How Ticket Buyer Guarantees Work (2026)

How do ticket buyer guarantees work? A buyer guarantee is a marketplace's written promise to fix an order that fails: tickets that arrive late, do not scan, or are not what you bought, and events canceled with no new date. The usual remedy is comparable replacement tickets or a refund, and some marketplaces may issue a credit instead. Guarantees do not cover a change of plans, a postponed event your tickets still work for, or travel costs.

This guide compares what TixBit, StubHub, SeatGeek, Vivid Seats, TickPick, and Ticketmaster's third-party resale say on their own pages, reviewed October 15, 2026. Policies change, so read the terms shown for your order before you pay. Never fees for buyers on TixBit.

What does a ticket buyer guarantee cover?

Most marketplace guarantees are built around the same four promises:

On-time delivery. Your tickets arrive in time to use them.
Valid entry. The tickets scan at the venue.
The tickets you ordered. You get the seats described, or seats the marketplace treats as comparable or better.
Canceled events. If the event is canceled and not rescheduled, you get a refund, a credit, or replacement tickets, depending on the policy.

The guarantee comes from the marketplace, not the individual seller. That is the main reason to buy through a marketplace rather than from a stranger on social media. Our resale safety guide covers the scams that happen outside that protection.

How do buyer guarantees compare across ticket sites?

As of October 15, 2026. Each row quotes or summarizes the company's own page, linked in the sources at the end.

Marketplace	What the guarantee covers
TixBit	Tracks your order through fulfillment; if TixBit cannot fulfill it, the order is canceled and refunded
StubHub FanProtect	Tickets arrive in time and are authentic and valid, or you get comparable tickets or your money back
SeatGeek	Delivery in time, valid entry, and tickets that match the order; comparable or better tickets or a refund
Vivid Seats	Delivered in time, valid and authentic, and identical, comparable, or better tickets, or your money back
TickPick BuyerTrust	Authentic and valid tickets, received on time; equal-or-better replacements in an emergency
Ticketmaster resale	Third-party resale tickets are transferred by the seller from the original ticket provider's app

Marketplace	Canceled, not rescheduled	Postponed or rescheduled
TixBit	Comparable replacement tickets or a refund of the order total to the original payment method	Usually valid for the new date; generally not refundable
StubHub FanProtect	Refund	Tickets stay valid for the new date; not a FanProtect scenario
SeatGeek	Full refund to the original payment method or, subject to state law, a credit, at its sole discretion	Usually valid; generally no refund unless replacements are needed or law requires
Vivid Seats	Purchase price including delivery charges, less possible restocking fees, or a credit, at its sole discretion	Not refundable if the original tickets are valid for the new date
TickPick BuyerTrust	Refund or credit	Not covered as a cancellation
Ticketmaster resale	Third-party sales are final unless the event is canceled	Check the event's own policy

Two cautions on reading these tables:

"Credit" is not cash. SeatGeek, Vivid Seats, and TickPick each describe a credit as a possible remedy for a canceled event. SeatGeek and Vivid Seats describe it as a credit to use on a future purchase.
Reporting deadlines matter. Vivid Seats' terms give you 48 hours from delivery to report inconsistencies with your tickets.

What do buyer guarantees not cover?

Every policy reviewed here excludes some situations. Common exclusions:

Change of plans. StubHub says a change of plans or a change of heart is "not a FanProtect scenario." SeatGeek lists "personal schedule changes" and "mistaken purchases." Vivid Seats says it does not offer "buyer's remorse" refunds.
Postponements where tickets still work. A new date is not a cancellation at TixBit, StubHub, SeatGeek, Vivid Seats, or TickPick.
Lineup or schedule changes. SeatGeek excludes lineup, performer, or schedule changes that do not qualify as cancellations. TixBit says venue, lineup, seat, or schedule changes are not cancellations unless the event organizer declares the event canceled.
Travel and other costs. StubHub excludes costs around the event such as hotels and flights. SeatGeek excludes travel, hotel, parking, and other personal expenses.
Denied entry for your own conduct. SeatGeek excludes denial due to venue rules, age restrictions, disruptive behavior, or failure to follow event policies.

If you are traveling, consider refundable bookings or travel insurance for the trip. A ticket guarantee covers the ticket.

What happens if my event is canceled or postponed?

Canceled and not rescheduled. You are typically owed a remedy, but its form varies. TixBit provides comparable replacement tickets or a refund of the order total to the original payment method, subject to applicable guarantees or law. Shipping or perishable costs may be excluded unless law requires otherwise. Most TixBit refunds arrive within 3 to 10 business days.

Postponed or rescheduled. Your tickets usually carry over to the new date, and most policies do not refund them. If you cannot attend the new date, you may be able to resell the tickets.

Physical tickets. Some policies require you to return physical tickets before a cancellation refund. Vivid Seats' terms require buyers to return tickets within two weeks of its cancellation notice; TickPick says you might need to return physical tickets to the seller first.

How do I make a buyer guarantee claim?

Contact the marketplace as soon as the problem happens. StubHub says to reach out "as soon as possible, ideally the same day." SeatGeek says to contact it "as soon as possible."
Document it. Keep the listing, the order confirmation, and any transfer emails. At the gate, ask for the reason a ticket did not scan and take a photo if you can.
Use the official support channel. For a TixBit order, email support with your order number, the email used at checkout, and a short description. For an event-day problem, contact TixBit as soon as it happens. The TixBit Guarantee page has the details.
Do not accept an off-platform fix. Tickets transferred outside the marketplace may not be covered.

Is a buyer guarantee the same as ticket insurance?

No. A buyer guarantee comes with the order and covers marketplace failures such as non-delivery or invalid tickets. Optional ticket protection, where a site offers it, is a separate add-on with its own terms and exclusions. Read them before you add it. Under the FTC's fees rule, an optional add-on can be left out of the upfront total price, but it must be disclosed before you pay. 16 CFR Part 464 (eCFR)

How does the TixBit Guarantee work?

Every TixBit order is covered by the TixBit Guarantee:

Your order is fulfilled. TixBit tracks your order through ticket fulfillment. If TixBit cannot fulfill it, TixBit cancels the order and refunds you.
Canceled events are covered. If the event is canceled and not rescheduled, TixBit provides comparable replacement tickets or a refund of the order total to the original payment method, subject to applicable guarantees or law.
Help when you need it. Standard support runs Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM Eastern, with extended coverage for urgent event-day issues. Most requests receive a reply within one business day.

Sales are final unless the event is canceled or another TixBit Guarantee or legal exception applies. Accept ticket transfers on time and use the delivery method shown in your order. TixBit's Terms & Conditions define the complete coverage.

Never fees for buyers on TixBit. What you see is what you get: real seats in real sections, no phantom rows. For platform-by-platform detail, see TixBit vs StubHub, TixBit vs SeatGeek, TixBit vs Vivid Seats, TixBit vs TickPick, and TixBit vs Ticketmaster.

Frequently asked questions

Do all ticket resale sites have a buyer guarantee?

TixBit, StubHub, SeatGeek, Vivid Seats, and TickPick each publish one, but coverage differs. A private seller on social media offers no guarantee you can enforce.

Does a buyer guarantee refund me if I can't go?

No. StubHub, SeatGeek, and Vivid Seats explicitly exclude a change of plans, and TixBit sales are final unless the event is canceled or another TixBit Guarantee or legal exception applies. Some marketplaces let you resell tickets you cannot use.

What if my tickets don't scan at the gate?

Contact the marketplace immediately and document the problem. The TixBit, StubHub, SeatGeek, Vivid Seats, and TickPick guarantees all cover tickets that are not valid for entry. TixBit's FAQ says TixBit will work with the venue to resolve it or provide a full refund under the TixBit Guarantee.

Do I get a refund or a credit for a canceled event?

It depends on the marketplace. TixBit provides comparable replacement tickets or a refund to the original payment method. SeatGeek, Vivid Seats, and TickPick each say they may issue a credit instead of a refund.

Is StubHub's FanProtect guarantee free?

StubHub says FanProtect is included with every order and is not an add-on. It also says its fees help fund the guarantee.

Does TixBit charge buyer fees for its guarantee?

No. Never fees for buyers on TixBit. The guarantee is included with every order, and the price you see is what you pay.

The bottom line

A buyer guarantee protects you when the marketplace fails, not when your plans change. Check four things before you buy: delivery, valid entry, accurate seats, and what you get if the event is canceled. Then compare the final price for the same seats.

Browse events on TixBit

Sources and review date

Reviewed October 15, 2026. Each policy was read on the company's own page. Gametime's guarantee page could not be located for this review, so it is not in the table.