Ticketmaster is the largest primary ticket outlet in the United States. As a leading ticketing company, Ticketmaster has exclusive deals with many major venues and artists to sell tickets to events. This means if you want to resell tickets that you purchased on Ticketmaster, you may be required to use their resale platform.
However, you do not always have to resell your tickets through Ticketmaster. Here is a closer look at Ticketmaster’s resale policies and your options as a ticket holder.
Can I sell my Ticketmaster tickets anywhere I want?
If you purchase tickets through Ticketmaster for an event at a partner venue or by an artist with an exclusive deal, you will likely be restricted to reselling through their verified resale platform. This restriction is to prevent ticket scalping and ensure fairness in ticket access.
According to Ticketmaster’s Purchase Policy:
For many tickets sold on our platform, the ticket issuer dictates and limits your rights to resell or transfer tickets. When you purchase tickets for an event from Ticketmaster, you agree to be bound by the ticket issuer’s terms and conditions specific to that event, which may include restricting your rights to resell or transfer tickets. The issuer’s terms and conditions will be provided to you prior to purchase.
So if the original ticket issuer – usually the venue or artist – requires resale to happen through Ticketmaster, you must abide by those terms. You can see if a resale restriction applies during checkout.
Why ticket resale is restricted
There are a few reasons why events require ticket resale to happen through authorized platforms like Ticketmaster:
- Prevent scalping – Unauthorized resale can lead to price gouging and unfair access.
- Limit counterfeits – Requiring resale through approved platforms limits fraud.
- Fan Support – Artists or teams want tickets in the hands of real fans.
- Data Collection – Understanding who attends allows better marketing.
While restrictive, these resale terms aim to provide fairer ticket access for fans.
What happens if I resell tickets against the terms?
If you resell tickets outside of the authorized platform in violation of the ticket terms, the venue or artist can cancel those tickets. Trying to attend with a canceled ticket is fraud.
In some cases, Ticketmaster may ban you from making future purchases if you violate resale restrictions. So it is important to follow the specified resale policies.
How to resell Ticketmaster tickets
If your Ticketmaster tickets do have resale restrictions, you must resell them through Ticketmaster’s verified resale marketplace. Here is how it works:
- List tickets for sale – Pick your event and list the tickets for sale at your chosen price on Ticketmaster’s resale site.
- Ticketmaster vets buyers – They ensure the buyer is legitimate before every transaction.
- Get paid securely – They collect payment from the buyer and pay sellers directly.
- Transfer tickets safely – Ticketmaster electronically transfers the tickets to the buyer.
There are no listing fees to post your tickets for resale through Ticketmaster. They charge around 10-20% in seller service fees and buyer service fees once the ticket is sold.
Benefits of Ticketmaster Verified Resale
While Ticketmaster limits where you can resell, their resale exchange does offer some advantages:
- Wider exposure – Reach Ticketmaster’s large buyer pool.
- Secure sales – No risk of fraud or non-payment.
- Guaranteed tickets – All resale tickets are verified as authentic.
- Fan support – Resale restrictions discourage scalpers.
- Pricing tools – See past sales data to optimize pricing.
- Direct payment – Get your resale earnings conveniently paid out.
Reselling tickets outside of Ticketmaster
If your tickets do not have resale restrictions, you can resell them anywhere you choose. Some alternative options include:
Ticket resale marketplaces
Major secondary marketplaces like StubHub or VividSeats are an option if Ticketmaster resale is not required. You list your tickets for sale on these platforms similarly to Ticketmaster.
Benefits of using an external resale platform:
- May reach wider audience of buyers
- Convenient sale and transfers
- May get higher sale price
Downsides to external platforms:
- Higher seller fees, often around 15%
- Less buyer security guarantees
- More risk of fake/canceled tickets
Sell through social media or classifieds
You can also use Facebook groups, Craigslist, eBay, or other classified ads to list your tickets for sale. This gives you the most flexibility on pricing and buyer screening.
Benefits of classified ticket sales:
- Less fees, often just payment processing
- More control over buyer selection
- Set your own prices
Watch out for these risks:
- Less buyer security, so more risk
- Need to handle ticket transfers yourself
- Sales limited to your social network reach
In-person ticket sales
For hard tickets you physically hold, you could try selling to people in-person outside the venue. This works best for high demand events where you can find willing buyers.
Pros of in-person ticket sales:
- Buyer can verify ticket authenticity
- No fees involved
- Receive payment immediately
Cons of in-person sales include:
- Very time intensive
- Limited buyer pool
- Need to handle meetups and cash
- Potential safety risks
How to avoid ticket resale restrictions
While Ticketmaster’s resale terms are binding if you buy directly from their site, there are some other ways to get tickets that avoid resale limitations.
Buy from the venue box office
Purchasing tickets directly through the venue’s box office or front gate can sometimes avoid Ticketmaster restrictions. Check with the box office on any resale limitations for their direct sales.
Without Ticketmaster’s terms, you may freely resell these tickets. However, the venue can still cancel tickets suspected of violating original sale terms.
Use a ticket resale broker
Some dedicated ticket brokers acquire inventory from various sources, not just Ticketmaster. This can include season ticket holders or special partnerships.
By buying your tickets originally from a broker instead of Ticketmaster, you may avoid resale restrictions. Again, double check terms with any ticket seller.
Ticket transfers from season ticket holders
Season ticket holders that cannot attend an event may transfer or resell their seats without the same restrictions. Buying tickets transferred directly from a season ticket holder is an option.
Be sure to only buy from trusted sources with evidence they actually hold the season tickets in question. Fraud is still a risk in direct ticket transfers.
Conclusion
In summary, if you originally purchased tickets through Ticketmaster, you will very likely have restrictions requiring you to resell them on Ticketmaster’s verified resale exchange. These policies aim to curb unfair scalping and provide reliability in the secondary market.
If permitted, you can resell your tickets through other exchange sites, classified ads, or in-person. But there are higher risks and fees involved with these options.
For the most seamless and secure experience, your best bet is to follow Ticketmaster’s resale policies if they apply to your tickets. Their process ensures authenticity and prevents fraud on either side of the transaction.
While Ticketmaster’s resale lock-in may seem restrictive, following their policies is the smart move to avoid canceled tickets or bans. Their exchange provides buyer guarantees and seller protections that limit the risks in secondary transactions.
So review the original ticket purchase terms closely, and if Ticketmaster restricts resale, stick to their verified resale marketplace when reselling tickets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Ticketmaster ban me if I resell their tickets elsewhere?
Yes, Ticketmaster can ban you from future purchases if you resell tickets in violation of their terms. Each event has its own policies, but violating terms can lead to losing Ticketmaster privileges.
What happens if I sell my Ticketmaster tickets on StubHub?
If your Ticketmaster tickets have resale restrictions, reselling them on StubHub or similar sites violates terms and may lead to Ticketmaster canceling the tickets. Only use their verified resale platform if required.
Can Ticketmaster tickets be transferred to someone else?
The original ticket purchaser can directly transfer tickets to someone else on Ticketmaster, though fees apply. But if terms prohibit resale, transferred tickets could still be canceled if suspected of unauthorized resale.
Is reselling tickets illegal?
Reselling tickets is legal in general. However, violating the resale terms from a ticket seller constitutes breach of contract. Ticketmaster can enforce its policies by canceling tickets resold against terms.
What are the fees for selling tickets on Ticketmaster?
Ticketmaster does not charge any upfront fees for listing tickets for resale through their marketplace. Once sold, they collect around 10-20% total in seller service fees and buyer service fees.
Key Takeaways
- Ticketmaster can restrict reselling to their verified resale exchange due to exclusive venue/artist deals.
- Violating Ticketmaster’s resale terms can lead to ticket cancellations or loss of privileges.
- Always check the original ticket terms before reselling tickets purchased on Ticketmaster.
- Using their verified resale marketplace ensures ticket authenticity and security.
- Alternatives like StubHub have more fees and risks if prohibited by Ticketmaster terms.