There are a few potential reasons why tickets you bought on a resale site like StubHub or Vivid Seats are not showing up in your Ticketmaster account:
- The transfer is still processing – It can take 24-48 hours for transfers between different ticket accounts to fully process. If you just bought the tickets, give it a day or two for everything to sync up.
- The seller hasn’t transferred yet – On some resale sites, the seller has to initiate the transfer to the buyer. If it’s been more than a couple days, check your order status and contact the seller if they haven’t transferred yet.
- Wrong Ticketmaster account – Double check that you provided the correct Ticketmaster login details or transferred the tickets to the proper account. Going to the wrong account is an easy mistake to make.
- Tickets already claimed – If you’re sure the tickets were transferred to your account but can’t see them, it’s possible someone else logged into your account and claimed them first. Change your password if this happened.
The most common reasons have to do with delays in transfers between accounts as well as logistics on the seller’s end in initiating the transfer. Be patient for a day or two, but follow up if you still don’t see the tickets in your account shortly after purchase.
When do sold tickets transfer to the buyer’s Ticketmaster account?
The timing on when sold tickets on resale sites actually transfer over to the Ticketmaster account of the buyer can vary:
- Instantly – Some resale sites like StubHub allow for “instant download” where the tickets are immediately available in your Ticketmaster account upon sale.
- Within minutes – Popular sites like Vivid Seats and SeatGeek tend to process transfers within minutes, though occasionally it may take up to an hour.
- 24-48 hours – Other sites take a bit longer and give a timeframe of 24-48 hours before transfers are completed.
- Upon seller initiating – A few sites require the seller to manually initiate the transfer, which may take a few days after sale.
The delivery method and speed depends on each resale site’s policies. When buying tickets, look for sites that offer “instant download” or transfers within a few minutes if having immediate ticket access is important to you. Otherwise, it’s normal for most transfers to take 24-48 hours after the transaction processes.
Factors that affect transfer timing
A few key factors can impact how quickly tickets transfer:
- Seller initiation – As mentioned above, some sites require the seller to trigger the transfer, which can cause delays.
- High volume times – Leading up to popular events, high volume traffic can slow down processing times across sites.
- Verification steps – Extra verification of accounts for security reasons can add time before transfers.
- Technical issues – Glitches with account syncing or transfers may require troubleshooting.
While most transfers happen smoothly within a day or two, it’s not uncommon for delays during peak traffic times or if technical issues arise. Stay in touch with the resale site for updates if your transfer is taking longer than expected.
What are some common issues that can prevent or delay transferred tickets from showing up?
Some of the most common issues that can prevent transferred tickets from displaying right away or cause significant delays include:
Seller has not transferred tickets yet
On some resale platforms, the seller has to manually initiate the transfer to the buyer’s account. If the seller has not completed this step, the tickets will remain in their account only. As the buyer, check the order status and contact the seller reminding them to transfer if needed.
Incorrect Ticketmaster account provided
When purchasing resale tickets, you have to provide your Ticketmaster username or email address where you want the tickets transferred. If you accidentally gave the wrong details, the tickets will go to another account and not show up for you. Double check what info you provided at checkout.
Tickets already claimed by someone else
In rare cases, someone else may have gotten access to your Ticketmaster account and already claimed the tickets before you could. This would require your account being compromised. If this happened, change your Ticketmaster password immediately.
Technical issues with transfers
Once in a while, glitches can hamper transfers between accounts across Ticketmaster and resale platforms. It may require troubleshooting or simply trying the transfer again. Check with customer support if issues persist.
High volume transfer delays
For major events or peak sales times, high volume traffic can sometimes cause processing delays across resale sites and Ticketmaster as systems get overloaded. Transfers may take longer but usually complete within 72 hours.
What should I do if my transferred tickets don’t show up in my Ticketmaster account?
If your tickets haven’t shown up in your Ticketmaster account within 2 days of purchasing them on a resale site, here are some steps to take:
Confirm the transfer details
Double check the Ticketmaster username/email you provided at checkout where tickets are supposed to be sent. Log into that specific account to see if tickets are there.
Check order status on resale site
See if your order on the resale site shows the transfer as completed or still pending. This can provide clues on where the transfer stands.
Contact resale site support
Explain the issue to customer service of the resale site. They can look into the order and work on resolving any transfer delays or issues.
Reach out to Ticketmaster
If you don’t get resolution from the resale site, you can also contact Ticketmaster support to see if they can assist further.
Verify identity
Both companies may require you to verify your identity by providing additional info, account details, and possibly other documentation.
Attempt the transfer again
As a last resort, the resale site may recommend canceling the order and simply purchasing the tickets again to re-initiate the transfer.
With persistence and help from customer support, most situations with delayed or missing transfers can be resolved within a few days. Be ready to verify your identity and provide order details as needed.
Should I be concerned if my tickets haven’t transferred 48 hours after I purchased them?
If your event tickets still haven’t shown up in your Ticketmaster account 48 hours after you bought them on a resale marketplace, it’s definitely time to look into what’s going on:
- Check if the seller has initiated the transfer yet and follow up with them if not. Many sites rely on the seller to complete this step first.
- Contact customer support at both the resale site and Ticketmaster. There may be an issue syncing up accounts needing investigation.
- Be ready to provide personal details to verify identity as required. This is common when troubleshooting delayed transfers.
- If technical problems are found, you may simply need to cancel and repurchase the tickets to retry the transfer.
48 hours is at the maximum end of the typical transfer window. There’s likely an underlying issue if transfers still haven’t completed. While delays around major events do occur, lingering problems beyond 2 days require proactive follow up and contacting support for answers and resolutions.
How can I best avoid problems transferring tickets from resale sites to Ticketmaster?
You can take a few preventative steps when buying event tickets on resale sites to avoid common issues transferring them to your Ticketmaster account:
- Triple check you’re providing the correct Ticketmaster login credentials where tickets should be sent. Typos here are easy to make.
- Use sites advertising “instant download” or transfers within minutes when possible. This minimizes delays.
- Don’t reuse Ticketmaster passwords across accounts. Your main login should be unique.
- Check order status periodically until tickets show as transferred. Follow up with the seller if still pending.
- Take screenshots during checkout of any transfer details as added records.
- Avoid buying just days before an event when transfers may not process in time.
Planning ahead, using quick transfer sites, and verifying details accurately goes a long way in preventing hangs ups in the process. But if issues do occur, contact support right away for solutions.
What are the risks of buying tickets on resale sites that rely on sellers transferring them later?
While most sellers properly transfer tickets to buyers, there are some risks to keep in mind when using resale platforms that rely on the seller initiating the transfer after purchase:
- The seller fails to transfer the tickets at all. This may be an oversight or intentional scam.
- It allows more time for the seller to potentially resell the same tickets elsewhere.
- Delays cut it close to the event date if the seller drags their feet transferring.
- Without instant access, buyers lose control and have to trust the seller.
- Technical issues can prevent transfers if something goes wrong on the seller’s end.
Buyers ultimately have to trust that the seller will properly transfer tickets in a reasonable timeframe when required to initiate it. There’s less recourse if the seller fails to complete the transfer in these cases. Instant and quick transfers reduce such risks.
Should I use an instant transfer site instead to reduce risks of issues?
Instant transfer resale sites like StubHub that deliver event tickets to your Ticketmaster account right upon purchase virtually eliminate transfer issues and risks compared to seller-initiated transfers. The key advantages of instant transfer sites include:
- Tickets appear in your account almost immediately, usually within minutes.
- No need to rely on or trust the seller to transfer later.
- Reduced risk of the same tickets being resold elsewhere.
- Earlier access to tickets, sometimes months in advance.
- Peace of mind knowing transfers will process smoothly.
Even though there may be other reasons to choose certain resale platforms, sites with instant transfers offer the most assurance that your tickets will show up promptly in the right account without headaches. It takes the seller transfer process entirely out of the equation.
What can I do if the seller never transfers my tickets?
If you purchased event tickets on a resale site requiring the seller to initiate the transfer, but they fail to complete the transfer even after repeated contacts and reminders, here are some options:
File a claim
Most sites will allow you to file a claim if a seller does not uphold their end of the transaction. Customer support can walk through this process.
Issue a chargeback
If you paid by credit card, you can request your card issuer chargeback the transaction for non-delivery of goods or services. Provide relevant documentation.
Leave negative feedback
Post honest reviews detailing the non-transfer by the seller. This helps warn other buyers from being scammed.
Get a refund
Depending on site policies, you may be able to get a refund if the seller cannot deliver the tickets as promised in a reasonable time.
Receive replacement tickets
Some platforms will replace missing tickets with comparable ones so you’re not left empty-handed. Availability varies.
Switch to an instant transfer site
To avoid seller-related issues going forward, use a site where tickets transfer immediately upon payment like StubHub.
While frustrating, you have options to hold sellers accountable, recover your money, or receive replacements if transfers are not completed. Instant transfers avoid these problems.
Conclusion
Purchasing resale event tickets can save you money, but only if the transfers to your Ticketmaster account go smoothly. When your tickets don’t show up right away or at all, it results in stress and uncertainty over whether you actually have seats. Issues with transfers usually stem from the seller not initiating it yet, providing incorrect account details, or general technical delays. If your tickets aren’t showing up within 48 hours, persistently follow up with the seller and customer support for answers and resolution. To avoid headaches, use a resale site with instant transfers so your tickets appear in your account almost immediately after checkout. With patience and diligence, you can get your bought tickets successfully delivered to you.