The redemption of tickets refers to the process by which tickets, typically for an event, show, or transportation, are exchanged for the good or service they represent. When a ticket is redeemed, the holder turns in their ticket and receives the promised item or experience in return.
When are tickets redeemed?
Tickets are redeemed at the time the holder chooses to use them. For event tickets, this is usually when the ticket holder arrives at the venue on the day of the event. The ticket is scanned or collected, and the holder is admitted entry. Transportation tickets like plane or train tickets are redeemed when the traveler presents them to board or access the transportation service.
There are some cases where tickets can be redeemed ahead of time. For example, some venues allow ticket holders to reserve seats or experiences in advance. The tickets must still be presented on the day of the event, but redeeming them early guarantees the seats or add-ons. Early redemption can also apply to things like gift cards – the value is redeemed as the card is used to make purchases.
Why do venues issue tickets?
Venues issue tickets for several key reasons:
- To manage capacity – Tickets limit entry to the number of seats or spots available.
- To generate revenue – Ticket sales bring in money for venues, events, transportation services, etc.
- To control access – Tickets prevent gatecrashing and ensure only ticket holders can attend.
- For record keeping – Tickets provide numbers for attendance, sales, and other metrics.
- For convenience – Tickets allow easy confirmation of reservations and purchases.
By requiring tickets to be presented and redeemed for entry or services, venues can carefully manage everything from crowd size to profits. Tickets become a passkey to the event experience.
What does the redemption process look like?
The redemption process varies depending on the type of ticket, but some common steps include:
- The ticket holder arrives at the venue and locates the ticket collection point.
- The ticket is presented to the attendant or scanned under an electronic reader.
- The attendant verifies the ticket is valid for the event and accepts it.
- In some cases, the redeemed ticket is retained by the venue while the holder receives a voucher, wristband, or ticket stub in exchange.
- The attendee proceeds into the event space with proof of a redeemed ticket.
If there are any issues with a ticket, such as it being invalid, duplicated, or already redeemed, the attendant will notify the holder and resolve the problem before admitting them. They may be asked to present identification, purchase a new ticket, or denied entry if the ticket has been fraudulently duplicated.
Why verify and retain redeemed tickets?
Venues have a few key reasons for verifying and retaining redeemed tickets:
- Prevents reuse – Tickets are only good for one admission so must be retained to prevent re-use.
- Maintains capacity limits – Keeping redeemed tickets ensures venues don’t exceed room or fire code capacities.
- Allows attendance tracking – Retained tickets can be counted to monitor actual attendance.
- Provides accountability – The redeemed tickets create a paper trail evidencing purchases and revenue.
- Enables issue resolution – Retaining tickets allows any issues to be followed up on if needed.
Proper verification and retention of redeemed tickets is a key internal control for venues. It protects the integrity of the ticketing process and provides detailed data on sales and attendance.
What happens to unused tickets?
For tickets that are purchased but ultimately go unused, there are a few potential outcomes:
- Expiration – Tickets may expire by a certain date if unused, becoming void and no longer redeemable.
- Refunds – Some tickets can be returned for a full or partial refund prior to the event.
- Resale – Ticketholders may resell or gift unused tickets via ticket exchanges or informal resale.
- Donation – Venues sometimes allow unused tickets to be donated back for others to use.
- Waste – A ticket may go unused if it cannot be resold or refunded in time.
To reduce waste, venues encourage early refunds or exchanges and set lenient resale and transfer policies. But tickets do expire or go unused on occasion for inevitable reasons.
Are there any downsides to requiring tickets?
Requiring tickets for entry comes with a few potential downsides:
- Added cost – Purchasing tickets increases the total cost for consumers to attend events.
- Limiting access – Ticketing means some consumers may not be able to afford tickets to attend.
- Scalping risk – High demand tickets may be resold at inflated prices by scalpers.
- Counterfeiting – Fake or duplicated tickets can be a problem for high profile events.
- Restricts gifting – Some venues place limits on transferring or gifting tickets.
Venues need to find a balance between protecting their ticketing systems and making events accessible. Allowing reasonable resales and refunds helps improve consumer options.
Conclusion
In summary, the redemption of tickets is the process of turning in tickets to gain admission or services at a venue or for an event. Tickets must be verified as authentic and retained to control access, track attendance, and prevent duplication issues. While requiring tickets does have some downsides, it remains the most effective way for venues to manage capacity, generate revenue, and provide accountability. With reasonable resale and refund policies, venues can make ticketing work for both consumers and operators.