Ticketmaster error code 5005 is a common error that users may encounter when trying to purchase tickets on the Ticketmaster website or app. This error indicates that there was an issue processing the request due to high demand. Understanding what this error means and the steps to resolve it can help you successfully purchase tickets next time.
What Causes the 5005 Error?
The main cause of the 5005 error on Ticketmaster is high demand for a particular event. When a large number of users are trying to purchase tickets for the same event at the same time, it can overload the Ticketmaster servers. This results in some requests getting denied with the 5005 error due to the heavy traffic volume.
Specifically, the 5005 error occurs when the Ticketmaster servers are not able to handle the number of requests coming in for a high-demand event. The servers essentially become jammed up and are unable to process all the requests. When your request cannot be processed, you will see the 5005 error.
This is most common with major concerts, shows, and sporting events that have limited ticket availability. The scarcity of tickets coupled with the huge demand is what creates the issue on Ticketmaster’s servers.
Other potential causes include:
- Internet connectivity issues on your end
- An exceptionally large number of users accessing the site
- Errors with the Ticketmaster website or app
- Your payment information not being processed correctly
But in most cases, the root cause is simply the spike in traffic for a hot event exceeding Ticketmaster’s server capabilities. The best solution is to just keep trying until the demand dies down.
What Does the 5005 Error Message Say?
When you encounter the 5005 error on Ticketmaster, you will typically see an error message like this:
“We were unable to process your request. Please try again. If you continue to have problems contact us for assistance.”
This generic message does not provide much detail about the specific reason for the failure. It simply indicates your request could not be processed and asks you to try again later.
In some cases, you may also see additional text such as:
“There was a problem processing your order because there were too many people accessing our site. Please try again in a few minutes.”
This makes it more clear that high demand is the reason for the 5005 error. But the core message remains the same – your transaction could not go through, so retry again shortly.
How to Fix the 5005 Error
When you get the 5005 error on Ticketmaster, there are a few things you can try to resolve it:
- Refresh the page and try again – Sometimes a quick refresh is all you need to get a new server assignment that can handle your request when the traffic dies down a bit.
- Clear your browser cache – Cache buildup can sometimes interfere with the ticket buying process, so clearing it can help.
- Try again later – Since this error stems from too much demand, trying again in a few hours or the next day often resolves it by giving the servers time to clear out some traffic.
- Use a different device – If it still doesn’t work on your computer, try your phone or vice versa. Different devices connect differently and may have better luck getting through.
- Contact Ticketmaster support – If the error persists for more than a couple days, you may need to have Ticketmaster troubleshoot and resolve any account or technical issues.
The most effective fix is to just keep attempting your order until the initial rush has passed. Don’t rapidly click or reload constantly, as that can make the problem worse. But trying intermittently every 5-10 minutes should eventually get your order to process once demand decreases enough for servers to catch up.
Having patience and not waiting until the last minute is also key. If you try to purchase right when tickets go on sale, the site is overwhelmed. But waiting even just a few hours can greatly reduce errors from excessive traffic.
Tips to Avoid the 5005 Error
Here are some helpful tips to avoid dealing with the frustrating 5005 error when buying tickets on Ticketmaster:
- Use Pre-Sale Codes – Take advantage of pre-sales whenever you can. This gives you access to tickets before the general public, avoiding the initial surge.
- Stagger Your Requests – If trying for a group, have each person buy separately instead of all at once. Too many simultaneous requests can trigger the error.
- Queue Early – Log into the Ticketmaster queue 15-30 mins before tickets go on sale to get a head start over the crowd.
- Limit Your Browser Tabs – Only keep 1 Ticketmaster tab/window open. Too many can overload your browser and interfere with the process.
- Try Incognito Mode – The private browsing can sometimes help bypass errors by clearing cookies and cache.
While there is no surefire way to prevent the 5005 error during peak demand, these tips will greatly reduce your chances of encountering it.
Is the 5005 Error Temporary or Permanent?
The good news is that the 5005 error is always temporary. This means it is not a permanent ban or block from purchasing tickets. Since the error stems from server overload due to traffic, it is a very short-term issue.
Once the initial rush dies down and server capacity frees up, the error will go away on its own. So you do not have to worry about being permanently locked out of your Ticketmaster account or anything more serious.
In most cases, waiting a few hours is enough for the 5005 error to resolve and transactions to begin processing smoothly again. It may occasionally persist for up to a full day for the hottest events. But you can typically expect it to be temporary and sort itself out within 24 hours at the max.
So there is no reason to panic if you receive the 5005 error. Just be patient and keep trying periodically until tickets can be successfully purchased with no server capacity issues.
Does 5005 Error Mean Tickets are Sold Out?
Seeing the 5005 error does not necessarily mean tickets are sold out and no longer available. Since it is related to site traffic, it is possible to get the error even when there are still tickets left for the event.
The best way to check if tickets are still available is to open a private/incognito browser window and navigate to the event page. If you can still see ticket listings and quantities available, then they are not yet sold out.
You may just be getting the 5005 error because so many others are flooding the site trying to purchase tickets at the same time as you. But that doesn’t mean inventory has been fully exhausted.
So when you encounter a 5005 error, do not assume it means tickets are gone for good. There still may be some left that you will have a chance at once demand dies down and servers catch up.
Keep in mind that listings can sell out very fast, so continuous monitoring is recommended when running into the 5005 issue. But a 5005 error alone is not definitive evidence that no tickets remain.
Should I Keep Refreshing When I Get 5005?
When you receive a 5005 error, you generally do not want to continuously refresh or rapidly click around. While the natural instinct is to panic and repeat the process, that will typically make the problem worse in this case.
That’s because the 5005 error stems from too many people overloading the servers all at once. Flooding it with more constant refresh requests will only compound the demand issue.
Instead, you’ll have better luck if you exercise some patience. Wait 5-10 minutes and try again without frantically refreshing. This gives the servers some breathing room to recover and increases your chances of getting through.
You can also try refreshing just 1-2 times as a first step in case it was a temporary blip. But if the 5005 error persists, avoid aggressive refreshing. Stay calmer, give it some time, then attempt again in a few minutes.
Does Using Multiple Devices Help?
It is perfectly fine to use multiple devices simultaneously when trying to purchase tickets and running into the 5005 error.
In fact, this can often help resolve the issue faster. Different devices connect to servers in different ways, so switching between a computer, phone, tablet, etc. gives you multiple pathways to get your request through.
Just be careful not to have too many browsers or tabs open on any single device, as that can have the opposite effect. But utilizing 2-3 total devices and periodically rotating between them is an effective strategy.
You can queue up on a laptop initially. But then have your phone ready in case 5005 strikes on the laptop. Move over to rapidly try on your mobile device after running into issues on desktop.
Having multiple devices connected to Ticketmaster gives you more opportunities to take advantage of lucky timing and available server capacity as demand ebbs and flows.
Is There a Way to Guarantee Tickets?
Unfortunately, there is no foolproof way to guarantee getting tickets in high demand situations where 5005 errors occur. But there are some strategies you can use to maximize your odds:
- Leverage pre-sales and promo codes whenever available.
- Be ready and queued up 30+ minutes prior to the on-sale time.
- Use multiple browser tabs/windows/devices to increase chances.
- If possible, access via both desktop and mobile to have multiple options.
- Consider joining fan clubs or purchase programs like Ticketmaster Verified Fan when available.
- Buy immediately – don’t hesitate on your best offer or tickets may be gone!
Applying these tips will greatly improve your chances. But with limited inventory and huge demand, nothing can fully guarantee tickets. All you can do is use smart strategies to maximize your odds and don’t give up!
Should I Use Ticketmaster Verified Fan?
Ticketmaster Verified Fan can be a useful pre-registration system for high demand events where you anticipate heavy traffic and 5005 errors. It essentially helps manage demand spikes by screening users ahead of time.
To use Verified Fan, you register for a given event a few days before tickets go on sale. Ticketmaster then randomly selects those who can access the presale. This prevents all users from flooding the site at once.
Getting Verified Fan status does not 100% guarantee tickets. But it provides earlier access before the general public on-sale time. In many cases, this can help you avoid the worst 5005 errors.
The downside is that there is no guarantee you will be selected as a Verified Fan. But when available, it is typically worth registering if you really want tickets. Even if you don’t get chosen for the presale, you can still try general on-sale.
Is 5005 Error Due to Bots or Scalpers?
Ticket resale bots and scalpers purchasing large quantities of tickets are often blamed for errors like 5005. However, in most cases this is not the direct cause of the 5005 issue.
The core problem is simply a huge spike in traffic overwhelming Ticketmaster’s servers. This is primarily driven by large numbers of regular fans all hopping online simultaneously.
Bots and scalpers certainly contribute to high demand. But major on-sales would still crash servers due to ordinary fans even if bots did not exist.
That said, bots and scalpers snatching up large amounts of precious inventory does exacerbate the problem. It shrinks the pool of available tickets, making the error more persistent.
So while bots are not the root cause, their activity does add fuel to the fire and make resolving 5005 issues slower and harder for fans.
How Can Ticketmaster Prevent 5005 Errors?
There are a few steps Ticketmaster could potentially take to help minimize 5005 errors during peak traffic times:
- Upgrade server capacity to handle larger spikes in demand.
- Use waiting rooms or virtual queues to stagger ingress of traffic.
- Limit purchases to 4-6 tickets at once to slow large bulk buys.
- Employ reCAPTCHA or other bot-prevention measures.
- Offer more presales via Verified Fan to spread out demand.
- Provide a phone or text-based ordering option to reduce web traffic.
- Add load balancers to distribute traffic across more servers.
Realistically though, as long as there is limited inventory and events remain hugely popular, some degree of 5005 errors may be inevitable at peak times. No website can scale infinitely to handle millions of users instantly.
But upgrades like higher capacity, waiting rooms, bot prevention, and expanded Verified Fan could help minimize errors and speed up resolution when they do occur.
Conclusion
Error 5005 can be annoying and frustrating when you are excited to purchase event tickets. But it is a common and expected issue during high demand on-sales on Ticketmaster.
Understanding the temporary nature of the error, using tips to avoid it, and intelligently retrying your order are the keys to success. With persistence and patience, you should eventually be able to score your desired tickets.
Don’t panic if you receive the 5005 message and resist aggressively refreshing. Instead, clear your cache, switch devices, wait a bit, and retry calmly. This measured approach will serve you well in navigating the typical Ticketmaster traffic jams.
Stay calm, treat errors as temporary, and employ strategies like Verified Fan and presales when possible. With smart preparation, proactive troubleshooting, and a little luck, you’ll conquer error 5005 and get those coveted tickets in hand!