Live Nation is one of the world’s largest providers of live entertainment and ticketing services. Many popular concerts, festivals, and live events use Live Nation’s Ticketmaster platform for ticket sales and distribution. Like many primary ticket sellers, Live Nation also operates a secondary ticket resale marketplace where fans can resell extra tickets. This is known as Live Nation’s verified resale ticket platform. But are these resale tickets from other fans safe to buy? There are a few key factors to consider when evaluating the safety and legitimacy of Live Nation’s verified resale tickets.
What are verified resale tickets on Live Nation?
Live Nation’s verified resale tickets refer to tickets that are resold through Live Nation’s own secondary ticket marketplace instead of third-party resellers. Sellers must have a valid Ticketmaster account and transfer the tickets through Ticketmaster’s systems. As a result, Live Nation can verify these tickets are authentic and originally purchased from primary sales. This gives buyers more confidence the tickets are valid compared to unverified resale tickets.
Some key attributes of Live Nation verified resale tickets:
- Tickets are verified as authentic and originally purchased from Live Nation’s primary sales
- Tickets are resold through Live Nation’s own secondary marketplace platform, not third parties
- Sellers must have a Ticketmaster account in good standing
- Tickets are transferred securely through Ticketmaster’s ticket management systems
- Tickets may be mobile entry requiring ID of original purchaser
- Tickets are covered by Live Nation’s 100% money-back guarantee
In contrast, unverified resale tickets purchased from non-approved third party resellers have a higher risk of being fraudulent or unusable. Live Nation cannot confirm if these tickets are authentic or where they originally came from.
Are verified resale tickets on Live Nation safe?
In general, Live Nation’s verified resale tickets purchased directly through their platform are safer and more reliable than unverified resale tickets. However, there are still some risks to weigh when buying verified resale tickets.
Pros of buying verified resale Live Nation tickets
Here are some of the pros and safety features of buying verified resale tickets on Live Nation:
- Authenticity guarantee – Live Nation verifies the tickets are real and were originally purchased in a primary sale on Ticketmaster.
- Secure ticket transfer – Tickets are transferred securely through Ticketmaster’s systems instead of potentially risky person-to-person exchanges.
- Reduced fraud risk – The verification and secure exchange process makes it much harder for sellers to list fake or duplicate tickets.
- Official resale marketplace – Live Nation has vetted the platform and sellers, unlike risky third-party resellers.
- Covered by refund policy – Qualifying resale tickets are fully refundable if the event is canceled or tickets are unusable.
- Can be cheaper – Verified resale tickets can be listed for below box office prices, saving buyers money compared to primary sales.
Cons of buying verified resale Live Nation tickets
However, there are still some potential downsides of buying from Live Nation’s verified resale marketplace:
- Higher fees – Resale and delivery fees can make verified tickets cost more compared to face value tickets.
- Restricted entry – Some mobile tickets require ID of original purchaser, which prevents easy transfers.
- Unethical sellers – Even verified tickets run the risk of unscrupulous sellers misrepresenting seat locations.
- Lack of control – Buying resale means giving up control compared to choosing your own seats in primary sales.
- Timing issues – Late transfers can prevent entry if new barcodes aren’t activated in time.
While the verification process makes tickets safer, buying resale still involves some level of risk. Buyers don’t have the same full control as dealing directly with the primary ticket seller.
Tips for safely buying Live Nation verified resale tickets
If you decide to purchase Live Nation verified resale tickets, here are some tips to stay safe and avoid problems:
- Buy directly from Live Nation’s website or app, not third-party sites.
- Review seller’s ratings and feedback for red flags.
- Confirm ticket locations on venue seating chart before buying.
- Only buy e-tickets you can download and activate immediately.
- Ensure enough time for ticket transfers before the event.
- Use a credit card for added fraud protection.
- Avoid extremely below-face-value ticket prices that seem too good to be true.
- Thoroughly read resale policy details, restrictions, and disclosures.
- Keep records of all ticket information including barcodes and seat numbers.
- Understand refund eligibility and processes in case of issues using the tickets.
Exercising caution is still necessary even when dealing with a verified resale program. But overall Live Nation’s platform offers a safer way for fans to access events compared to riskier alternatives.
Scams and fraud risks from unverified resale tickets
When considering Live Nation’s verified resale ticketing program, it helps to understand the risks you open yourself up to without protections of a verified marketplace. Here are some of the common scams, frauds, and problems that can occur with unverified secondary tickets:
- Counterfeit tickets – Fake paper or electronic tickets that look real but won’t scan or allow entry.
- Double sold tickets – Ticket sold to multiple buyers through duplicating barcodes that results in only the first scan working.
- Speculative tickets – Sellers offering tickets that they don’t yet possess and may not be able to fulfill.
- False advertisements – Sellers misrepresenting seat locations, restricted views, or other ticket details.
- Last minute cancellations – Sellers claim they can no longer provide the tickets you already paid for.
- Change of plans – Sellers transfer invalid tickets after deciding to attend the event instead of reselling.
- Withheld tickets – Sellers take payment but never deliver or transfer the ticket to the buyer.
These shady practices often leave buyers scammed with invalid tickets and no way to get their money back. Dealing directly with unregulated resellers has huge risks that verified resale programs like Live Nation aim to avoid.
Is Live Nation’s verified resale better than StubHub, Vivid Seats, or other resale sites?
Live Nation’s verified resale ticketing platform has some advantages over major third-party ticket resale marketplaces like StubHub and Vivid Seats. Here’s how they compare:
Ticket authenticity
- Live Nation – Verified authentic and originally purchased on Ticketmaster.
- StubHub – Uses its own review process but has less insight into source.
- Vivid Seats – Claims verification but may still carry risk of counterfeits.
Live Nation has the benefit of direct control and visibility over the full ticket lifecycle and sources.
Policies and guarantees
- Live Nation – Offers refunds if event is canceled and tickets unusable.
- StubHub – Provides FanProtect Guarantee with refunds for invalid tickets.
- Vivid Seats – Also offers 100% Buyer Guarantee to cover unusable tickets.
All three major platforms provide forms of refund protection against fake or unusable tickets. Live Nation’s direct control can make verification easier but the others also make guarantees.
Prices
- Live Nation – May have deals below box office prices but adds fees.
- StubHub – Typically higher than box office prices but all-in pricing.
- Vivid Seats – Similarly priced to StubHub with fees added at checkout.
Third-parties like StubHub and Vivid Seats frequently have higher before-fee ticket prices than Live Nation resale. But final prices can vary after Live Nation’s added fees.
Buyer experience
- Live Nation – Requires Ticketmaster account and supports mobile entry.
- StubHub – Widely used with variety of delivery options.
- Vivid Seats – Also very popular with paper, e-ticket, and mobile entry.
The major third-party platforms may offer greater convenience for buyers in ticket delivery compared to Live Nation’s account requirement and transfer process. But for safety, direct resale has advantages.
Overall Live Nation verified resale provides the greatest ticket authenticity and security. But for prices and convenience, secondary sites have some strengths while still offering buyer protection.
Conclusion
In closing, Live Nation’s verified resale ticketing platform is generally safer compared to unregulated secondary ticket sales. The verification processes and secure exchanges through Ticketmaster’s systems reduce many of the risks of fraud, counterfeits, and scams that are common on the grey market. While some risks remain, verified resale tickets provide peace of mind and protection to buyers. Exercising caution is still advised, but Live Nation verified resale tickets are a relatively trustworthy option for fans looking to purchase resold tickets.