Ticketmaster is one of the largest ticket sales and distribution companies in the world. They sell tickets for concerts, sports events, theater shows, and more. Ticketmaster also operates a ticket resale marketplace where fans can buy and sell tickets from other fans. This allows people who can no longer attend an event to recoup some of their money by reselling their ticket. It also gives fans another avenue to get tickets, especially for sold out or high demand events. However, there are some drawbacks and risks to buying tickets resale on Ticketmaster. As with any secondary ticket market, buyers have to be cautious of potential scams and counterfeit tickets. In this article, we will examine the reliability of Ticketmaster’s resale ticket marketplace and provide tips for safely buying resale tickets.
How Ticketmaster Resale Works
The Ticketmaster resale marketplace operates similarly to other secondary ticket sites like StubHub. Sellers list extra tickets they want to resell at whatever price they choose. Buyers can browse listed tickets and purchase them directly through Ticketmaster. All tickets sold on Ticketmaster resale are verified as legitimate tickets originally purchased from Ticketmaster primary sales. This helps avoid counterfeit ticket scams that can be common on some resale sites. Ticketmaster also guarantees all resale purchases so buyers will get a refund or comparable replacement tickets if there is an issue with their order.
When reselling tickets, sellers have the option to transfer tickets electronically or ship them physically to the buyer. Electronic transfer is more common as it allows instant delivery of tickets to the buyer. Physical ticket shipping incurs an extra fee.
Ticketmaster does charge fees on both the buy and sell side of resale transactions. Sellers pay a 15% commission fee when their ticket sells. Buyers pay an extra 10% fee on resale ticket purchases. These fees are in addition to Ticketmaster’s regular service fees on primary ticket sales.
Benefits of Buying Ticketmaster Resale
There are a few advantages to using Ticketmaster’s resale marketplace over other secondary ticket sites:
– Guaranteed valid tickets: As mentioned previously, all resale tickets sold on Ticketmaster are verified as originally purchased from Ticketmaster. This eliminates the risk of counterfeit tickets.
– Safety: Ticketmaster resale involves less risk compared to buying tickets from individual scalpers or sellers on Craigslist, Facebook etc. You don’t have to meet up with strangers to exchange tickets/money and risk getting scammed.
– Refunds: Ticketmaster guarantees all resale purchases. If there is an issue with the order, you will get a refund or replacement tickets. Not all resale sites offer this buyer protection.
– Convenience: Purchasing resale tickets directly through your existing Ticketmaster account is more convenient compared to setting up accounts on various secondary marketplaces.
– Wider selection: With Ticketmaster being one of the largest primary ticket sellers, their resale marketplace also tends to have a large pool of tickets for in demand events. You may find tickets that are sold out elsewhere.
Risks of Ticketmaster Resale
While Ticketmaster resale provides some advantages over other secondary sources, there are still some risks to consider:
– Higher prices: Like most resale sites, tickets purchased on Ticketmaster resale tend to be priced well above face value. Popular and scarce events will command premium resale prices. Be prepared to pay 2-3X or more compared to primary ticket prices.
– Potential scams: While rare due to Ticketmaster’s protections, there is still a small risk of being scammed by an individual reseller. For example, some have reported already redeemed ticket barcodes being resold on Ticketmaster.
– Non-transferrable tickets: Some event tickets have restrictions preventing resale or transfer to a new buyer. This can lead to issues gaining entry with another person’s name on the ticket. Ticketmaster’s policies don’t allow refunds on non-transferrable tickets bought on resale.
– Less recourse: You have less recourse if something goes wrong with a resale purchase compared to primary ticket purchases direct from Ticketmaster. For primary tickets, you can often get replacement tickets if yours are lost or have an issue. For resale tickets, you are typically limited to a refund of the purchase price.
– Counterfeit risk still exists: While rare, there have been isolated reports of convincing fake tickets still slipping through Ticketmaster’s vetting processes. Being vigilant is still important.
Tips for Safely Buying Ticketmaster Resale Tickets
Here are some tips for getting valid resale tickets and avoiding scams on Ticketmaster:
– Compare prices across sites: Before buying, check prices on other resale sites like StubHub to get a sense of fair market value. Exceptionally low prices could be a red flag for counterfeits.
– Read seller ratings/reviews: Ticketmaster shows seller ratings and reviews. Be wary of sellers with no ratings or poor feedback. Look for trusted sellers with long histories.
– Avoid wire transfers/prepaid cards: Only pay through Ticketmaster’s official payment processes. Other requests like wire transfers or prepaid cards may indicate a scam.
– Confirm policies: Before bidding or buying, understand Ticketmaster’s resale policies, guarantees, and fees.
– Check event details: Verify the event date, time, location, and seating details to make sure they match what you are expecting.
– Inspect tickets: When you receive electronic or hard tickets, thoroughly inspect them for any alterations, missing details, or other discrepancies.
– Arrive early: Be sure to arrive at the venue early enough to address any potential ticket issues with the box office before the event starts.
Is Ticketmaster Resale Reliable Overall?
In general, Ticketmaster resale provides a more reliable and protected way of buying tickets versus other secondary sources. The ticket verification processes and buyer guarantees help reduce many of the risks in peer-to-peer ticket marketplaces. However, fans should still exercise caution as some fraud is still possible even on Ticketmaster resale. Buyers need to research sellers, compare prices across sites, inspect tickets carefully, and allow time to troubleshoot any ticket problems. If these precautions are taken, Ticketmaster resale can be a decent option for scoring tickets to sold out and high demand events. But buyers should be prepared to pay a premium over face value prices. For the most peace of mind, primary ticket sales directly through Ticketmaster will always be the most reliable source of valid event tickets.
Conclusion
Ticketmaster resale provides a more trusted ticket marketplace versus general secondary sources. The ticket verification and buyer guarantees offer useful protections against common resale risks like counterfeits. However, fraud is still possible in rare cases, so buyers need to be diligent in researching sellers, comparing prices, inspecting tickets carefully, and confirming policies. While not completely risk-free, Ticketmaster resale can expand options for sold out events if used cautiously. It improves your chances of getting valid tickets compared to unknown resellers. But you will likely pay much higher prices compared to primary ticket sales. Overall, Ticketmaster resale brings more reliability to the secondary ticket market, but it is not a flawless system. Some due diligence on the buyer side is still required.
