Selling tickets on Ticketmaster can be a great way to make some extra money if you have tickets to an event you can no longer attend. However, sometimes plans change and you may decide you actually want to use the tickets instead of selling them. If this happens, you have a few options to try to get your tickets back.
Cancel the Sale
If you listed your tickets for sale but haven’t yet received any offers or sold them, canceling the sale is straightforward. Simply log in to your Ticketmaster account, go to your order history, find the event listing, and choose “Cancel Sale.” This will remove your tickets from being available for purchase by other users.
Just be aware that if you already accepted an offer on your tickets, canceling the sale means you’ll have to contact the buyer directly to let them know the deal is off. They likely won’t be happy about it, but it’s better than selling tickets you want to use.
Contact the Buyer
If you already sold your tickets on Ticketmaster and now want them back, your only option is to get in touch with the buyer. You can send them a message through Ticketmaster or look up their contact info from the sale records. Explain that you had a change of plans and politely ask if they’d be willing to transfer the tickets back to you. Offer to refund their full purchase price.
The buyer is not obligated to give you the tickets back, but some may be understanding of the situation. Don’t be overly pushy or demanding. If the buyer refuses, you’ll have to accept the loss and try to find replacement tickets.
Buy Replacement Tickets
If you aren’t able to get your original tickets back from the buyer, immediately start looking for new tickets you can purchase instead. The sooner you start searching, the more likely you’ll be able to find comparable seats.
Check Ticketmaster first to see if the event has any tickets left for sale through the official source. If not, look at resale sites like StubHub. You may end up paying more than the original face value, but at least you’ll still be able to attend. Consider getting tickets for a different date or venue too.
Factors That Determine Your Options
Several factors impact how easily you can undo a ticket sale on Ticketmaster if you change your mind:
Status of the Sale
If the tickets are still just listed and haven’t been purchased yet, canceling is no problem. If they’ve already been bought, it becomes much more complicated.
Type of Tickets
Physical paper tickets are harder to get back than mobile/electronic ones. With paper tickets, you’d likely have to meet up with the buyer again to retrieve them.
Buyer’s Willingness
The buyer has no obligation to return tickets to you. You’ll have to appeal to their kindness and understanding.
Event Popularity
The more in-demand the event is, the less luck you’ll have finding replacement tickets if needed. Unpopular events will have more options.
Time Until the Event
The closer it is to event date, the harder it will be to undo the sale or find new tickets. Further out gives you more flexibility.
Tips for Avoiding This Situation
To prevent having to back out of selling your tickets, follow these tips:
Be Certain Before Listing Them
Take time to carefully consider if you really want to sell your tickets before putting them up for sale. Don’t rush into it without being sure.
Set a Reasonable Timeframe
When listing the tickets, don’t make them available too far in advance of the event. Circumstances can change. A couple weeks before is reasonable.
Remove Any Emotion
Don’t sell based on feeling upset or angry about not being able to go. Give it time until you can think clearly before listing.
Sell Below Face Value
This lets tickets sell quickly. Less time on market means less chance you’ll change your mind. Buyers also appreciate a deal.
What Are My Options if I Change My Mind After Selling on StubHub?
The process works similarly if you sell tickets on StubHub and then want them back:
Cancel Sale Before Purchase
If no one has bought your StubHub listing yet, canceling is easy. Just remove the listing from your account dashboard before it sells.
Request Return from Buyer
If tickets have already been purchased, you’ll need the buyer’s cooperation to get them back. Message them politely through StubHub and ask if they’d transfer the tickets back to you. Offer a refund.
Find Replacement Tickets
Start looking for other tickets to buy as soon as possible if the buyer won’t return yours. Act fast while there are still options available.
The main difference with StubHub is they act as more of a middleman in the transaction. If a cancellation happens, they’ll refund the buyer on your behalf. But you still need to connect with the buyer directly to try and retrieve the tickets.
Can I Resell My Ticketmaster Tickets Again?
If you end up getting your Ticketmaster tickets back from the initial buyer, you can certainly list them for sale again. However, there are a few caveats:
- You may have to pay another seller fee to Ticketmaster.
- Demand and price may be lower closer to the event date.
- There’s less time for the tickets to sell again.
- You risk running into the same change of heart situation.
Given the drawbacks, it may be better just to eat the loss and find new buyer altogether. But relisting the returned tickets is still an option.
How Does the Timing Affect My Ability to Change My Mind on a Sale?
The timing of when you try to undo a ticket sale has a major impact on your options:
Right After Listing
Canceling the sale or removing your listing is very easy if no purchase has been made yet.
1-2 Weeks Before Event
Still possible to cancel and relist, but the pool of buyers will be smaller by now.
Less Than 1 Week Before
Almost impossible to cancel at this point. Buyer very unlikely to return tickets either.
Day of Event
No way to cancel or get tickets back. You can try to buy replacement tickets but availability will be limited.
Give yourself as much leeway as possible in case you change your mind. Don’t wait until the last minute.
What Steps Can I Take to Get My Tickets Back?
If you’ve sold event tickets but then have a change of heart, take the following proactive steps:
- Contact the buyer immediately and politely ask if they’ll transfer the tickets back.
- Offer to refund their full purchase price, fees included.
- Explain your situation briefly so they understand.
- Start looking for replacement tickets to buy in case they refuse.
- Consider paying above face value if needed to get comparable seats.
- Ask friends/family if they have extra tickets you can buy or use.
- Don’t wait – act fast while there are still options.
With preparation and diligence, you can hopefully either get your tickets back or find suitable alternatives. Don’t give up!
What Are the Ethical Implications of Changing My Mind?
Backing out of selling your tickets can certainly create some ethical quandaries, especially if it negatively impacts the buyer. Some considerations:
Inconveniencing the Buyer
Even if you refund their money, you’re still disrupting their plans and causing hassle.
Preventing Resale
The buyer may have intended to relist your tickets if you cancel, costing them potential profit.
Breaking a Commitment
You made an agreement to sell the tickets. Reneging erodes trust in marketplaces.
Reducing Supply
Backing out removes tickets from the pool others could buy. This drives up prices.
Lesser Event Experience
The buyer may now end up with worse seats than they had secured from you.
Always put yourself in the buyer’s shoes. Make your best effort to undo any harm. And learn to prevent this situation next time.
Conclusion
Selling event tickets is never risk-free. Your plans could change, leaving you regretting the sale. But if you act quickly enough, communicate politely with buyers, and have flexibility on replacement tickets, you can often salvage the situation. Just be aware of the limited window to reverse the transaction, and factor in the potential ethics violations. Don’t make a hasty decision to sell your tickets in the first place.