Ticketmaster is one of the largest ticket sales and distribution companies in the world. They sell tickets for various events like concerts, sports games, theater shows and more. Ticketmaster offers customers the option to resell tickets through their platform if they can no longer attend the event.
What is Ticketmaster’s Sell Option?
The sell option allows Ticketmaster customers to relist and resell event tickets they have already purchased but can no longer use. This gives the customer a way to recoup some of the money they spent on the tickets by allowing other fans to buy them at market value.
With the sell option, customers can easily list their tickets for resale on Ticketmaster’s website or mobile app. The platform handles all of the processing, payments and transfers once a new buyer purchases the tickets being resold.
How Does Reselling Tickets on Ticketmaster Work?
Here is an overview of how reselling tickets works on Ticketmaster:
- List the tickets for resale – Customers can select the “Sell” option on the Ticketmaster site or app for the event tickets in their account they want to relist.
- Set the resale price – Ticketmaster will recommend resale prices based on current market value, but sellers can set their own ticket price within a provided range.
- Buyers purchase the relisted tickets – Once listed, the sell option tickets are available for other fans to purchase just like any other Ticketmaster tickets.
- Ticketmaster facilitates the exchange – When tickets are purchased, Ticketmaster automatically transfers them to the buyer and coordinates payment to the seller.
- The seller gets paid – After the event occurs and tickets are scanned, Ticketmaster pays the seller the resale price minus a percentage commission fee.
It provides a secure, convenient way for ticket holders to recoup costs and for other customers to obtain tickets to sold out events. The entire process happens within Ticketmaster’s existing ticketing infrastructure.
What Types of Tickets Can Be Resold on Ticketmaster?
Most tickets purchased directly via Ticketmaster can be listed for resale using the sell option feature. This includes:
- Concert tickets
- Sports tickets
- Theater/Broadway show tickets
- Festival tickets
- Comedy show tickets
- VIP/package experience tickets
In most cases, season tickets, free promotional tickets and tickets acquired through fan-to-fan exchanges cannot be listed for resale on Ticketmaster. The eligibility conditions can vary by event.
Is There a Time Limit to Resell Tickets?
Yes, there are time limitations on how soon before an event you can list tickets for resale on Ticketmaster:
- Concerts – Up until 1 hour before showtime
- NBA Games – Up until 3 hours before tipoff
- NFL Games – Up until kickoff
- NHL Games – Up until 2 hours before puck drop
- MLB Games – Up until end of 1st inning
These time limits help ensure all ticket transfers can be properly completed before event start times. Trying to resell tickets too close to an event may make them impossible to relist on Ticketmaster.
Is There a Price Limit for Reselling Tickets?
Ticketmaster does limit the price range that resellers can set when listing tickets. The specific price limits are set as follows:
- Floor/Minimum Price – The lowest price option is typically the original ticket price paid.
- Ceiling/Maximum Price – Ticketmaster caps resale prices at around 20-30% above comparable current ticket prices.
These price boundaries help prevent extreme overpricing and maintain fair resale value. Ticketmaster may adjust price ranges for high demand events and tickets closer to the event date.
Does Ticketmaster Charge Fees for Reselling Tickets?
Yes, Ticketmaster does charge commission fees to sellers who relist and resell their tickets on the platform. The commission fee is around 15-20% of the final resale price.
For example, if you resell a ticket for $100, Ticketmaster may take a $15 commission and you would get the remaining $85 as the seller. The exact commission percentage can vary by event.
This commission fee covers Ticketmaster’s costs for facilitating the secure ticket exchange between buyer and seller. They may also impose small transaction fees on ticket buyers.
How Do Sellers Get Paid for Resold Tickets?
As the ticket seller, you will not receive payment until after the event you listed tickets for has occurred. This is to prevent fraudulent sales of tickets the sellers don’t actually have.
Once the event is over, Ticketmaster verifies that the tickets were scanned and used at the event. They then process and send the resale payment minus their commission to the seller by the payment method used to originally buy the tickets.
For resale amounts over $600, Ticketmaster may issue a 1099-MISC tax form to the seller for the income.
What Are the Benefits of Reselling Tickets on Ticketmaster?
Here are some of the major benefits of using Ticketmaster’s sell option for event tickets you can’t use:
- Large ready market – Millions of users already buy tickets on Ticketmaster.
- Fair market pricing – Ticketmaster optimizes resale prices based on supply and demand.
- Secure platform – No risks of fake/invalid tickets or non-payment as a seller.
- Processing included – Convenient handling of all ticket transfers and payments.
- Reputable brand – Most buyers trust the Ticketmaster name and platform.
Reselling through Ticketmaster provides the best chance for maximizing resale income in a safe, convenient manner.
What Are the Potential Drawbacks?
Using Ticketmaster’s integrated resale option does come with a few potential downsides to consider as well:
- Commission fees – The 15-20% commission on resale prices reduces seller profits.
- Less control – Inability to customize ticket pricing or buyer requirements.
- Limited transferability – Tickets only resellable on Ticketmaster, not other sites.
- Delayed payment – Must wait until after the event to receive resale earnings.
- High demand only – Few buyers for low-interest events or seat locations.
Sellers have to balance the tradeoff between convenience/security and higher fees/less control over the sales process.
Key Tips for Reselling Your Tickets on Ticketmaster
Follow these tips to maximize your chances of successfully reselling tickets on Ticketmaster:
- List for resale as early as possible, prices tend to decline as the event nears.
- Avoid very high-priced listings above comparable ticket values.
- For the best visibility, match the resale quantity available to your actual ticket quantity.
- Be responsive to interested buyer inquiries to complete sales.
- Consider relisting at a lower price if your initial list gets little traction.
Conclusion
Ticketmaster provides a built-in solution for customers to easily resell tickets for upcoming events they can no longer attend. The process allows ticket holders to recoup some of their money while giving other fans a chance to buy tickets in high demand.
While there are some limitations and fees involved, the benefits of security, convenience and access to Ticketmaster’s large buyer base make it an ideal option for many looking to resell their tickets. Following best practices for pricing, quantities and buyer interactions can help maximize your ticket resale success on the platform.
