Selling tickets on Ticketmaster can be tricky, especially if you run into issues trying to list or transfer tickets. There are a few reasons why Ticketmaster may not allow you to sell your tickets, but there are still options to get your tickets sold securely and conveniently. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover the key things you need to know about selling tickets on Ticketmaster and what to do if you can’t list your tickets for sale.
Why Ticketmaster Restricts Some Ticket Transfers/Sales
There are a few main reasons why Ticketmaster imposes restrictions on certain tickets:
- The event organizer or team has set restrictions on ticket transfers to prevent unauthorized reselling. This is common with high demand events.
- The tickets are marked as “Credit Card Entry Required” which means the credit card used to originally purchase the tickets must be presented at the venue for entry. This prevents transfer/resale.
- Ticketmaster has imposed limits on prices for resale tickets to prevent price gouging. If your ticket price exceeds their threshold, you may not be able to list them.
While these restrictions can be frustrating as a seller, they are ultimately in place to make getting tickets into the right hands easier and prevent inflated resale prices.
How to Check if Your Tickets Are Transferrable
Before trying to sell tickets through your Ticketmaster account, it’s important to verify the transfer policy for that event. Here’s how to check:
- Go to your Ticketmaster account and find the event under “My Events”.
- Select the event title to view your order details.
- Under ticket details, look for any notices about transfers or resale restrictions.
- If not specified, you can select “Sell Tickets” which will indicate if transfers are disabled.
This will clarify if you can securely transfer or sell the tickets through Ticketmaster. If transfers are fully restricted, you unfortunately won’t be able to sell the tickets through your account.
Alternatives for Selling Restricted Tickets
If Ticketmaster won’t allow you to post your tickets for sale, don’t worry – you still have options. Here are a few recommended alternatives:
Sell to Friends and Family
The simplest option is to sell to people you know. You can transfer the tickets for free through Ticketmaster if transfers are permitted. Just make sure the recipient has a Ticketmaster account to send them to.
List on Authorized Resale Sites
Many teams and venues have partnered with authorized resale marketplaces like StubHub or VividSeats. Check with the event organizer to see if they recommend a particular resale platform. You can safely list and sell your tickets while ensuring they go to real fans.
Sell via Ticket Exchange Groups
Joining local ticket seller Facebook groups or forums is a popular way to connect with interested buyers. You can arrange safe meetups or transfers. Just be sure to vet buyers and only accept authorized payments like PayPal. Avoid cash transactions.
Donate Tickets
If you can’t attend an event anymore, consider donating the tickets to a charity organization so they can be used by those in need. Great way to bring joy to others if you can’t get your money back.
How to Safely Sell Tickets with Restrictions
If you opt to sell restricted tickets outside of Ticketmaster, make sure you take precautions:
Verify Your Tickets
Double check that the tickets are valid and verified in your account before advertising them for sale elsewhere. This prevents any issues down the line.
Choose a Secure Payment Method
Never accept cash payments. Only use services like PayPal which offer buyer and seller protection in case of issues. Avoid bank wires or gift cards which can’t be traced.
Transfer Tickets Securely
For e-tickets, only send via authorized Ticketmaster transfer which requires the recipient to have an account. Avoid screenshotting or emailing PDF tickets which can be duplicated.
Meet Publicly for Hard Tickets
If handing off paper tickets, always meet in a safe public place. Many police stations offer “safe transaction” meeting zones monitored by security cameras.
Price Fairly
Avoid drastically inflating prices which draws scammers looking for a deal. Check other resale listings for fair market prices. Price gouging often violates resale policies too.
Safety Practice | Reason |
---|---|
Verify valid tickets | Avoid selling invalid or duplicate tickets |
Use secure payments | Protection against fraud/chargebacks |
Authorized transfers | Prevents duplication or screenshot resale |
Meet in public | Personal safety precaution |
Fair pricing | Follows policies, avoid scams |
Selling Ticketmaster Tickets on StubHub
One of the top authorized resale sites is StubHub, which partners directly with Ticketmaster. Here is a walkthrough if you want to sell your tickets that way:
- Go to StubHub and click Sell Tickets
- Search for the event and select the correct date
- Pick the section, row, and seat numbers that match your tickets
- Enter the quantity you want to sell and list price
- Follow prompts to list the tickets for sale on StubHub
Once sold, StubHub will electronically transfer the tickets securely to the buyer’s account. You will need to officially transfer the tickets through Ticketmaster to StubHub once they sell.
StubHub Process Summary
- Verify tickets are transferrable in your Ticketmaster account first
- Accurately list the ticket details on StubHub
- Transfer to StubHub account after sale clears
- StubHub transfers tickets to the buyer
This allows you to abide by Ticketmaster’s policies while still getting your tickets sold securely on an approved marketplace.
Conclusion
The key takeaways on selling restricted Ticketmaster tickets:
- Check for transfer/resale policies in your account first
- Sell directly to family and friends if possible
- Use authorized resale platforms like StubHub as alternatives
- Take precautions when meeting strangers or taking payments
- Avoid cash transactions or screenshot tickets
- Transfer via Ticketmaster or other verified means only
While Ticketmaster’s restrictions can be inconvenient, they help prevent unauthorized resales and inflated prices. Always prioritize safety and legitimacy when reselling tickets. With some diligence, you can securely get your tickets into the hands of another eager fan.