In the digital age, social media has become a popular platform for buying and selling goods. From small items like books and clothes to big ticket purchases like cars and real estate, you can find almost anything for sale on sites like Facebook and Instagram. This includes event tickets, with many people using their social media profiles to sell extra concert or sports tickets. But is this actually allowed, or could you get in trouble for scalping tickets online? There are a few key factors to consider when deciding if it’s okay to post concert tickets for sale on your social media.
Event ticket resale policies
Many major concerts, festivals, and sporting events have policies prohibiting ticket resale above face value or through unauthorized channels. This is to prevent predatory scalping practices where tickets are marked up to extreme prices. Check the fine print on your tickets or the event’s website to see if resale is restricted. Most say tickets can only be resold through approved marketplace sites like StubHub. Selling directly on social media would violate these terms.
Social media platform rules
The social media sites themselves also have guidelines about what can and cannot be sold through their platforms. Facebook, for instance, has an extensive commerce policy that requires all sellers to comply with applicable laws and regulations. If the event you’re trying to sell tickets for explicitly prohibits resale, doing so on Facebook would go against their rules. Instagram similarly discourages prohibited or illegally sourced goods from being sold through their platform. A clear no-no would be selling fake or scam tickets.
Legal considerations
Depending on your jurisdiction, selling tickets above face value without authorization may be considered illegal scalping or unfair trade practice. In many states and countries, it is a punishable offense to sell tickets at inflated prices or through unapproved channels, with violations leading to hefty fines. Even if your motivations are innocent, like just wanting to sell extra tickets, you could get hit with anti-scalping regulations. Some entities also prohibit online ticket sales altogether in an effort to curb scalping.
Pros of posting tickets on social media
Although there are risks associated with selling tickets online, many find the following benefits make it worthwhile:
Convenience
Social media provides a convenient platform to instantly list tickets for sale and connect with interested buyers. Compared to listing on a dedicated marketplace, you skip fees and don’t have to deal with posting delays or complicated listing processes.
Wide reach
Your existing social network offers a large pool of potential ticket buyers. Friends, family, co-workers – your connections are people who likely share your interests. A concert post will easily reach fans.
Price control
You dictate the ticket price rather than relying on a third-party broker. This gives you flexibility, like offering tickets below market value to sell faster.
Personal connection
Buyers may have greater trust purchasing from someone they know rather than a random seller. This can provide peace of mind on both sides.
Quick cash
Social media sales offer a fast way to unload extra tickets and get cash quickly through electronic payments. Compared to consignment sites, you get paid immediately.
Cons of posting tickets on social media
On the other hand, several drawbacks exist:
Security risks
Receiving money or transferring tickets requires sharing personal information that opens you up to potential fraud or theft. Scammers commonly leverage social platforms.
No buyer/seller protections
Unlike marketplace sites, social media offers no guarantees or safeguards around ticket sales. You have no recourse if tickets are invalid or purchase disputes arise.
Spam risk
A public ticket listing may attract spam comments or messages from trolls and bots. Your post could also get flagged as spam itself.
Policy violations
As outlined earlier, most events and platforms explicitly prohibit unauthorized ticket resales. You face having your posts removed or getting your account suspended.
Legal penalties
If caught selling tickets illegally online, you may face civil fines or criminal charges depending on the jurisdiction. Punishments can be steep.
Best practices for selling tickets on social media
If you understand the risks but still wish to sell extra tickets through your social media, some best practices are:
Review policies
Carefully check event, platform, and legal ticket resale policies, and only sell tickets permitted on the specific channels you use.
Price at face value
Don’t inflate prices above the original ticket cost or fees. This helps avoid scalping perceptions.
Use privacy settings
Limit visibility through privacy tools so the post only reaches your connections, avoiding public exposure.
Vet buyers
Only accept payments through secure methods and ensure buyer profiles seem legitimate to avoid scams.
Transfer tickets securely
Use electronic ticket transfer rather than physically mailing paper tickets which have greater risks. Destroy any paper tickets you are transferring electronically.
Remove posts promptly
Once tickets have sold, swiftly delete the post so it’s not perpetually public and can’t be used fraudulently.
Is selling tickets on social media ethical?
While reselling tickets on social media has efficiency benefits in connecting buyers and sellers directly, some view the practice as unethical price gouging:
Unethical Pros
– Allows sellers to profit by marking up tickets
– Provides access to high demand tickets for those willing and able to pay inflated prices
– Offers sellers an easy source of income from in-demand events
Unethical Cons
– Prices out lower income buyers unable to afford marked up ticket costs
– Circumvents intent of face value ticket pricing and authorized resale channels
– Enables unfair profiteering off demand that sellers did not create
Ethical Pros
– Allows fans who genuinely cannot attend to recoup ticket costs
– Can provide tickets at face value or lower to true fans
– Creates efficient redistribution market for scarce resources
Ethical Cons
– Still somewhat undermines authorized channels and regulations
– Has risks of skirting laws depending on the jurisdiction
– Harder to guarantee ethical behavior without marketplace oversight
Overall, there are good faith arguments on both sides. Sellers ultimately must weigh their need for convenience and profit against social good. Buyers too must consider if their personal gain excuses enabling potential unethical behavior. A balanced view considers all perspectives.
Should I post my concert tickets for sale on social media?
The decision of whether to resell your tickets on social media is a personal one that requires careful evaluation:
Ask yourself:
– Do the tickets prohibit resale on social channels? |
– Does the platform I use allow ticket resales? |
– Is selling tickets legally allowed where I live? |
– Do I feel comfortable with the risks involved? |
– Is my primary motivation reasonable profit or scalping? |
– Would using an authorized marketplace be more appropriate? |
If the answers sway more negative, reconsider posting the tickets publicly online. Instead, you may want to:
– Return them to the original vendor
– Sell through approved resale platforms
– Privately transfer to friends and family
There is no formula that applies perfectly in all cases. But being thoughtful about balancing personal needs, ethics, and consequences can steer you towards the wisest choice.
Conclusion
Selling concert tickets through social media has valid advantages but also carries meaningful risks and ethical concerns. While sometimes an option, it is not appropriate or advisable in many circumstances due to bans on unauthorized resale. If choosing this route, take steps to sell legally, safely, ethically, and in compliance with policies. Often, the smarter path avoids public ticket resale on social media altogether. Consider both the pragmatic and moral factors at stake to make an informed decision. With attention and care, you can handle extra tickets responsibly.