Frequently Asked Questions

 

What makes Box Office Xpress special?

How do I get setup with Box Office Xpress?

What is a real-time ticketing system?

How does real-time Internet ticketing work?

What is an allocated ticketing system?

How are credit card transactions handled?

How are subscriptions sold?

How much does it cost?

What is a convenience fee?

How do I collect my money from Internet sales?

 

What makes Box Office Xpress special?

Box Office Xpress is a professional box office management and ticketing solution, with real-time Internet ticketing capabilities. In addition to simultaneous sales from the box office and for customers on-line, tickets can also be sold in real-time from remote outlets and kiosks. By not charging for the software, and only per ticket sold, costs become manageable. As has been the case since the very first Box Office Xpress ticketing system, a tremendous amount of work has been done behind the scenes, so that your experience is virtually effortless. You are in control of the administrative functions of Box Office Xpress, allowing you to add and edit events, pricing, seating configurations and so much more. Add in access control, and then finish it off with extensive reports that can be exported to accounting and MS Office applications, and you end up with a complete system (keeping in mind that this is just scratching the surface of what Box Office Xpress can do).

 

How do I get setup with Box Office Xpress?

We start off by creating a custom designed ticket sales center that matches and integrates into your existing website. There is no mention of Box Office Xpress (not even the URL). It is all private labeled for your organization. We build a seating plan that ties to your seat map image, so that staff and customers can click on the seats that they want. For secure sales, both on-line and in-house, your SSL & Payment Gateway is setup. This ensures safe, simultaneous ticket sales from all locations including your box office, website, outlets (remote locations), and kiosks.

First, VisionOne builds a custom-branded ticket purchasing site that seamlessly integrates into your existing website and uploads your seat maps for dynamic seat selection. Then, we setup your SSL and Payment Gateway for secure online and offline ticket sales. The result is simultaneous event sales from your box office, website, call center, and remote sales locations. Patrons can select their individual seats online, as well as from ticketing terminals or select from Best Available seats based on criteria you select for each performance. No matter what sales channel is utilized, all tickets are sold from the same database of available tickets.

 

What is a real-time ticketing system?

Real-time Internet ticketing allows for box office, and on-line purchases to occur simultaneously, utilizing the same inventory of seats/tickets (your entire venue). Customers can select the seats they want from a seating chart on-line and print their tickets at home. You can also (optionally) allow the customer to look at images of views to the stage from the various seating locations. Real-time also allows for ticket sales by remote box office locations and your own kiosks.

 

How does real-time Internet ticketing work?

While your box office staff are selling tickets at the venue, and/or from remote outlets elsewhere in the city (or anywhere), customers can select specific seats (or best available) off the website, or from ticket kiosks. Regardless of from where the tickets are sold or purchased, all tickets are sold from the same inventory (everything that is available for the venue).

To be clear ... There is no block of "allocated" tickets that are used for just Internet sales. People purchasing on-line are able to buy the same tickets/seats that are available for the box office to sell.

 

What is an allocated Internet ticketing system?

Allocated Internet ticketing is the process of allocating a block of seats, or quantity of tickets, that can only be sold on-line. While these tickets are available on-line, they cannot be sold at the box office, or any other location. On-line sales are usually stopped about 24 hours before the event so that the unsold tickets can then be sold through regular channels, such as the box office.

Box Office Xpress is not an allocated system, as it operates in real-time. If you are interested in sampling what Internet ticketing is like, please have a look at our allocated Internet ticketing service - the AdmiTix Ticket Centre.

 

How are credit card transactions handled?

You either need a merchant account from your bank, or we can set you up with a service. If using your own merchant account, just tell them to to web-enable it. All money collected goes directly into your bank account based on the settlement period your merchant account service has indicated (typically every evening).

 

How are subscriptions sold?

Generally the same process as a regular ticket. If you like, you may want to decide to print the tickets at the box office for subscriptions, as this seems to be the preferred method by most orgnaizations.

 

How much does it cost?

Box Office Xpress has an initial setup fee which purpose is to cover the real cost of a great many things (also keep in mind that all updates are free). The cost of using the program is based on a manageable per-ticket fee. This fee is custom quoted based on various factors such as venue size, level of activity, etc. We strive to keep your cost to a minimum, plus these fees can be passed on to the customer as an in-house service fee or a convenience fee.

We are one of the most established ticketing companies in existence. Unlike many ticketing companies, we have remained profitable and will continue to be so. Our fees are not outrageous by any means, and we keep them just low enough so that we can continue to remain profitable. This provides a level of ease and security, so that you will remain in good, sound and very stable hands.

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What is a convenience fee?

This is a small per-ticket price which you can charge your customer directly. Ordering on-line is an efficient process that is quick and easy, and will save your customer a lot of time and money. If your customer didn't purchase on-line, then they would either have to wait on the phone to order tickets, or worse, would have to drive to the box office. And, many people feel that Internet shopping is more comfortable due to its convenience. And for those that are still afraid of the Internet, nothing changes, because they can still contact your organization as they always have to order tickets.

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How do I collect my money from Internet sales?

You will require an Internet enabled merchant account. Money is deposited directly into your bank account - in just the same manner as your merchant services provider does with your current credit card transactions.