Getting tickets to popular concerts and events through Ticketmaster can be a frustrating experience. With high demand events, tickets often sell out within minutes, leaving many fans empty handed. This leads some to repeatedly refresh or reload the Ticketmaster page in hopes of jumping ahead in the digital queue to buy tickets. However, constantly refreshing is not an effective strategy and may even hurt your chances of getting tickets.
Does refreshing help me get ahead in line?
No, refreshing the Ticketmaster page does not allow you to jump ahead in the virtual queue. Ticketmaster specifically designs its systems to prevent queue jumping through page refreshes. It uses waiting room technology where your place is held in line on the server side, not the browser side. So no matter how many times you hit refresh, you are not moving up in line. You have to wait your turn just like everyone else.
How does the virtual waiting room work?
Here’s a quick overview of how Ticketmaster’s virtual waiting room works:
- All fans join the waiting room at the same time when tickets go on sale.
- Ticketmaster assigns everyone a randomized place in line on their servers.
- Your spot is held in line on Ticketmaster’s servers, not your browser.
- When it’s your turn, you are let into the ticket purchasing page.
- Refreshing does not reset your place or move you up in line.
So constant refreshing is pointless since your place is held on Ticketmaster’s end. The only updates are when you move forward in line or get access to tickets. You can’t force your way up the queue ahead of others.
Does refreshing hurt my spot in line?
Excessive refreshing can actually hurt your spot in line in a few ways:
- It can use up bandwidth and cause lag, potentially kicking you out of line.
- It may trigger bot detection filters, blocking your access.
- It can look like suspicious behavior and get your account flagged.
Aggressively hammering the refresh button is easy for Ticketmaster to detect. So you may get removed from line if you take it too far. Moderation is key.
When should I refresh the page?
The only times you’ll need to refresh the Ticketmaster page are:
- When you first join the waiting room before tickets go on sale – refresh to make sure you are queued up
- If the page encounters an error – refresh to reload it
- If you get access to tickets – refresh to let the ticket buying page load
Aside from those instances, constant refreshing is not helpful. The system will automatically update you when you move forward in line.
Tips to avoid getting removed from line
To make sure overly eager refreshing doesn’t get you booted from the queue, follow these tips:
- Only refresh every few minutes at most.
- Don’t set your browser to auto-refresh frequently.
- Refresh manually by hitting the refresh button, not automatically.
- If you get errors, wait a minute before refreshing again.
Using these precautions allows normal refresh behavior without aggressive page hammering. You want just enough refreshing to keep your spot but avoid bot-like behavior.
Best practices for getting tickets
Instead of banking on refreshing to get tickets, use these fan-tested tips:
Get in the waiting room early
Hop in the waiting room at least 30 mins before tickets go on sale. Don’t wait until the last minute, as you’ll be automatically placed at the back of the line. The earlier you join, the better spot you’ll have.
Use multiple devices
Have friends and family join the waiting room on multiple devices too. The more devices you have waiting, the better your odds if each gets a different place in line.
Check for presales
Look for artist and venue presales before the general public sale. Presales are less competitive and give you early access to tickets.
Pick wisely
Don’t obsess over specific seats or sections. Grab what you can then upgrade later. Something is better than getting shut out.
Use payment shortcuts
Have accounts, payment methods, and shipping info pre-saved so you can checkout faster once tickets are in your cart.
Try verified resale
If you strike out on tickets, check fan resale markets like Ticketmaster Verified Resale right after the public onsale.
Key Takeaways
- Refreshing the Ticketmaster sales page does NOT move you up in the virtual queue.
- Your place is held on Ticketmaster’s servers, not your browser.
- Too much refreshing can get you flagged or booted from line.
- Only refresh when first joining, if errors occur, or on ticket purchase page.
- Use waiting room early, multiple devices, presales and fast checkout for best odds.
Conclusion
Refreshing endlessly in hopes of gaining an advantage is an ineffective strategy when trying to score hot tickets. Ticketmaster’s systems are designed to maintain fairness by randomizing spots held on their servers. While the occasional refresh is fine, aggressive refreshing risks getting removed from line entirely. For best results, leverage tactics like joining early, using multiple devices and act fast once tickets are in hand. With some luck and preparation, you can land seats even to the hottest events.