It can be incredibly frustrating when you’re trying to purchase tickets on Ticketmaster and the website gets stuck on the processing order screen. There are a few potential reasons why this might happen.
Heavy Traffic Overloads the System
One of the most common reasons for Ticketmaster getting stuck is simply heavy traffic overloading the system. When there is a big on-sale, especially for a very popular artist or event, huge numbers of fans are all trying to buy tickets at the same time. This sudden spike in traffic can cause delays and glitches that lead to the processing order screen freezing.
Ticketmaster’s servers are designed to handle large amounts of traffic. But extremely high demand during a rush can still overwhelm the system at times. Verified fan presales or other exclusives can also direct large numbers of buyers to the site simultaneously. When thousands of purchases are being processed at once, Ticketmaster may struggle to keep up.
Internet Connectivity Issues
Your own internet connection can also sometimes be the culprit behind a stuck processing order screen. If you have a poor wifi or mobile data signal, it may cause communication errors between your device and Ticketmaster’s servers. The site keeps trying to finalize the transaction but can’t complete the process without stable connectivity.
Using a weak or unstable network connection when buying high-demand tickets can make glitches more likely. If possible, try purchasing tickets on a computer directly connected to ethernet rather than over wifi. Using mobile data instead of public wifi can also help avoid connectivity problems.
Payment Processing Problems
Issues on the payment side can also lead to orders getting stuck when trying to finalize. If your credit card provider flags the transaction as potentially fraudulent, for example, Ticketmaster may get stuck waiting for payment approval. Using a new card, entering billing information incorrectly, or large purchase amounts can sometimes trigger fraud alerts.
Payment processing can also be delayed if Ticketmaster’s connection to their payment system is running slowly. Network congestion from heavy traffic may affect how quickly transactions go through. You may just need to wait a bit longer for the payment side to eventually catch up.
Browser Caching or Cookies
Your web browser’s settings can sometimes interfere with the Ticketmaster purchase process too. If your browser is overly aggressive at caching pages or cookies aren’t enabled properly, it can cause errors submitting transactions. Clearing your browsing data and cookies for the Ticketmaster site can help avoid issues.
Using private or incognito browsing when purchasing tickets may also help avoid problems from browser caches getting stuck. These modes won’t save cookies or site data that may be outdated or prevent orders from processing correctly.
Account Login Issues
Trying to purchase tickets while logged into a Ticketmaster account can also result in processing errors at times. If your account credentials are expired or your login session times out during the transaction, it may cause processing to freeze up.
You can try logging completely out of your account before attempting to purchase tickets again. Re-entering your newest login credentials can ensure your session stays active long enough to complete checkout.
Too Many Tickets in Your Cart
If you’re buying a large number of tickets, like for a group or season tickets, it’s possible to overload your shopping cart. Trying to purchase more tickets than are allowed in a single order can make processing get stuck. Simplifying your order by reducing the number of tickets may help tickets process correctly.
Splitting one large order into multiple smaller orders for fewer tickets each can also help avoid cart overload issues. Breaking up orders into separate transactions reduces the processing load when completing checkout.
Wrong Presale Code
Using an invalid presale code when purchasing tickets for an exclusive presale, fan club sale, or promo offer can also lead to stuck processing. If the code you entered isn’t recognized as valid for the event you’re ordering for, it may cause checkout difficulties.
Double check that you’re using the correct code for the specific presale you’re trying to access. Re-entering a valid code may allow your order to complete normally. Contact the event host or promoter if you can’t determine the right code.
Server Errors and Bugs
In some cases, glitches or errors with Ticketmaster’s internal systems can also get orders stuck. Server problems on their back end may prevent transactions from processing correctly. Uncommon bugs that affect order finalization could also be to blame.
These types of technical issues tend to be fixed quickly to restore smooth order processing. Trying again after some time has passed often resolves temporary system problems. Waiting until after peak ordering hours may also help servers function more normally.
Exceeding Purchase Limits
If you attempt to purchase more tickets than allowed for an event, you may hit a processing error. Ticket limits are in place to help prevent resellers from buying up all the seats. Trying to exceed these caps can interfere with orders going through.
Ticket allotments and limits can vary between different events. If your order is stuck, make sure you aren’t going over any posted restrictions. Splitting into separate orders or reducing quantities may help you stay within the bounds.
Too Fast Navigation
Moving too quickly through the Ticketmaster purchase process can also sometimes lead to checkout issues. Clicking rapidly through pages before each step fully loads may cause errors submitting orders.
Try taking things more slowly when buying high demand tickets. Don’t click ahead immediately after making a selection or entering info. Give each page a few seconds to process to avoid navigation getting ahead of the checkout process.
Troubleshooting Stuck Processing Orders
If your Ticketmaster order remains stuck on processing, there are a few troubleshooting tips you can try:
- Refresh the page – A simple refresh reloads stuck pages and clears any cached errors.
- Clear your browser cache – Remove old site files that may be interfering with processing.
- Try a different browser – Switch browsers in case your default has an issue with the site.
- Use a wired internet connection – Avoid wifi or mobile data instability interfering.
- Complete checkout as a guest – Skip logging into your account to prevent session issues.
- Remove some tickets from your cart – Reduce the number if you may have too many.
- Split your order – Break into multiple smaller orders instead of one large one.
- Call support – Talk to a Ticketmaster rep to resolve stubborn processing delays.
Contact Ticketmaster Support for Help
If you continue having trouble getting past a stuck processing screen, contacting Ticketmaster customer support is recommended. They can look into what is preventing your order from going through and resolve account, payment, or technical issues on their end.
You can reach their support team by phone at (800) 653-8000. Live chat and email contact options are also available. Providing as much detail as possible about your order and when it got stuck will help their troubleshooting efforts.
Their support team can also cancel stuck orders for you so that you can attempt repurchasing. Ticketmaster aims for at least 90% of support requests to be resolved on the first contact. So their help desk is a useful resource when transactions get hung up.
Be Patient and Keep Trying
The most effective way to work around Ticketmaster processing delays is being persistent. Keep trying periodically until your order goes through or the event sells out. While frustrating, order freezes are often temporary as traffic dies down or technical problems are corrected.
Processing gets queued, so orders don’t always complete on a first come basis. As long as your transaction is accepted initially, it should still go through eventually. Allow some time for Ticketmaster’s servers to catch up when under high load.
Set up a Ticketmaster account in advance and make sure your payment details are entered correctly to streamline the process. Use a strong, stable internet connection whenever possible. Be ready right when tickets initially go on sale to reduce competition and traffic jams.
With millions of tickets sold through the platform, delays are inevitable occasionally. But sticking with it usually results in successfully getting your tickets, even when processing gets stuck. As one of the largest primary ticket outlets, Ticketmaster remains the go-to option for sought after events and seats.
Conclusion
Ticketmaster getting stuck on processing orders is a common frustration, especially when popular event tickets first go on sale. Heavy traffic overloads, payment issues, technical glitches, and user errors are among the top causes of processing delays. But with some persistence and troubleshooting, orders can typically still be completed once problems clear up. Contacting customer support, trying again later, and checking your connection are a few ways to overcome stuck order screens.