Need tickets to see Pompeii ruins?

No need to purchase online. Simply buy the ticket that gives you access to the Pompeii complex at the ticket office when you arrive.

You may see all of the scavi (ruins) with a ticket. No need to pre-purchase them (not even sure that's possible) just buy them when you get there.

http://www.pompeionline.net/pompei-scavi/orari-e-informazioni-biglietteria

We used Rick's book too, and he has instructions for everything. He tells you about buying tickets and entering the (vast, huge, hot, sunny) site. There are no ticket checks once you are inside, only an occasional line, like for food, bathrooms, and seeing the Brothel.

Personally I would encourage the guide tour. You come a long ways, spend thousands of dollars getting and then bulk at spending and 30 or 40 dollars for a tour guide. We use Rick's tour books all the time but a guide just adds so much more to the experience. There is a limit to how much can be written for a walking guide and it cannot answer questions. We picked up an excellent tour guide at the front gate on arrival. I think we had him for two hours and then spent another three hours with the guide book.

doris,

As the others have mentioned, you can buy a ticket at the entrance to the Pompeii site. I agree with a previous suggestion on hiring a guide, as that will provide a much more interesting and memorable tour. You will no doubt be approached by several guides at the entrance offering their services, and there are others listed in the guidebook.

As others say you buy tickets there. I would also recommend a guide. Unfortunately we did not have one and missed a lot. When we were there it was not hot and sunny but raining. I don't know what's better (or worse).

Yes, get a guide. Even tho i had been there before, the crowds this last time astonished me. I had a guidebook but it would have been much easier with a human. Also, the guides knew which routes were one way- not well marked as you might expect and it is a large site. You could easily miss the significant bildings..

Out of curiosity, what did the private guides at the gate cost for 2 hours?
thanks.

I just want to make it clear, since it's only implied in the above replies: a ticket is required to see any of the Pompeii ruins. Without a ticket, you will see none of it. However, with the entry ticket, you can see all of it (it's not like some attractions, which have separate tickets for different sections).

Make sure to download Ricks audio through your App Store on your cell phone.
Don't forget to visit the Naples museum either!