Selling tickets back to Ticketmaster can be a convenient option if you can no longer attend an event you purchased tickets for. However, there are some important factors to consider before reselling your tickets back to Ticketmaster. In this comprehensive guide, we will cover everything you need to know about the ticket resale process with Ticketmaster.
Can I resell my tickets back to Ticketmaster?
In most cases, yes, you can resell tickets back to Ticketmaster if the event allows ticket resale through their platform. Here are some key points about Ticketmaster’s resale policy:
- Ticketmaster has its own ticket resale marketplace where season ticket holders and other fans can resell tickets they can no longer use.
- The availability to resell tickets depends on the event. Some events do not allow any resale while others only allow resale through Ticketmaster’s official resale platform.
- Tickets must be valid, unsold tickets in order to be eligible for resale back to Ticketmaster. Counterfeit tickets or tickets already sold to someone else cannot be resold.
- There are no guarantees your tickets will resell. It depends on demand for that event.
So in summary, Ticketmaster allows official resale of valid event tickets through their resale platform as long as the event organizer permits it. Check your specific event’s resale policy details to confirm.
How does the process work?
Here is an overview of how the Ticketmaster ticket resale process works:
- List tickets for sale: Login to your Ticketmaster account and navigate to the ticket resale dashboard. Select the eligible tickets you want to resell and list them for sale at the price you want.
- Ticketmaster reviews and approves: All resale listings undergo a short review and approval process by Ticketmaster to validate the tickets. This may take up to 48 hours.
- Tickets get purchased: Once approved and listed, your tickets will be posted in Ticketmaster’s resale marketplace. When a buyer purchases them, you will receive an email notification.
- Transfer tickets: You will need to formally transfer your tickets to the buyer through Ticketmaster. This will sign over ownership and allow the new buyer to access the tickets.
- Receive payment: After the transfer is completed, Ticketmaster will release your resale earnings, minus any applicable service fees.
It is a pretty straightforward process that allows ticket holders an official way to resell tickets through Ticketmaster as long as the event permits it. Make sure to pay close attention to any notifications and complete the transfer promptly when tickets are purchased.
How does Ticketmaster determine resale ticket prices?
When listing tickets for resale on Ticketmaster, you get to set the ticket prices yourself. However, Ticketmaster does provide tools to help price your tickets competitively:
- Price range: You will be shown the price range that other similar tickets are currently listed for in order to gauge demand.
- Comparable listings: Ticketmaster will showcase active listings for comparable seats at that event so you can price accordingly.
- Purchase history: For season ticket holders reselling tickets, Ticketmaster can utilize past sales data to suggest optimal resale prices.
While you ultimately choose your own resale price, having Ticketmaster’s data on comparable ticket listings for that same event can help inform your pricing decision.
What are Ticketmaster’s resale fees?
Ticketmaster does charge service fees for ticket resales through their marketplace. As the seller, these are the main fees to keep in mind:
Fee | Amount |
---|---|
Seller processing fee | 15% of the resale price |
Buyer surcharge | $5.00 – $20.00 per ticket |
The seller processing fee is taken out of your final payout amount after your tickets resell. The buyer surcharge is added on top of your listed price at checkout.
There are no fees to list tickets for resale in Ticketmaster’s marketplace. The fees only come into play once your tickets actually resell to a buyer.
How long does it take to get paid?
You will receive your payout about 2-4 weeks after your tickets officially transfer ownership to the buyer. Here is a more detailed timeline:
- Buyer purchases your tickets online and payment processes (1-2 days)
- You complete the ticket transfer to the buyer (Should be done promptly)
- Ticketmaster reviews the transfer and updates the order status (3-5 days)
- Payout is processed to your original ticket purchase payment method (7-14 days)
So from the date your tickets are purchased, it typically takes 2-4 weeks to receive your resale earnings payment from Ticketmaster. The exact time can vary based on your bank’s processing times.
Can I cancel a resale listing?
Yes, you can cancel an active resale listing anytime before the tickets get purchased. Here is how the cancellation process works:
- Navigate to your “Active Listings” dashboard in your Ticketmaster account.
- Locate the listing you want to cancel and select “Cancel Listing.”
- Confirm that you want to cancel the listing for those tickets.
Once confirmed, your listing will be immediately cancelled and removed from sale. If you ever change your mind and want to relist those tickets again, you would have to go through the steps again to reactivate the listing.
Can I sell above face value?
The ability to resell tickets above face value depends on the event’s resale policy. There are a few common scenarios:
- No price cap: You can freely set resale prices above face value.
- Capped over face value: Resale prices are capped at a certain percentage (ex. 50%) over face value.
- Face value required: Tickets must resell exactly at face value, no higher.
- Below face value only: Resellers can only list tickets below original face value.
Ticketmaster will notify you during the listing process if any price cap rules apply for that event. But in general, many events allow selling above face value to some degree.
Can I sell tickets I bought from a third-party?
No, tickets are only eligible for resale on Ticketmaster if they were originally purchased directly through Ticketmaster. Any tickets acquired through third-party resellers cannot be resold back through Ticketmaster’s official resale platform.
This policy is in place to ensure all tickets resold on Ticketmaster are valid tickets for that event. There is no way for them to verify tickets purchased externally from a third-party reseller.
Is there a time limit to resell?
For most events, you can list tickets for resale on Ticketmaster up until 48 hours before the event’s start time. After that point, no new resale listings will be accepted for that event.
However, keep in mind demand and prices are highest closer to the event date. Selling well in advance often allows more competitive pricing before other fans list their tickets for resale as well.
If your tickets do not resell in time, you will need to either attend the event or let the tickets go unused. Make sure to factor in the 48 hour cutoff when deciding when to list your tickets.
What if my tickets don’t resell?
If your ticket resale listing expires without selling, here are your options:
- You can relist the tickets at a lower price if time permits.
- Eat the cost of the tickets and attend the event yourself.
- Let the tickets go unused if attending is not an option.
Unfortunately, there is no way to get a refund from Ticketmaster if your resale tickets expire without selling. Unsold tickets can also not be transferred back into your account. Always price competitively and list your tickets with sufficient time before high demand periods to maximize your chance of selling.
Can I choose who I resell tickets to?
No, you don’t get to select who your tickets resell to on Ticketmaster’s marketplace. It works on a first-come, first-served basis.
The tickets will go to whoever is the first buyer willing to pay your listed resale price. You will not interact with or even know the identity of the buyer in most cases.
Are there any selling limits?
To discourage mass reselling, Ticketmaster does enforce some limits on frequent sellers:
- Sellers are limited to posting no more than 4 resale listings per event.
- Accounts suspected of suspicious reselling activity may be restricted or suspended.
These policies help maintain fairness on their resale marketplace. But casual fans reselling a normal quantity of extra tickets they can’t use shouldn’t run into any issues.
Does selling tickets on Ticketmaster affect my account standing?
Selling reasonable amounts of tickets through their official resale platform will not hurt your Ticketmaster account standing. However, there are some scenarios where frequent reselling could raise flags:
- Posting excessive ticket quantities across many events.
- Reselling large amounts of newly purchased tickets immediately after onsales.
- Using bots or automated tools to buy and resell tickets.
If Ticketmaster detects suspicious patterns of ticket buying and reselling, they may place restrictions or limitations on the account. But typical usage within their stated limits should not be an issue.
Conclusion
Selling tickets through Ticketmaster’s official resale marketplace provides a convenient and secure method for fans to resell unwanted tickets. Key takeaways include:
- Verify the event allows ticket resale before listing.
- Price competitively based on Ticketmaster’s tools and data.
- Pay attention to cutoffs for listing and transferring tickets.
- Understand Ticketmaster’s reseller fees.
- Follow Ticketmaster’s reselling policies and limits.
As long as you price your tickets appropriately and comply with any event-specific restrictions, reselling tickets back to Ticketmaster can be a smooth process for recovering value on tickets to events you can no longer attend.