OGDEN — Weber State University is making it easier for people who buy WSU event tickets online or by phone to afford the purchase.
The $6 per order handling fee is officially gone.
“It applies to theater, dance, music, sports, all Weber State events,” said Chris Casquilho, Browning Center administrative director.
“Our feeling was that the fee deterred a lot of people, especially for lower-cost events, like performing arts tickets. A lot of tickets cost about the same as the fee,” Casquilho said.
In the past, a person ordering a single $7 ticket by phone or online would have to pay $13, for ticket plus handling fee. No handling fee was charged for tickets purchased at the door or in advance by going in person to campus outlets.
“We wanted everyone to access any of those tickets any way they want,” Casquilho said.
The idea was proposed by Jerry Bovee, WSU director of intercollegiate athletics.
“It just got to the point where I personally hated handling fees and merchant fees, nickeling and diming customers to death,” Bovee said. “It was a discussion we had, and we decided it was a good time to get rid of that. We are trying to use technologies to make purchases more convenient for our fan base.”
Bovee said handling costs will be absorbed by Weber State, as will the included fee charged to WSU by credit card companies. Bovee said ongoing negotiations with credit card companies help keep rates relatively low, and if more people start buying tickets online, it might be possible to cut costs associated with running box offices.
Asked how much Weber State collected in handling fees last year, Bovee said determining that number would be difficult because some of the money did go to credit card companies. His guess, he said, would be that WSU collected less than $10,000 in handling fees for all ticketed events last school year.
“If we can increase ticket sales and season ticket sales, it will more than cover any loss,” Bovee said. “Nobody likes to be nickeled and dimed.”
And there’s another new perk for people who purchase Weber State event tickets online, Bovee said. Now, purchasers can print out tickets to be scanned at the door or gate. In the past, those who did not purchase tickets in person had to wait in will-call lines to pick up the traditional tickets that would allow admission to a game or performance.
“For us,” Bovee said, “we are trying to sell tickets and please customers while moving forward in the digital age.”
He said Weber State also hopes to open a downtown Ogden location later this fall where people can go to buy event tickets. A store that will sell Weber State apparel and other goods is planned.
Weber State’s ticket website is www.weberstatetickets.com.
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