There are a few reasons why you may not see a barcode printed on your Ticketmaster ticket when purchasing tickets online or through the app. The main reasons are:
Mobile Tickets
Many major event venues and partners are moving towards mobile ticketing and digital tickets rather than printed paper tickets. With mobile tickets, instead of receiving a paper ticket in the mail with a barcode, you will get a digital ticket on your smartphone that you can access through the Ticketmaster app. The digital ticket will have a scannable barcode that can be scanned directly from your phone screen when you arrive at the event.
Using mobile tickets allows for contactless entry, reduced risk of lost or forgotten tickets, and helps cut down on paper waste. It also gives venues and event organizers more control over resales and transfers. So if you purchased a Ticketmaster ticket digitally and did not opt to have a paper ticket shipped, there will be no physical barcode because the barcode will be on your phone.
Print-at-Home Tickets
If you chose print-at-home delivery for your Ticketmaster tickets, you will need to log into your Ticketmaster account and print the tickets yourself on your home printer. Print-at-home tickets allow you to skip shipping fees and delivery waiting times. However, you are responsible for printing the tickets in such a way that the barcode is clearly legible for scanning. The barcode may look faded or blurry if your printer ink is low or misaligned.
Make sure to configure your printer settings for high quality output when printing tickets at home. Choose settings like “Photo Paper” and high DPI. Print on white paper stock rather than lower quality paper. Align the tickets properly and check cartridge levels beforehand. Smudged or blurry barcodes may fail to scan properly at venue entrances.
Partial Printouts
Sometimes when printing tickets at home, people accidentally print just part of the page or crop off edges where the barcode is located. This can happen if you choose incorrect print settings or print layout. Make sure the print area is large enough to fully capture the entire ticket with barcode when printing at home.
Also check that your paper is loaded correctly and you are printing actual size, full page prints. Cropped or partial barcodes will not allow entry, so check your printouts thoroughly to make sure the full barcode is present before heading to the event.
Damaged Tickets
In rare cases, the barcode section could become damaged, faded or defaced if paper tickets are improperly stored, exposed to moisture or heat, kept in a wallet long-term, or damaged during shipping. Make sure to keep printed tickets in a safe, dry place and avoid bending or wrinkling the barcode area prior to event entry.
If your paper Ticketmaster ticket barcode gets damaged in any way before the event, contact Ticketmaster Fan Support as soon as possible to explore options like reissuing the ticket. Provide details on how the damage occurred and they will assist you.
Counterfeit Tickets
Very rarely, people may be sold fake or counterfeit paper tickets by unofficial third party resellers that turn out to have invalid barcodes. This is one reason many venues are moving to mobile ticketing, to cut down on fraud. To avoid counterfeits, only buy tickets through official channels like Ticketmaster, the venue box office, or other authorized ticketing partners.
Scanning Issues
Once in a while, a valid barcode may fail to scan properly at venue entrances due to the scanner itself having an issue. This can happen if the scanner isn’t properly calibrated or has a hardware malfunction. Venue staff should have alternate scanners available to re-scan your ticket if you run into an issue with the scanner, as long as the ticket itself is legitimate.
Additionally, sometimes excess glare on the screen or barcode can interfere with scanning mobile tickets. Try angling your phone differently or moving to a shaded area if you have trouble getting a mobile ticket barcode to scan. Staff may also manually enter the ticket code if needed.
Incorrect Ticket Selected
If you purchased multiple tickets to an event, make sure you are selecting the correct ticket barcode in your Ticketmaster account or app when you arrive. Honest mistakes happen where people display a barcode for the wrong day or seat, so double-check you have the right ticket ready before lining up.
Expired Tickets
Ticketmaster tickets, both paper and digital, are only valid for a certain timeframe surrounding the event. Usually tickets expire shortly after the event ends. So you cannot scan old tickets from previous years or past events and gain entry. Make sure you are attempting to scan a valid ticket that has not expired.
Conclusion
In summary, the main reasons you may not see an expected barcode on your Ticketmaster ticket include: mobile ticketing, home printing issues, damaged tickets, counterfeits, scanner problems, selecting the wrong ticket, and expired tickets. To avoid any ticket barcode problems, purchase from authorized sellers, double check your selected ticket, take care of printed tickets, bring your mobile device charged, and contact support if anything looks amiss with your ticket barcodes ahead of time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my printed Ticketmaster ticket not have a barcode?
If your printed Ticketmaster ticket does not have a barcode, it likely means you accidentally printed only part of the ticket or cropped the barcode area. Make sure to check print settings and alignment to print the full ticket page showing the complete barcode.
Can Ticketmaster resend a ticket barcode?
If you are missing the barcode on an electronic ticket, Ticketmaster can resend the ticket barcode to your account email or mobile device. For damaged printed tickets, you may be able to get a refund and repurchase if time allows. Contact support right away.
What if my ticket won’t scan at the event?
If a valid Ticketmaster ticket won’t scan, show it to staff so they can manually enter the ticket code or try an alternate scanner. For mobile tickets, try moving to a shaded area, adjust your screen angle, or restart your device if the barcode is not scanning.
How can I be sure my ticket barcode is valid?
To ensure your Ticketmaster ticket barcode is valid, only purchase tickets through official Ticketmaster sales channels. When you receive a ticket, check that the seat, date, venue, and barcode appear correctly formatted.
Why does my old Ticketmaster ticket not work anymore?
Ticketmaster tickets are only valid for a short window surrounding the event date. Tickets expire shortly after and old ticket barcodes will no longer scan. Make sure you are attempting to scan a ticket barcode for an upcoming event.
Key Takeaways
- Mobile ticketing provides digital barcodes vs. paper tickets with printed barcodes.
- Home printed barcodes can have issues like low ink, cropping, or misalignment.
- Damaged, counterfeit, and expired tickets will not scan properly.
- Scanning problems can also arise from scanner errors, glare, or selecting the wrong ticket.
- Contact Ticketmaster for assistance if your valid ticket barcode is not working.
Table Comparing Ticketmaster Ticket Barcode Issues
| Issue | Description | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Ticket | No printed barcode because ticket is digital on smartphone | Scan mobile ticket barcode directly from device screen |
| Home Printing Error | Cropped, faded, or misaligned home printed barcode | Reprint carefully following proper settings and alignment |
| Damaged Ticket | Barcode damaged from moisture, heat exposure, etc | Contact Ticketmaster to reissue damaged ticket if possible |
| Counterfeit Ticket | Fake ticket with invalid barcode sold from unofficial reseller | Only buy tickets through official Ticketmaster sales channels |
| Scanner Error | Valid ticket failing to scan due to faulty scanner | Ask staff to try alternate scanner or enter code manually |
| Incorrect Ticket | Attempting to scan barcode for wrong date or seat | Confirm you are accessing the correct ticket barcode in account |
| Expired Ticket | Past event ticket no longer valid | Only attempt to scan tickets for upcoming events |
Understanding Ticketmaster Ticket Barcodes
Ticketmaster barcodes help provide fast, secure digital ticketing and entry for events. The unique barcode is linked to that specific ticket’s details including the event, date, seat location, and purchaser information. When scanned, the barcode pulls up those ticket details for verification, automatically allowing entry if the details match.
There are a few key things that make Ticketmaster barcodes reliable:
- Encrypted data – The barcode contains encrypted data that can only be decrypted by Ticketmaster systems, preventing tampering or counterfeiting.
- Unique identifiers – Each barcode contains a unique order number, ticket number, section number, row number, and seat number acting as identifiers.
- Real-time verification – The barcode links to Ticketmaster’s databases allowing real-time verification of ticket validity when scanned.
- Expiration – Barcodes are set to automatically expire shortly after the event ends.
Some other important facts about Ticketmaster barcodes:
- Both paper tickets and mobile tickets have scannable barcodes.
- Damaged, copied, or edited barcodes will fail verification.
- QR codes and RFID chips provide added security and contactless options.
- Venues use advanced barcode scanners linked to Ticketmaster’s system.
- Unique barcodes prevent duplicate entries or re-use of a ticket.
With Ticketmaster’s secure barcode system in place, fans can feel confident that their valid ticket will allow smooth, legitimate entry into events. Barcodes provide reliable automated verification that cannot be easily counterfeited or hacked.
Comparing Ticketmaster to Other Ticket Providers
As one of the largest primary ticket providers, Ticketmaster utilizes strong barcode technology to support secure ticket sales and verification. How does Ticketmaster compare to some other major ticket providers when it comes to barcodes?
StubHub
StubHub as a resale marketplace relies heavily on seller honesty and does not issue their own barcodes. Sellers must transfer genuine tickets with intact barcodes received from primary vendors like Ticketmaster. StubHub does guarantee valid tickets or refunds.
Vivid Seats
Similarly to StubHub, Vivid Seats is a resale site without their own barcode system. Vivid Seats allows transfers of authentic barcoded tickets from primary ticket sellers and also guarantees ticket validity.
SeatGeek
SeatGeek is a licensed resale platform where independent resellers list event tickets with barcodes from primary ticket providers. SeatGeek verifies listings but has fewer anti-fraud protections than primary sellers.
AXS
AXS is one of Ticketmaster’s main primary ticket competitors. Like Ticketmaster, AXS issues their own barcode verification using SafeTix technology to prevent duplication and allow digital transfers.
Eventbrite
Eventbrite offers customizable event management including ticket barcodes secured using TLS cryptography. Eventbrite barcodes allow for multiple re-entry scanning.
In summary, primary ticket sellers like Ticketmaster and AXS offer the most control over barcode generation, security, and verification. Resale marketplaces rely on transfers of legitimate primary barcoded tickets.
The Future of Ticketmaster Barcodes
What does the future look like for Ticketmaster barcodes and ticket technology in general? Here are some potential innovations.
100% Digital Tickets
Printed paper tickets will likely be disappearing completely in favor of mobile digital tickets. Digital barcodes reduce waste, costs, fraud, and hassles compared to physical tickets.
Facial Recognition
Facial recognition technology could allow ticket holder identification and entry using face scans instead of QR codes. However, privacy concerns remain an issue.
Blockchain Ticketing
Blockchain platforms like GET Protocol aim to eliminate ticket fraud by tracking initial ticket sales and any ownership changes on a tamper-proof distributed ledger.
Smart Chip Implants
Implantable RFID microchips like those from Walletmor allow contactless ticket barcode data to be stored under the skin. But adoption may be slow due to invasiveness.
Dynamic Updating
New tech like Apple’s Near Field Communication could enable dynamic barcode ticket updates such as seat upgrades, changing venues, or adding VIP perks.
Ticketmaster is likely to remain at the forefront of ticket barcode innovation. Any new developments will focus on tighter fraud prevention while improving convenience and flexibility for fans. Whichever technologies finally prevail, expect barcodes to continue playing a central role in live event ticketing for the foreseeable future.
