Selling presale Ticketmaster tickets can be a great way to make extra money, especially for popular shows that sell out quickly. Presale tickets give you early access to tickets before the general public sale. This allows you to secure tickets and potentially sell them for a profit. However, there are some important things to keep in mind when reselling presale tickets. In this comprehensive guide, we will cover everything you need to know about how to sell presale Ticketmaster tickets successfully.
What Are Presale Tickets?
Presale tickets are tickets that go on sale before the general public on-sale date. They give fans early access to tickets through various presale events. Some common types of presales include:
- Fan club presales – For members of an artist’s official fan club
- Venue presales – For members of a venue’s email list or loyalty program
- Credit card presales – For holders of certain credit cards like American Express
- Album presales – For those who pre-ordered an artist’s new album
- VIP packages – Bundled special packages with perks like meet & greets
- Spotify presales – For Spotify users who listen to an artist regularly
The key benefit of presale tickets is that they give you early access before the general public on-sale. This improves your chances of getting tickets before they sell out. Depending on the event, presales can start days or even weeks before the public on-sale.
How Do I Get Presale Ticketmaster Tickets?
There are a few main ways to get access to Ticketmaster presales:
1. Join fan clubs or mailing lists
Joining an artist’s official fan club, or signing up for a venue’s email newsletter, will often give you presale code access. Make sure to sign up well in advance of any presales you want to take part in.
2. Get a special credit card
Certain credit cards like American Express offer cardholder-exclusive presales. Consider getting one of these cards if you plan to buy a lot of presale tickets.
3. Pre-order albums
When an artist is releasing a new album, they will sometimes offer presale ticket access to those who pre-order the album. Pre-ordering digitally is the easiest way to take advantage of these presales.
4. Buy VIP packages
VIP packages that offer meet & greets, exclusive merch, and more can come with presale ticket access. These usually sell out very fast so you need to jump on them.
5. Use Ticketmaster Verified Fan
For very popular events, Ticketmaster uses Verified Fan presales. You register ahead of time and get randomly selected for a code if demand exceeds supply.
Tips for Buying Presale Tickets
Here are some tips to improve your chances of scoring presale Ticketmaster tickets:
- Get online ahead of time – Be logged in to Ticketmaster 10-15 minutes early so you’re ready to go right at the presale start time.
- Use multiple devices – Try buying tickets on your computer plus a mobile device to increase your chances.
- Have payment details saved – Speed through checkout by having your payment info stored on your Ticketmaster account.
- Aim for single seats – It’s easier to get single seats rather than groups of 2+ seats together.
- Try for lower-demand shows – Presales for huge artists sell out instantly. Aim for more niche shows.
- Use Ticketmaster app – For very popular shows, the app can work better than the website.
- Don’t give up right away – Keep trying if tickets sell out as more inventory may be released.
Persistence and preparation are key. The more presales you do, the better you’ll get at scoring those coveted tickets!
Is Reselling Presale Tickets Allowed?
Technically, yes – reselling presale tickets is permitted in most cases. However, there are some caveats:
- Check event terms – Some presales prohibit transfers or resale.
- Avoid marked-up “platinum” seats – These “market value” tickets can’t be resold for a profit.
- Watch out for bans – Ticketmaster can ban those suspected of violations.
- No fake fan club memberships – Don’t misrepresent yourself to access fan club presales.
- Disclose restrictions – If selling restricted-view seats, disclose details in your ad.
As long as you follow the rules and terms, reselling at fair market value is generally okay. Use your best judgment. massively inflating prices or hoarding tickets for resale can cause problems.
How Much Profit Can You Make Reselling Tickets?
The potential profit varies drastically based on the event. For extremely high-demand shows that sell out instantly, markups can be substantial. But more niche events may only net you minimal extra profit, if any.
As a baseline, aim for 10-20% higher than face value. Exceptionally hot tickets could go for 50% above face value or more. But price gouging fans with 500% markups risks backlash and losing buyers.
Here are some factors that allow for higher resale profits:
- Major artists with devout fanbases – Think acts like BTS, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles
- Farewell or reunion tours – Big nostalgia factor drives demand.
- Smaller, intimate venues – Scarcity drives up resale prices.
- Cities with large fanbases – Cities like LA, NYC, London
- Weekend dates – Fridays and Saturdays fetch higher prices.
Again, moderate markups based on real demand are best. Price gouging leads to unsold tickets and angry fans. Do your research on recent sold prices for comparable shows when pricing your tickets.
Where Should You Resell Presale Tickets?
You have several options for reselling your presale Ticketmaster tickets:
Ticketmaster Resale – This is Ticketmaster’s official resale marketplace. It has high visibility and trust as the source. But Ticketmaster charges higher fees – around 20% of the ticket price.
StubHub – One of the most popular general ticket resale sites. Decent fees around 10-15%. Has a massive buyer base which is key.
Vivid Seats – Another large trusted resale site. All-in fees tend to be a bit lower than StubHub, around 8-12% on average.
eBay – Useful for very high-demand tickets thanks to wide visibility. But fees can be steep around 10-20% when factoring PayPal.
Facebook Marketplace – The lowest fees at just 5% or so. But limited visibility and you lose buyer protection.
Craigslist – Also low fees and local focus. But security and scam risks make this a last resort option.
In general, established resellers like StubHub and Vivid Seats are best for convenience, security, and high sales potential. But consider all options.
Tips for Reselling Presale Tickets
Follow these tips when reselling your presale tickets:
- Price 10-20% above face value – Don’t get greedy and overprice.
- Compare prices on multiple sites – Pricing competitively boosts sales.
- Sell quickly once public sales open – Prices drop as more tickets are released.
- Highlight presale status – Mention presale access in your ad title/description.
- Note any seat restrictions – Disclose if obstructed views or non-transferrable.
- Consider best offer options – Being flexible on pricing can help sales.
- Don’t sit on extras too long – Offload any extras ASAP before prices fall.
- Offer e-delivery & express shipping – Digital tickets and fast shipping ease buyer worries.
Following best practices for reselling presale tickets will maximize your profits and sales success!
Conclusion
Reselling presale Ticketmaster tickets can be lucrative, but requires some effort and finesse. Do your homework ahead of time on presale dates, fan club memberships, and high-demand events. Use smart ticket buying strategies like having accounts set up and trying across multiple devices. When reselling, price moderately based on real demand, sell quickly once regular sales open, and leverage reputable marketplaces. Avoid exorbitant markups and read all terms carefully. With preparation and good judgment, reselling presale tickets can be a profitable endeavor.
