Have you ever bought concert or sports tickets through SeatGeek and wondered when you’ll actually receive them? As an avid fan of live events, I’ve purchased my fair share of tickets on SeatGeek. And I’ll admit, the first time I completed my order, I anxiously refreshed my inbox every 5 minutes expecting an instant delivery.
To my dismay, those precious PDF tickets didn’t show up right away. That got me wondering – how long does SeatGeek take to send tickets?
The short answer is – it depends.
SeatGeek uses various ticket delivery methods with different timelines. E-tickets can be near instant, while mobile transfer and shipped options take longer.
In this detailed guide, we’ll cover:
- The main SeatGeek ticket delivery types and timeframes
- What to expect with last minute SeatGeek purchases
- How to check your ticket delivery method
- Steps for accessing mobile transfer tickets
- What to do if you don’t receive your SeatGeek tickets on time
Let’s start by looking at the different ways tickets are delivered through SeatGeek.
Types of SeatGeek Ticket Delivery
SeatGeek sends tickets to customers in three primary ways:
- Instant e-tickets
- Mobile transfer tickets
- Shipped tickets/wristbands
The delivery method will determine exactly how long it takes to get your tickets after buying on SeatGeek.
Instant E-Tickets
E-tickets (electronic tickets) are the fastest option, delivering digital tickets instantly to your SeatGeek account.
After completing your SeatGeek order, e-tickets are usually uploaded directly to the Tickets section of your SeatGeek account within minutes. You’ll receive a confirmation email when they are ready to access.
With instant e-tickets, you can login to your SeatGeek account via desktop or the SeatGeek app to view, manage, and scan your tickets electronically from your phone.
However, some venues use a “delayed release” policy for security reasons, holding back e-tickets until 24 hours or less before showtime. So even if you bought tickets weeks in advance, you might have to wait until the day before or day of the event to get them.
But not to worry – your tickets are guaranteed under the SeatGeek Buyer Guarantee. Sellers then manually send e-tickets when they are released from the venue.
Mobile Transfer Tickets
Mobile transfer is a popular delivery method where tickets are sent to you electronically from a third-party app (like Ticketmaster or AXS) instead of SeatGeek.
Within 24 hours of the event, you’ll receive an email from the third-party app with instructions to claim your ticket transfer. After accepting them, you simply show your digital tickets in the third-party app when entering the venue.
Again, these mobile transfer tickets often won’t release until right before showtime due to the delayed release policies used by venues to secure tickets.
So expect to accept these mobile transfer tickets sometime in the final 24 hours leading up to event, even if you bought way ahead of time. Sellers manually forward them over when they receive them from the venue – usually a pretty seamless process.
Shipped Tickets/Wristbands
For shipped tickets, SeatGeek sends physical passes by mail via UPS/FedEx to arrive within 48 hours of the event. A tracking number is provided once the tickets are enroute so you can monitor the delivery status.
While less common nowadays, paper tickets are still used for some events. Treat your shipped tickets like cash once received and be sure your shipping address is up to date in your SeatGeek account profile.
Last Minute SeatGeek Purchases
While delivery windows help set expectations, what if you score last minute tickets on game day?
Not to worry – your mobile tickets will still be available instantly in most cases when buying close to showtime on SeatGeek.
For all 11th hour digital purchases, e-tickets or mobile transfer ticket links should hit your inbox within two hours of the order confirmation in order to make the event in time.
You can buy with total confidence since all orders are backed by SeatGeek’s Buyer Guarantee. This guarantees you’ll receive valid tickets to gain entry, even if that means sorting out any delivery issues at the venue.
So feel free to swoop those last minute deals on SeatGeek! The savings are worth it.
What If Tickets Aren’t Received on Time?
Despite best efforts, there may be rare cases where your SeatGeek tickets aren’t showing up within the expected delivery window outlined above.
First, be sure to double check your ticket delivery method listed on your SeatGeek order confirmation or under the Tickets section of your SeatGeek account. This will indicate the anticipated timeline, like “e-tickets delivered instantly” or “mobile transfers within 24 hours of event.”
If you confirmed an instant delivery that still hasn’t shown up within the quoted timeframe, reach out directly to SeatGeek customer support via phone or chat.
When expected delivery is nearing and there is still no sign of your tickets, immediately contact SeatGeek support. They will assist in tracking down your tickets or sorting out backup arrangements to honor the Buyer Guarantee backup policy. This ensures you’ll gain entry even if print-at-home tickets need to be issued at Will Call.
So while delivery hiccups are uncommon, direct communication with SeatGeek puts you in good hands when unforeseen issues pop up.
Checking Your SeatGeek Ticket Delivery Method
Wondering whether you’ll receive instant e-tickets, mobile transfer or shipped tickets?
When buying tickets, look for the “Delivery” method listed on each SeatGeek event listing for a given ticket row option. This will indicate which format that specific ticket block utilizes.
You can also reference the Tickets section of your SeatGeek account after purchase to see your ticket delivery details:
- E-tickets will be listed as “Electronic”
- Mobile transfers will indicate “Transfer”
- Shipped tickets will show as “USPS”
If you only see order confirmation with no delivery details yet, don’t panic. Deliveries requiring seller action may take an hour or two to process before the distribution method is confirmed in your account.
Accepting and Accessing Mobile Transfer Tickets
When your tickets are being sent via mobile transfer, the process involves a few extra steps to access them.
You’ll first receive an email from the third-party ticketing app (like Ticketmaster, AXS, etc) used by the venue. Carefully follow the instructions within that email to accept your transfers.
Accepting mobile tickets involves:
- Clicking the link in the transfer email
- Creating an account with the third-party app using the same email from your SeatGeek order
- Hitting accept and viewing your tickets
Once claimed, you simply open the third-party app on event day to display your tickets for scanning. Make sure to download the required app beforehand if you’ll be without internet access at the venue.
If the transfer email doesn’t show up within expected timelines, check your spam folder. Transfer notifications sometimes end up routed there since it originates from venues you may not have existing relationships with.
Still can’t find the mobile transfer? Search your inbox for phrases like “forwarded you tickets” or the venue name + tickets. If no luck, immediately reach out to SeatGeek to investigate since transfers are time sensitive.
In Conclusion…
When buying coveted tickets for your bucket list events on SeatGeek, ticket delivery suspense is part of the excitement.
To maximize savings yet minimize anxiety, understanding delivery methods and estimated timeframes lets you plan ahead. Instant e-tickets should hit your account quickly while mobile and shipped options take a bit longer but eventually arrive timed with your event.
With stellar customer service and backup policies through SeatGeek’s Buyer Guarantee, you can score last minute tickets to sold out events with added peace of mind.
So what are you waiting for? Search SeatGeek by event genre or location and snag those seats to see your favorite musician, athlete, or celebrity live!
