BlizzCon 2009 tickets go on sale May 16, and a second batch goes on sale May 30. In anticipation of high demand, we are introducing a new automated queue system to streamline the ticket-sales process and help ensure that purchases go smoothly. So that you know what to expect when ticket sales begin, here’s a brief rundown of how the system works:
1) Create a Battle.net Account
We highly recommend you create a free Battle.net account before ticket sales begin, if you haven’t done so already. Please make sure the payment information associated with the account is up-to-date by going to My Payment Options in Battle.net Account Management. Doing these things ahead of time will help speed up the purchasing process for you once tickets go on sale.
2) Entering the Queue
If a certain level of shopping activity has been reached on the Blizzard Store, you will enter a queue before you are able to check out and complete your purchase. The ticket queue allows controlled batches of visitors to smoothly purchase tickets on a first-come, first-served basis.
On the days BlizzCon tickets go on sale, you will be able to initiate a ticket-purchase request from a special streamlined ticket-sales starting page, which will be linked from our websites and forums. From this starting page, you’ll be able to select the number of tickets you want to buy from a drop-down menu, and then click a button to immediately enter the ticket queue.
If you don’t encounter a queue, you will be able to purchase the tickets immediately.
3) In the Queue
Once you’ve entered the queue, you will be redirected to a page which displays an estimate of the time remaining until you reach the front of the queue, along with a meter showing the percentage of ticket stock remaining, updated in real-time. Simply wait at this page (do not close the window or refresh your browser!) until you reach the front of the queue. Please note that being in the queue does not guarantee that you will have the opportunity to purchase a ticket. The system will inform you if tickets sell out before you reach the front of the queue.
4) Finalizing Your Purchase
When your number is called, it’s time to buy those tickets! You will have 15 minutes to finalize all details before your session times out and you are removed from the queue, at which point you would need to begin the process again. If you are unsure of any attendee information now, don’t worry -- you won’t need to provide this information until after the ticket purchase is finalized.
What is the Blizzard Store’s queue system?
The Blizzard Store’s queue system is designed to help streamline the purchasing process for visitors during periods of high demand. Whenever a certain number of store visitors are checking out simultaneously, additional visitors who attempt to check out will be added to a “wait list” on a first-come, first-served basis. While in this queue, the Blizzard Store provides you with regular feedback about the estimated wait time and the remaining quantity of items you are attempting to purchase. When you reach the front of the queue, you will be able to proceed to checkout and complete your purchase.
Why did you introduce this queue system?
The queue allows controlled groups of Blizzard Store visitors to finalize their purchases, helping ensure that the purchasing experience for everyone goes smoothly when high-demand items go on sale in the Blizzard Store.
If I am in the queue, am I guaranteed to be able to purchase all of the items in my cart?
No. Being in the queue does not guarantee you will have an opportunity to purchase an item, as it’s possible that the remaining stock will run out before you reach the front of the queue. While in the queue, you will receive regular updates about the remaining stock of items you wish to purchase, along with an estimate of the time remaining before you reach the front of the queue.
What Blizzard Store items will use the queue?
We will introduce the queue system when BlizzCon 2009 tickets go on sale. After that, you may encounter a queue for any item on the Blizzard Store whenever a certain number of people are making purchases simultaneously.
What is the “Estimated Time Remaining” that I see while in the queue?
This tells you approximately how long you have before you reach checkout and are able to complete your purchase (if stock is still remaining). The estimate you see is based on a number of factors, including the average time of recent transactions. The actual time you spend in the queue may vary from this estimate.
What happens when I reach the front of the queue?
When you have reached the front of the queue, a message will be displayed prominently to alert you, along with a link to proceed to checkout and finalize your purchase. If you do not click the link immediately, you will be taken to checkout automatically after a few moments.
How long do I have to finalize my purchase?
Once you reach the front of the queue, you will have 15 minutes to finalize your purchase. To help speed up the process, we recommend you have a valid Battle.net account (create one now!) with up-to-date payment information ready to go, as this will be required to make a purchase from the Blizzard Store.
