Ticketing FAQ

Why should I choose ETS over other companies?

Event Ticket Systems (Sanctuary Media Group) is a small, family owned business so you can be assured that you’ll get fast support and you’ll know the name of the person you’re calling or emailing if you need support or have a question. Our system features rival those of the larger, more expensive companies but our costs are much lower because we strive to reduce overhead and focus on running the best, web-based ticketing and fulfillment system available. ETS is a division of Sanctuary Media group and we have a long history of developing web-based applications and websites so we have the knowledge and experience necessary to get the job done right. Our goal at ETS is to design our system to put you in control. Once you signup, the system is completely customizable and available at your fingertips. There is no waiting to configure your account, setup your venue, setup events or to customize your seating, pricing or seating charts. Everything is available to you so you’re in control.

How much does your service cost?

We simply charge a small service fee that’s applied to each order that can be as low as .25 per ticket*. Your patrons will pay this small fee when they purchase tickets through your store or you can choose to absorb the cost yourself. This fee is in addition to any shipping and handling fees that apply. Generally there are no setup fees but you should review the information on our sign-up page here to get all the details.

* 6 month commitment required. We will honor a period of time for you to try out the system to make sure that you want to make this commitment and lock in at the preferred pricing level.

How do I get my money when someone buys a ticket?

You are always in control of your money. Unlike other services we do not handle credit card processing. We like you to get your money right away and retain control over your finances. Our service includes easy integration of credit card processors like authorize.net, 2checkout.com and Paypal, among others. If you’d like to discuss custom integration of your current credit card processor please contact us and we’ll be glad to discuss it.

Is there any way you’ll process credit cards for me?

No, we do not currently handle this service.

How does ETS get paid?

We charge a small service fee on every order as described above and this covers our costs to run the service. Each month we’ll send you an invoice for the amount required and you can pay by check or credit card. A $20 minimum applies. There are NO hidden fees.

How do my patrons get their tickets?

We have several flexible options available which allow you to choose the service that fits your needs the best. You can mix several options or choose just one. Current options include print-at-home, will call or postal mail. Event ticketing systems will manage all mailing and delivery of your tickets* or you may choose to print your tickets and provide fulfillment through your venue. *A small shipping and handling fee will be applied to the order.

How do you ensure that people don’t duplicate their print-at-home tickets?

The only way to guarantee that a print-at-home ticket has not been duplicated is to provide a unique bar code on each ticket and to scan each individual ticket at the gate to check for validity. This requires expensive wireless scanning equipment, a technical staff, a fast wireless network and wireless routers and repeaters placed throughout your venue.

Print-at-home tickets are ideal for small to mid-sized, reserved seating events. If you have a large general admission event we recommend using our will call system where you can distribute tickets at your event or send your patrons tickets that can be verified as authentic via postal mail. Or, you can simply just choose to trust your patrons. The cost of ensuring that every single ticket is valid far outweighs the fraud that might happen if you’re a small venue or event.

Our experience has shown that scanning tickets slows entry, adds layers of technical complexity, increases costs and in general is overkill because patrons who purchase reserved seating tickets will hardly ever duplicate them. If there is a rare case of fraud it’s easily solved. There will be a conflict at the seating location where the validity of the tickets can be checked by ID and order number at the box office.

For this reason we do not go through the expense of providing bar coded print-at-home tickets and the complex system, staff and expensive equipment necessary to support the scanning process at this time. Our available delivery options guarantee a speedy entry for your patrons and it allows us to keep our costs low.

In closing, if you are concerned about fraud or duplicated tickets at your general admission events we recommend using our will call system, postal mail delivery or simply trusting your patrons. There are also many other companies that provide ticket scanning services at a higher price if you are interested. Experience has shown us that the increased cost and complexity does not justify the effort for reserved seating events because fraud is rare

Can I sell sponsorships?

Yes, our system is setup so you can easily add sponsorship graphics to your print at home tickets and throughout your online store. Advertising on your online store is also tracked so you can provide your advertisers with click-thru data. Yet another way to cover the costs of selling tickets and increase profits.

Can you help me with online marketing?

Yes, our system is setup to gather contact information and email addresses from your patrons. As long as you are a subscriber you can use our unique Subscriber Manager system to build e-marketing campaigns and market future events and special offers to your past patrons. For more information about this part of the service please contact us.

Since ETS is a division of Sanctuary Media Group (an experienced web development and online marketing firm) we can help you manage your online marketing under one roof and that includes website design and development, SEO, pay-per-click management, powerful hosting and more.

What equipment will I need to provide this service?

Our system is completely web-based so you’ll need a computer and a connection to the internet. If you allow us to print and mail your tickets for you there is no other equipment required. If you choose to print your own tickets you’ll need to rent or purchase an approved ticket printer. Purchase prices start around $1200

Can I setup multiple venues and events within a single account?

Yes.

Does the system provide reporting?

Yes. We provide extensive reporting that can be exported and imported in Excel or Quickbooks.

Can I reserve seating for media, special guests, handicapped and comps?

Yes. You can set aside seats or entire sections and print a handy guest list from the system the night of the show.

Can I include an option to ask for donations during checkout?

Yes.

If I handle the ticket printing and mailing for my event can I include a shipping and handling fee?

Yes. You have complete control to assign shipping and handling fees to your orders. You may also opt to include an additional processing fee even if we’re handling the mailing. This can be used to cover any additional costs related to your venue and to cover our small service fee.

Can I auto-schedule events to go on sale on a particular date?

Yes.

Can I auto-schedule a date for discounts to start and stop?

Yes.

Can I customize the look of my tickets.

Yes.

How do I get to my store?

When you signup for an account you’ll have a unique URL for your venue store and a unique link to each event. It will look similar to www.eventticketingsystems.com/your-venue-name/your-event-name/

You’ll also have control to customize the look of your store by including an HTML header and footer. If you are knowledgeable about HTML you can easily wrap the store with your existing website design.

Still have questions? Please contact us!