We'd like to use a credit card type gift card for our center. Does anyone use a system like this and, if so, does it interface with Tessitura?
At the Science Museum we do use gift cards. Unfortunately they do not interface with Tessitura though (shameless plug here!) we put in an enhancement request in the hopes it could be done. We were actually using the gift cards before our conversion to Tessitura and wanted to continue doing so as, not only can patrons redeem them for tickets, they can also use them in our store, parking ramp, and for food. Right now we process the gift cards (load value, redeem, check balance) on a hypercom. We then enter the payment into Tessitura and balance the 2 at the end of each day. This works ok but of course we would prefer to lose the hypercoms altogether. Here's hoping!
Ideally we’d like for the cards to be redeemed for tickets, food, parking, etc. Humor my ignorance please…what is a hypercom? A point of sale system? What vendor would I contact for information? Also, how icky is the reconciliation with Tessitura?
Jennifer Aprea
Ticketing Services Manager
Dallas Center for the Performing Arts
2100 Ross Avenue, Suite 650
Dallas, Texas 75201
214 954 9925 ext. 289
214 954 9936 (fax)
jennifer.aprea@dallasperformingarts.org
www.dallasperformingarts.org
From: Tessitura Ticketing Forum [mailto:forums-ticketing@tessituranetwork.com] On Behalf Of Kjersten Schladetzky Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 8:32 AM To: Jennifer Aprea Subject: Re: [Tessitura Ticketing Forum] gift cards
From: Jennifer Aprea <bounce-jenniferaprea3202@tessituranetwork.com> Sent: 6/1/2009 5:00:26 PM
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A hypercom is the little machine you use for credit card payments (swipe the card, it processes the payment through a phone line and prints out a receipt). We used them with our previous ticketing system since it did not support credit card payments. They are a bit costly so that may be an issue.
As for reconciliation how complex it is depends on how well you train your staff and how much gift card transactions you do each day. Most of the year we have no problems since we only process a few gift cards each day. Around the holidays it gets a bit more complex because we sell dozens of cards each day and if one person does it incorrectly it gets messy. Then accounting also has to do some backend work as well but I can't speak for how time consuming that is.
Our way of doing things is definitely a work around, but it gets us by!
HA! I haven’t had to work with one of those Hypercom machines in soo long. Totally forgot that’s what they’re called. Thanks! J
So, if we get a nice little card designed and printed up with a magnetic stripe, we can LOAD funds onto that card through the machine? Yes?
From: Tessitura Ticketing Forum [mailto:forums-ticketing@tessituranetwork.com] On Behalf Of Kjersten Schladetzky Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 12:22 PM To: Jennifer Aprea Subject: Re: [Tessitura Ticketing Forum] RE: gift cards
From: Jennifer Aprea <bounce-jenniferaprea3202@tessituranetwork.com> Sent: 6/2/2009 11:45:18 AM
Jennifer,
In our case, the value is not stored with the card, but with our processor, who charges fees for each transaction. The hypercomm stores individual transactions, but doesn't maintain the activations or balances. What the processor does is what Tessitura software does for gift certificates. But by working through a processor, other partners who are not using Tessitura can also accept or issue our cards. The fees are nominal.
One other factor to check is your state statutes; Minnesota recently passed a law that forbids expiration dates for gift cards, and also forbids fees for inactivity on them.
Ray