Why are my tickets not eligible for resale on Ticketmaster?

There are a few key reasons why your tickets may not be eligible for resale on Ticketmaster’s ticket exchange platform:

The event is non-transferable

For some events, tickets are restricted to the original purchaser only and cannot be resold or transferred. This is known as a “non-transferable” event. The artist, team, or venue sets these restrictions to discourage scalping and ensure fairness in ticket access.

If you try to relist non-transferable tickets on Ticketmaster, you’ll get an error message stating they are ineligible for resale. This restriction is built into the barcode and enforced at the venue entrance.

The tickets are mobile-only

Mobile tickets that must be displayed on your phone for entry are also non-transferable in most cases. Like paperless tickets, mobile tickets are tied to the original purchaser and cannot be transferred to a new buyer on Ticketmaster.

This includes Ticketmaster’s own Official Platinum Seats, which are mobile-restricted tickets sold at market value pricing. Platinum seats cannot be resold or transferred once purchased.

Ticket limits have been exceeded

To discourage bulk purchases by ticket brokers, many events have ticket purchase limits in place. This means there is a cap on the number of tickets a single customer can buy.

If you try to resell tickets that exceed the original ticket limit, you’ll get an error because the barcodes are invalid for resale. Ticketmaster’s system recognizes you are the original purchaser attempting to resell tickets over the limit.

The tickets are still unsold inventory

If you are the original ticket seller trying to relist tickets that never sold initially, those tickets are still considered unsold inventory. Unsold tickets cannot be resold on Ticketmaster’s exchange platform.

Instead, any unsold tickets would need to be fully refunded to Ticketmaster then relisted as new inventory for sale. You cannot transfer unsold tickets from your own inventory back to Ticketmaster for resale.

The event is not participating in Ticketmaster’s exchange

While most major events utilize Ticketmaster’s ticket exchange platform, some events opt out of the resale market. If the event is not participating in Ticketmaster’s exchange, you will not be able to resell tickets there.

This could be because the primary tickets are non-transferable, the artist or team wish to control 100% of secondary sales, or they have partnered with another exchange platform.

The ticket listing expired or was removed

Tickets listed for resale on Ticketmaster are typically given a 30-day listing period. If the listing expires before the tickets are purchased, they no longer show as available inventory.

Listings may also be removed ahead of expiration if you choose to cancel the resale or if Ticketmaster deems them invalid for resale.

In either case, these tickets cannot be resold again until the listing period resets or any issues with the tickets are resolved.

The ticket transfer deadline has passed

For some events, there is a deadline by which you must electronically transfer tickets to a new buyer on Ticketmaster. This is common with mobile tickets that require transferring to another user’s Ticketmaster account.

If the transfer deadline has passed, you can no longer send the tickets to a new buyer, even if you relist them for resale. The tickets remain tied to your account only.

Your Ticketmaster account is blocked from reselling tickets

If Ticketmaster suspects you are violating their resale policies and terms of use, they may temporarily or permanently restrict your account privileges. This could include blocking you from reselling more tickets.

Account restrictions can happen if you are suspected of:

• Reselling tickets you don’t own
• Circumventing ticket limits
• Using bots or unfair practices to obtain tickets
• Charging inflated prices

If your account is restricted, Ticketmaster will notify you that you are ineligible to resell tickets currently or in the future.

The tickets were purchased with a discount code

If you used a special pre-sale code, fan club code, or other discount offer to purchase tickets at below face value price, reselling them is prohibited.

Discount tickets are non-transferable and ineligible for resale so the discounts are not exploited by ticket brokers.

Conclusion

In summary, tickets may be ineligible for resale on Ticketmaster if:

• The event does not allow ticket transfers or resales
• The tickets violate ticket purchase limits
• The tickets are unsold inventory you are attempting to relist
• The event is not participating in Ticketmaster’s exchange
• The original ticket listing expired or was removed
• The transfer deadline to send tickets to a new buyer has passed
• Your account privileges to resell tickets are revoked
• The tickets were originally purchased with a discount code

Always carefully review the event policies, ticket delivery method, and any restrictions before attempting to resell tickets on Ticketmaster or any other secondary exchange. This will ensure you do not waste time trying to relist tickets that are ineligible for resale.

This covers the major reasons you may be blocked from reselling tickets on Ticketmaster’s platform. Always check for restrictions before attempting to relist tickets to avoid issues. If your tickets are non-transferable or violate other policies, unfortunately you will be stuck with those tickets and unable to recoup the cost through resale on Ticketmaster.

Some other things worth mentioning

Here are a few additional tips related to reselling tickets on Ticketmaster’s exchange:

Double check all ticket details before relisting

Be sure to carefully verify the event name, date, seats, quantity of tickets, ticket delivery method, and any other ticket details before attempting to relist them for resale. Incorrect ticket information could prevent successful resale.

Review seller fees and policies

Ticketmaster charges seller fees when tickets are resold through their platform. Be sure to review the current fee structure so you know the net proceeds you will receive if tickets resell.

Also understand their policies around cancellations, unsold tickets, payment timelines, and more. As the seller, you are responsible for adhering to Ticketmaster’s guidelines.

Price tickets competitively

Research prices for other tickets being resold for the same event. Price your tickets at a competitive market rate relative to other listings to encourage sales. Drastically overpricing tickets may cause them to go unsold.

Monitor your listings

Log in regularly to check your ticket listings status. Cancel any listings that are no longer needed. You can also adjust pricing if needed to be more competitive.

Beware of scams

As with any online marketplace, be cautious of potential scams when reselling tickets. Never send tickets until payment is received. Use secure payment processing through Ticketmaster. Avoid risky behavior that could leave you without tickets or without payment.

By understanding the requirements around Ticketmaster ticket resales, pricing competitively, and avoiding risky behavior, you can successfully resell eligible tickets. Just be sure to always check for event transfer restrictions and delivery requirements first before attempting to relist tickets.

Careful verification before resale can help prevent wasting time on listings that will ultimately be rejected. With the right preparation on the seller’s part, Ticketmaster’s exchange platform enables safe, convenient resale for both buyers and sellers.

While Ticketmaster provides a reputable resale marketplace, there are also other trusted third party exchanges like StubHub where you may be able to resell eligible tickets as well. Having more options opens up greater resale opportunities for fans who need to resell event tickets that they can no longer use.