SeatGeek is a popular online ticket marketplace that allows users to buy and sell tickets for sporting events, concerts, theater shows, and more. When purchasing tickets on SeatGeek, buyers may wonder about the platform’s cancellation and refund policies in case plans change and they can no longer attend the event.
SeatGeek’s Cancellation Policy
SeatGeek itself does not have an official cancellation or refund policy. This is because SeatGeek is simply a ticket marketplace – they connect buyers and sellers but do not issue the tickets themselves. The cancellation policy depends on the seller that listed the tickets.
There are two types of sellers on SeatGeek:
- Professional sellers – These are resellers, ticket brokers, or the official team/venue box office. They have their own individual policies.
- Individual sellers – These are everyday people selling extra tickets they have. Cancellation policies are up to each individual seller.
So when buying tickets on SeatGeek, you must check the seller details to see if they have a posted cancellation or refund policy. This information should be available on the ticket listing page or seller profile.
Best Practices for Cancellations
Since policies vary between sellers, here are some best practices to follow if you need to cancel SeatGeek tickets:
- Contact the seller right away to notify them you need to cancel your tickets. This increases the chances of getting a refund or credit.
- Be familiar with the original cancellation policy (if any) and request a refund politely.
- For individual sellers, appeal to their understanding and willingness to work with you.
- For professional resellers, check state laws – some require refunds if events are postponed or canceled.
- Dispute the charges with your credit card company if the seller refuses to cooperate.
Reputable sellers on SeatGeek will often work with buyers on cancellations and refunds. However, they are not required to do so in all cases, especially for individual sellers.
SeatGeek Cancellation Fees
SeatGeek does charge cancellation fees in some cases when tickets are canceled:
- 10% fee – If you cancel more than 14 days before the event, SeatGeek charges a 10% cancellation fee.
- 15% fee – If you cancel 14 days or less before the event, the cancellation fee is 15%.
- No refunds
These fees only apply to cancellations that the seller approves and agrees to refund. Sellers have the option to refuse refunds even if you cancel ahead of time.
In some cases, sellers may charge their own cancellation fees on top of SeatGeek’s fees. Be sure to verify the total fees with the seller when canceling.
How to Request a Cancellation on SeatGeek
If the seller is willing to refund your tickets, you can request the cancellation through SeatGeek by following these steps:
- Access your “Upcoming Events” dashboard in your SeatGeek account.
- Find the event listing and click “Cancel Order.”
- Select the tickets you want to cancel from your order.
- Confirm you want to cancel the selected tickets.
- SeatGeek will reach out to the seller on your behalf to process the cancellation.
- If approved, refunds are generally issued back to your original payment method within 3-5 business days, minus any cancellation fees.
- You will receive an email notification from SeatGeek confirming if your cancellation was approved or denied.
This cancellation feature only works if the event is more than 72 hours away. Within 72 hours, you will need to coordinate directly with the seller if you want to return tickets.
What if My Event is Postponed or Canceled?
If an event you bought tickets for on SeatGeek gets postponed or canceled altogether, the course of action depends on the seller:
- Professional sellers – They will likely offer refunds or the option to use your tickets for a rescheduled date. Check their policy.
- Individual sellers – You will need to negotiate with them directly if you want a refund. No guarantees.
- Ineligible refunds – If a seller refuses refunds, you can dispute the charges with your credit card company.
SeatGeek’s cancellation fees do not apply if an event is outright canceled and not rescheduled. But sellers can still set their own policies in these cases.
Purchasing Ticket Insurance
To protect yourself when buying tickets on SeatGeek, consider purchasing ticket insurance:
- Covers cancellations for covered reasons like illness, travel delays, etc.
- Lets you recoup the ticket costs if you can’t attend.
- Offered by 3rd party insurers like Allianz Insurance.
- Typically costs 7-10% of the ticket price.
- Must be purchased within 14 days of buying tickets.
- Will reimburse according to policy terms if event is canceled/postponed.
Ticket insurance gives buyers peace of mind. However, read the policy details carefully to know what is and isn’t covered.
Reselling Your Tickets on SeatGeek
If your plans change, you always have the option to resell your SeatGeek tickets instead of canceling:
- SeatGeek allows ticket holders to list tickets for resale on the marketplace.
- You can relist at any price, but be realistic to sell them in time.
- There is a 15% SeatGeek seller commission on resold tickets.
- If tickets don’t resell, you can still use them or let them go unused.
- If they do sell, you recoup some of your costs back.
Reselling can be a good alternative if you miss the cancellation deadline from the original seller but can no longer attend the event.
Key Takeaways
- SeatGeek itself does not have a cancellation/refund policy – sellers set their own policies.
- Check seller policies before buying tickets in case you need to cancel later.
- Read SeatGeek’s cancellation fee policy – fees apply for approved cancellations.
- Contact the seller immediately if you need to cancel or return tickets.
- Consider ticket insurance to protect your purchase against covered cancellations.
- You can also resell unwanted tickets on SeatGeek to recoup costs.
Conclusion
SeatGeek gives ticket buyers access to a vast marketplace of events and seats. But when plans go awry, buyers need to navigate each seller’s cancellation policies carefully. As there is no blanket policy across SeatGeek, buyers should confirm cancellation details before purchasing tickets to ensure they are protected if they can no longer attend.