Cashless Payment System at Music Festivals
jasonbouchard88
Posts: 369
On Thursday, October 10, I bought a 2-day ticket to go to an Electronic Dance Music Festival called Digital Dreams at The Flats @ Molson Canadian Amphitheatre on June 28 & 29, 2014. Yesterday, I found out on their website that they will use a new system called the Cashless Payment System. This is what it says:
"CASHLESS PAYMENT SYSTEM
A new cashless payment system will be used for the festival, making it easier and faster for service, helping to dramatically reduce line-ups, as well as, allowing for greater safety and security.
Upon receiving your wristband or main festival site you will be directed to register your account and “load” credit onto your RFID wristband online or at any of the top-up stations which can be done with cash, credit or debit cards. A nominal service fee will be charged on all top-up transactions.
Top-up stations will be located at the entrance as well as through the festival grounds.
At the point of service customers will have their RFID chip scanned where the POS system will automatically deduct the value of their transaction, and the terminal screen will inform the customer of their remaining balance."
I asked about it on the Facebook page of Digital Dreams Festival and here are the responses:
"All transactions on site will be done with your wristband. You will see a screen showing what you are agreeing to buy and to accept the charge. It will also show your balance. You can pre-load your account at home or do it on site - this is the only method of payment and is becoming the norm in many large festivals across North America to speed up service and avoid long lines for customers. All money on your account is returned to your bank account or credit card at the end of the event - we don't keep any of YOUR money unless you purchase something from us. Also keep in mind that your account is technically NOT on your wristband - your wristband is just a numbered key linked to an online account. This is obviously much safer than being on the actual wristband which could be damaged or lost."
Also:
"Lots more info on that system in the coming weeks and months but suffice to say it will dramatically improve wait times and efficiency for all transactions on-site."
I think it's great if everything goes according to plan. Have some of you already gone to music festivals with cashless payment system? If so, what did you think? And those who went to big festivals that didn't have that system, would you be interested of having it?
"CASHLESS PAYMENT SYSTEM
A new cashless payment system will be used for the festival, making it easier and faster for service, helping to dramatically reduce line-ups, as well as, allowing for greater safety and security.
Upon receiving your wristband or main festival site you will be directed to register your account and “load” credit onto your RFID wristband online or at any of the top-up stations which can be done with cash, credit or debit cards. A nominal service fee will be charged on all top-up transactions.
Top-up stations will be located at the entrance as well as through the festival grounds.
At the point of service customers will have their RFID chip scanned where the POS system will automatically deduct the value of their transaction, and the terminal screen will inform the customer of their remaining balance."
I asked about it on the Facebook page of Digital Dreams Festival and here are the responses:
"All transactions on site will be done with your wristband. You will see a screen showing what you are agreeing to buy and to accept the charge. It will also show your balance. You can pre-load your account at home or do it on site - this is the only method of payment and is becoming the norm in many large festivals across North America to speed up service and avoid long lines for customers. All money on your account is returned to your bank account or credit card at the end of the event - we don't keep any of YOUR money unless you purchase something from us. Also keep in mind that your account is technically NOT on your wristband - your wristband is just a numbered key linked to an online account. This is obviously much safer than being on the actual wristband which could be damaged or lost."
Also:
"Lots more info on that system in the coming weeks and months but suffice to say it will dramatically improve wait times and efficiency for all transactions on-site."
I think it's great if everything goes according to plan. Have some of you already gone to music festivals with cashless payment system? If so, what did you think? And those who went to big festivals that didn't have that system, would you be interested of having it?
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Comments
London 2013 "The Dundas Hookers on Crack" Show
1) You have to wait in one line, which was always packed and long, to upload money onto your card. You basically have to know how much you are going to spend so that you don't have to wait in that line. On the positive the actual beer line was short.
2) Major negative here, which I bet they don't tell you on your festival website beforehand, is: you have to pay a convenience fee of $2.50 EVERY single time you add money to your band. This is not refundable and is a total BS charge. Basically, you have to pay to upload money onto your wristband, which is a service that you probably don't even want to use. If you want one beer, you will pay the beer price plus $2.50
My suggestion: ask that you can get any unused money refunded at the end of the festival. At squamish this was a little known fact so I paid more $2.50 charges then I should have. So, put on alot of money the first time you charge up your wristband. Any unused amount get refunded at the end of the festival