diff --git a/qa327/backend.py b/qa327/backend.py
index 78b6c62..50f0f96 100644
--- a/qa327/backend.py
+++ b/qa327/backend.py
@@ -49,3 +49,15 @@ def register_user(email, name, password, password2):
 def get_all_tickets():
     """Going to be implemented when /sell and /buy is implemented"""
     return []
+
+def buy_ticket(form):
+    '''buy a ticket, returns a message'''
+    raise "TODO"
+
+def sell_ticket(form):
+    '''sell a ticket, returns a message'''
+    raise 'TODO'
+
+def update_ticket(form):
+    '''update a ticket, returns a message'''
+    raise 'TODO'
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/qa327/frontend.py b/qa327/frontend.py
index da37f89..e74f61e 100644
--- a/qa327/frontend.py
+++ b/qa327/frontend.py
@@ -110,18 +110,21 @@ def login_post():
 
 @app.route('/buy', methods=['POST'])
 def buy_post():
-    flash('ticket bought successfully')
-    return redirect('/',303)
+    '''buy a ticket using the HTML form'''
+    flash(bn.buy_ticket(request.form))
+    return redirect('/', 303)
 
 @app.route('/sell', methods=['POST'])
 def sell_post():
-    flash('ticket sold successfully')
-    return redirect('/',303)
+    '''sell a ticket using the HTML form'''
+    flash(bn.sell_ticket(request.form))
+    return redirect('/', 303)
 
 @app.route('/update', methods=['POST'])
 def update_post():
-    flash('ticket updated successfully')
-    return redirect('/',303)
+    '''update a ticket using the HTML form'''
+    flash(bn.update_ticket(request.form))
+    return redirect('/', 303)
 
 
 @app.route('/logout')
diff --git a/qa327_test/conftest.py b/qa327_test/conftest.py
index 4ee7e86..febcd42 100644
--- a/qa327_test/conftest.py
+++ b/qa327_test/conftest.py
@@ -9,14 +9,17 @@
 import threading
 from werkzeug.serving import make_server
 
+# separate port allows tests to be run while hosting
+# actual app
+FLASK_TEST_PORT = 8082
 
-base_url = 'http://localhost:{}'.format(FLASK_PORT)
+base_url = 'http://localhost:{}'.format(FLASK_TEST_PORT)
 
 class ServerThread(threading.Thread):
 
     def __init__(self):
         threading.Thread.__init__(self)
-        self.srv = make_server('127.0.0.1', FLASK_PORT, app)
+        self.srv = make_server('127.0.0.1', FLASK_TEST_PORT, app)
         self.ctx = app.app_context()
         self.ctx.push()
 
diff --git a/qa327_test/frontend/geek_base.py b/qa327_test/frontend/geek_base.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..03b1dfe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/qa327_test/frontend/geek_base.py
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+from seleniumbase import BaseCase
+from werkzeug.security import generate_password_hash
+from qa327_test.conftest import base_url
+from qa327.models import User
+
+# Mock a sample user
+TEST_USER = User(
+    email='test_frontend@test.com',
+    name='test_frontend',
+    password=generate_password_hash('test_frontend'),
+    balance=140
+)
+
+class GeekBaseCase(BaseCase):
+    '''
+    Selenium base case with some
+    GeekSeek utilities
+    '''
+
+    def assert_flash(self, text):
+        '''asserts that message exists in flashes'''
+        for flash_dom in self.find_elements('.flash'):
+            if flash_dom.text == text:
+                return
+        raise AssertionError(f'Flash not found for text "{text}"')
+
+    def login_test_user(self, email=TEST_USER.email, password='test_frontend'):
+        '''login our test user'''
+        self.open(base_url+'/login')
+        self.input('#email', email)
+        self.input('#password', password)
+        self.click('#btn-submit')
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/qa327_test/frontend/test_r1.py b/qa327_test/frontend/test_r1.py
index 3f1b6e8..f178172 100644
--- a/qa327_test/frontend/test_r1.py
+++ b/qa327_test/frontend/test_r1.py
@@ -8,31 +8,16 @@
 
 from qa327_test.conftest import base_url
 from qa327.models import User
-
-# Mock a sample user
-TEST_USER = User(
-    email='test_frontend@test.com',
-    name='test_frontend',
-    password=generate_password_hash('test_frontend'),
-    balance=140
-)
+from qa327_test.frontend.geek_base import GeekBaseCase, TEST_USER
 
 INVALID_EMAILS = ['test_frontendtest.com', 'test_frontend@.com', 'test\frontend@test.com']
-
 INVALID_PASSWORDS = ['Pass!', 'password123!', 'PASSWORD123!', 'Password123']
 
-class R1Test(BaseCase):
+class R1Test(GeekBaseCase):
     '''
     Contains test cases specific to R1
     '''
 
-    def login_test_user(self):
-        '''login our test user'''
-        self.open(base_url+'/login')
-        self.input('#email', TEST_USER.email)
-        self.input('#password', 'test_frontend')
-        self.click('#btn-submit')
-
     def test_login_redirects(self, *_):
         '''see r1.1'''
         self.open(base_url)
@@ -71,7 +56,7 @@ def test_form_password_missing(self, *_):
         self.open(base_url+'/login')
         self.input('#email', TEST_USER.email)
         self.click('#btn-submit')
-        #leave password empty
+        # leave password empty
         message = self.driver.find_element_by_id('password')
         assert message.get_attribute('validationMessage') == 'Please fill out this field.'
 
@@ -81,7 +66,7 @@ def test_form_email_missing(self, *_):
         self.open(base_url+'/login')
         self.input('#password', 'test_frontend')
         self.click('#btn-submit')
-        #leave password empty
+        # leave password empty
         message = self.driver.find_element_by_id('email')
         assert message.get_attribute('validationMessage') == 'Please fill out this field.'
 
@@ -93,7 +78,7 @@ def test_email_rfc_specs(self, *_):
 
     def test_invalid_email_rfc_specs(self, *_):
         '''see r1.7 (negative)'''
-        #invalid email format
+        # invalid email format
         for invalid_email in INVALID_EMAILS:
             self.open(base_url+'/login')
             self.input('#email', invalid_email)
@@ -111,7 +96,7 @@ def test_password_complexity(self, *_):
 
     def test_invalid_password_complexity(self, *_):
         '''see r1.8 (negative)'''
-        #invalid password complexity
+        # invalid password complexity
         for invalid_pass in INVALID_PASSWORDS:
             self.open(base_url+'/login')
             self.input('#email', TEST_USER.email)
diff --git a/qa327_test/frontend/test_R2.py b/qa327_test/frontend/test_r2.py
similarity index 88%
rename from qa327_test/frontend/test_R2.py
rename to qa327_test/frontend/test_r2.py
index e2c7a69..8f0850e 100644
--- a/qa327_test/frontend/test_R2.py
+++ b/qa327_test/frontend/test_r2.py
@@ -4,54 +4,45 @@
 
 from unittest.mock import patch
 from werkzeug.security import generate_password_hash
-from seleniumbase import BaseCase
-from qa327_test.conftest import base_url
-
-import qa327.models
-
-# Defines user class to make testing more streamlined
-class User:
-    def __init__(self, email=None, name=None, password=None):
-        self.email = email
-        self.name = name
-        self.password = password
 
+from qa327.models import User
+from qa327_test.conftest import base_url
+from qa327_test.frontend.geek_base import GeekBaseCase
 
 # Defines test information
-TEST_USER_A = qa327.models.User(
+TEST_USER_A = User(
     email='test_frontend@test.com',
     name='test_frontend',
     password=generate_password_hash('Password123!', method='sha256'),
     balance=5000
 )
 
-TEST_USER_B = qa327.models.User(
-    email='test_frontend@test.com',
-    name='test_frontend',
-    password='Password123!'
-)
-
-
 VALID_USER = User(
     email='test_frontend@test.com',
     name='test_frontend',
     password='Password123!'
 )
 
-INVALID_USER_NAME_FORMATS = ['', 'test_frontend123!', ' test_frontend123',
-                        'test_frontend123 ']
+INVALID_USER_NAME_FORMATS = [
+    '', 'test_frontend123!',
+    ' test_frontend123', 'test_frontend123 '
+]
 
 INVALID_USER_NAME_LENGTHS = ['te', 'test_frontend1234567890']
 
-INVALID_USER_EMAILS = ['', 'test_frontendtest.com', 'test_frontend@testcom',
-                       '.test_frontend@test.com']
+INVALID_USER_EMAILS = [
+    '', 'test_frontendtest.com', 
+    'test_frontend@testcom', '.test_frontend@test.com'
+]
 
-INVALID_USER_PASSWORDS = ['', 'Pass!', 'password123!', 'PASSWORD123!',
-                          'Password123']
+INVALID_USER_PASSWORDS = [
+    '', 'Pass!', 'password123!', 
+    'PASSWORD123!','Password123'
+]
 
 MISMATCHED_PASSWORD2 = 'Password123! '
 
-class R2Test(BaseCase):
+class R2Test(GeekBaseCase):
     '''
     Contains test cases specific to R2
     '''
@@ -71,27 +62,6 @@ def register_test_user(self, *_):
         # Submits the inputted information
         self.click('#register-submit')
 
-
-    def login_test_user(self):
-        '''login our test user'''
-        # Opens login page
-        self.open(base_url+'/login')
-
-        # Logins in with user information
-        self.input('#email', TEST_USER_A.email)
-        self.input('#password', VALID_USER.password)
-
-        # Submits the inputted information
-        self.click('#btn-submit')
-
-    def assert_flash(self, text):
-        '''asserts that message exists in flashes'''
-        for flash_dom in self.find_elements('.flash'):
-            if flash_dom.text == text:
-                return
-        raise AssertionError(f'Flash not found for text "{text}"')
-
-
     @patch('qa327.backend.get_user', return_value=TEST_USER_A)
     def test_r2_1(self, *_):
         '''
@@ -100,7 +70,10 @@ def test_r2_1(self, *_):
         '''
 
         # Logs in user to
-        self.login_test_user()
+        self.login_test_user(
+            email=TEST_USER_A.email,
+            password='Password123!'
+        )
 
         # Opens the user profile page /
         self.open(base_url)
@@ -354,7 +327,7 @@ def test_r2_9(self, *_):
         assert self.get_current_url() == base_url+'/login'
 
 
-    @patch('qa327.backend.get_user', return_value=TEST_USER_B)
+    @patch('qa327.backend.get_user', return_value=VALID_USER)
     def test_r2_10(self, *_):
         '''
         10) Test Case R2.10 - If the email already exists, show message
@@ -398,7 +371,10 @@ def test_r2_11(self, get_user_function, *_):
         get_user_function.return_value = TEST_USER_A
 
         # Logs in user with newly registered user
-        self.login_test_user()
+        self.login_test_user(
+            email=TEST_USER_A.email,
+            password='Password123!'
+        )
 
         # Opens the user profile page /
         self.open(base_url)
diff --git a/qa327_test/frontend/test_r3.py b/qa327_test/frontend/test_r3.py
index 888d551..840704d 100644
--- a/qa327_test/frontend/test_r3.py
+++ b/qa327_test/frontend/test_r3.py
@@ -3,19 +3,9 @@
 '''
 
 from unittest.mock import patch
-from seleniumbase import BaseCase
-from werkzeug.security import generate_password_hash
 
 from qa327_test.conftest import base_url
-from qa327.models import User
-
-# Moch a sample user
-TEST_USER = User(
-    email='test_frontend@test.com',
-    name='test_frontend',
-    password=generate_password_hash('test_frontend'),
-    balance=140
-)
+from qa327_test.frontend.geek_base import GeekBaseCase, TEST_USER
 
 # Moch some sample tickets
 TEST_TICKETS = [
@@ -23,26 +13,11 @@
     {'name': 't2', 'price': '90', 'owner': 'geek', 'count': 3},
 ]
 
-
-class R3Test(BaseCase):
+class R3Test(GeekBaseCase):
     '''
     Contains test cases specific to R3
     '''
 
-    def login_test_user(self):
-        '''login our test user'''
-        self.open(base_url+'/login')
-        self.input('#email', TEST_USER.email)
-        self.input('#password', 'test_frontend')
-        self.click('#btn-submit')
-
-    def assert_flash(self, text):
-        '''asserts that message exists in flashes'''
-        for flash_dom in self.find_elements('.flash'):
-            if flash_dom.text == text:
-                return
-        raise AssertionError(f'Flash not found for text "{text}"')
-
     def test_login_redirects(self, *_):
         '''see r3.1'''
         self.open(base_url)
@@ -124,6 +99,7 @@ def test_update_form(self, *_):
         self.assert_element('#update-ticket-expiration-date')
 
     @patch('qa327.backend.get_user', return_value=TEST_USER)
+    @patch('qa327.backend.sell_ticket', return_value='ticket sold successfully')
     def test_sell_posts(self, *_):
         '''see r3.9'''
         self.login_test_user()
@@ -136,6 +112,7 @@ def test_sell_posts(self, *_):
         self.assert_flash('ticket sold successfully')
 
     @patch('qa327.backend.get_user', return_value=TEST_USER)
+    @patch('qa327.backend.buy_ticket', return_value='ticket bought successfully')
     def test_buy_posts(self, *_):
         '''see r3.10'''
         self.login_test_user()
@@ -146,6 +123,7 @@ def test_buy_posts(self, *_):
         self.assert_flash('ticket bought successfully')
 
     @patch('qa327.backend.get_user', return_value=TEST_USER)
+    @patch('qa327.backend.update_ticket', return_value='ticket updated successfully')
     def test_update_posts(self, *_):
         '''see r3.11'''
         self.login_test_user()
@@ -155,4 +133,4 @@ def test_update_posts(self, *_):
         self.input('#update-ticket-price', 'dont-care')
         self.input('#update-ticket-expiration-date', 'dont-care')
         self.click('#update-submit')
-        self.assert_flash('ticket updated successfully')
\ No newline at end of file
+        self.assert_flash('ticket updated successfully')
diff --git a/qa327_test/frontend/test_r7.py b/qa327_test/frontend/test_r7.py
index 700b2f0..98660da 100644
--- a/qa327_test/frontend/test_r7.py
+++ b/qa327_test/frontend/test_r7.py
@@ -8,31 +8,16 @@
 
 from qa327.models import User
 from qa327_test.conftest import base_url
+from qa327_test.frontend.geek_base import GeekBaseCase, TEST_USER
 
-#Mock a sample user
-TEST_USER = User(
-    email='test_frontend@test.com',
-    name='test_frontend',
-    password=generate_password_hash('test_frontend'),
-    balance=140
-)
-
-class R7Test(BaseCase):
+class R7Test(GeekBaseCase):
     '''
     Contains test cases specific to R7.
     Test only test the frontend portion, and will patch the backend
     specific values
     '''
 
-    def login_test_user(self):
-        '''login our test user'''
-        self.open(base_url+'/login')
-        self.input('#email', TEST_USER.email)
-        self.input('#password', 'test_frontend')
-        self.click('#btn-submit')
-
     @patch('qa327.backend.get_user', return_value=TEST_USER)
-
     def test_logout_redirect(self, *_):
         '''see r7.1'''
         self.open(base_url)
diff --git a/qa327_test/frontend/test_404.py b/qa327_test/frontend/test_r8.py
similarity index 56%
rename from qa327_test/frontend/test_404.py
rename to qa327_test/frontend/test_r8.py
index 1f8b587..08e78d2 100644
--- a/qa327_test/frontend/test_404.py
+++ b/qa327_test/frontend/test_r8.py
@@ -1,12 +1,18 @@
-import pytest
+from unittest.mock import patch
 from seleniumbase import BaseCase
 
+from qa327_test.frontend.geek_base import GeekBaseCase
 from qa327_test.conftest import base_url
-from unittest.mock import patch
 
-class Http404Test(BaseCase):
+class R8Test(GeekBaseCase):
+    '''
+    contains test cases for R8 requirements
+    '''
 
     def test_404_text(self, *_):
+        '''
+        verifies that our 404 page is actually displayed
+        '''
         # open home page
         self.open(base_url+'/randomtest')
         # test if the page loads correctly