With the rising costs of live entertainment, more people are looking to resell their tickets to events they can no longer attend. Ticketmaster, one of the largest primary ticket providers, facilitates ticket resales through their Ticketmaster Resale platform. But before you list your tickets for resale on Ticketmaster, it’s important to understand the fees, policies, and process involved.
Can you resell your Ticketmaster tickets?
Yes, Ticketmaster allows you to resell tickets you purchased on their platform. When you resell tickets on Ticketmaster, the tickets remain in their verified system, which helps avoid fraud and ensures the tickets are authentic. Some key things to know about reselling Ticketmaster tickets:
- You must have a Ticketmaster account to resell tickets.
- Only tickets purchased directly through Ticketmaster can be resold on their platform.
- Tickets can be listed for resale at any price, there are no restrictions.
- Sales happen through Ticketmaster, so the tickets never leave their system.
- Tickets can be resold up until moments before the event starts.
Overall, Ticketmaster provides a safe, convenient option for reselling your tickets while avoiding scams and ensuring the tickets remain valid. As long as you originally purchased the tickets on Ticketmaster, you should be able to relist them for resale on their site.
How does reselling tickets on Ticketmaster work?
Reselling your tickets on Ticketmaster involves just a few steps:
- Access your Ticketmaster account and find the event tickets in your order history.
- Select the “Sell Tickets” option. This will only appear once the event is eligible for resale.
- Pick the tickets you want to resell and list them at your chosen price.
- Add your preferred delivery method – either mobile transfer or standard mail.
- Ticketmaster will list your tickets for sale on the resale marketplace.
- If a buyer purchases your tickets, you will receive payment (minus fees) after the event occurs.
Once your tickets sell, the buyer receives verified tickets transferred into their Ticketmaster account. You as the seller have no further involvement after the initial sale.
How does Ticketmaster determine resale ticket prices?
Ticketmaster does not set any limits on resale prices for tickets. Sellers can list their tickets at any price they choose. Ticketmaster uses a demand-based pricing model for their initial ticket releases:
- High demand tickets may be dynamically priced higher.
- Additional fee levels are added as tickets sell out.
- Market-based pricing aims to reflect current demand.
However, once a seller lists their own tickets for resale, they alone determine the price. Common pricing factors sellers consider include:
- The initial ticket price.
- Current ticket demand and availability.
- The event venue and seating location.
- The artist/team popularity.
- A desired profit margin.
Ticketmaster does not place any limits, but price gouging laws may prohibit exceptionally high markups in some states. Sellers are advised to research relevant laws before listing tickets at inflated prices.
What fees does Ticketmaster charge on resale tickets?
Ticketmaster charges fees to both the buyer and seller when tickets are resold on their platform. This includes:
- Seller fee – This is around 10% of the resale price and is deducted from the seller’s payout.
- Buyer fee – The buyer pays an additional 20% of the resale price in fees.
- Service fee – A fixed per-ticket service fee is charged to both parties.
For example, if a ticket is resold for $100, the approximate fees would be:
Fee | Amount |
---|---|
Seller fee (10% of $100) | $10 |
Buyer fee (20% of $100) | $20 |
Per ticket service fee | $5 |
In this case, the seller would earn $85 per ticket resold and the buyer would pay $125 per ticket.
How does the seller get paid for resold tickets?
As a seller on Ticketmaster Resale, you will not receive payment until after the event occurs. The typical payout process is:
- Buyer purchases and receives the resale tickets from you.
- Event occurs.
- Ticketmaster verifies the tickets were used for entry.
- 10-15 days after the event, the resale price (minus fees) is released to you.
Payment will go to the original payment method used to purchase the tickets. If you sold the tickets for a profit, that money is then yours to keep.
Can you cancel a resale listing on Ticketmaster?
Yes, as the seller you can cancel and remove a resale listing on Ticketmaster at any time. To cancel a listing:
- Access your Ticketmaster account and go to ‘My Listings’.
- Find the listing you wish to cancel.
- Select ‘Cancel Listing’ to remove it from resale.
- The tickets will be returned to your account.
Keep in mind canceling a listing does not allow you to refund or relist the tickets. But it’s useful if you decide you no longer want to resell a ticket.
Can Ticketmaster tickets be resold elsewhere?
While Ticketmaster would prefer you resell tickets only on their platform, you can list them other places such as:
- Secondary marketplaces (StubHub, Vivid Seats, SeatGeek, etc.)
- Ticket broker websites
- Online classified ads (Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, etc.)
- In-person classifieds, bulletin boards, local groups
However, Ticketmaster cautions that resales outside their verified marketplace come with a higher risk of fraud, counterfeits, and logistical issues. Benefits of reselling only through Ticketmaster include:
- Ttickets are easily transferred between Ticketmaster accounts
- No concerns about fake/invalid tickets
- Standardized processes for buyers and sellers
- May be easier to resell close to event time
Overall, while you can resell your Ticketmaster tickets anywhere, sticking with their verified marketplace provides more protection.
Can you sell tickets if the event is postponed or canceled?
If an event is outright canceled by the organizer, Ticketmaster will invalidate any tickets listed for resale. The original ticket holder will receive a refund based on Ticketmaster’s cancellation policy. However, if the event is postponed or rescheduled, the resale listing will remain active for the new event date.
If you need to cancel a resale listing due to a postponement or rescheduling, you must do so manually in your Ticketmaster account. Automatic refunds are only issued in the case of a full cancellation. For postponements, it’s up to the seller to adjust pricing and manage their listings accordingly.
What restrictions exist on reselling sports and concert tickets?
Certain restrictions may exist when reselling tickets to sporting events and concerts, including:
- Price floors – Leagues/teams may require tickets be sold above face value.
- Price ceilings – Price gouging laws may impose upper limits.
- Location limits – Reselling may be prohibited within a certain radius of the venue.
- Bundled tickets – Multi-ticket packages cannot be split up.
These restrictions are not universally applied, so be sure to research if any exist for the specific event you are reselling tickets for. Violating any mandated policies could result in sales being canceled or legal penalties in some cases.
Is reselling tickets legal? Are there tax implications?
Reselling event tickets is legal in most states, with some exceptions:
- Some states prohibit reselling sports tickets for profit.
- Price gouging laws may determine what prices are deemed acceptable.
- Restrictions exist around reselling near event venues in many areas.
If reselling your tickets locally, check your state and municipal laws first. Online resale through major secondary markets is broadly permitted.
For taxes, if you resell tickets as an individual, casual seller, profits are generally not considered taxable income. However, frequent resellers may have to claim profits and pay income tax. Consult a tax professional to understand any implications of regularly reselling tickets.
Can you get scammed when reselling tickets?
Yes, there is an elevated risk of scams when reselling tickets. Potential issues include:
- Fake buyers who never pay after agreeing to purchase.
- Stolen payment information used by buyers to commit fraud.
- Counterfeit or duplicated tickets being resold as authentic.
- Seller never delivering valid tickets after being paid.
Reselling exclusively through Ticketmaster’s verified ticket marketplace eliminates most of these risks. But dealing with unknown buyers and sellers on other platforms opens you up to scams. Use caution, research your trading partners, and never complete high-dollar exchanges without protections.
Conclusion
Reselling tickets on Ticketmaster provides a safe, convenient option for recouping some costs on events you can no longer attend. Their process validates both buyers and sellers while keeping the tickets within Ticketmaster’s ecosystem. Be sure to understand their fees, payout timelines, and any event-specific restrictions before listing your tickets. While other resale options exist, Ticketmaster Resale delivers an end-to-end verified experience that minimizes risks for all parties.