BuyTickets.com guide
How to buy tickets after a show sells out
Last updated · By BuyTickets.com (4TIX LLC), selling tickets since 1999
Short answer
When a show sells out, you still have options. Start with the official seller: check the venue or official box office (often Ticketmaster or AXS) for an official waitlist, face-value exchange, or released seats. Resale prices can be above or below face value, so compare before you buy.
Step 1: Check the official seller again
"Sold out" on the first day is not always final.
- Official waitlists and face-value exchanges. Many artists and venues run a waitlist or fan-to-fan exchange through the official ticketing company. Check the event page on the venue's site or the official box office.
- Released holds. Venues and promoters sometimes release extra seats closer to the date, after production or seating is finalized.
- Venue box office. Some venues sell remaining or released seats in person or by phone.
If the official seller has the seats you want at face value, buy there first.
Step 2: Compare resale listings
After the primary on-sale, people who bought tickets can resell them on marketplaces like BuyTickets.com. This is how most "sold out" shows still get filled.
- Prices are set by sellers and can be above or below face value.
- Prices often move as the event gets closer. There is no guaranteed best time to buy.
- Compare the total price, including required fees, not only the listed price.
Browse concert tickets, sports tickets or theater tickets, or search by artist, team or venue
Step 3: Make sure the resale site protects you
Before you pay on any resale site, check:
- Full price shown before checkout. On BuyTickets.com, checkout shows the total you will pay, including required fees, and that total is not increased after it first appears.
- A written guarantee. Every completed BuyTickets.com order includes our 100% ticket guarantee:
- Canceled event: full refund of the ticket price you paid.
- Tickets that do not work (counterfeit, do not grant admission other than because of something you did, or do not reasonably match the listing): full refund of the ticket price you paid.
- Tickets are guaranteed to arrive before the event.
- Tickets in one order are next to each other unless the listing says otherwise.
- A real company you can reach. BuyTickets.com is operated by 4TIX LLC, 98 Wadsworth Blvd Unit 127-3232, Lakewood, CO 80226. Call 855-855-6777 or email support@buytickets.com. More in Is BuyTickets.com legit? or on the contact page
- Clear delivery method. Each listing names how tickets are delivered (for example, a mobile transfer into the venue's ticketing account) before you pay.
Avoid these when a show sells out
- Sellers on social media or classifieds who want payment by gift card, wire, or a payment app with no buyer protection.
- Screenshots of tickets. A screenshot is not a transfer and may not get you in.
- Sites that show a low price and add large fees at the end.
- Any seller you cannot reach by phone or email after you pay.
What BuyTickets.com is and is not
FAQ
Can you still buy tickets after a concert sells out? Yes. Check the official seller for a waitlist, face-value exchange, or released seats first. If none open up, resale marketplaces like BuyTickets.com list tickets from people who bought during the on-sale.
Are resale tickets for sold-out shows real? On a marketplace with a guarantee, yes. At BuyTickets.com, if tickets are counterfeit, do not grant admission (other than because of something you did), or do not reasonably match the listing, you get a full refund of the ticket price you paid.
Will resale tickets cost more than face value? Sometimes. Resale prices are set by sellers and can be above or below face value.
Do prices drop right before a sold-out show? Sometimes, and sometimes they rise. There is no guaranteed pattern, so compare the total price and buy when it works for you.
What happens if a sold-out show is canceled? If an event is canceled, BuyTickets.com gives a full refund of the ticket price you paid. If it is postponed, tickets are typically held for the new date; if you cannot attend, call 855-855-6777 and we will review the order.
When will I get my tickets? It depends on the listing's delivery method. Not every order is instant, because the seller sends the tickets. Tickets are guaranteed to arrive before the event.