Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

FAQ Index

Ordering Questions

Why can't I buy just a single or odd numbered amount of tickets?
We normally stock an even number tickets because most customers are looking for an even number of seats. Because it is harder to find those looking for a single ticket, we generally won't break up a 4 pack to sell 3 tickets or 2 tickets to sell 1. If you are looking for an odd number of seats, and they are not available online, give us a call 888-887-4411; We may be able to assist you. Odd numbers are usually available for events that are general admission.

Once I've submitted the online order form, am I guaranteed the tickets I've chosen?
Not yet. First we must confirm with our contact that the tickets you want are still available. Once we receive confirmation we will contact you to confirm your order.

What if the tickets I order are no longer available?
In this case we can generally offer you tickets in a similar seating location at a similar price. You are not obligated to take the tickets if they are not in the exact location that you order. However, once you've agreed to tickets in a similar location and the transaction is processed you can no longer cancel.

When will my credit card be charged?
Your credit card is not charged until we have confirmed that your tickets are available or you have agreed to tickets in a similar location.

How long will it take before I receive my tickets?
Most orders are shipped within a day or two. If the event is more than a few months out and/or tickets haven't been printed, orders will be shipped by a mutually agreed upon date.

Once I place an order am I allowed to cancel?
You can only cancel the order if the specific tickets that you ordered are no longer available and you do not want the tickets offered in their place.

Security Questions

Is is safe to enter my credit card information at theticketmachine.com?
Absolutely. theticketmachine.com is dedicated to the privacy of customer information when purchasing online. Secure Socket Layers (SSL) encryption has been integrated into our site. SSL is used to encrypt all of your personal information. This includes your name, address, and credit card number. SSL is the industry standard and among the best software available to ensure secure commerce transactions. The process of encryption converts your personal information into bits of code that can be securely transmitted over the Internet.

Look for:
- The picture of the gold lock in the lower right part of your browser.

Ex:

- Look for the https:// in the beginning of your address bar.

NOTE:
If you do not see this at theticketmachine.com, YOUR INFORMATION IS STILL SECURE.

Why don't I see https:// or a browser lock when entering in my credit card information?
Even though your information is secure, there can be two scenarios where you will not see the 's' in the https:// or the "Lock" on your browser.

1. Our ticket inventory and order form may be displayed in a pop-up window.

You will not see the https:// here; the page is secure but the window is designed to only show content of the page. If you would like to view the full url, and display the https://, select the window and press "Cntrl" + "N" on your keyboard. This will open the existing page in a new window where the url can be seen.

2. Our ticket inventory and order form may be displayed in a frameset.

For ease of navigation and faster page loading, much of our inventory is displayed with the use of a frameset. The main frame of the page does not indicate that the page is secure; however, the frame that holds and sends your information is 100% secure. We always use a secure server when collecting personal information. If you would rather not enter in your credit card information online, give us a call toll free 800-279-4444 and we can process your order over the phone.

How can I tell if my browser supports SSL?
Most browsers are capable of supporting the SSL protocol and will automatically detect the presence of this protocol and convert to secure mode, which is indicated by the presence of either an unbroken, yellow key, or a closed, yellow lock on the bottom left-hand corner of the browser's status bar.

Questions About Ticket Brokers

Do brokers usually get tickets at "face value" or less?
On the contrary, brokers must usually pay over the face value to obtain their tickets. The better the seat and the more popular the event, the more a broker must pay.

Where do brokers get their tickets?
Brokers rely mainly on the general public to sell them tickets. Other sources are radio stations, musicians, coaches, players, corporations, other brokers, and occasionally the box office.

How do brokers determine how much to charge for their tickets?
There are a few main factors that brokers consider when pricing a ticket such as the cost of purchasing the ticket, the difficulty in obtaining it, and the established market value for seats in similar locations. Once prices are established, they will then fluctuate based mainly on supply and demand.

How do I know that I can trust what a broker is telling me in terms of the actual location of seats I'm considering buying or the true market value of those seats?
Regrettably there are a few individuals who call themselves brokers who deliberately misrepresent their products and engage in other questionable practices; however, due to the noble efforts of the National Association of Ticket Brokers and a few other well-respected organizations, these practices are being minimized. It is always wise when purchasing tickets from a broker who you have not previously done business with to look into what organizations they are affiliated with and to have them give you references. The Better Business Bureau and The Chamber of Commerce are other organizations that will not tolerate unscrupulous behavior by their members.

Ticket brokers refer to what they do as "providing a service". Can you elaborate?
The average working individual neither has the time nor the energy to spend innumerable hours on the phone or waiting in line attempting to purchase quality event tickets. Furthermore, even if one is fortunate enough to get through to the box office immediately after tickets have gone on sale, there is no guarantee they will obtain the quality seating they are in pursuit of. There are also cases in which events sell out in a matter of minutes or hours. For some events like the Super Bowl or Masters Golf, few if any tickets are ever made available to the public through an official box office. In cases like this, brokers serve as the only conduit for tickets to travel in reaching the average consumer.

I can understand a service charge but for some events brokers charge five to ten times over the face value. How can they justify this?
Remember, brokers have to pay quite a bit over the "face value" to obtain many of their tickets. Most brokers are law-abiding, hard working individuals who embrace capitalism and apply free market principles to make an honest living. Unfortunately, some people consider them "crooks" because they do sometimes charge a substantial amount over the "face value". When quality tickets for an event are no longer available through the box office, if demand dictates, a secondary market for those tickets is created. At this level, market forces very similar to the ones that influence the price of stock shares, oil, and other commodities are at play driving up or knocking down the price of tickets. In most cases brokers pay significantly more than the original cost to obtain quality seats for an "in demand" event.