Quick Answer
It may be possible to get a refund on Elton John concert tickets, but it depends on several factors. The main considerations are:
- Where and when you purchased the tickets
- The refund and exchange policies of the original ticket seller
- The reason you want a refund
Generally, if you purchased tickets directly from the concert venue or the official tour promoter, refunds are only offered if the event is canceled or rescheduled. If you bought from a secondary marketplace like StubHub, you may be able to get a refund if you meet certain criteria laid out in their policies. Your options are more limited for non-refundable tickets, but you can try reselling them instead.
Where and How You Purchased the Tickets
Where you bought the Elton John tickets from and how you paid for them are key factors in determining if you can get a refund.
Directly from the Official Source
If you purchased tickets directly from the concert venue’s box office or the tour promoter, like AEG Presents/Concerts West for Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, they will have their own refund policy listed during checkout or on the venue/promoter website. Generally, tickets bought this way have the most restrictive refund policies because the venue and tour want to guarantee revenue.
Refunds directly from the source are usually only offered in limited situations like:
- The event is postponed or rescheduled
- The event is canceled outright
- There is a major change made to the event like the performer or date
For example, if Elton John has to reschedule a stop on his Farewell Tour due to illness, you could get a refund for that show from the venue box office or AEG Presents. But if you simply decide you can no longer attend, they are unlikely to offer refunds unless there is an extenuating circumstance.
One exception is that some venues allow you to purchase “refundable tickets” for a higher price, allowing you to get your money back up to a certain deadline before the event. This offers more flexibility if your plans change, for a cost.
Online Ticket Marketplaces
Many Elton John concert tickets are resold on secondary ticket marketplaces like StubHub, Vivid Seats, Ticketmaster, SeatGeek and more. Each marketplace has their own buyer guarantees and refund policies that apply when purchasing tickets through their platform.
In general, the marketplace sites offer better refund options than buying directly, especially if you cannot attend for a personal reason. For example:
- StubHub offers refunds up to 48 hours before the event for most tickets.
- Vivid Seats offers refunds up to 14 days before the event depending on seller options.
- Ticketmaster allows refunds on most tickets until 1 hour before showtime.
Check the specific policies before you purchase tickets from a secondary seller, as they can vary by event. There may be non-refundable ticket types too.
Scalpers or Unofficial Resellers
Buying tickets from an unofficial third-party seller like a ticket scalper or listings on Craigslist is very risky when it comes to refunds. There is no guarantee you will get your money back if you can no longer attend since there are no formal terms and policies in place. Only purchase from these unofficial sources if you are 100% sure you can and will attend the event.
Ticket Refund Policies
In addition to where you purchased the tickets, the other critical factor is the official refund policy associated with the tickets. This will outline the specific conditions where a refund is allowed and the process for obtaining one.
Refundable vs. Non-Refundable Tickets
Venues and ticket sellers will designate tickets as either refundable or non-refundable. As the names suggest:
- Refundable tickets can be returned for a full or partial refund if you meet the policy criteria.
- Non-refundable tickets do not allow for a refund under most circumstances.
Refundable tickets are less common and will usually cost more upfront. Certain sections like front row, VIP, or platinum seats may be the only refundable options. Read the fine print before purchasing tickets to understand your rights as a buyer.
Other Refund Conditions
In addition to the broad refundable vs non-refundable categories, most major ticket sellers like AEG or Ticketmaster have other conditions that may allow for a refund, including:
- Illness – If you or another member of your party gets sick and cannot attend, submit documentation to seek a refund beyond the normal policy.
- Military service – Members of the military who get deployed or have a last minute service obligation can often get refunds with documentation.
- Death – If an event ticketholder dies before the event, refunds are generally provided with documentation.
- Artist cancellation – If the performer cancels their appearance or the entire event is canceled, refunds are provided.
While every refund policy is slightly different, most aim to be fair to ticketholders who have extenuating personal circumstances come up. Review policies closely before purchasing.
Getting an Elton John Ticket Refund
If you determine you meet the refund criteria for the Elton John tickets you purchased, here are the typical next steps for securing your refund:
- Act quickly – Begin the refund process as soon as possible to meet any deadlines.
- Gather documentation – Have any necessary documentation ready like a doctor’s note, military orders, death certificate, etc.
- Contact the seller – Call or email the original ticket seller and explain you need a refund based on their policy.
- Return tickets – Typically, you will need to securely return any physical tickets you have in-hand to the seller.
- Wait for processing – It takes time for refunds to be reviewed and issued. This can take weeks in some cases.
- Receive refund – If approved, the refund is typically returned to the original payment method used.
The specific steps can vary some depending on where you purchased from. Be patient but persistent with following up if your refund seems to be taking a long time to process.
Reselling Your Elton John Tickets
If you are past the refund deadline or purchased non-refundable Elton John tickets originally, reselling them on the secondary market is an alternative option to try recovering some of your costs.
Ticket Resale Marketplaces
Major ticket sites like StubHub, Vivid Seats and Ticketmaster all allow users to resell event tickets they can no longer use. To list your Elton John tickets:
- Make sure reselling is allowed. Some tickets have transfer or resale restrictions.
- Pick a resale platform and list your tickets at a competitive market price.
- Once they sell, ship the tickets securely to the buyer.
- You will receive payment (minus commission fees) from the platform.
Resale sites offer protection for buyers, so your tickets need to be legitimate. Price them competitively and be patient. It may take a while to find a buyer depending on demand.
Other Resale Options
If ticket resale platforms don’t work out, consider:
- Posting on Craigslist, Facebook or community boards to find local buyers.
- Reaching out to family, friends or colleagues to see if anyone you know wants to purchase tickets.
- Donating tickets to a charity organization so they can raffle or resell them to raise funds.
These options take more effort on your end and have higher risk, but are possible alternatives if you are stuck with extra tickets you cannot use. Protect yourself when reselling locally using safe transaction practices.
Purchasing Resold Tickets
If you struck out getting Elton John tickets originally, buying resold tickets is an option. However, you must be cautious of scams on the secondary market. Some good practices include:
- Stick to well-known, reputable resale sites like StubHub or Ticketmaster.
- Review seller ratings and feedback before purchasing.
- Scan tickets yourself via AXS or Ticketmaster to validate authenticity before buying.
- Pay via secure payment methods like credit card – avoid wire transfers.
- Make sure any digital tickets are transferrable before purchase.
- Be wary of prices that seem drastically below face value.
Buying resold tickets comes with risks, so buyer beware. But you can find good deals on legit secondhand tickets with smart shopping.
When All Else Fails
If you have exhausted all options for refunds, reselling, or resales for your Elton John tickets, all hope is not lost. Here are some last ditch ideas to consider:
- Attend anyway – Can you adjust your plans or go by yourself and still enjoy the show?
- Gift them – Give tickets to a friend or family member who would appreciate attending.
- Donate to charity – Local non-profits may know a deserving person who could use tickets.
- Sell below face value – Consider cutting losses and offer tickets at a deep discount just to unload them.
- Eat the cost -Sometimes circumstances force you to surrender to a lost cause. It stinks, but it happens.
At the end of the day, nothing beats seeing Elton John perform live, so try your best to hold onto that experience if you can make it work. But don’t feel ashamed if you need to get a refund – just act quickly and be persistent. With smart shopping, you may even score a deal on resold tickets instead.
Key Takeaways
- Refund eligibility depends on where and how tickets were purchased originally.
- Refundable tickets offer exchange/return flexibility for a higher price.
- Know the seller’s official refund policy and conditions before buying tickets.
- Act quickly, reach out to seller, and provide documentation to request a refund.
- Reselling tickets via secure marketplace sites recoups some costs if refunds are unavailable.
- Research ticket validity and use protected payments when buying resold tickets.
- With effort, it is often possible to get money back or tickets into the right hands.
Conclusion
While not always guaranteed, you often have options to get a refund, resell, or repurchase Elton John tickets if your plans change unexpectedly. Understand and act within ticket seller refund policies. Use official secure sites to buy or resell. With extra effort, you can hopefully avoid losing all the money spent on prized concert seats even if you can’t attend in the end.