When you purchase tickets on Ticketmaster and then list them for resale on StubHub, StubHub is able to detect that the tickets were originally purchased on Ticketmaster through a few different methods.
Tracking Ticket Barcodes and IDs
Every ticket sold through Ticketmaster is assigned a unique barcode or identification number. When you go to list a ticket for resale on StubHub, you need to enter in the ticket details including the barcode or ID. StubHub maintains a database of Ticketmaster ticket IDs and barcodes, so when you enter a code that matches one from Ticketmaster, StubHub can identify it as originally being a Ticketmaster ticket.
Linked Accounts
If you have a StubHub account that is linked to your Ticketmaster account, StubHub can look at your Ticketmaster purchase history and match up any tickets you are reselling to previous Ticketmaster purchases. So if you bought tickets to a concert on Ticketmaster and then go to list those same tickets on StubHub, StubHub will see you had purchased those tickets already on your Ticketmaster account.
Ticket Transfer Process
There is often a direct ticket transfer process between Ticketmaster and StubHub when reselling tickets. When you list a Ticketmaster ticket for resale on StubHub, you initiate a ticket transfer that requires the ticket to be verified on Ticketmaster’s end before the resale listing can be completed. This allows StubHub to confirm the ticket is originally from Ticketmaster before putting it up for resale on their platform.
Identifying Ticket Details
Beyond just the barcode and ID, tickets have other details associated with them like the event name, venue, seat location, and price. StubHub maintains records of Ticketmaster ticket details for various events. When you go to list a ticket on StubHub, it will check the detailed ticket information you enter against Ticketmaster’s records to identify if there is a match.
Partnership Between StubHub and Ticketmaster
There is an official partnership between StubHub and Ticketmaster that allows them to share ticketing data and information. Through this direct partnership, StubHub can easily identify which tickets being resold on their platform originally came from Ticketmaster purchases. The terms of their agreement allow Ticketmaster to provide StubHub with ticket purchase history and ticket details so they can track the ticketing lifecycle from initial sale to resale.
Why Does StubHub Track This?
StubHub wants to track which tickets came from Ticketmaster for a few main reasons:
- To confirm tickets are valid and verify their details before allowing them to be resold on StubHub
- To flag any potential double selling of the same tickets on both platforms
- To analyze ticket sales patterns and metrics between the two platforms
- To enforce any ticket transferring restrictions placed by original ticket issuers
- To facilitate ticket transfers between the two platforms when reselling
Overall, StubHub tracks Ticketmaster ticket sources to maintain ticket integrity, prevent fraud, and gain sales insights when providing a secondary ticket marketplace.
Methods Consumers Can Use
As a consumer reselling Ticketmaster tickets on StubHub, there are a few things you can do to make the transfer process smoother:
- Make sure your StubHub and Ticketmaster accounts are linked if possible
- Have your Ticketmaster ticket receipt or barcode handy when listing on StubHub
- Go through the StubHub transfer process to authenticate your ticket back to Ticketmaster
- Double check all ticket details entered on StubHub match your Ticketmaster receipt
- Follow any ticket transfer restrictions placed on the original tickets
Pros for Consumers
Some pros of StubHub being able to identify Ticketmaster tickets include:
- Easy process for consumers to resell their tickets
- Reduced risk of fraud or double selling tickets
- Seamless ticket transferring between the platforms
- Confidence for buyers that tickets are authentic
Potential Downsides
There are some potential downsides in StubHub tracking Ticketmaster ticket sources as well:
- It gives StubHub visibility into Ticketmaster sales data they otherwise wouldn’t have access to
- It could allow StubHub to adjust their pricing or offerings based on Ticketmaster sales
- Extra steps required for sellers to authenticate tickets back to Ticketmaster before resale
- Ticketmaster could theoretically block transfers if they wanted to keep sales on their own platform
Conclusion
In summary, StubHub utilizes methods like barcode tracking, account linking, transfer processes, and partnership data sharing with Ticketmaster to identify which tickets were originally purchased from Ticketmaster. This allows for an efficient ticket resale process while providing StubHub with valuable sales insight and ticket validity verification. Consumers can take advantage of easy ticket reselling while the downsides are mainly increased visibility into sales data between the two competitors. Overall, the process demonstrates how advanced tracking and partnerships in secondary ticket sales have become.
