When you are trying to purchase tickets on Ticketmaster and see a message that says “Offer Passcode Required,” it means the event organizer has restricted access to those tickets using a passcode. This is usually done for presales or other special offers that are only available to certain groups of customers.
What are presales and passcodes on Ticketmaster?
Presales allow some customers to purchase tickets before the general public on-sale date. Presales give priority access to groups like fan club members, credit card holders, or subscribers to the venue or artist’s email list. To access a presale, you typically need to enter a passcode during the checkout process.
Passcodes are provided by the event organizer to restrict access to the presale. The passcodes are usually a word or short phrase. Without the correct passcode, you will not be able to access tickets during the presale window.
Some common places to find presale passcodes include:
- The event artist’s website or social media
- The venue’s email newsletter or website
- Fan club memberships or artist text messaging programs
- Credit card company offers (for cardholder presales)
- Radio station promotions
The passcode allows Ticketmaster to verify you are eligible for the presale before allowing you to purchase tickets. This helps prevent scalpers or other unauthorized people from buying up tickets before the general public has access.
Why does it say “Offer Passcode Required?”
When you are on Ticketmaster trying to purchase tickets and you get a message that says “Offer Passcode Required,” it means you are trying to access a special presale or offer that requires a passcode.
This typically occurs because:
- You clicked a link for a presale, special offer, or promo code that requires a passcode.
- You went directly to the Ticketmaster page for an event that has an active presale.
- You entered a presale checkout without having the passcode.
In any of these cases, Ticketmaster does not recognize you as someone eligible for those tickets because you do not have the required passcode. Therefore, it will not let you access the tickets and gives the “Offer Passcode Required” message.
How do you get the presale passcode?
If you see the “Offer Passcode Required” message, it means you need to get the correct passcode to access those tickets. Here are some ways to get presale passcodes:
- Search online – Presale codes are often shared on fan forums, band websites, or social media groups.
- Join fan clubs – Official fan clubs sometimes provide codes to members.
- Join email lists – Venues, bands, radio stations send codes to their subscribers.
- Check special offers – Your credit card company or other brands may offer passcodes.
- Wait for general on-sale – Tickets will be available without a code after the presale window closes.
Keep in mind that presale passcodes are usually time-sensitive and will expire after the presale window ends. The codes are also single-use and can only be used to purchase a limited number of tickets. If you find a presale code online, just be aware it may no longer work if the presale has ended or the code has already been used.
Can you purchase tickets without a passcode?
If Ticketmaster requires a passcode, there is no way to purchase those tickets without it. However, there are a couple options you still have:
- Wait for the general on-sale – Once the presale period ends, any remaining tickets will be available to the general public without needing a code.
- Try for a different section – Some areas like VIP or front row may require a code, while the rear sections may not.
- Look for regular tickets – If it’s just a certain package or promotion that requires a code, other ticket options may still be available.
So you may be able to still get tickets for the event if you are flexible on date, seat location, or ticket type. But for the specific tickets that say “Offer Passcode Required,” there is no way around needing the passcode to access them.
What to do if you can’t get a presale passcode?
If you don’t have the presale passcode and still want those tickets, here are some options:
- Ask the seller for the code – If you qualify for the presale, you can reach out directly to see if they will provide it.
- Check online sources – Fan forums or social media users will sometimes share codes publicly.
- Wait for general on-sale – You can try your luck purchasing then instead of the presale.
- Get codes for future events – Sign up for artist/venue newsletters so you won’t miss out again.
- Use a ticket broker – They may acquire codes and tickets to resell, but likely at higher prices.
Unfortunately without the actual presale passcode, there is no way around that Ticketmaster restriction. Your best option is to find the code online, qualify for presales in the future, or purchase from the general on-sale if available.
Why do presale codes exist in the first place?
Presale passcodes serve a few important purposes for event organizers and ticketing platforms like Ticketmaster:
- Manage high demand – Presales prevent all tickets selling out immediately during general on-sale.
- Reward privileges – Special access can be given to fan club members, credit card holders, etc.
- Reduce scalping – Passcodes limit resellers from buying up all tickets before regular fans.
- Promote offerings – Codes provide incentive for people to join email lists, use certain cards, etc.
- Collect data – Require fans to provide info for access to presales.
The coded system allows controlled access to manage inventory and create an optimal ticket buying experience for dedicated fans. So presale passcodes, while sometimes frustrating, are an important part of how the modern ticketing industry operates.
Key Takeaways
- Seeing “Offer Passcode Required” on Ticketmaster means you need a special code to access a presale or promotional ticket offering.
- Passcodes are provided by event organizers to control access, usually given to certain groups like fan club members.
- To get tickets that require a passcode, you need to obtain the actual code through official sources or fan forums.
- If you don’t have the code, you can wait for general on-sale, choose different ticket options, or purchase from a broker.
- Passcodes allow controlled access to high demand tickets and reward loyal fan bases with priority access.
Conclusion
In summary, the “Offer Passcode Required” message on Ticketmaster means you are trying to access a special presale or offer that requires a specific code to obtain tickets. These passcodes are provided by event organizers to control access and give priority to select groups like fan club members or credit card users. If you do not have the passcode, you will not be able to purchase those tickets. Your options are to obtain the code online or through official sources, choose different ticket selections not requiring a code, or wait until the general on-sale. While passcodes can be inconvenient, they serve an important purpose for managing ticket sales and rewarding loyal fan bases.