Organizer guide: Understanding gift card fees, payouts, and reporting
Gift cards are a valuable sales and promotional tool that allow ticket buyers to purchase credits for future use at your events. As an Organizer, understanding how fees, payouts, and reporting work is essential to managing your revenue and tracking redemptions properly.
In this article, you will learn:
- What fees apply to gift card sales
- How gift card payouts are structured
- How to view gift card transactions in your reports
Fees charged on gift card sales
Gift card sales are subject to a processing fee of 1% + standard payment processing fees. These fees are deducted from the total value of the gift card at the time of purchase.
How gift card payouts work
Payouts for gift card sales are made in two stages to ensure proper fund allocation:
- Initial payout: 50% of the gift card value (less fees) is paid to your account when the gift card is purchased.
- Redemption payout: The remaining 50% is paid out when the gift card is redeemed by the ticket buyer during checkout.
This structure ensures funds are only fully paid out when they are actually used, helping to reduce the risk of unredeemed balances affecting reporting accuracy.
How gift cards appear in reports
- When a gift card is purchased, the Item Type in the Itemized Sales Report will be listed as "Gift Card".
- When a gift card is redeemed, the usage appears under Account Credit Type as "Gift Card".
This visibility helps distinguish between traditional purchases and credits applied via gift cards.
FAQs
Can gift cards be refunded?
No. Gift card sales are final and non-refundable. Ensure this is clear to ticket buyers in your event policies.
When should I expect the second payout?
The remaining 50% is disbursed as soon as the gift card is used during a qualifying transaction. It will appear in your payout for that event or sale cycle.
What happens if a gift card is never redeemed?
The unused portion remains on the buyer’s gift card balance indefinitely. It will not be paid out unless redeemed.
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