A fan-to-fan ticket on Ticketmaster is a ticket that is resold by an individual fan to another fan through Ticketmaster’s fan resale marketplace. This allows fans who have purchased tickets to events but can no longer attend to resell their tickets directly to other fans for face value or less. The fan resale marketplace on Ticketmaster provides a safe, convenient platform for fans to resell tickets while avoiding scalpers who typically resell tickets at inflated prices.
How does the fan resale marketplace on Ticketmaster work?
The fan resale marketplace on Ticketmaster allows individuals who originally purchased tickets to post them for resale to other fans. Sellers can list their tickets for sale at face value or less. There are no additional fees for the buyers on fan-to-fan resold tickets. Here is an overview of how it works:
- Fan purchases tickets to an event through Ticketmaster initially.
- If fan can no longer attend event, they can list their tickets for resale through Ticketmaster’s fan resale marketplace.
- Tickets are listed for sale at face value or less. Sellers have option to adjust pricing.
- Other fans can search for and purchase tickets in fan resale marketplace.
- Once tickets are purchased by another fan, the original tickets are invalidated and new tickets issued.
- Buyer receives valid tickets, seller gets paid.
The fan resale marketplace provides a safe, easy way for fans to recoup costs on tickets they can’t use while giving other fans affordable access to events at face value prices.
Why sell or buy fan-to-fan tickets?
There are several potential advantages to using the fan resale marketplace on Ticketmaster as a buyer or seller:
Benefits for sellers:
- Recover costs on tickets if unable to attend event.
- Avoid needing to find buyers independently on secondary markets.
- Trusted platform for secure transactions with other fans.
- Easy process for listing and selling tickets.
- Electronic transfer of tickets avoids shipping/delivery.
Benefits for buyers:
- Access to tickets at face value prices, avoid inflated scalper prices.
- Larger supply of tickets, more options.
- No extra fees on resold fan tickets.
- Secured transactions, avoid scams.
- Electronic transfer delivers tickets quickly.
The fan resale marketplace benefits both buyers and sellers by providing a safe, easy fan-to-fan exchange for fair value event tickets.
How are fan resale tickets different from scalped tickets?
There are some key differences between fan resale tickets on Ticketmaster and scalped tickets purchased through a secondary reseller:
| Fan Resale Tickets | Scalped Tickets |
|---|---|
| Original ticket holders reselling extra tickets | Brokers/scalpers with no intent to attend event |
| Prices at or below face value | Prices above face value, often highly inflated |
| No extra fees | Higher fees |
| Secure transactions via Ticketmaster platform | Higher risk of scams on secondary sites |
| Support fair access for fans | Take advantage of demand to drive profits |
The key distinction is that fan resale aims to provide fair value ticket access for fans unable to attend events while scalpers use secondary markets to make profits from inflated ticket prices.
What types of tickets are eligible for fan resale on Ticketmaster?
Ticketmaster outlines a few conditions that allow tickets to be eligible for fan resale:
- Tickets must be originally purchased from Ticketmaster.
- Only ticket holders can resell their own tickets.
- Tickets must be resold at face value or below.
- Event organizer must opt-in to allow fan resale.
- Transfers must occur before event starts.
Additionally, some specific types of tickets that are ineligible include:
- Free tickets
- Season or multi-event ticket packages
- Suite, booth, or VIP tickets
- Wristbands/vouchers that haven’t been upgraded to tickets
If an event does not allow fan resale, the tickets will not display the “Sell Tickets” option on Ticketmaster. Fans should check if fan resale is enabled before attempting to resell their tickets.
What are some tips for buying fan resale tickets?
Here are some tips for finding and purchasing fan resale tickets on Ticketmaster:
- Set up alerts/notifications for your desired event to get notified when tickets are posted.
- Search for tickets frequently as new listings are continually added.
- Be flexible on seating options if looking for the best deals.
- Buy early once you find ideal tickets to get the seats you want.
- Sort by price to see the best ticket deals.
- Verify the location before purchasing to avoid surprises.
- Complete purchases swiftly as other fans may be competing for the same tickets.
- Use Ticketmaster’s buyer guarantees for purchase protection.
Buying early, being flexible, and using search tools can help buyers find and secure the best fan resale tickets.
What protections exist for buyers of fan resale tickets?
Ticketmaster provides the following protections for buyers on its fan resale marketplace to ensure a safe, reliable experience:
- Guaranteed Valid Tickets: Fans are guaranteed valid event tickets that will get them into the event.
- Secure Transactions: All purchases are fully encrypted and protected.
- On-time Delivery: Tickets are electronically transferred and accessible prior to event.
- Refunds: Refunds are provided if event is canceled and not rescheduled.
Ticketmaster also offers 24/7 customer support via phone, chat, or email for any other issues before, during, or after the ticket buying process.
What are the steps to reselling tickets as a fan on Ticketmaster?
Here is an overview of the fan resale process on Ticketmaster if you can no longer attend an event:
- Access your Ticketmaster account used to purchase the original tickets.
- Find the upcoming event under “My Events” and click “Sell Tickets”.
- Select the specific ticket(s) you want to relist for sale.
- Enter the price you want to resell each ticket for.
- Agree to the Terms of Sale and click “Post Listing”.
- Monitor your ticket listing and sale status under “My Sales”.
- Once sold, the tickets are electronically transferred to the buyer.
- The selling price will be deposited in your account.
The process is designed to be quick and convenient for fans to resell their eligible tickets through a few simple steps on Ticketmaster.
Are there fees for selling tickets as a fan on Ticketmaster?
Ticketmaster does not charge any fees for fans reselling their tickets to other fans through its fan resale marketplace. The full resale price set by the seller is paid out to the seller if the tickets get purchased.
However, there are fees charged on the original ticket purchase. When first buying tickets through Ticketmaster, there are typical fees like service fees, facility fees, etc. But there are no incremental fees for reselling those original tickets.
Does Ticketmaster report fan ticket sales for tax purposes?
Yes, Ticketmaster will report fan ticket resales and sales amounts to the IRS and state tax authorities when certain thresholds are met, typically $600+ in sales a year. If you resell tickets through their fan marketplace, you will receive a Form 1099-MISC if you exceed $600 in total sales for the tax year.
It is the seller’s responsibility to declare resale income and pay any applicable capital gains taxes resulting from the sale of tickets at a higher price point than the original purchase. Consult with a tax professional to ensure proper compliance when reselling large volumes of tickets.
Can ticket transfers be canceled or changed once initiated?
Once a fan ticket resale has been initiated and payment processed on Ticketmaster, the ticket transfer is considered final and cannot be canceled. However, Ticketmaster does state that in extenuating circumstances, their support team may be able to assist with ticket transfers if contacted immediately.
To avoid any issues, fans should carefully review order details and make sure everything is correct before finalizing ticket transfers. There is usually no recourse after transfer confirmation due to the immediate nature of digital tickets.
Conclusion
Ticketmaster’s fan-to-fan ticket resale marketplace provides a beneficial service for fans looking to sell extra tickets as well as those hoping to buy tickets. It allows ticket holders unable to attend events to recoup costs, while giving other fans fair access to face value tickets. With protections for buyers and a straightforward selling process, fan resale on Ticketmaster serves an important role in the ticketing ecosystem.
