You've decided to sell your tickets. Maybe plans changed, or you're managing those season ticket games you can't attend. Now you're looking at different services, trying to figure out which one you can trust with tickets that cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
It's a completely reasonable concern, especially if you've never heard of the company before. The internet has made selling tickets easier in many ways, but it's also raised new questions about who deserves your trust.
You don't need to be an industry expert to spot the difference between legitimate services and ones you should avoid. You just need to ask the right questions, and know what answers to listen for.
Why Asking Questions Matter
When you sell tickets online, you're usually handing over your tickets before you see any money. That's different from most purchases where you pay after receiving what you ordered.
The ticket resale industry doesn't have the same buyer protections you'd find on major retail platforms. That puts more responsibility on you to evaluate whether a service is trustworthy. The right questions reveal how a company actually operates beyond their marketing materials.
Think of these questions as your way of looking under the hood before making a decision.
Question 1: "What's your payment timeline, and why?"
This might seem straightforward, but the answer tells you a lot about how a service operates.
What to listen for: A legitimate service should explain not just when you'll be paid, but why they've chosen that timeline. The explanation should make sense and reference real industry challenges.
Watch out for:
- Vague answers without specifics
- Payment before the event (which sounds great but creates serious risks)
- Inability to explain the reasoning
- Reluctance to put payment terms in writing
Why this matters: Payment timing shows how a company manages risk for both themselves and you. Nearly every major platform schedules payment after events occur because events can get canceled or tickets can turn out to be invalid.
Services offering payment before events either haven't thought through these risks or are building that uncertainty into lower offers.
A good answer sounds like: Look for an answer that explains the timing clearly, something like paying within a few days after the event to make sure everything went smoothly. They should mention this protects both parties from cancellations and fraud issues, which is why it's become the industry standard.
Question 2: "How do you determine what you'll pay for my tickets?"
This question helps you understand whether a service is using real data or just making arbitrary offers.
What to listen for: Specific factors they consider when pricing. You should hear about market data, comparable sales, event characteristics, and seat location, terms like "current market prices," "sell-out status," or "seat location value."
Watch out for:
- Inability to explain their methodology
- Offers that seem way higher than current listings
- Pressure to sell immediately
Why this matters: Ticket values change constantly. A Tuesday night game against a struggling opponent might sell for half your original price, while a Saturday rivalry game could go for double. Weekend games typically command better prices than weeknights. Weather forecasts affect outdoor venues. A star player's injury can shift prices overnight.
If a service can't explain how they account for these factors, they probably don't have the systems to price accurately. You deserve to know whether you're getting a competitive offer.
A legitimate service will explain they look at multiple factors: whether your event or section is sold out, what comparable seats are currently listed for on major marketplaces, how prices have been trending, the matchup quality, day of the week, and time remaining before the event. They should mention using data to process all of this and generate offers that reflect actual market conditions.
Question 3: "What happens if something goes wrong?"
This reveals whether a company stands behind their service when issues arise.
What to listen for: Specific protocols for common problems. How do they handle ticket transfer issues? What about postponed events? Who can you contact, and how quickly?
Watch out for:
- No clear customer service contact
- "Email us and we'll figure it out" without details
- Only automated responses
- No phone support
Why this matters: Things occasionally go wrong through no one's fault. Tickets get stuck in transfer systems, events get rescheduled, technical glitches happen. Different ticketing apps have different transfer processes, and confusion is common.
When you're dealing with time-sensitive events, you can't afford to wait days for responses. Events happen on specific dates whether your issues are resolved or not.
Companies that build real customer service infrastructure are telling you they're prepared to help. Those that make it hard to reach an actual person are hoping everything goes smoothly because they haven't planned for when it doesn't.
Look for a service that offers accessible customer support: both phone and email, with real people handling requests. They should explain the steps for your specific ticketing platform, provide quick responses for payment questions, and have a clear escalation process. A good service will also mention having a dashboard where you can track your transaction status at any time.
What These Questions Reveal
Together, these three questions show you the essentials:
Transparency: Can they clearly explain their processes?
Experience: Do they understand the actual challenges in ticket resale?
Infrastructure: Have they built real systems for pricing, payment, and support?
Accountability: Will they be there when you need help?
Beyond these questions, trust your instincts. Look for clear information about who runs the company and their background in the industry. Check for a real physical address and company information.
Companies that freely share information about their operations and leadership tend to be more reliable than those wrapped in mystery.
Ask Ticket Buyback These Questions
We built Ticket Buyback knowing we'd need solid answers to exactly these questions. That's why we created everything around transparency, clear timelines, and support you can actually reach.
Our founder, Max Kaplan, has spent seven years in professional sports ticketing, working with the NFL, MLS, and NHL while processing over 700,000 tickets. His approach has always been centered on trust and treating sellers fairly, something you can verify by checking out his background on LinkedIn.
Curious how we measure up? Ask us these three questions yourself. We'll give you straightforward answers backed by that experience and the infrastructure we've built.
We pay three business days after events to ensure everything went smoothly. We use data analytics to price tickets based on current market conditions. We offer 24/7 customer service with real people ready to help.
The goal isn't just getting you to choose us—it's making sure you have the right questions to evaluate any service. What matters most is finding a partner you genuinely trust.
Selling your tickets should be straightforward, not stressful. The right partner makes all the difference.