With ticket prices rising and many events selling out quickly, reselling tickets has become a popular way for some people to make extra money. However, reselling tickets for profit comes with risks and limitations, especially when it comes to tickets purchased through Ticketmaster.
Can you legally resell Ticketmaster tickets?
In most cases, yes, reselling Ticketmaster tickets is legal. However, there are some caveats:
- Ticketmaster’s Terms of Use prohibit reselling tickets on the Ticketmaster site or affiliated sites. You cannot resell using your Ticketmaster account.
- Some events, teams, and venues have restrictions on reselling tickets. This is usually disclosed during the initial ticket purchase.
- Certain states have laws regulating ticket resales. These laws may require resellers to be licensed or prohibit reselling above face value.
As long as you follow applicable laws and terms of use, in general you can legally resell Ticketmaster tickets by using third-party sites, classified ads, or in-person sales.
What risks are there when reselling Ticketmaster tickets?
There are a few key risks to keep in mind when reselling Ticketmaster tickets:
- Getting scammed – As with any private sale, you risk the buyer not paying or paying with fraudulent funds. Resellers can get scammed by buyers.
- Tickets being invalidated – In some cases, tickets resold against terms of use can be canceled or invalidated by the venue or organizer. This leaves the buyer unable to use the tickets.
- Legal repercussions – Reselling tickets improperly or against applicable laws may result in fines or other legal consequences.
- Losing money – There is no guarantee you will make a profit, or even sell the tickets at face value. The resale market fluctuates.
Does Ticketmaster allow ticket transfers or resales?
Ticketmaster does facilitate some ticket transfers and resales through their Ticketmaster Resale (TMR) platform. Here are the key things to know:
- Season ticket holders or other primary ticket purchasers may be able to relist tickets they can’t use on the Ticketmaster Resale site. This is an official transfer through Ticketmaster.
- Ticketmaster Resale is an official resale marketplace approved by teams, venues, and organizers. Prices may be above or below face value.
- Sellers can set their asking price but Ticketmaster adds a service fee on all resales. Buyers also pay a fee.
- Tickets resold through TMR are guaranteed valid by Ticketmaster.
So in summary – Ticketmaster does facilitate some resales through their official TMR platform, but individual ticket holders cannot resell their tickets directly on Ticketmaster.
What are the best websites to resell Ticketmaster tickets?
If you want to resell tickets purchased on Ticketmaster, here are some of the most popular third-party online marketplaces:
| Website | Details |
|---|---|
| StubHub | Large resale site with wide event selection. Sellers pay a 15% commission fee. |
| Vivid Seats | Another large resale marketplace. Sellers keep 90% of the set price. |
| SeatGeek | Mobile-focused ticket resale app and site. Sellers pay a 15% commission. |
| eBay | Popular general marketplace where tickets can be listed. Standard eBay fees apply. |
| Craigslist | Classified ads site. Popular for local in-person ticket resales. |
These secondary marketplaces allow sellers to list tickets for most events. Reaching a wide buyer audience is easier on these large sites versus selling independently.
Pros of using resale sites
- Large built-in buyer audience
- Set your own asking price
- Transaction handled through site for security
- May sell tickets quicker than independent sites
Cons of using resale sites
- Seller fees deducted from profits (10-20% typically)
- No guarantee tickets will sell
- Some transfer restrictions still apply
- Must wait for funds to be released after sale
Is reselling tickets on Facebook or Instagram allowed?
Facebook and Instagram do not explicitly prohibit selling event tickets. However, there are some limitations:
- Facebook prohibits “ticket scalping”, or reselling tickets above face value. They may remove such listings.
- Instagram only allows ticket resale listings for individuals reselling their own tickets, not professional brokers.
- Neither site facilitates ticket transfers or payments. You would need to handle delivery and payment independently.
- Scams and fake listings are common, so buyers should beware.
In general, Facebook and Instagram allow individuals to post ticket resales provided they follow applicable laws and terms of use. But professional brokers or scalpers may have posts removed.
Can you sell PDF tickets or transferred tickets from Ticketmaster?
With Ticketmaster’s increasing use of mobile tickets and PDF transfers, reselling digitally delivered tickets comes with challenges:
- Screenshot tickets cannot be transferred or resold as they have no barcodes.
- Digitial PDF tickets can potentially be resold if they have not been fully transferred to the original buyer’s accounts. But this is tricky.
- Mobile tickets tied to the Ticketmaster app cannot be resold as they are non-transferable.
- Paperless tickets in general are meant to be non-transferable to prevent unauthorized resales.
Before reselling any digital Ticketmaster tickets, you need to ensure the original purchaser has not completed the transfer or claimed the tickets. Once claimed, they cannot be resold.
How can buyers ensure Ticketmaster resales are valid?
To avoid getting scammed or sold invalid tickets, buyers should take the following precautions when purchasing Ticketmaster resales:
- Only buy from trusted seller platforms that guarantee tickets. Examples include Ticketmaster Resale, StubHub, VividSeats.
- Avoid websites or sellers that seem suspicious or cannot prove ticket validity.
- Only buy transfers the seller can fully complete and verify before payment.
- Understand the original ticket terms of use – some events prohibit any resales.
- Pay by credit card and review fraud protections in case the tickets are invalid.
- Avoid mobile ticket transfers as these cannot be fully resold or transferred in most cases.
While there are risks, if buyers follow best practices, they can acquire valid resold tickets. Reviewing ticket transfer policies upfront provides the most protection.
Conclusion
In summary, reselling Ticketmaster tickets is allowed in most circumstances but comes with inherent risks and limitations. While technically possible, digital tickets and mobile passes cannot be fully transferred or resold once claimed by the original buyer. Using approved third-party resale platforms provides the most security for buyers and sellers alike. As with any ticket transaction, carefully reviewing the event policies upfront before reselling or buying resold tickets is advised.