In the digital age, selling tickets online has become extremely common. There are many different websites and apps that provide a platform for people to sell their tickets. Some of the most popular online ticket resale marketplaces are StubHub, Vivid Seats, SeatGeek, Ticketmaster, and Craigslist.
Why Do People Sell Tickets Online?
There are a few key reasons why people choose to sell their tickets on online resale sites:
- Convenience – It’s quick and easy to list tickets for sale online. Sellers can do it from their phone or computer in just a few minutes.
- Wide reach – Online sites provide access to large audiences of buyers across the country or even globally. This increases the chances of selling the tickets.
- More profit – Sellers can often get higher prices selling online compared to selling locally in-person. The sites provide dynamic pricing and bidding options.
- Safety – There is less risk meeting strangers to exchange tickets. Online transactions use secure payment processing.
- Unable to attend – If a seller can’t attend an event they already bought tickets for, reselling online recoups some of the cost.
Most Popular Online Ticket Resale Sites
StubHub
StubHub is one of the largest and most well-known ticket marketplaces. It was founded in 2000 and acquired by eBay in 2007. StubHub provides a platform for reselling tickets for sports, concerts, theater, and other live entertainment events. Sellers can list tickets through both desktop and mobile apps.
Some key features of StubHub for sellers include:
- Large buyer audience – Over 60 million unique visitors per month provides huge exposure for ticket listings.
- Robust sales data – StubHub uses current supply-and-demand metrics to recommend optimal pricing for sellers.
- Strong buyer guarantees – This helps attract buyers and ensures sellers get paid even if the event is canceled.
- FanProtect Guarantee – Sellers are guaranteed to get paid for valid ticket sales even if the buyer backs out.
- Mobile ticket transfer – Allows quick and secure ticket delivery and transferring.
Vivid Seats
Vivid Seats is another large secondary ticket marketplace that was founded in 2001. It allows users to buy and resell tickets for live sports, music, and theater events. Vivid Seats operates in over 20 countries and has a strong focus on mobile ticket transactions.
Key Vivid Seats features for resellers include:
- Competitive seller commissions – Sellers keep up to 90% of the ticket resale price.
- Dynamic pricing tools – Their “Price Predictor” uses historical data to suggest optimal prices.
- Fast payments – Payments are issued to sellers as soon as the event passes without issue.
- Buyer guarantees – Vivid Seats guarantees invalid or fraudulent tickets will be replaced.
- No listing fees – Unlike some sites, Vivid Seats does not charge a fee to list a ticket for resale.
SeatGeek
SeatGeek is a mobile-focused ticket marketplace launched in 2009. It enables resales for sporting events, concerts, theater, and other live entertainment. Sellers can list tickets easily from their mobile device.
Notable features of SeatGeek for sellers include:
- Mobile ticket transfers – Buyers can instantly get tickets via the app.
- Low seller fees – At 10% or less, SeatGeek’s fees are among the lowest.
- Intuitive tools – Their Deal Score tool gives sellers a clear recommendation of a listing price.
- Secure payments – SeatGeek handles all payment processing and holds funds in escrow until after the event.
- Good visibility – SeatGeek has brand recognition and strong search traffic, boosting listing exposure.
Ticketmaster
As one of the largest primary ticket sellers, Ticketmaster also facilitates ticket resales through their site and app. Sellers can list tickets they can’t use directly alongside primary event tickets.
Important features for Ticketmaster resellers include:
- Trusted brand – Ticketmaster is a widely recognized and trusted source for event tickets.
- High demand events – As a primary seller, many hot high-demand events are listed.
- Established buyer base – Their large existing user base creates instant exposure for listings.
- Seamless transfers – Since many are already Ticketmaster tickets, transfers are instant.
- Fair value pricing – Ticketmaster uses their primary sales data to price resale tickets fairly.
Craigslist
Craigslist is a popular online classified ads site that allows users to list virtually anything locally for sale or rent. Tickets are commonly listed by individuals reselling tickets in their local city or area.
Some attributes of Craigslist for ticket resellers:
- Local buyers – Craigslist has high local traffic perfect for city-specific event tickets.
- Lower fees – Sellers pay just a small listing fee for 30 days.
- Negotiation – Its classified ad format allows buyers to negotiate prices.
- Anonymity – Sellers and buyers have the option to remain completely anonymous.
- Cash sales – Craigslist facilitates local in-person cash sales.
How the Resale Process Works
The overall process of reselling tickets on online marketplaces generally follows these steps:
- The seller lists the tickets for sale on the resale site, entering details like event, date, section/row/seats, quantity of tickets, and asking price.
- The tickets are made available for buyers to browse and purchase on the site.
- A buyer completes the ticket purchase transaction on the site.
- The seller gets notified of the sale and ticket transfer information.
- The seller transfers the ticket to the buyer electronically or physically ships a hard copy ticket overnight.
- After the event passes, the seller receives payment, minus the resale site’s commission fees.
This facilitates a smooth, secure transaction without the seller and buyer ever having to meet in-person.
Tips for Successfully Selling Tickets
Here are some tips to help maximize your ticket resales on online marketplaces:
- List early – Ideal timing is 1-8 weeks out from the event. This allows time for buyers to browse listings.
- Price competitively – Research current ticket prices on the site and price yours comparably.
- Avoid underpricing – List very low and you miss out on higher bids or sales at fair value.
- Highlight details – Note important info like seat locations, limited availability, sold-out status.
- Use good photos – Show the actual ticket or provide venue seat views.
- Sell in pairs – Buyers often prefer getting 2+ seats together.
- Offer incentives – Consider free shipping or other perks to edge out the competition.
- Re-list if needed – You can re-post a listing that didn’t sell initially.
Pros of Selling Tickets Online
Some of the major advantages of using online resale sites include:
- Huge buyer reach – Millions of potential buyers see your listing.
- Easier than in-person sales – Avoid coordinating meetups.
- Convenient sales tracking – Sites provide dashboards to monitor listings.
- Fair market pricing – Tools recommend optimal pricing based on demand.
- More secure payments – Transactions done through the site are protected.
- Wider selection – Find tickets for sold-out and high-demand events.
Cons of Selling Tickets Online
There are also some potential downsides to keep in mind:
- Processing fees – Resale sites take 10-20% commissions from the seller.
- Competitive marketplace – Your tickets get lost alongside many similar listings.
- Dependent on buyer – You must wait for a buyer to actually purchase.
- Timing uncertainty – Income happens after the event takes place.
- Ticket transfer issues – Electronic transfers can fail or get sent late.
- Scam risks – Some fake ticket sale listings exist.
Conclusion
In summary, online ticket marketplaces like StubHub, VividSeats, SeatGeek, Ticketmaster, and Craigslist provide a widely used solution for reselling live event tickets. These sites make it easy to list and manage the sale of tickets you can’t use. While you do lose a cut of your proceeds, the sites facilitate sales you likely couldn’t get on your own. By pricing competitively, listing strategically, and understanding the pros and cons, individuals can successfully sell their tickets online. The huge buyer audiences these sites attract create a robust digital marketplace for ticket resales.