August 2008
How reselling works
Reselling sites usually take a cut from both parties once the ticket is sold. At StubHub and TicketsNow, for example, sellers
pay 15 percent; at RazorGator they pay nothing. The freight for buyers at StubHub and RazorGator is 10 percent; at TicketLiquidator
it's 15 to 20 percent.
Most resellers list the number of tickets they have for an event, and some have easy-to-use interactive seating diagrams that show the seats open in each section. You can sort seats by location and price, and track prices over time.
As a rule, you won't see the original ticket price. You might want to find that out before buying to make sure you don't feel burned when the ticket arrives and its face value is evident.
Like airlines and hotels, resellers typically follow a real-time pricing model. When demand increases, ticket prices rise; when it wanes, they drop. (Sellers can specify the lowest price they'll accept.) For a Yankees-Indians game, we found first-row seats in the upper deck behind home plate for $22 less than face value a week before the game, possibly because the Yankees were in a slump.
For megabucks, you might get seats you couldn't otherwise. On TicketsNow, we found two fourth-row seats to see Neil Diamond at Madison Square Garden when the best seats on Ticketmaster were in nosebleed sections. But you'd have to be a real fan: The total price was more than $1,300 per ticket.
Most orders are shipped via express delivery, for $12 to $25. Online delivery is sometimes an option. At StubHub it's $4.95 per order. Every seller has different procedures.
Unlike eBay or Craigslist, where you have to hope you're dealing with an honest trading partner, better-known resellers are often authorized by the team or promoters. They have strict protection policies and guarantee satisfaction. You don't deal directly with the seller, but with the company. Those who list tickets for sale must register and provide a physical address, telephone number, and credit card to confirm their identities. They're held financially accountable if they don't deliver the tickets, cancel too many orders, or try to peddle counterfeits.
Bad actors can be suspended or banned from future trading, according to Nima Moayedi, vice president of customer service for RazorGator. Fake tickets are very rare, but if you get stuck with them you won't know until they're scanned at the gate. At that point, a legitimate reseller will immediately try to give you equal or better replacements, and the seller's credit card will be billed for the difference. You can usually pick up the new tickets nearby. If other tickets aren't available, you'll get a refund.
Most resellers list the number of tickets they have for an event, and some have easy-to-use interactive seating diagrams that show the seats open in each section. You can sort seats by location and price, and track prices over time.
As a rule, you won't see the original ticket price. You might want to find that out before buying to make sure you don't feel burned when the ticket arrives and its face value is evident.
Like airlines and hotels, resellers typically follow a real-time pricing model. When demand increases, ticket prices rise; when it wanes, they drop. (Sellers can specify the lowest price they'll accept.) For a Yankees-Indians game, we found first-row seats in the upper deck behind home plate for $22 less than face value a week before the game, possibly because the Yankees were in a slump.
For megabucks, you might get seats you couldn't otherwise. On TicketsNow, we found two fourth-row seats to see Neil Diamond at Madison Square Garden when the best seats on Ticketmaster were in nosebleed sections. But you'd have to be a real fan: The total price was more than $1,300 per ticket.
Most orders are shipped via express delivery, for $12 to $25. Online delivery is sometimes an option. At StubHub it's $4.95 per order. Every seller has different procedures.
Unlike eBay or Craigslist, where you have to hope you're dealing with an honest trading partner, better-known resellers are often authorized by the team or promoters. They have strict protection policies and guarantee satisfaction. You don't deal directly with the seller, but with the company. Those who list tickets for sale must register and provide a physical address, telephone number, and credit card to confirm their identities. They're held financially accountable if they don't deliver the tickets, cancel too many orders, or try to peddle counterfeits.
Bad actors can be suspended or banned from future trading, according to Nima Moayedi, vice president of customer service for RazorGator. Fake tickets are very rare, but if you get stuck with them you won't know until they're scanned at the gate. At that point, a legitimate reseller will immediately try to give you equal or better replacements, and the seller's credit card will be billed for the difference. You can usually pick up the new tickets nearby. If other tickets aren't available, you'll get a refund.
