
Again, while Ticketmaster Resale provides an option for reselling many event tickets, some specific purchased tickets still cannot be resold for a few reasons:
Non-transferrable tickets
Some tickets state at the time of initial purchase that they are “non-transferrable” and resale is prohibited. Trying to relist them could result in cancelation.
Venue/organizer restrictions
Certain high-profile events restrict resales to help with crowd control and prevent scalping. The venue or event organizers determine policies.
Restricted access tickets
Tickets that grant special experiences like VIP access, meet-and-greets, or amenities may not be resold to prevent unauthorized access.
Location-based tickets
Tickets tied to specific seat locations or ticket holder identities may restrict transfers to prevent seating issues or unfair swaps.
Restrictive ticket terms
Any tickets with added terms & conditions shown during the original ticket purchase may impose resale prohibitions that still apply.
Tips for Reselling Ticketmaster Tickets
If you have tickets that you want to resell on Ticketmaster Resale, here are some tips:
Carefully check for resale restrictions
Before assuming tickets can be resold, scour the details and fine print from your initial ticket purchase and look for any verbiage about transfers or resale policies. Call Ticketmaster if uncertain.
Understand the fees
Make sure to factor Ticketmaster’s resale seller fees into your profit expectations. These vary based on factors like ticket price.
Price competitively
Research comparable ticket resale listings on Ticketmaster Resale and aim to competitively price your tickets based on current market rates.
List early
Buyers tend to purchase the already-listed resale tickets first. List your tickets as soon as possible to maximize selling likelihood and price.
Get payment before ticket transfer
Never formally transfer tickets to a buyer until the payment successfully clears to avoid fraud. Use safe payment methods.
Conclusion
In summary, Ticketmaster provides a robust ticket resale marketplace through Ticketmaster Resale, but does not universally permit unrestricted resale of all tickets purchased through its platform. Certain high-demand events will prohibit transfers, while some tickets will have limits imposed even when resale is allowed. Carefully check for any restrictions before attempting to relist tickets, and make use of tools like price analysis and secure payment when selling via Ticketmaster Resale. With the right expectations and practices, reselling tickets through Ticketmaster can be a smooth process.
