The Ticketmaster resale platform is a secondary ticket marketplace owned and operated by Ticketmaster. It allows fans to buy and resell tickets for events in the United States and Canada. The platform was launched in 2008 as Ticketmaster Fan-to-Fan Exchange and was later rebranded as Ticketmaster Resale in 2018.
How does Ticketmaster resale work?
The Ticketmaster resale platform works by connecting buyers and sellers of event tickets. Sellers can list their tickets for sale on the marketplace, setting their own prices. Buyers can then search for and purchase the tickets they want. Ticketmaster acts as an intermediary, facilitating the transactions between buyers and sellers. Some key features of how Ticketmaster resale works include:
- Sellers pay a commission fee to Ticketmaster on each ticket sold. This is typically around 20% of the final sales price.
- Ticketmaster verifies all tickets listed for resale to ensure they are genuine and valid for the event.
- Buyers can shop for tickets knowing they are guaranteed valid by Ticketmaster.
- Ticketmaster handles all aspects of the transaction, including delivery of tickets to buyers.
- Tickets can be transferred electronically via Ticketmaster’s Transfer service.
The resale platform is fully integrated with Ticketmaster’s primary ticket marketplace. Tickets purchased on resale have the same delivery options, protections, and guarantees as those bought during initial sales.
Who can sell tickets on Ticketmaster resale?
Both individual ticket holders and professional ticket resellers can list tickets for resale on the Ticketmaster platform. To sell tickets, users must have a valid Ticketmaster account. Here are the main types of sellers on Ticketmaster resale:
- Individual fans – Any Ticketmaster user who is unable to attend an event can resell their tickets. This represents most sellers on the platform.
- Season ticket holders – Those with season tickets for sports teams or season ticket packages for theaters can resell individual games or shows they can’t attend.
- Professional brokers – Some full-time ticket brokers will source inventory and resell it on Ticketmaster. All brokers must follow Ticketmaster’s resale policies.
- Promoters and teams – In some cases, event promoters, sports teams, or venues will list select ticket inventory for resale on Ticketmaster.
All sellers must list tickets under their own name, with transfer details matching the original ticket purchase. Transfers and sales under false names are prohibited on Ticketmaster resale.
What fees does Ticketmaster charge on resale tickets?
Ticketmaster charges fees to both buyers and sellers for tickets sold on their resale platform. This includes:
- Seller fee – This is around 20% of the final sales price and is deducted from the seller’s profits. It covers Ticketmaster’s operating costs.
- Buyer fee – Buyers pay a 10-20% ‘buyer fee’ on all resale tickets. This is Ticketmaster’s service charge.
- Delivery fee – If tickets are delivered electronically or by mail, delivery fees apply. E-tickets have a $5.50 fee while UPS delivery is $20-$25.
In most cases, buyers will pay between 15-40% above the ticket’s face value in additional fees when purchasing through Ticketmaster resale.
What protections do buyers and sellers have?
Ticketmaster provides a number of protections for both buyers and sellers using the resale platform:
- Guaranteed valid tickets – Ticketmaster verifies all tickets, so buyers always get valid seats to the event.
- On-time delivery promise – Buyers are guaranteed to receive tickets on time when delivery methods are properly followed.
- Direct ticket transfers – Ticketmaster enables seamless ticket transfers directly to buyers with no physical mailing required.
- Full purchase protection – If an event is cancelled and not rescheduled, buyers get a full refund, including all fees.
- Seller payment security – Sellers are always paid out promptly for successful sales through Ticketmaster’s secure processes.
In addition, Ticketmaster’s FanProtect Guarantee provides full refunds to buyers if tickets are invalid or do not arrive in time for the event.
What events can you resell tickets for on Ticketmaster?
Tickets to the following types of events can be resold on Ticketmaster’s platform:
- Concerts – All concerts and live music events from major tours to small club shows.
- Sports – Tickets for NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS games, boxing matches, and other sporting events.
- Theater – Resale tickets available for popular Broadway and West End theater shows.
- Comedy shows – Stand-up comedy tours and live comedy club events.
- Festivals – Major annual festivals like Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Austin City Limits.
- Shows and tours – Live events for top family shows, orchestras, ballet, and other touring productions.
In general, any event in the U.S. or Canada that offers tickets for sale through Ticketmaster will also have those tickets available for resale through their platform.
Is Ticketmaster the only place tickets can be resold?
No, Ticketmaster resale is not the only secondary ticket marketplace available. Some other major resale platforms include:
- StubHub – One of the largest ticket resale marketplaces with a global inventory.
- Vivid Seats – Allows buyers to bid on event tickets similar to eBay.
- SeatGeek – Consolidates listings from multiple ticket sources in one search.
- eBay – Buyers can purchase event tickets through eBay’s general marketplace.
- Craigslist – Sellers list tickets for local events on Craigslist classified ads.
However, Ticketmaster resale provides exclusive access to tickets originally purchased through Ticketmaster’s primary sales. So buyers may find more options for high-demand events on Ticketmaster versus other resale platforms.
Is reselling tickets legal? What are the restrictions?
Reselling event tickets is legal in most states in the U.S. However, some states impose restrictions such as:
- Price caps -maximum resale prices allowed, often tied to percentage over face value.
- Location limits -mandates that sales must occur within the event’s venue location.
- Restricted inventory -some tickets like college sports student seating cannot be resold.
- Banned sales -a small number of states ban any ticket resales above face value.
Sellers on Ticketmaster are responsible for complying with all applicable local rules and regulations for ticket resales. The platform’s policies prohibit sales that do not follow regulations.
Does Ticketmaster vet buyers and sellers?
Ticketmaster does not formally vet or background check buyers and sellers. However, they do take measures to ensure legitimacy, prevent fraud, and enforce resale policies:
- Sellers must use real names and account details tied to the original ticket purchase.
- Suspicious accounts may require ID verification before transacting.
- All tickets are verified for validity which prevents counterfeits.
- Transactions are closely monitored for price gouging, speculative selling, and other violations.
- Shill bidding designed to artificially inflate prices is prohibited.
Through policies, monitoring, and ticket controls, Ticketmaster aims to maintain a safe, compliant marketplace. But ultimately buyers and sellers transact at their own risk like other online marketplaces.
Does Ticketmaster refund fraudulent or invalid tickets?
Yes, Ticketmaster provides a refund guarantee in case buyers receive fraudulent or invalid tickets from resellers:
- The FanProtect Guarantee provides a full refund if tickets are invalid and prevent entry.
- Buyers must notify Ticketmaster of the invalid tickets in advance to receive a refund.
- Refunds cover the full ticket cost including all associated fees.
- If alternate equivalent tickets cannot be arranged, the full purchase price is refunded.
This guarantee provides buyers protection from counterfeits or other invalid tickets. Sellers found distributing fraudulent tickets have their accounts terminated and are reported to law enforcement.
What are some tips for buying tickets on Ticketmaster resale?
Here are some top tips for finding and purchasing tickets on the Ticketmaster resale platform:
- Shop early – Look for tickets as soon as an event goes on sale to get the best deals before prices rise.
- Be flexible – Consider different date options, venues, or seat locations to find cheaper tickets.
- Compare listings – View multiple similar ticket listings to understand the market value.
- Filter search – Use filters like location, price, quantity, etc. to narrow your ticket search.
- Join Verified Fan – For high-demand events, Verified Fan access can provide exclusive resale ticket offers.
- Follow your team – Sports team followers may get special ticket offers when available.
Moving quickly, researching options, using filters, and accessing presales can help buyers score great deals on Ticketmaster resale tickets.
What are some tips for selling tickets on Ticketmaster resale?
Selling successfully on Ticketmaster resale involves some key strategies including:
- Price competitively – Research current market rates and price accordingly. Don’t overprice.
- List early – Get tickets up for resale as soon as possible after receiving them.
- Offer transfers – Enabling direct ticket transfers makes tickets more attractive to buyers.
- Avoid high fees – Select cheaper delivery options like electronic tickets when possible.
- Promote listings – Share listings on social media and other platforms to boost visibility.
- Offer guarantees – Provide express delivery and other guarantees to give buyers confidence.
Following market rates, listing quickly, limiting fees, and promoting effectively can help sellers move their Ticketmaster resale tickets.
Conclusion
The Ticketmaster resale platform provides a secure, convenient way for fans to resell and buy tickets to events in the U.S. and Canada. Sellers can list tickets at their chosen price while buyers can shop thousands of events knowing tickets are verified and protected by Ticketmaster’s guarantees. While fees are higher compared to primary sales, Ticketmaster resale offers buyers and sellers unique advantages over other secondary marketplaces. With some savvy buying and selling practices, fans can maximize value whether they are looking to get rid of extra tickets or score seats to sold out shows.
