How can I sell a ticket I bought on Ticketmaster?

There are a few options for selling a ticket you purchased on Ticketmaster if you can no longer attend the event. The main methods are:

• Sell through Ticketmaster’s official ticket exchange
• Sell through an independent ticket resale platform
• Sell to someone you know directly

Each option has its own pros and cons to consider in terms of fees, buyer protection, and how easily you can complete the sale.

Sell Through Ticketmaster’s Ticket Exchange

One of the most convenient ways to resell your Ticketmaster tickets is through their official SafeTix Ticket Exchange. Here are some key things to know about using Ticketmaster’s exchange:

• Only tickets purchased through Ticketmaster can be posted for sale on their exchange.
• Sales are guaranteed by Ticketmaster to be valid and legitimate.
• Buyers don’t need to worry about fake or scam tickets.
• There are no meetups required – Ticketmaster transfers tickets electronically.
• Sellers pay a 10% commission fee to Ticketmaster when the tickets sell.
• You can set your own resale price, but Ticketmaster recommends competitive pricing.
• Tickets can be removed from sale at any time if they do not sell.

Here is the basic process to resell tickets on Ticketmaster’s exchange:

1. Sign into your Ticketmaster account online or via the mobile app.
2. Navigate to the order that contains the tickets you want to sell.
3. Select the “Sell Tickets” button or link.
4. Choose which tickets you want to post and the price you want to sell them for.
5. Agree to Ticketmaster’s terms and officially list them for sale.
6. You will be notified if/when a buyer purchases your tickets.
7. Ticketmaster will facilitate the transfer and take their commission fee.
8. You receive the resale amount minus their commission.

The major pros of using Ticketmaster’s exchange include the large buyer audience, guarantees provided, and convenient electronic transfer. The 10% commission fee does take a cut of your sale price though.

Pros

• Large buyer audience already uses Ticketmaster
• Guaranteed valid tickets
• No meetups required
• Electronic ticket transfer

Cons

• 10% commission fee
• Can’t set own buyer protections or policies

Sell Through an Independent Resale Marketplace

Popular independent ticket resale marketplaces like StubHub, VividSeats, and SeatGeek also provide an option to resell your Ticketmaster tickets. Here’s an overview:

• Posting process is similar – list event details, seats, and asking price.
• Tickets are transferred electronically after purchase.
• Buyers may be protected by guarantees from the resale platform.
• Sellers pay a commission fee when tickets sell, typically 10-20%.
• You compete with other sellers to attract buyers.

Steps to sell tickets on an independent resale site:

1. Create a seller account on the marketplace.
2. Select the event and input info about the tickets you’re selling.
3. Add payment details to receive payouts when tickets sell.
4. Choose options like pricing and quantity available.
5. Finalize the listing and promote it if possible.
6. Once sold, the site facilitates ticket transfer to the buyer.
7. Receive your payout after they take their commission fees.

The major benefit of using an independent platform is getting to set your own ticket prices. However, there is more competition, and you have less control over buyer protections.

Pros

• Set your own ticket prices
• Wide potential buyer audience
• Electronic ticket transfers

Cons

• 10-20% commission fees
• Less control over buyer policies
• More seller competition

Sell to Someone You Know

Selling your extra tickets directly to someone you know is also an option. Here are some tips on going this route:

• Spread the word you’re selling to friends, family, co-workers, etc.
• Vet potential buyers by only selling to trusted connections.
• Use social media networks to broaden your reach if needed.
• Meet in person to exchange paper tickets, or transfer electronically.
• Accept payment via cash, PayPal, Venmo, etc.
• Price competitively, but may be able to go higher than exchanges.
• No fees, but smaller potential buyer pool.

Steps to sell directly to someone:

1. Let people know you have tickets to sell and spread the word.
2. Only sell to someone you know or who is referred by a trusted source.
3. Coordinate transfer of tickets in person or electronically.
4. Accept payment by cash, app, or money transfer.
5. Provide confirmation of sale and final ticket transfers.

Selling directly has the advantage of no platform fees. But you may need to work harder to find a buyer, and have less guarantees.

Pros

• No selling platform fees
• Set your own price and policies
• Direct payment

Cons

• Smaller pool of potential buyers
• No built-in buyer protections
• More work to facilitate the sale

Comparing Major Ticket Resale Options

Here is a table comparing key details on the major methods for reselling Ticketmaster tickets:

As you can see, there are trade-offs no matter which approach you choose. Key factors to consider are how much effort you want to put in, how much money you hope to get back, and how risk-averse you are around things like scams or non-payment.

Tips for Maximizing Your Ticket Resale Value

Here are some tips to help maximize how much money you can recoup when reselling your Ticketmaster tickets:

• Sell as soon as you know you cannot attend – gives most time to find buyers willing to pay higher prices.
• Weekday events and less in-demand opponents/artists typically have lower resale values.
• Avoid saturating the market – selling 4+ tickets at once forces you to lower prices.
• Price 10-20% below current ask prices on exchanges to stay competitive.
• Don’t wait until last minute – buyers become scarce so you get lowballed or take bigger losses.
• Consider bundling multiple events into a single listing to maximize value.
• Highlight seat quality, section, row, views, etc. to attract buyers.

Implementing pricing tips like those can help you squeeze the most value out of extra tickets you’re unable to use.

How to Avoid Scams and Stay Safe

When reselling tickets, especially directly, you also want to take precautions to avoid scams and stay safe:

• Never send electronic tickets until payment is received and verified.
• Only meet in safe public places and avoid isolated meetups.
• Request social profiles and do background checks before direct sales.
• Avoid sales involving overseas payment or shipping.
• Don’t believe sob stories or high-pressure sales tactics.
• Trust your gut instinct – if it seems shady, walk away.
• Save documentation of all communications and transaction records.
• If meeting to exchange, bring someone else with you for safety.

Exchanges made solely online and through major reputable platforms like Ticketmaster involve less risk. But for direct sales, thoroughly vet buyers and use common sense precautions.

Alternatives to Reselling Your Tickets

A couple other options beyond reselling your tickets include:

• Gifting them – Give unused tickets to a friend or family member to use instead. No profit, but good for your community.
• Donating them – You can donate extra tickets to charity so they can be used by those less fortunate.
• Absorbing the cost – Simply accept the loss if the event was lower cost and not worth the resale effort.

So if pure financial return is not your top concern, alternatives like gifting and donating allow the tickets to go to good use while helping others.

Conclusion

In summary, reselling Ticketmaster tickets is possible through their official exchange, independent resale sites, or directly to someone you know. Each option has trade-offs around fees, convenience, seller control, and buyer protections. Following pricing best practices, moving quickly, and avoiding scams can help maximize your potential return. But you also have options like gifting or donating tickets if recouping money is not your top goal. Considering all these factors allows you to make the right choice for your own unused event tickets.