Ticketmaster, one of the largest primary ticket outlets in the United States, is well known for the various fees it charges on top of ticket prices. One of the common questions ticket buyers ask is whether Ticketmaster charges any fees when transferring tickets from one person to another.
What is Ticket Transfer?
Ticket transfer refers to the process of transferring or reassigning a ticket that has already been purchased to another person. Many primary and secondary ticket sellers allow ticket transfers as a convenience to customers who can no longer attend an event they have tickets for. The ticket can be electronically transferred to someone else’s name, allowing the new ticket holder to gain entry to the event using that ticket.
Does Ticketmaster Allow Ticket Transfers?
Yes, Ticketmaster does allow customers to transfer tickets to another person as long as the event organizer enables the ticket transfer feature. This convenient option gives Ticketmaster customers a method to sell or give away tickets they can no longer use, without having to go through unauthorized resellers.
According to Ticketmaster’s policy, only tickets that are transferable will have the ticket transfer option enabled on Ticketmaster’s website or mobile app. Tickets may not be transferable for various reasons, such as restrictions set by event organizers or by law. Customers can check if their tickets are transferable by viewing the Details section for that ticket online or in the Ticketmaster app.
Does Ticketmaster Charge Fees for Ticket Transfers?
Yes, Ticketmaster does charge a fee for transferring tickets. The exact fee amount depends on various factors, but is usually around $8-$15 per ticket transferred.
Some key points on Ticketmaster’s ticket transfer fees:
- The transfer fee is charged per ticket transferred.
- The fee amount is set on an event-by-event basis, so fees can vary greatly depending on the concert, game, or show.
- Tickets transferred very close to event date usually have higher fees.
- There is no cap on the maximum transfer fee amount.
The transfer fee covers the cost of Ticketmaster having to reissue the ticket in the recipient’s name and facilitate the secure ticket transfer process online.
What Payment Methods Does Ticketmaster Accept for Transfer Fees?
Ticketmaster accepts the following payment methods for transfer fee payment:
- Credit card – Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover
- Debit card – Has the same acceptance as credit cards
- Gift cards – Ticketmaster gift cards only
- Ticketmaster Balance – Funds already in your Ticketmaster account
So valid credit/debit cards, Ticketmaster gift cards, or your Ticketmaster Balance can be used to pay the ticket transfer fee. Cash and checks are not accepted.
Does the Original Ticket Buyer Pay the Transfer Fee?
Yes, the original ticket buyer or ticket holder is responsible for paying the transfer fee to Ticketmaster. The recipient who is getting the transferred ticket does not have to pay anything.
Can the Transfer Fee be Avoided?
There is no way for a Ticketmaster customer to legally transfer a ticket on Ticketmaster without paying the transfer fee. The only way to avoid the fee is to not transfer the ticket via Ticketmaster at all. But that comes with some major risks:
- Transferring tickets outside of Ticketmaster technically violates the ticket policy, since the ticket is supposed to be used by the original purchaser.
- You lose the benefits and security of Ticketmaster’s official transfer process. If any issues come up later, like fraud or ticket delivery problems, you have no recourse.
- Tickets transferred via unofficial channels have a much higher chance of being invalid or fraudulent.
So while giving away or selling tickets through other channels can avoid Ticketmaster’s transfer fee, customers take on substantial risk by doing so. The safest method is paying the Ticketmaster transfer fee for a seamless, guaranteed ticket transfer.
How Does the Transfer Fee Affect Season Ticket Packages?
For season ticket packages or multi-event ticket packages, there is typically a set number of ticket transfers allowed without extra fees. Once the transfer limit is exceeded, a transfer fee will be charged for any additional transfers.
For example, a NFL team may allow 10 ticket transfers per season ticket account. Transfers 1-10 are free, but transfer #11 incurs a fee. This allows season ticket holders some flexibility for giving away or selling select games, within reason.
Transfer fee policies can vary across teams and venues, so season ticket holders should check with their club for specific transfer fee waiver allotments and limits.
Does Ticketmaster Charge a Fee for Reselling Tickets?
Yes, Ticketmaster does charge a fee for reselling tickets through their Ticketmaster Resale platform. This is different from a standard ticket transfer:
- Ticket Transfer – Transferring ticket rights to another individual without financial exchange.
- Ticket Resale – Reselling a ticket for an agreed upon price on Ticketmaster Resale.
For ticket resales, the seller is charged a percentage-based fee on the total ticket resale price. This ranges from 10-20% of the resale price. There are no upfront fees – the final resale fee is deducted from the seller’s payout after the ticket sells.
Key Differences Between Transfer Fees and Resale Fees
| Fee Type | Transfer Fee | Resale Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Flat fee per ticket, usually $10-$20 | Percentage of resale price, around 10-20% |
| When it’s Charged | Upfront, when transfer is initiated | After sale completes |
| Type of Exchange | Ticket rights transferred to another individual | Ticket resold for profit |
So in summary, a transfer fee is a flat upfront fee charged per ticket anytime a ticket is transferred to another person. A resale fee is a percentage charged only when reselling tickets for profit on Ticketmaster Resale.
Refunding Transferred Tickets
If a ticket is transferred on Ticketmaster, only the original ticket purchaser can request a refund – the ticket recipient cannot. The original purchaser must request the refund before the event occurs in order to get a refund. If the event has already occurred, no refund will be issued.
When a transferred ticket is refunded, the ticket transfer fee is not refunded to the purchaser. Only the original base ticket price is refunded. The transfer fee helps cover Ticketmaster’s costs for facilitating the ticket transfer.
Changing Delivery Options for Transferred Tickets
Only the original ticket purchaser has the ability to change delivery options for transferred tickets. The recipient cannot switch the tickets to Will Call pickup or make any other delivery changes.
So after a ticket has been transferred, only the original ticket buyer retains the rights to refunds, exchanges, and delivery modifications for that ticket.
Are Partial Ticket Transfers Allowed?
No, Ticketmaster only allows full ticket transfers – individual seats cannot be transferred out of a multi-ticket purchase. The options are:
- Transfer the entire purchase (all tickets) to one recipient
- Keep all tickets
- Refund the entire purchase
Splitting up tickets across multiple recipients through partial transfers is not possible on Ticketmaster. All seats tied to a single order must be transferred together in one complete transaction.
Transferring Tickets Bought from Third-Party Resellers
Tickets purchased from unofficial third-party resellers cannot be transferred on Ticketmaster, since Ticketmaster only allows transfers for verified tickets bought through Ticketmaster directly. Any tickets resold through unauthorized channels are generally non-transferable on Ticketmaster. Customers can only transfer tickets on Ticketmaster that were originally purchased on Ticketmaster by that same user.
Restrictions on Who Can Receive Transferred Tickets
There are no major restrictions on who tickets can be transferred to on Ticketmaster. Tickets can be transferred to friends, family, coworkers, or even strangers who purchase your tickets. Some key points:
- Recipient must have a Ticketmaster account to receive the transferred tickets.
- Recipient can be located anywhere – there are no geographic restrictions.
- Tickets cannot be transferred to someone who is restricted from receiving tickets due to past fraud or ticket misuse.
As long as the recipient has a valid Ticketmaster account and has not been banned or restricted, they are eligible to receive ticket transfers.
How Ticket Transfers Work
Here is an overview of how the ticket transfer process works on Ticketmaster:
- Log into your Ticketmaster account online or in the app and find your eligible tickets.
- Select ‘Transfer Tickets’ and enter the recipient’s email address or Ticketmaster account username.
- Confirm details and agree to pay the quoted transfer fee per ticket.
- Once initiated, the recipient must accept the ticket transfer within 7 days or the transfer expires.
- If completed, the tickets are electronically delivered to the recipient’s account.
Ticketmaster also provides step-by-step instructions for how to transfer tickets on their website.
Conclusion
In summary, Ticketmaster does charge a per ticket transfer fee ranging from around $8-$15 anytime tickets are transferred to another fan through their official ticket transfer process. While inconvenient, this fee is unavoidable if you want to securely transfer tickets via Ticketmaster. Customers can avoid fees by giving away or selling tickets through other channels, but lose out on protection if any issues arise with those unofficial transfers. So in most cases, it makes sense to pay Ticketmaster’s transfer fee to have a seamless, guaranteed ticket handoff.
