Ultimate Guide for Selling Tickets on eBay for Profit

I am glad you are visiting my guide.  Maybe it means you would like to take the step to sell tickets on eBay.  Maybe you are just curious or maybe you just want to go to the big show yourself.  Whatever the reason, I hope you can learn from my experiences.  I am going to divide this guide into 2 parts.  The first part will be Buying or Obtaining tickets, the second part will be listing techiniques.  I have over 8 years of experience buying and selling tickets on eBay.  The following is based on my personal experiences and are my opinions.

PART 1 - OBTAINING TICKETS

I want to start off by saying BEFORE you buy any tickets to any show or event, that you RESEARCH them first.  Check out closed and current eBay auctions.  See how many listings there were, where they ended at, and their locations.  If it's your first time, I suggest you buy tickets for something you are familiar with.  A particular band, sports team etc.  Then set a BUDGET for yourself.  It is easy to get over excitied and buy too many tickets, to too many shows.  If you can't unload them, you are out the cash.  It is also easy to buy crap.  I see far and away too many sellers who are asking large sums of money for nosebleed seats to shows that aren't even SOLD OUT.  Don't get caught in that trap.  Believe it or not, if I can't get something in the first 15 rows, I usually don't buy them (my rule of thumb on reserved seat concerts)

Okay, so you've researched that show and found that you could make some good money on them.  How do you get the tickets??  I am going to give you some sources here, but I am not going to say that they don't all work everytime.  I use different techniques everytime.  I am not going to tell you how to get FRONT ROW seats either.  That's not the intention of this guide, nor does it even happen that often.

1. Ticketmaster.  Believe it or not this is the usual source for my purchases.  I have not had that much luck online (with the exception of presales), so here's my secret.  If you live in a fairly large town, or have one nearby, there is a pretty good chance they have a Ticketmaster outlet.  After I research shows I want to buy I visit the outlet on onsale days.  I live in Iowa.  I almost NEVER buy tickets for a show in Iowa.  Why?  TOO MANY PEOPLE IN LINE!  I buy tickets for shows in Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Kansas City, St Louis, Minneapolis, Indianapolis an others.  Except for die-hard fans, there are usually NO-ONE IN LINE!!  That's right.  I am FIRST in line.  I usually end up with tickets in the first 10 ROWS!  Now think back to your research.  How much did tickets sell for that were in the first ten rows...CHA-CHING!  Get to be friendly with the clerk, they will remember you.
2. Presales.  This is another technique that has helped me to receive good tickets.  There are a couple types of presales.  There is the public presale, or no password needed.  There is the venue or radio presale, and then there is the fan club, AOL or American Express presale.  In most cases you need a password to get into the sale.  Look ahead online and see if your event is offering a presale and what kind it is.  I join a lot of mailing lists for venues.  Go to the actual website for the venue and join their mailing list.  Everytime they have a presale they will email you the password!!  Join a Fan Club.  This usually costs money, but if your a fan already, what the heck.  If it's a radio station presale, go to their website.  Sometimes they are posted, sometimes you need to join their mailing list.  AOL members sometimes have access to presales.  Since AOL is now Free, get an AOL email address and visit their City Guide and sign-up for their AOL Ticket Alert. If you have an American Express card they have many presales for shows they sponsor.  I have got FRONT ROW seats before with this kind of presale. There are also a lot of blogs and PAY websites that publish passwords to about any show.  Search the web before you PAY for one. You can also buy the code on eBay.  JUST REMEMBER, a password code DOES NOT guarantee you a ticket.
3. Season Tickets.  This is another way to get tickets, although a little more pricey.  I have in the past had tickets for 2 or 3 NFL teams at one time ( @ $1500-2000 you can see how this can add up).  I am not a big time ticket broker, so I don't have a ton of money to throw out in the spring and sit on until Aug/Sept.  I try to get decent seats for a team that always sells out.  If there is at least one Monday Night game in the package, you can usually make decent money.  I try to buy for my favorite team, or one close by.  Worse case scenario..I go to some games.
4. College Bowl Games.  Here is a GREAT way to make some awesome Christmas income.  It is a little known fact that many college bowl game tickets go onsale in the summer and early fall.  Try sticking to the big games that will be played Dec 30-Jan 8.  The Rose and the Fiesta Bowl are the 2 hardest to get.  The Fiesta Bowl has a waiting list you can sign up for at their site.  The Rose Bowl is a public onsale in December, usually only online and phones.  The Orange and the Sugar both go onsale between July and September.  Go to Ticketmaster and search for "Bowl games".  (If nothing shows up, keep checking back periodically) Now the best part.  For most of these bowl games, once you get tickets, you get to renew them every year (exception The Rose Bowl) and you can usually upgrade your location or add more seats.  If you have bought Orange, Sugar, or Fiesta in the past....you will get the offer to buy BCS Final tickets with the regular bowl game.  Even nosebleed seats for the Championship Game turns a profit.
5. NCAA Basketball Final Four/Regional.  Most people don't realize that there is a lottery system for Final Four tickets.  Every March the NCAA has an online application for available tickets for the next years Final Four.  Registration is usually until the end of May.  The only rub is that you have to pay in advance!!  This years' application (for 2008) is $170 per ticket for upper level or $140 for distant view (next year is at the Alamo Bowl Dome)  You can only fill out one application, but you can submit it up to ten times to increase your odds of being picked.  (BUT, you have to PAY each time).  If your application is not drawn your money will be refunded.  Check out their website for all the details.  Tickets are also available to the Regional Games every year also, usually through Ticketmaster.
6. Superbowl.  The Super Bowl is available to the public every year.  How you ask?  Through a lottery system.  Less than 10% of the patrons at the Superbowl are public seats.  You can be considered for the lottery by sending in an entry (on a 3x 5 card or piece of paper).  Entries are accepted between Feb. 1 and June 1 of the year preceeding the game and must include your name, address, phone number and email address, and must be sent certified or registered mail.  You will be notified by October/November if you are eligible to purchase tickets.  Requests should be sent to:

Super Bowl Random Drawing

PO BOX 49140

Strongsville, OH 44149-0140

I hope some of these methods will work for you.  Remember, this is what has worked for ME.  I think the most important rule is to stick to your budget.  Don't spend a couple thousand dollars on tickets if your mortgage is due.  It's like the stock market.  Every purchase can be a potential risk.

PART 2 - LISTING THE TICKETS FOR PROFIT

BEFORE I get into this part, let me say I have noticed that sellers with higher feedbacks tend to get higher prices.  Once again this is not always the case, but in general I believe it to be true.  If you have a zero feedback score, I suggest you buy and sell some items first before attempting to sell tickets.  I have over a 2500 feedback, use buySAFE and am a member of Square Trade and still have people email me and ask if the tickets are real.  What kind of question is that.  Yet there is a lot of fake tickets out there.

Here is a list of techniques and services I use for killer listings.

• Lisitng template.  I use a consistent template over and over again.  All my auctions look the same or have a "brand" feel to them.  If you are just starting out you may want to visit some of the forums about listing designs.  Feel free to search my listings for examples.
• List immediately.  I do not wait to list my tickets (with a few exceptions)  If a show goes onsale this morning, I usually have my listing posted within the hour.  Time goes on...demand goes down.  I obviously wait on tickets for Bowl games, as the teams aren't announced until a later date.
• Pictures.  It is important to always show seat locations via a venue map.  If you are selling football tickets for example, then you might want to show the view from their seat location.  (The one below is from a service I use)

• Pictures of the actual tickets.  I have read a few guides that say you must scan and post a picture of the actual tickets.  I say NO.  I have NEVER done this, why?, because this is the easiest way for someway to commit fraud.  On each ticket there is a bar-code.  Each ticket is different.  If this picture is lifted from your auction, a duplicate ticket could be made.  When you enter the event, the ticket is scanned and only one patron will be admitted per ticket.  You can see what would happen if many tickets were made with the same bar-code.  If you feel you MUST show a scan of the tickets "edit out" the bar-code with photoshop or similiar photo editing software.
• Use prefilled information.  On the eBay listing page there is always a box that says: "Pre-filled item info:"  Use this everytime if possible.  Type in the event name, and/or venue and date.  It will search it's database and plug in all the specifics for that event.  It helps for searches on eBay when completed.  You can then fill in the specifics (row, section).  It also adds a clickable map for the venue the event is at.
• Listing Duration.  I like to use a 3 day listing.  Others will argue that a 1 day listing or 7 day listing is best.  Here is my opinion.  I don't think a one day auction gives you enough exposure.  If you have the hottest tickets for a show, list them for longer.  However I feel seven days is too long.  There are people that want them NOW and panic and will use a Buy it Now auction or buy from auctions of 3 or 5 days.  I think ticket buyers have a short attention span.
• Buy it Now - YES OR NO?  I have used this before and still do.  It is a judgement call.  If there are many auctions with simliar seats I may tend to use a BIN.  Post them and get rid of them.  However if you have one of kind, front row center, you could sell yourself short.  I usually set a BIN price that I would be happy with, even if someone with lesser seats gets more.  If you do use the Buy It Now feature, also use "Immediate Payment Required" otherwise they could end your auction, stiff you for a week and then your tickets are worth less.
• Starting price.  Many people would argue with this, but my preference is to start your auction at face value or slightly less.  If I paid $210.50 for a pair of tickets I may start them at $199.95.  The buyer sees the value in that.  If you have nerves of steel start them at $9.95 and save some listing fees.  This will probably get more hits and many more bids right away.  Once again, judgement call.
• Seat Location.  I DO NOT list the actual seat numbers.  If someone emails me I will give them a general location..seats between 2-8.  This gives the buyer some privacy and also prevents scams.  I do however list the row, section etc.
• Details.  Stick to the facts and don't miss the details.  Day of show, place, ticket location.  Make sure you post your policies, do you take returns (I suggest NO, unless the show is cancelled), how much for shipping, can I pick the tickets up?, payment methods (Don't take personal checks!).  Make sure you spelling is correct.
• etickets.  I usually buy actual tickets or "hard tickets" mainly because I buy them at a terminal.  etickets are becoming increasingly popular.  If I wrote this guide a year ago I would have said DO NOT buy etickets, but now am changing my view.  Although they are easier to scam/duplicate etc, they are also easier to ship...ie just email them to the winner.  Try buying a pair during a presale and see how they sell compared to "hard tickets".  Do some research online and judge for yourself.
• buySAFE.  Buysafe is a service that "bonds" or guarantees your auction up to $25,000.  This gives the buyer more assurance of you as a honest seller.  You can visit their website.  Free to sign up, but fees associated with selling.
• Square Trade.  Another service that shows that you are an honest seller.  Visit their website, yearly membership fee and seller requirements to join.
• Always answer emails and questions.  Make sure to ALWAYS answer you customer questions in a timely manner.  If it's a question you think you may be asked several times, check the post to auction box on your reply.
• BE HONEST!!  One of the most important things I have found is that honesty IS always the best policy.  Don't say in your auction "Great view of the stage" if they are not.   If you make a mistake in your listing and you have bids, amend or end the auction.  Do not leave a buyer with sour grapes or they will leave you with negative feedback.

I hope you have learned a lot from my guide.  At the very least I hoped that you realize that a lot goes into consideration when deciding to sell tickets online.  Feel free to view my listings for examples.

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