Are the resale tickets from Ticketmaster safe?
Very much so, even though the Ticketmaster Verified Tickets program does not apply to all events for which tickets are being resold on the site.
Ticketmaster Verified Tickets will be used for events and venues where Ticketmaster serves as the primary ticket seller. Since you receive a new barcode when you buy your tickets, Verified Tickets are virtually 100% real tickets that are sold.
The idea is very straightforward: the original ticket holder lists their tickets using the most recent barcode on their ticket (digital or physical tickets are both acceptable). The original barcode is still valid while the tickets are advertised in case the ticket seller decides they no longer want to market their tickets or they have already been sold.
Once the ticket sells on Ticketmaster, the original barcodes are rendered useless, and the buyer is then provided with a fresh set of functional barcodes.
The buyer is always assured entrance into the event with the issuance of new barcodes. The venue will have a record of your ticket purchase through the Verified Ticket program and be able to admit you to the event even if your ticket isn't scanning properly (for example, if your mobile phone dies and can't display the ticket).
However, as I previously mentioned, not all events are managed by the Verified Tickets program, and this is where things start to differ slightly.
Although these tickets are NOT marketed as Verified Tickets, Ticketmaster may nonetheless provide a ticket resale marketplace when it is NOT the official ticket distributor for the venue or event.
These are sold in a manner akin to how tickets are sold on other resale platforms because there is no direct interface with the venue and no need to issue new barcodes when tickets are sold.
The fact that these tickets are not being marketed as 100% verified does not imply that they are risky or unreliable.
If there are problems with the tickets, such as issues with them not working or not matching what was listed, the ticket sellers are still liable for fulfilling their ticket sales as sold and face harsh penalties.
When tickets are not being sold as verified tickets on Ticketmaster, it is very simple to tell because there won't be an interactive map available, there will be a disclosure that they are resale tickets at the top right of the website, and the delivery method for the tickets can vary greatly from UPS delivery to various mobile/electronic delivery types. These events don't have the same atmosphere or appearance as those for which tickets have been verified.
Buyers should still feel just as secure purchasing these tickets as they would Verified Tickets, with the exception that since there is no direct interaction with the venue, it is crucial that they contact Ticketmaster immediately in the event of a problem. To ensure that the ticket purchaser enters the event, Ticketmaster will cooperate with them.
What is the cost of selling tickets through Ticketmaster?
10% usually.
When a ticket is sold on Ticketmaster or another ticket resale marketplace, there is typically an additional fee of about 10% of the original price. Reduced sell-through rates are available if you are a big seller or a member of Ticketmaster's Trade Desk program.
However, you should expect your sales through Ticketmaster to be in the neighborhood of 10% for the typical fan. While some charge as little as 0% and as much as 15%+, other resale websites will levy a similar fee.
What would be a great alternative for Ticketmaster?
Depending on your goal.
You might not have an option but to utilize Ticketmaster if you want to purchase tickets directly from the box office or an approved ticket distributor.
There is no other option when purchasing tickets straight from the box office because they hold the sole distribution rights for numerous locations worldwide.
You are required to utilize Ticketmaster because they are the primary ticket distributor for several clubs in the NBA, NHL, NFL, and MLB. If you want to purchase tickets from the secondary market, you must use them for the exact teams and venues covered by Ticketmaster's agreements.
In spite of this, there are alternatives available on the primary market side, and not all box offices conduct business through Ticketmaster. This includes, among others, businesses like AXS, Paciolan, Tickets.com, and Eventbrite.
Choosing to purchase your tickets elsewhere rather than through Ticketmaster, however, only works when Ticketmaster is not the authorized distributor. There may not be many options available to you if your favorite team or performer is appearing at a Ticketmaster-affiliated event.
However, there are plenty of other options on the resale market.
Yes, resale tickets sold through the TM+ program on Ticketmaster will be barcode integrated so you know you're always getting a valid authenticated ticket, but other resale marketplaces are in the business of making sure you get into your event with the tickets they sell as well.
To mention a few, StubHub, TickPick, Vivid Seats, Gametime, and Seat Geek are all acceptable alternatives to Ticketmaster when searching for tickets on the resale market.
Ticket pricing will range from outrageously low to stupidly exorbitant depending on the event and the amount of time before the event takes place. This is because each sellers set their own prices, and they will aim to maximize their ticket worth.
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