Testing Loaded Tickets with Ticketmaster

A step-by-step guide for testing loaded tickets on a Ticketmaster program. Ticketmaster loaded value is delivered as a separate voucher QR code in the fan's Account Manager — that detail trips up most first tests, so read Step 4 before you start.

Prerequisites

Before testing, make sure:

Your Ticketmaster integration is active.
Your POS integration (Xenial, Shift4, etc.) is configured.
You have access to Archtics to create and sell test tickets.
You have an integrated POS terminal available for scanning.

Step 1: Configure a Loaded Ticket Type (Optional but Recommended)

Ticketmaster passes dollar values (AV amounts) through automatically, so tickets work without a type. Creating one gives you named reporting and lets you apply restrictions.

1. Go to Point of Sale > Loaded Tickets.

2. Click Add Loaded Ticket Type.

3. Fill in:

Name — e.g. "Test $10 Voucher". Required.
AV Amount — must match the exact dollar value configured in Archtics. Required, formatted plainly, e.g. 10.00.
Description — optional.

4. Leave Enabled ticked and click Create Loaded Ticket Type.

Note: If Ticketmaster sends a $10 voucher but you set up an $8 AV Amount with restrictions in Fanmaker, the restriction won't apply to that barcode — the amounts have to match for the type to claim it.

AV Amount must be unique. Barcodes match a type by exact amount, so two types can't share a value. When they do, the admin shows a warning banner on the type's barcode page.

Note: There's one Loaded Tickets page in the admin, and it adapts to your program's ticketing provider. On a Ticketmaster program the value field is labelled AV Amount; TDC and SeatGeek programs label it Amount and match on a rule instead.

Step 2: Configure Archtics / Ticketmaster

Work with your Ticketmaster rep to confirm Added Value (AV) is set up correctly on your test tickets.

1. Create a test event, or use an existing one.

2. Make sure the tickets are sold into a test account. Barcodes that are only created, not sold, will not sync.

3. Verify the AV amount is attached to the ticket record.

Step 3: Verify the Barcode Sync in Fanmaker

1. Go to Point of Sale > Loaded Tickets.

2. Use the Date picker to select your test event date, or click that day's bar in the seven-day chart.

3. Confirm your test barcodes appear. The Loaded Ticket Types table shows counts and totals per type; Action > View Barcodes on your test type lists the individual barcodes with their Initial Value, Spent, and Balance.

Sync schedule: Fanmaker pulls Ticketmaster AV barcodes hourly. On days with an event in the sync window, retrieval steps up to roughly every two minutes.

Tip: If a red-tinted Unmatched Loaded Ticket row appears at the bottom of the types table, your barcodes arrived but their AV amount doesn't match any type you've set up. View Barcodes on that row to see the values that came through.

Step 4: Locate the Voucher QR Code

This is the most common point of failure in testing. Fans — and testers — often try to scan the entry ticket barcode at the POS.

1. Log into the Ticketmaster Account Manager as the test fan.

2. Open the ticket for the event.

3. Find the Voucher QR Code. It's usually a static QR code below or alongside the rotating entry barcode.

Note: The rotating entry barcode will NOT work at the POS. Only the static voucher code carries the loaded value.

Step 5: Test at the POS Terminal

1. Go to your integrated POS terminal.

2. Add items to a transaction.

3. Scan the Voucher QR Code as the payment method.

4. Verify:

The value is deducted correctly.
Any SKU or Location restrictions are enforced.
The transaction appears in the Transactions chart on the Loaded Tickets page, and in Point of Sale > Transactions.

Troubleshooting

Barcodes Not Appearing

Sold status: ensure the tickets are sold into an account. Fanmaker does not ingest unsold inventory.
Archtics config: verify with Ticketmaster that the AV data is included in the DSN feed.
Prefixes: if you share a DSN with other teams, make sure your event name includes the required team prefix (e.g. AAA0402).
Wrong date: the page always opens on today. Check the Date picker is on the event date.

Rejected at the POS

Voucher vs. ticket: make sure you're scanning the static QR voucher, not the rotating entry barcode.
Type disabled: a switched-off type carries a disabled pill next to its name in the table.
POS restrictions: check the loaded ticket type isn't restricted to a different POS system or location.

Zero Value Displayed

If the barcode exists but shows $0, check whether the AV amount sent by Ticketmaster matches the AV Amount on your loaded ticket type. Barcodes that match no type land in the Unmatched Loaded Ticket row instead.

Need Help?

Contact [email protected] with:

Barcode number
Event date
Expected AV amount