When buying tickets on Ticketmaster, there are two main options – standard tickets and resale tickets. Standard tickets are sold directly by Ticketmaster when they are first released for an event. Resale tickets are tickets that were originally purchased from Ticketmaster but are now being resold by a third party. There are some key differences between standard and resale tickets that buyers should be aware of.
Availability
Standard tickets are available as soon as sales open for an event, whether that is during a presale period for select groups or the general public on-sale date. These tickets are sold directly by Ticketmaster so the inventory available is limited to what the event organizer has allocated to Ticketmaster. Once those tickets sell out, the only way to still get tickets is through the resale market.
Resale tickets become available once standard tickets have already gone on sale. This is because resale tickets are those that were already purchased by someone but are now being posted for resale. As the event date gets closer and standard tickets sell out, more tickets tend to become available on the resale market as people resell tickets they can no longer use.
So in summary:
- Standard tickets are available at the initial on-sale date
- Resale tickets become available over time leading up to the event
This means standard tickets give buyers earliest access, while resale tickets provide an option after standard tickets sell out.
Pricing
Standard ticket prices are face value set by the event organizer or artist. Resale prices are determined by the ticket holder reselling their tickets, so pricing tends to be higher than face value.
Some key factors on pricing:
- Standard tickets will be face value prices (usually lower than resale)
- Resale tickets may have large markups over face value prices
- The most in-demand tickets typically have the highest resale prices
- As the event nears, resale prices may drop below face value
Buyers looking for the best deal can often get it by buying standard tickets right when they go on sale. However, for sold out events or high demand tickets, resale may be the only option even if prices are higher.
Fees
Both standard and resale Ticketmaster tickets incur fees on top of the ticket price. This includes:
- Service fee – Charged by Ticketmaster on every ticket purchase
- Order processing fee – Applied per ticket order
- Delivery fee – If tickets are shipped, emailed, or picked up at will call
The main difference is that resale tickets also incur an additional resale service charge, which is a percentage of the resale price. So fees end up being higher for resale ticket purchases through Ticketmaster.
Sellers
When you buy standard tickets, you are purchasing directly from Ticketmaster. For resale tickets, you are purchasing from a third party ticket reseller.
Standard tickets come directly from the event organizer’s allotted Ticketmaster inventory. Resale tickets could come from a variety of sources:
- Individual ticket holders
- Season ticket holders
- Brokers or speculators who bought tickets with the intent to resell
There are both pros and cons of buying from an unknown third party seller:
- Pros: Often the only way to get tickets for sold out events
- Cons: Less recourse if issues come up with tickets; uncertainty about source of tickets
Guarantee
Standard tickets purchased directly through Ticketmaster are guaranteed valid by Ticketmaster. If there are any issues, you can work with their customer service for a refund or comparable replacement tickets.
For resale tickets, Ticketmaster offers buyer guarantees to give you peace of mind on your purchase. This means Ticketmaster will find replacement tickets if:
- Tickets are invalid or lost
- Tickets don’t arrive in time for the event
- The event is canceled and tickets are not refunded
However, the replacement tickets provided may not be comparable in location or face value price. There is also no guarantee resale tickets will sell for below face value.
Restrictions
Standard tickets directly from Ticketmaster do not have any major restrictions. You can list them for resale through Ticketmaster if plans change.
However, resale tickets commonly have restrictions in place:
- Non-transferable – Can’t be transferred or resold again through Ticketmaster
- Non-downloadable – Hard tickets that must be shipped, no print-at-home or mobile tickets
- Quantity limits – Restrictions on how many tickets can be purchased
These are generally set by the original ticket buyer to prevent further resale. Make sure to review all restrictions before purchasing resale tickets.
Timing
To get standard face value tickets, the key is buying early right when tickets initially go on sale to the public:
- Get online ahead of time before the on-sale
- Enter queues or virtual waiting rooms at least 30 min before on-sale time
- Have account logged in with payment info saved for fastest checkout
For resale tickets, timing matters in a different way. Prices fluctuate leading up to events based on supply and demand:
- Prices tend to be highest right after standard sell out
- They decline in the weeks leading up to events
- Last minute can see spikes for the most in-demand events
Flexibility on dates and monitoring prices over time can help score deals on resale tickets.
Fraud Risks
There are essentially no risks when purchasing standard tickets directly through Ticketmaster’s website. The tickets are guaranteed valid and you receive strong consumer protections from their verification procedures.
However, there are some fraud risks to be aware of when buying resale tickets:
- Fake tickets – Scammers list and sell fake tickets that appear valid
- Duplicate tickets – Same ticket can be sold to multiple buyers
- Speculative listings – Tickets are listed but seller does not actually have them yet
Ticketmaster tries to mitigate risks by only allowing season ticket holders and verified sellers to list for resale on their exchange. They also offer buyer guarantees on resale tickets. However, there is always some risk when buying from an unknown third party.
Ticketmaster Verified Resale Process
Ticketmaster resale tickets go through a verification process for buyer security. Sellers have to verify their tickets before listing them for sale on the exchange.
To verify tickets, season ticket holders must provide Ticketmaster access to their season ticket holder accounts. Individual sellers need to provide the following to show they have tickets in-hand for the event:
- Order number
- Exact quantity and section/row/seat info
- Credit card used for purchase
Ticketmaster checks this information against their order records. Tickets can then only be posted by verified sellers with tickets physically in their possession. This helps prevent speculative or fraudulent ticket listings.
Buying Resale Tickets Safely
Follow these tips when purchasing resale tickets to ensure a safe transaction:
- Buy from Ticketmaster’s verified resale exchange
- Review seller ratings and feedback
- Check for purchase guarantees or fraud protections
- Pay by credit card in case you need to dispute the charges
- Avoid sellers who seem suspicious or won’t provide info
- Never pay with cash, wire transfer, gift cards, etc.
Purchasing resale only through Ticketmaster provides a more secure environment. But there’s always risks buying from resellers, so proceed with caution.
How Ticketmaster Sets Resale Prices
Ticketmaster does not directly set or control resale prices on their exchange. Prices are determined by third party sellers listing their tickets for sale.
Sellers price tickets however they choose, but pricing may be influenced by:
- Original ticket cost
- Demand – Tickets for popular events or sections fetch higher prices
- Event date – Prices drop as event nears if supply is still high
- Competing listings – Sellers adjust prices to be competitive
Ticketmaster does charge a percentage fee on all resale transactions. This resale service fee is capped at 20% of the resale price.
They also set minimum resale price floors for platinum level tickets. This means platinum ticket prices can’t be set below a minimum amount, preventing sellers from undercutting primary platinum sales.
Conclusion
In summary, the key differences between standard Ticketmaster tickets and resale tickets are:
| Factor | Standard Tickets | Resale Tickets |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | On sale at start of public on-sales | Become available over time leading to event |
| Pricing | Face value prices set by organizer | Prices set by third party sellers, often over face value |
| Fees | Standard Ticketmaster fees | Higher fees due to resale service charge |
| Sellers | Ticketmaster selling directly | Unknown third party sellers |
| Guarantee | Full refund or replacement guarantee | Limited buyer guarantees from Ticketmaster |
| Restrictions | No restrictions | Non-transferrable or limits on resale |
| Fraud Risk | Extremely low from verified source | Moderate risks buying from unverified sellers |
Standard tickets directly from Ticketmaster provide guaranteed valid tickets with full buyer protections. But for high demand events, resale tickets may be the only option to get in the door. Use caution when buying resale and leverage Ticketmaster’s exchange for the most secure experience.
