Ticket Resale vs. Scalping: Understanding the Key Differences
Curious about the difference between ticket resale vs. scalping? For many, these terms may seem synonymous with one another—especially from the buyer’s perspective. Both terms refer to the reselling of tickets, but there are key differences to note about these practices, most importantly, the ethical nature and intent.
How to Resell Season Tickets Safely and Securely
Responsible ticket resale is the process of selling tickets that you originally purchased with the intent to use (often, as part of a season ticket plan), but can no longer use due to conflicts, illness, etc. Many resale platforms, such as Ticketmaster®, StubHub®, and SeatGeek® offer secure ways to connect sellers with buyers while ensuring safe and secure transactions.
Did you know?
FlipSeats partners with all major resale platforms to get your listing in front of the largest audience, while also providing buyers the safety and convenience of buying on sites they are familiar with.
Ethical ticket resale benefits buyers and sellers in the following ways:
- Convenience – If you can’t attend an event, you can easily sell your tickets to someone who can.
- Fair pricing – While some higher demand games may drive ticket prices up, most season ticket holders simply want to recoup the original cost of their tickets and don’t want their tickets to go to waste.
- Security – Using trusted resale platforms like FlipSeats and our network of marketplaces protects both buyers and sellers.
Why Ticket Scalping Hurts Fans and the Marketplaces
Scalping refers to the practice of buying tickets with the intent to resell them at significantly inflated prices for profit, often through methods that may be illegal or unethical.
Scalpers use tactics that harm both legitimate sellers and buyers, such as:
- Inflated demand – Scalpers bulk-buy tickets to drive up scarcity and prices.
- Unfair access – Real fans lose out due to scalpers dominating the market.
- Higher fraud risk – Unverified tickets from shady sellers may turn out to be fake.
How to Responsibly Resell Season Tickets
Tip:
Check your season ticket holder agreement before listing your tickets anywhere to avoid any penalties or surprises.
If you can’t make it to a game and need to sell your extra season tickets, follow these best practices:
- Use trusted resale platforms to ensure a secure transaction.
- Price fairly and avoid excessive or unwarranted markups.
- Maintain integrity and be mindful of the fan community eager to enjoy the same game day excitement of the team you love.
Related article: From Fan to Seller: How to Sell Your Season Tickets the Right Way
If you’re looking to sell a few of your season tickets, give FlipSeats a try! Create one listing through FlipSeats, and get your tickets listed everywhere fans are shopping.
