Should you refresh when buying tickets?

Trying to get tickets to a hot concert, show, or sporting event can be incredibly frustrating. As soon as tickets go on sale, they seem to sell out in seconds. People who weren’t able to get tickets are often left wondering what went wrong and what they could have done differently.

One strategy that some people use is constantly refreshing the ticket buying page in hopes that more tickets will become available. But does this strategy actually work? Should you sit there and repeatedly refresh your browser when you’re struggling to get tickets?

The Psychology Behind Refreshing

The urge to constantly refresh comes from a feeling of desperation. When tickets sell out instantly, it leaves people feeling like the only way to get tickets is through sheer luck. Refreshing seems to increase your chances of being the one lucky enough to land tickets when a new batch becomes available.

In reality, the chances of new tickets becoming available right after a sellout are extremely slim. Most tickets these days are sold through ticket buying bots that purchase huge blocks of tickets the moment they go on sale. There typically are not random new batches of tickets popping up minutes after a sellout.

Refreshing can also backfire by overloading the ticket buying website. If too many people are refreshing at the same time, it can cause errors and glitches that make it even harder for anyone to get tickets.

When Refreshing Does Work

While nonstop refreshing is mostly futile, there are some limited cases where it can pay off:

• Right when tickets first go on sale – There can sometimes be website issues or lags when tickets first become available. Refreshing during this period can allow you to get in the virtual line earlier.
• During pre-sales – Artists and venues sometimes release blocks of tickets during presales for fan club members or credit card holders. Refreshing during the pre-sale period can help you snag tickets before the general public sale.
• Last minute ticket releases – For unpopular events that don’t instantly sell out, venues will sometimes release final batches of tickets at the last minute. Refreshing can help you grab these last minute seats.

Outside of those specific scenarios, refreshing obsessively is not likely to help you get tickets. The key is to have an organized plan and use technology to enhance your strategy.

Have a Ticket Buying Strategy

Instead of frantically refreshing, having an organized plan can greatly increase your odds of getting tickets. Here are some key tips:

• Use multiple devices – Have friends or family members help by trying on their own phones and computers.
• Find ticket presales – Sign up for fan clubs, credit cards, or mailing lists to get early access.
• Use ticket bots – Bots can process and purchase tickets faster than humans.
• Be ready at your computer – Log in ahead of time so you can request tickets right at the sale start time.
• Focus on best seats – Try for front row or VIP seats first as they sell out slower.
• Have backup dates/venues – Expand your search so you have more options.

Leverage Technology

The internet and smartphones offer tools that can give you an advantage:

• Automatic page refreshers – Browser extensions can refresh ticketing pages for you.
• Ticket alert services – Get text or email alerts when tickets go on sale.
• Ticket queue trackers – See your estimated wait time and position in line.
• Ticket auction sites – StubHub, VividSeats, etc. are alternate places to find tickets.
• Social media – Follow venues and artists to get presale codes and on sale info.

Don’t Give Up Too Quickly

The initial ticket on-sale time is often not your only chance to get seats. Many tickets are scooped up instantly by scalpers who later relist them at higher prices. As the event date approaches, some of these tickets end up dropping in price and becoming affordable again. Persistence and checking back often can help you find ticket deals.

Signing up for presales and waiting for the scalping market to improve your odds is a better strategy than endlessly refreshing and hoping for a miracle. Be ready at the most high-demand times, but also keep checking back for newly available tickets as the event nears.

Use Caution with Secondary Sites

Secondary resale sites can provide another option for tickets, but there are risks when using these services:

• Counterfeit tickets – Scammers can list and sell fake tickets.
• Price gouging – Resellers may inflate prices 5-10x above face value.
• Hidden fees – Extra service and delivery fees can add to the cost.
• Non-transferable tickets – Some tickets can only be used by the original purchaser.
• No recourse – You lose all money spent if the tickets don’t work.

While resale sites expand your chances to get tickets, proceed with caution. Vet the seller thoroughly, look for buyer guarantees, and avoid purchasing right before the event in case the tickets don’t arrive in time.

Should You Ever Refresh Constantly?

Is there ever a case where constantly refreshing makes sense when buying tickets? The answer is very rarely. Only if an on-sale is riddled with technical issues that are preventing fans from accessing tickets might a refresh strategy help. But this is an unlikely scenario these days.

Repeatedly refreshing used to be more common in the early 2000s when ticket websites were less sophisticated. Fans hoped random glitches would allow them to grab tickets. But with modern ticketing technology, nonstop refreshing is almost always a waste of time.

When Refreshing Does Waste Your Time

Here are examples of scenarios where obsessive refreshing will not help you get tickets:

• Immediately after a quick sellout – No new batches of tickets will suddenly appear.
• To combat ticket bots – Bots move faster than any human can refresh.
• For hours or days after on-sale – Available tickets are mostly depleted.
• On a reliable stable website – Glitches that release more tickets are unlikely.
• During pre-sales – Those tickets are reserved for specific groups.

Again, focus your efforts on having an advanced ticketing strategy rather than hoping random refreshing will somehow find you tickets.

When Refreshing Could Potentially Help

Here are the limited scenarios where occasional strategic refreshing might aid you:

• Right as tickets initially go on sale – During potential website delays.
• During short-term presales – Trying for tickets just as each presale starts.
• In week leading up to event – Late release of extra production seats.
• On an unreliable ticketing platform – That is known to have glitches.
• On a nearly sold-out event – Grabbing last minute returned tickets.

But even in those cases, refreshing constantly is less effective than having a smart initial ticket buying strategy.

Refreshing Alternatives That Work Better

Rather than endlessly mashing your refresh key, here are some better options:

• Use multiple devices – Have friends/family help from their devices too.
• Queue early – Join ticket waiting rooms and queues as early as possible.
• Follow up later – Keep checking back for new ticket releases.
• Set up alerts – For notifications when tickets go on sale.
• Check pre-sales – Find presale codes to shop tickets early.
• Use ticket bots – Automated services shop tickets faster than humans.

Having a plan, diversifying your efforts, leveraging technology and persistence pays off more than pure luck from refreshing.

Key Takeaways

Here are the key points to remember when it comes to refreshing for tickets:

• Obsessive refreshing is rarely an effective strategy.
• Focus instead on having an organized ticket buying plan.
• Leverage technology like bots and alerts when possible.
• Be ready right at the on-sale time on multiple devices.
• Keep checking back for new releases as the event date nears.
• Use caution when purchasing through secondary resellers.
• Refreshing works best for unreliable ticketing platforms.

The Bottom Line

While the urge to compulsively refresh is understandable, it is not an optimal way to get hot tickets. Smarter alternatives like ticket bots, presales, and alert services offer a better chance. Have a plan in place, diversify your efforts, and keep checking back.

Strategic targeted refreshing has its very limited place, but random nonstop refreshing is just not an effective approach in the current age of online ticket sales.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does refreshing work to get tickets?

No, constant obsessive refreshing rarely works. It worked better in the 2000s before modern ticketing websites. Refreshing can occasionally help right when tickets initially go on sale if the website is glitchy. But nonstop refreshing after tickets sell out is futile.

Should I give up if I don’t get tickets at first?

No, you should not give up right away. Many tickets are scooped up immediately by scalpers but later resurface at lower prices as the event approaches. Persistence and regularly checking back can pay off.

What are the best tools for getting tickets?

The best tools are ticket bots that can purchase tickets faster than humans, ticket queue tracker browser extensions, presale code services, ticket alert services, and using multiple devices across friends and family.

Where else can I get tickets if initial sale doesn’t work?

Secondary reseller sites like StubHub and VividSeats are an option, as well as social media groups where fans exchange extra tickets. Also check venue and artist social accounts which sometimes release extra seats.

Should I use multiple devices when trying for tickets?

Yes, using multiple devices across family and friends is highly recommended. It gives you multiple chances across IP addresses and improves your odds. But just refreshing repeatedly on the same device is still unlikely to work.

Key Statistics

Statistics show that the majority of online tickets are purchased instantly by bots. Constantly refreshing gives little advantage over these automated services. While tempting, obsessive refreshing is largely an exercise in frustration when trying to buy popular tickets online.

Conclusion

Refreshing may feel like your only hope when hot tickets sell out instantly online. But constantly hitting refresh seldom works in the era of modern ticketing websites. A smarter strategy is needed – leveraging presales, special access, ticket bots, social media, and persistence. With the right planning, you can often eventually land tickets without relying on nonstop refreshing and sheer luck.