When you purchase tickets for an event, there may come a time when your plans change and you need to cancel your ticket order. Many consumers wonder if there is a way to cancel tickets after they have already been purchased. The short answer is – it depends on the event, promoter, and where you bought the tickets.
Can you cancel tickets in general?
In general, most tickets can be cancelled, but the ability to cancel and get a refund depends on the event policies. Many events, especially smaller local events, do allow ticket holders to cancel tickets and get a full refund. However, most major concerts, sporting events, and Broadway shows have strict no refund policies. The event promoter ultimately sets the refund policy, so you need to check the specific event’s policy when purchasing tickets.
Ticket promoter’s cancellation policy
The event promoter or organizer will set the cancellation policy for tickets. This is why it’s so important to understand the policy before purchasing tickets. Promoters establish these policies to protect against last minute cancellations that leave empty seats and lost revenue. Popular shows that sell out quickly typically have the strictest policies.
It’s common to see no refund policies for top concerts, games, and hit Broadway musicals. In these cases, you simply cannot cancel tickets for a refund once purchased. The only way to get your money back is to resell the tickets through a ticket exchange or broker.
For other events, the promoter may allow refunds up to a certain date before the event. For example, a refund deadline could be 7 days or 30 days before the show date. They also may charge a cancellation fee per ticket, such as $10 per ticket, as part of the policy.
Third party ticket site policies
If you purchase tickets through a third party site like StubHub, Ticketmaster, VividSeats, SeatGeek, or other online ticket marketplace, they also have their own cancellation policies. These sites act as a broker, so they may impose their own limitations on cancellations that can override the event’s base policy.
Many third party sellers have much more flexible policies because they make money on the service fees. As long as they can resell the tickets, they will often issue a refund even when the original event does not. However, each site sets their own rules, limitations, and fees that apply for cancelled orders.
Steps to cancel ticket orders
The process to cancel a ticket order will depend on where and how the tickets were purchased originally. Here are some common scenarios:
Directly from the event or venue box office
If you purchased tickets directly from the event promoter, venue box office, or primary ticket seller, you need to contact them directly to request a cancellation. They will apply their own refund policy terms to the request. Make sure to call or email them well before the event to increase the chances of getting approved.
Through an online ticket broker
To cancel tickets ordered through a secondary ticket seller online, you typically need to call their customer service line for assistance. Each company will have their own process. Some key steps are:
- Find the cancellation policy and deadline before calling.
- Have your order confirmation handy.
- Be ready to explain the reason for your cancellation.
- Keep the confirmation number when issued.
Online companies like StubHub, VividSeats, RazorGator, and ScoreBig generally provide relatively flexible options compared to the venues since they make money on the fees.
Through a ticket reseller kiosk
If you bought from an in-person reseller such as at a ticket broker kiosk or store, you will need to go back to that same location for the cancellation process. Policies can vary greatly between small ticket sellers. Explain that you need to cancel the order; they will confirm if it is possible and walk you through next steps.
Fees for cancelled tickets
Even if you are able to cancel ticket orders and get a refund, there are often cancellation fees taken out. These fees can apply at both the event policy level or through the ticket reseller.
Event cancellation fees
The event promoters will sometimes charge a cancellation fee per ticket, such as $10-$15 per seat. They deduct this per ticket before providing any refund. So a refund for a pair of $100 tickets could be just $170 after a $15/ticket fee.
In other cases, there is a set percentage, such as a 25% cancellation fee on the overall order total. On a $500 order, the refund would be just $375 after the 25% cancellation charge.
Reseller cancellation fees
There can also be separate cancellation and processing fees charged by the ticket reseller, whether online or in person. These range from about $5-$25 per ticket cancelled depending on vendor policies.
Some ticket resellers may waive fees if the event was postponed or cancelled. But for voluntary cancellations, expect to pay fees both from the venue and reseller.
Refund timeframe
Once a cancellation request is approved, it takes some time for the refund to actually process. Refunds rarely will happen immediately, as systems need time to remove the tickets and process payments. Here are some general timeframes to expect:
- Event/box office refund: Within 48 hours, up to 2 weeks
- Online ticket seller refund: 3-10 business days
- In-person ticket seller: Next day – one week
Delays can happen, so be patient. If it has been over 2 weeks, follow up for an update on the expected refund time.
Reselling vs. cancelling tickets
Instead of cancelling tickets and losing fees, an alternative option is try to resell the tickets. You can resell through ticket broker sites, ticket exchanges, classified ads, or even outside the venue. Reselling transfers the ticket so you recoup more money. Steps include:
- Research current resale prices to price competitively.
- List tickets through online exchanges like StubHub.
- Advertise through classified sites like Craigslist.
- Promote on social media to connections.
- Sell outside the venue before the event if allowed.
Reselling takes more time and effort but allows recouping the full ticket value. Cancelling is quicker but incurs fees. Evaluate options to choose the best approach.
Bottom line on cancelling tickets
The ability to cancel event tickets and get a refund depends completely on the original seller’s policies.strictest no refund policies. Reselling tickets provides more money back but requires more work. Be sure to understand cancellation options before purchasing tickets to any event.
Key takeaways
- Most major events have strict no refund policies.
- Smaller local events tend to allow ticket cancellations.
- Third party sellers like StubHub offer more flexibility.
- Cancellation fees from the venue and reseller often apply.
- Refunds can take over two weeks to process.
- Reselling tickets takes more effort but gets more money back.
Event Type | Refund Policy |
---|---|
Major Concerts | Typically no refunds |
Sporting Events | Usually no refunds |
Theater Shows | Varies by show |
Small Local Events | Often allow refunds |
Conclusion
Cancelling event tickets for a refund is certainly possible but not guaranteed. Every event and ticket seller sets their own policies. Larger events rarely allow cancellations while smaller events tend to be more flexible. If allowed, cancellation fees from both the venue and reseller typically apply, reducing the total refund amount. Be sure to understand the options before buying tickets since policies vary widely. Reselling tickets instead takes more effort but allows recovering more of your money back. Consider all options if you can no longer use tickets purchased for a show, game, or concert.