Trying to get tickets to a hot concert or sporting event can be incredibly frustrating. As soon as tickets go on sale, they seem to sell out in seconds. This leaves many fans desperately refreshing Ticketmaster again and again in hopes of grabbing any last-minute seats that become available.
But is constantly refreshing Ticketmaster the best strategy for scoring hard-to-get tickets? Or is it just a waste of time that won’t improve your chances? Here’s a look at some of the key questions around relentlessly refreshing Ticketmaster.
Does refreshing Ticketmaster increase your chances of getting tickets?
In short, no. Repeatedly refreshing or reloading the Ticketmaster website does not improve your odds of getting tickets in any meaningful way. Here’s why:
- Ticketmaster utilizes queueing technology that randomly assigns place in line. Your place in queue is not affected by how many times you refresh.
- Tickets are held in buyers’ carts for a set time (usually around 10 minutes). Refreshing won’t release those tickets any faster.
- The high traffic volumes overload servers. Reloading adds to this demand and can slow things down.
So mindlessly hitting refresh accomplishes little other than eating up your time and bandwidth. The system is designed to give everyone an equal shot at tickets through the queueing and not reward those who can reload the fastest.
When do more tickets usually get released?
While refreshing doesn’t help, more tickets tend to get released in several predictable waves:
- Right at the scheduled start time: The bulk of tickets go on sale right as the published sale time hits.
- 10-15 minutes after start: Some tickets held in carts are released back after the 10-14 minute hold period expires.
- Over the next 24-48 hours: Cancellations and releases continue to trickle new tickets into the pool, often randomly.
- Week before the event: Venues and artists sometimes release last-minute contingencies a week out.
So instead of pointlessly refreshing, your best bet is to check back at the key release windows above.
Should you use auto-refresh browser extensions?
Some ticket buyers use auto-refresh extensions like Easy Auto Refresh that reload pages automatically. In theory, these extensions can save you from manually hitting refresh.
However, Ticketmaster actively tries to detect and block auto-refreshing scripts and bots. So extensions don’t usually speed up the process. And they can even get your account flagged, making things harder.
Does using multiple devices help?
Having multiple devices signed into Ticketmaster is unlikely to improve your odds either. Even though it seems logical that more devices = more chances, Ticketmaster’s queueing and bot detection makes it ineffective in practice.
Often using multiple devices just introduces complications. It can be tricky trying to coordinate the queue position across devices. And you risk duplicate purchases of the same tickets if you succeed on more than one device.
Should you keep the Ticketmaster app open?
Similarly, keeping the Ticketmaster mobile app open and switching between it and desktop does not enhance your chances. The queues are not connected between app and desktop.
Often the app is slower and more prone to crashing due to the heavy traffic. Most find they have the most success purchasing through the desktop site. So it’s best to focus your efforts there.
Does using different browsers help?
A common question is whether using different browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc) improves your odds of getting tickets. The answer is essentially no. Your queue position is assigned by your IP address and account details, not your browser.
Having multiple browsers open puts extra load on your device and internet connection for no real advantage. Pick whichever major browser you are most comfortable with and go with it.
Does clearing cookies help?
Clearing your cookies between page reloads is another technique some ticket buyers try. This forces the site to reload fresh content each time rather than caching. In theory it may help surface newly released tickets faster.
However, any small advantage is usually negligible. And it requires constantly clearing cookies which is slow and disruptive to the overall process.
Should you use a VPN?
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) masks your real IP address, often by connecting through servers in another geographic location. This makes it appear like you are accessing Ticketmaster from different areas.
In the past using a VPN might have helped bypass regional restrictions. But nowadays Ticketmaster’s technology is adept at detecting and blocking VPN connections being used to get around blocks or limits.
Using a VPN can even increase latency and slow down the process. In most cases a VPN is not recommended when purchasing tickets.
Does Ticketmaster purposefully make it hard to get tickets?
Ticketmaster is often vilified for how difficult it can be to get tickets to major events. This leads some to suspect they are making it hard on purpose to drive up prices and profits.
In reality, Ticketmaster doesn’t directly set ticket quantities, prices, or limits – they leave that to the artists and promoters. As an open marketplace it is in Ticketmaster’s interests to make the ticket buying process as smooth as possible.
The reason it is so hard to get hot tickets is basic supply and demand economics. When hundreds of thousands of fans want tickets that only number in the tens of thousands, most will inevitably be disappointed.
Are there any tips that actually help?
Although constantly refreshing Ticketmaster is futile, here are some tips that may actually help slightly increase your odds of scoring tickets:
- Ensure you have an existing Ticketmaster account with your payment info saved. This avoids wasting time entering it during checkout.
- Be logged in right before the scheduled sale time so you get queued immediately.
- Use Ticketmaster’s desktop site rather than the mobile app.
- Have a stable, high-speed internet connection to avoid delays or drops.
- Be ready right at the advertised start time and don’t get distracted.
Even with perfect execution, snagging hyper competitive tickets often comes down to a bit of luck.
Should you buy from resellers and scalpers?
If you simply can’t get tickets through official channels, there are always secondary resellers and scalpers happy to sell them – often at hugely inflated prices.
There are risks buying tickets this way since the tickets could be fraudulent or invalid. And you’ll likely pay a premium of 2-10X face value or more.
But for extremely high demand events where tickets sell out instantly, it may be the only way left to get in the door. Just be cautious of scammers and make sure to use reputable platforms like StubHub.
Is ticket buying bot software worth trying?
Automated ticket buying bots promise to purchase tickets faster than any human could. But Ticketmaster has sophisticated bot detection that bans most ticket bots.
Attempting to use an obvious bot is risky. It could get your Ticketmaster account permanently closed. Bots also scoop up and resell tickets, contributing to higher prices.
Bot use is frowned upon by venues, artists and fans. And it’s a legal gray area in many states. Only use bots at your own risk.
Should you give up trying to get tickets?
It’s easy to get frustrated and demoralized in the ticket buying process. But if getting tickets means a lot, it pays to stay patient and persistent.
Keep in mind:
- You may succeed in grabbing tickets during one of the later release waves even if you missed out initially.
- New shows are added if there is enough demand, giving more chances.
- You can try alternate cities or even overseas shows for very popular tours.
- There will always be more exciting concerts and events in the future too.
As long as you use effective strategies and keep expectations realistic, your ticket buying efforts will eventually pay off!
Conclusion
Refreshing Ticketmaster constantly is understandably tempting when trying to get hot tickets. But it’s an ineffective strategy that mainly just wastes time. Tickets are released in unpredictable patterns, and your odds are not improved simply by refreshing.
Instead, use queues and waiting rooms as intended. Check at peak release times when more tickets enter circulation. Have accounts set up in advance. And don’t lose hope – with persistence you can often still land seats even to the most popular events.
While the ticket buying process leaves much room for improvement, avoiding fruitless refreshing and understanding how it works goes a long way. With realistic expectations, good technology, and a bit of luck, you’ll be watching your favorite artist live in concert before you know it.
