If you recently purchased tickets on Ticketmaster and noticed the word “Resale” printed on them, you may be wondering why. There are a few reasons your Ticketmaster tickets may be labeled as resale:
The tickets were resold through Ticketmaster’s resale marketplace
Ticketmaster operates a resale marketplace where people can resell tickets they can no longer use. When you buy tickets on Ticketmaster that are being resold by another fan, Ticketmaster will print “Resale” on the ticket to indicate it was resold through their marketplace. This helps differentiate resale tickets from original tickets sold directly by Ticketmaster.
So if you see “Resale” on your Ticketmaster tickets, it means you purchased tickets that the original buyer resold through Ticketmaster’s safe and guaranteed resale marketplace. The tickets are 100% valid and guaranteed by Ticketmaster.
You purchased a resale ticket through a third-party reseller
In addition to Ticketmaster’s own resale marketplace, there are many other third-party ticket resale sites and resellers. Sometimes when you purchase resale tickets from a third-party reseller, the seller will transfer the tickets to your Ticketmaster account to complete the delivery.
Ticketmaster will detect that the ticket was originally purchased by someone else, and print “Resale” on it when the tickets are transferred to you. So seeing “Resale” may indicate you bought the tickets resold through another reseller, not directly via Ticketmaster’s primary or resale marketplace.
The original tickets were canceled and replaced
In some cases, if the original ticket buyer cancels their Ticketmaster order or the event is postponed/rescheduled, the original tickets will be canceled and new replacement tickets issued. Ticketmaster will label these replacement tickets as “Resale” to indicate they are not the original tickets.
So if your tickets say “Resale” it may be because the original tickets were refunded/canceled and you received replacement tickets when you purchased them.
You received tickets transferred from the original buyer
If the original ticket purchaser transfers or forwards their tickets to you through Ticketmaster’s ticket transfer service, the transferred tickets often display “Resale” on them.
This is because Ticketmaster recognizes that the tickets were originally purchased by someone else and are now being transferred to you through their system. Marking transferred tickets as “Resale” helps differentiate them from tickets purchased directly the first time around.
The tickets were purchased through a group or travel package
Often group tickets, travel packages, fan packages, etc. involving event tickets are facilitated through Ticketmaster and involve a third-party company or group managing the purchase and distribution.
When you receive tickets that were part of a packaged deal or group order, Ticketmaster will sometimes print “Resale” on them to indicate they were part of a special third-party purchase.
Minor differences between resale and original tickets
While resale tickets are 100% valid and guaranteed by Ticketmaster, there can be some minor differences compared to tickets sold originally:
Original Tickets | Resale Tickets |
---|---|
– Purchased directly from Ticketmaster initially | – Purchased from reseller, not Ticketmaster directly |
– Usually full original face value price | – Price may be above or below face value |
– Ticketmaster fee only | – May include reseller fees |
However, in terms of validity, access provided, and guarantees, resale tickets are equal to original tickets when purchased through Ticketmaster’s resale marketplace. Only unauthorized resale tickets run the risk of not being valid or honored.
Checking if your resale tickets are authorized
If you purchased resale Ticketmaster tickets from a source other than their verified resale marketplace, you may want to check that the tickets are authorized and valid. Here are some tips:
- Make sure the tickets were transferred to you officially via Ticketmaster’s transfer ticketing system. Unofficial ticket transfers run the risk of being invalid.
- Verify the Ticketmaster Verified Resale symbol on the tickets. This guarantees they were resold safely through Ticketmaster.
- Enter the ticket barcode at Ticketmaster.com or on the app to validate it. Only valid barcodes will display details.
- Contact Ticketmaster Fan Support to confirm if unsure. They can look up the ticket details and history.
As long as your resale tickets were purchased through Ticketmaster’s official channels, you can be confident they are 100% valid and authorized. You’ll enjoy the same benefits and guarantees as if you purchased them originally.
Why Ticketmaster allows ticket resale
Ticketmaster understands that plans change and fans sometimes need to resell their tickets. Rather than leaving fans to use risky unauthorized resale methods, they provide a safe, guaranteed marketplace for ticket resale. This offers several benefits:
- Protects fans from ticket fraud when buying resale
- Provides a secure place for selling unwanted tickets
- Gives fans fair value for their tickets even after initial sale
- Prevents price gouging by capping resale prices
- Gives buyers peace of mind about validity and access
While Ticketmaster would prefer fans only resell through their marketplace, they acknowledge it will happen either way. So they aim to make the process as safe and transparent as possible for both buyers and resellers.
Common reasons for ticket resale
There are many understandable reasons fans sometimes need to resell their event tickets:
- A schedule conflict comes up preventing them from attending
- They purchased extra tickets that some friends can no longer use
- They can no longer afford to go to the event
- Family emergencies or health issues come up
- The event was rescheduled to a date they cannot make
- They accidentally purchased the wrong type of tickets
Rather than letting unused tickets go to waste, reselling provides a way for other fans to attend and enjoy the event instead. When done through Ticketmaster’s resale marketplace, it’s a fair and mutually beneficial transaction for both the buyer and reseller.
Conclusion
Seeing the word “Resale” on Ticketmaster tickets simply indicates that the tickets were resold through their official marketplace, transferred to you, or reissued after canceling the original tickets. As long as you purchased from Ticketmaster’s verified channels, you can feel confident the resale tickets are legitimate and authorized.
While minor differences like pricing exist compared to original tickets, Ticketmaster resale tickets provide the same entry, guarantees, and protection against fraud. You’ll enjoy the same event experience as if you purchased the tickets firsthand. So rest assured that “Resale” tickets are valid, authorized, and ready to provide you a great event experience!