Okay, I haven't lost out on concert tickets - sold online - in more than a decade. I follow a simple procedure each time, and I always get in at the start of a sale. It doesn't help you get around presales and front of the line nonsense, but you get a fair opportunity to buy good tickets at ORIGINAL cost from the original seller. Perhaps this can help someone... Let's use Ticketmaster as an example.
Step 1) Set the clock on your computer to ATOMIC time. That's the time these sites use, and if you log in even 10 seconds after atomic time, you're toast. There are countless online sites that allow you to sync your computer to atomic time... find one, and do it 15 minutes before purchase time.
Step 2) Go to Ticketmaster and log in ten minutes in advance, and make sure your credit card information is up to date. DO NOT TRY to add credit card info AFTER selecting the tickets. It will often dump you out, or pass the tickets on to someone else and give you an error code.
Step 3) After logging in, go to the MAIN page and type your act into the search bar, BUT DO NOT HIT SEARCH until the atomic time hits the moment sales begin. I can not emphasize this enough, stay on the main page ( not the performer's page) and hit the search button the moment it hits 10am (for example.) If you do so beforehand you will get to the performer's page before sales start, and simply refreshing the performer's page does not work.
Step 4) Guess what... you're now near the front of the line. Choose your seats quickly. I recommend whatever number of "Best Available" and confirm your purchase, agree to stipulations and delivery method. Boom. You got good seats at regular price.
That's it, 4 steps. And as I said, I have not missed a concert in more than a decade. And I never sit in the upper bowl.
Good luck friends.
