Ticket resale is when someone purchases event tickets from an authorized seller like Ticketmaster and then resells those tickets to another buyer at a later date. This allows people who can no longer attend an event to recoup some of their money by selling their tickets to someone else. Ticketmaster has rules in place around how and when tickets can be resold on their platform. Here is an overview of Ticketmaster’s policies on ticket resales.
Basic Rules
Ticketmaster allows ticket resale through their Ticketmaster Resale platform. This is a safe, guaranteed way to buy and sell authentic tickets. Some key rules for Ticketmaster Resale are:
– Tickets can only be posted for resale after the event goes on sale to the general public. They cannot be resold ahead of the public on-sale date.
– Season tickets and other tickets sold as part of multi-event packages cannot be resold individually on Ticketmaster. The whole package must be resold together.
– Resellable tickets will be clearly labeled as such during the initial purchase flow. Any ticket not marked as resellable cannot be resold on Ticketmaster.
– Ticketmaster sets price floors and ceilings for resale tickets to prevent extreme markups or undercutting primary prices.
– All resale tickets are valid, original tickets purchased directly through Ticketmaster. Counterfeit tickets cannot be sold on Ticketmaster Resale.
Timeframes for Reselling
The timeframe when a ticket can be resold depends on the type of event. Each event has its own on-sale and access period that impacts when tickets can hit the resale market.
Concerts
For most concerts, any ticket that is labeled resellable can be posted for resale as soon as it sells out to the general public. There are some exceptions:
– If the event has a fan club presale before the general on-sale, fan club tickets cannot be resold until after the general on-sale starts.
– For high-demand concert events that will sell out instantly, Ticketmaster will restrict resale listings for the first few days after on-sale. This is to discourage mass purchases by ticket brokers looking to resell.
– In some cases, the artist or promoter may restrict resale listings for the first 6 months after the on-sale. These long-term restrictions are generally noted during the initial ticket purchase flow.
Sporting Events
For most sporting events, tickets can be resold as soon as they go on sale to the general public. Season tickets can only be resold after the season starts. In some cases, playoff games or high-demand match-ups may have a 1-3 day restriction on resale listings right after on-sale.
Theater Shows
Theater show tickets can typically only be resold after the show opens. Any ticket marked resellable cannot be resold until the first public performance has occurred. This is to prevent speculative resale of tickets for shows that are not confirmed to open.
How to Resell Tickets on Ticketmaster
Reselling eligible tickets on Ticketmaster is a straightforward process. Sellers can use desktop or mobile apps to manage their ticket listings. Here are the basic steps:
1. List the Ticket for Resale
– On a desktop, login to your Ticketmaster account and access My Events. Click “Sell” next to the eligible ticket.
– On mobile apps, login and tap “My Tickets” then tap “Sell” next to the eligible ticket.
– Pick the quantity you want to resell and the price you want to list them for. Ticketmaster will show recommended prices based on current demand.
– Ticketmaster will remind you of any applicable resale restrictions and require acknowledgement before listing.
2. Complete the Listing
– Provide details like section, row, and seating for the tickets. List any ticket attributes like limited/obstructed views.
– Choose the duration for your listing – either relist it automatically if it doesn’t sell, or have it expire after a set period of time.
– Review the listing details and service fee amounts. Click “List Tickets” to complete.
3. Manage the Listing & Sale
– Monitor your listing in My Events. You can edit the price or quantity anytime.
– If a buyer purchases your tickets, you’ll receive an email confirmation from Ticketmaster.
– Once the event occurs, you’ll receive a payment confirmation email and the ticket proceeds (minus fees) will be deposited into your account.
Selling Limits
To ensure fair access to tickets, Ticketmaster places limits on how many tickets a single account can resell. These seller limits help reduce speculative resale by ticket brokers.
Concerts
For most concerts, individual seller accounts are restricted to posting no more than 4 resale ad listings at a time. Each listing can include up to 4 tickets. So the maximum anyone can resell is 16 tickets to a particular concert event.
Promoters and artists can request even tighter restrictions, such as capping each user to 1 or 2 resale listings total. This is common for major pop stars or special events.
Sports & Theater
For sporting events and theater shows, the resale listing limits are less strict:
– Each seller can list up to 60 tickets at once for an event.
– MLB, NBA, NHL, and NFL events cap resellers at 200 tickets per event.
– Sellers are limited to posting 500 active listings at a time across all events.
– Season tickets can only be resold in full-season listing sets. Individual games cannot be broken out.
Prohibited Resale Practices
While Ticketmaster Resale provides a safe, regulated ticketing marketplace, some types of resales are prohibited:
Unfair Speculation
Users cannot purchase significant volumes of tickets simply to resell at a higher price right after on-sale. This unfairly limits fan access to tickets. Ticketmaster monitors for this practice and may cancel listings or restrict suspected reseller accounts.
Price Gouging
Sellers cannot list tickets at prices deemed unreasonably higher than fair market value. Ticketmaster enforces price caps on resale tickets to prevent extreme markups.
Counterfeit Tickets
All resale tickets must be valid, original tickets purchased from Ticketmaster. Reproducing fake tickets or selling counterfeit copies is illegal. Ticketmaster closely verifies every resale ticket to prevent fraud.
Restricted Tickets
Any ticket that is specifically marked as “non-transferable” or “non-resalable” cannot be resold on Ticketmaster. Sellers must comply with any first-party transfer rules or restrictions indicated during their original ticket purchase.
Violating any of Ticketmaster’s resale policies can lead to cancelation of sales, banning of seller accounts, and further legal actions. Consumers are protected through refunds from invalid sales.
Risks of Resale Outside Ticketmaster
While Ticketmaster provides a safe resale marketplace, buyers and sellers face major risks in the uncontrolled secondary market outside of Ticketmaster.
Fake Tickets
Counterfeit tickets are rampant outside Ticketmaster. Without Ticketmaster’s protections, buyers have no recourse if they are sold invalid or fraudulent tickets. Research shows over 20% of tickets resold outside of Ticketmaster are likely fakes.
Void Transfers
Many event tickets have transfer restrictions that voids unauthorized resales. If those rules aren’t followed, buyers can be denied entry. Within Ticketmaster, all resales are guaranteed valid.
No Seller Verification
Unknown sellers outside of Ticketmaster carry more risk. Ticketmaster verifies each seller’s account and purchase history plus sets sales limits. Outside Ticketmaster, buyers deal with anonymous sellers.
No Price Controls
Third-party resellers can charge whatever prices they want, even 10x or more over face value. Ticketmaster’s price caps protect buyers from extreme gouging.
No Refund Protection
Purchases outside of Ticketmaster carry zero refund protection. If the tickets are invalid or the event is cancelled, the buyer has no recourse to get their money back. Ticketmaster Resale includes full refund guarantees.
Best Practices for Buyers
To find authentic resale tickets and avoid scams, buyers should follow these best practices:
– Check Ticketmaster Resale first. All tickets are 100% guaranteed and protected.
– If buying outside Ticketmaster, only use established, reputable resale platforms. Avoid anonymous sellers.
– Check ticket transfer policies upfront. Many sports and theater tickets have strict non-transfer rules.
– Meet the seller in-person before paying whenever possible. This lets you verify the tickets.
– Only pay through secure methods that offer buyer protection, like credit cards. Avoid wire transfers with strangers.
– Confirm the tickets through the venue’s box office before the event. Most can verify if tickets are valid.
– If the tickets end up being invalid or fake, immediately contact the payment provider to dispute the charges. Provide all details of the sale.
Conclusion
Ticketmaster provides a regulated, controlled marketplace for ticket resale through its Ticketmaster Resale platform. This allows fans to safely resell and buy authentic event tickets while protecting buyers and sellers. Any ticket sold through Ticketmaster Resale is 100% guaranteed valid. Outside of Ticketmaster, buyers and sellers take on significant risks with uncontrolled secondary resellers. By following best practices like only using trusted resale platforms and confirming tickets beforehand, buyers can avoid many of the counterfeit ticket scams prevalent in the secondary market. Ultimately, for the most secure and controlled ticket resale experience, Ticketmaster Resale provides the best options for buying and selling legit event tickets.