Ticketmaster is one of the largest ticket sales and distribution companies in the world. They sell tickets for various events such as concerts, sports games, theater shows, and more. One feature that is noticeably absent on Ticketmaster is the option to transfer tickets from one person to another.
What is ticket transferring?
Ticket transferring refers to the ability to change the name associated with a ticket if the original purchaser can no longer attend the event. This allows the ticket to be securely transferred to someone else rather than going to waste. Many other major ticket sellers like StubHub and Vivid Seats offer transfer options, so Ticketmaster’s lack of this feature is puzzling to many customers.
Why doesn’t Ticketmaster allow transfers?
There are a few potential reasons why Ticketmaster does not offer ticket transfers:
- Preventing resale – By not allowing transfers, Ticketmaster limits the ability for tickets to be resold through secondary markets. This means they can maintain full control over ticket sales.
- Promoter restrictions – Event promoters and teams/artists may prohibit transfers as part of their partnership terms with Ticketmaster.
- Liability concerns – Transferring tickets introduces new liability questions around who ultimately has ownership of the ticket.
- Technical limitations – Updating ticket holder names requires back-end system support that may need significant development work.
Are there any workarounds?
While Ticketmaster does not directly facilitate ticket transfers, there are some workarounds that buyers can use:
Name changes
For some events, Ticketmaster allows name changes on tickets, essentially achieving the same goal as a transfer. The requirements vary by event – some may require the original purchaser to request the change while others allow the new attendee to make the update themselves.
Reselling on secondary markets
Sellers can relist their Ticketmaster tickets on sites like StubHub and Vivid Seats. The tickets are transferred securely through those platforms when resold. This approach involves higher fees but provides more protection for both buyers and sellers.
Private ticket exchanges
Groups and organizations like schools and businesses often buy Ticketmaster tickets in bulk for various events. They can then coordinate internal transfers as needed through their own systems.
Informal ticket “gifting”
Some Ticketmaster customers informally “gift” tickets by changing the delivery method to will call and providing the new attendee with the credit card and confirmation number to claim them.
While these workarounds exist, an official ticket transfer option through Ticketmaster would be more convenient and secure for most customers.
Does Ticketmaster plan to add transfers in the future?
Ticketmaster has not announced any concrete plans to implement ticket transfers or name changes beyond the limited events that currently allow it. However, there are a few signs that they may expand transfer capabilities in the future:
- Industry pressure – As more competitors offer transfers, customers will increasingly expect the option.
- Resale partnering – Ticketmaster’s acquisition of secondary market resellers indicates a strategy shift towards facilitating resale.
- Technology investment – Ticketmaster is reportedly developing blockchain ticketing technology that could enable seamless ticket transfers.
What are the pros and cons of allowing ticket transfers?
Here is an overview of some of the key pros and cons Ticketmaster may be weighing with ticket transfers:
Pros | Cons |
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Enabling transfers ultimately represents a calculated tradeoff between driving greater convenience for customers and maintaining tight control of inventory. Ticketmaster’s continued growth over decades without offering transfers suggests their control priorities remain unchanged for now. But public scrutiny of resale restrictions is increasing, which may force Ticketmaster’s hand in the future.
Conclusion
In summary, Ticketmaster does not currently allow directly transferring tickets to another attendee due to a range of factors like limiting resale, contractual restrictions, liability concerns, and lacking the back-end technical capabilities. Customers can still achieve similar results through name changes (where available), reselling via secondary markets, private group exchanges, or informal gifting. However, these workarounds present more limitations and hassles versus an official first-party transfer option.
While Ticketmaster has strategic reasons to avoid transfers for now, customer expectations, industry standards, and public pressure continue shifting towards more transfer flexibility. Ticketmaster is investing in new technology that could eventually support smoother ticket reassignment. But near-term changes remain unlikely due to Ticketmaster’s priorities around maintaining control. The lack of transfers is frustrating for customers wanting to conveniently exchange Ticketmaster tickets today. Unfortunately, attendees will need to rely on imperfect workarounds for the foreseeable future unless Ticketmaster revises their long-held stance on transfers.