Selling Broadway tickets you can’t use is a great way to recoup some of the cost of the tickets. Broadway shows are expensive, so it’s understandable if your plans change and you can’t attend a show you already bought tickets for. You have a few options to sell Broadway tickets, and this guide will walk you through the pros and cons of each method.
Sell Through the Box Office
One option is to sell the tickets back to the box office of the Broadway show. Many box offices will buy back tickets to resell them. This is probably the easiest way to sell your tickets, but you likely won’t get full price for them. The box office will resell them at a discount, so the amount they’ll pay you will be less than face value.
Pros:
- Easy and convenient – just take the tickets to the box office
- No fees – the box office won’t charge you any processing fees
- Guaranteed sale – the box office will buy back most tickets
Cons:
- Lower price – you’ll only get partial face value back
- In-person only – you need to physically go to the box office
- Limited availability – box offices don’t always buy back tickets
Sell Through an Exchange Site
Using an online ticket exchange or resale marketplace is another common way to sell Broadway tickets. Sites like StubHub and Vivid Seats let you list tickets for sale and handle all the payment processing and buyer vetting. These sites charge seller fees and/or take a percentage of the sale price, but you can likely get closer to full ticket value.
Pros:
- Large customer base – popular resale sites get a lot of search traffic
- More control over pricing – you can choose your asking price
- Convenient selling – everything is handled online
Cons:
- Seller fees – sites charge anywhere from 10-20% of sale price
- No guarantee of selling – your tickets aren’t guaranteed to sell
- Payment processing delays – can take a few days to get paid
Sell Directly to Friends or Online
You can also try to directly sell your Broadway tickets to people you know or list them for sale on platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. If you have a wide social network or are willing to do the legwork to find buyers, this option avoids any seller fees. However, it does come with some risks and the chance the tickets don’t sell.
Pros:
- Avoid seller fees – you keep 100% of the sale price
- Set your own rules – you control the sale terms
- Personal connections – friends may buy at higher price
Cons:
- Smaller buyer pool – harder to find interested buyers
- Increased safety risks – vetting buyers is difficult
- Unreliable buyers – higher risk of no-shows or cancellations
How to Price Your Broadway Tickets
An important factor in selling your Broadway tickets is deciding on the right sale price. If you price the tickets too high they may not sell, but pricing too low means losing money. Here are some tips on pricing Broadway tickets for sale:
- Check current ticket prices – See what the tickets are currently selling for from the official source and resellers
- Consider demand – More popular shows will have higher resale prices
- Account for fees – If selling through an exchange, factor their fees into your price
- Compare similar tickets – See what other sellers are listing comparable seats for
- Start high – You can always lower the price, but rarely increase it
- Consider discounts – You may get more interest if priced at just below common discount levels like 25% or 50% off
Using these tips can help you maximize your profit when reselling Broadway tickets while still pricing them competitively enough to sell.
How to Avoid Broadway Ticket Scams
Scams are unfortunately common when reselling event tickets online. Here are some tips to avoid scams and stay safe when selling Broadway tickets:
- Never send digital tickets until paid – Require payment first to avoid non-payment
- Only accept secure payments – Use PayPal or payment through the selling platform to ensure you get paid
- Avoid wire transfers or checks – These payment methods have high scam potential
- Watch out for overpayments – Scammers may send excess funds and ask for change
- Be wary of sob stories – Scammers will often use hard luck stories to request discounts or favors
- Trust your gut – If something seems suspicious about the buyer, don’t go through with the sale
Protecting yourself when reselling tickets online requires being cautious and following best practices around payments and ticket transfers. But hundreds of thousands of tickets are resold safely this way every year.
Best Times and Places to Resell Broadway Tickets
To maximize your chances of reselling Broadway tickets quickly, you’ll want to list them at the optimal times and on the best platforms. Here are some tips:
- List early – Ideal time is 1-2 months prior to the performance
- Avoid listing too last minute – Buyers need time to make plans
- Weekday evenings are best – Most buyers shop for tickets then
- List on both general and Broadway-specific sites – Cover both casual and serious buyers
- Promote on social media – Leverage your personal connections and brand
- Offer incentives – Consider discounts for buyers who promote your listing
Broadway shows often sell out quickly, so there is significant demand for resale tickets. With smart timing and placement of your listings, you can maximize visibility and sell your tickets fast.
How Transfers Work When Reselling Broadway Tickets
To complete the sale of Broadway tickets, you’ll need to transfer them to the buyer. How this works depends on the original source of the tickets:
- Hard tickets – Must be delivered in-person or by mail
- Etickets – Can be transferred electronically through the vendor’s website
- Credit card entry – Buyer’s card is used to issue replacement tickets
- Mobile tickets – Scanned from your phone app and transferred to buyer’s app account
Always read the fine print from where you bought the tickets to understand the transfer procedure. Some may only allow the original purchaser to use mobile entry tickets. Make sure the transfer method is clearly explained before completing the sale.
Conclusion
Reselling Broadway tickets allows you to recoup some value for shows you can no longer attend. Weigh the pros and cons of selling through the box office, a ticket exchange, or directly to buyers. Price competitively based on demand and current market rates. Be very wary of scams and only use secure payment methods. With smart pricing and savvy sales tactics, you can minimize any losses and allow others to enjoy the show you unfortunately miss.
Selling Method | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|
Box Office | Easy, no fees, guaranteed sale | Lower price, in-person only |
Exchange Site | Large customer base, convenient | Seller fees, no sale guarantee |
Direct Sale | Avoid fees, set own terms | Small buyer pool, safety risks |