A buyer guarantee is the marketplace’s promise that your tickets will be valid and arrive on time — or you get a replacement or a full refund. In 2026, TickPick, StubHub, Vivid Seats, and Gametime all back every purchase with one, which is what makes buying resale tickets safe.
What a buyer guarantee actually covers
Every major marketplace guarantee protects three things:
- Valid tickets. Your tickets will get you into the event. If they’re counterfeit, duplicated, or denied at the gate, you’re covered.
- On-time delivery. Tickets arrive before the event, usually well ahead. If a seller fails to deliver, the marketplace steps in.
- Refund or replacement. If something goes wrong — a canceled event, an invalid ticket, an undelivered order — you get comparable replacement seats or your money back.
These promises are why a resale ticket from a stranger is, in practice, as safe as buying from the box office.
How the four marketplaces compare
TickPick backs every order with its Buyer Guarantee: valid tickets, on-time delivery, and a refund or replacement if a problem arises. Because TickPick charges no buyer fees, the price you see is the price you pay — guarantee included.
StubHub uses FanProtect, one of the longest-running guarantees in resale. It covers authenticity and delivery, and provides comparable replacements or a refund when an order can’t be fulfilled.
Vivid Seats offers its 100% Buyer Guarantee: valid tickets delivered in time, with replacement seats or a full refund if a listing falls through.
Gametime backs purchases with its own guarantee, covering authentic tickets and timely delivery, plus support and a refund or replacement if your tickets don’t work.
The protections are broadly similar. The real difference is the all-in price.
Why the all-in total matters more than the badge
Every guarantee promises roughly the same outcome, so the smart comparison is total cost. Many marketplaces add service fees at checkout, which can push the final price well above the listed seat price. TickPick’s no-buyer-fee model means the sticker price is the checkout price.
That’s the SeatFab approach: we line up identical seats across TickPick, Gametime, Vivid Seats, and StubHub so you can compare the cheapest all-in total — knowing each option is backed by a buyer guarantee either way.
What to do if something goes wrong
If a ticket is invalid or doesn’t arrive, contact the marketplace’s support before the event when possible. Keep your order confirmation and any gate-denial details. Under each guarantee, the marketplace will work to deliver comparable replacement seats; if none are available, you receive a refund.
Bottom line
Buying resale is safe because every major marketplace stands behind your purchase with a buyer guarantee covering valid tickets, on-time delivery, and refunds or replacements. Since the protection is comparable across TickPick, StubHub, Vivid Seats, and Gametime, choose by the cheapest all-in total — which is exactly what SeatFab helps you find.
