Shetland Box Office has been providing customers, promoters and companies with a very successful ticketing system since 2008, with over 45 organisations across Shetland now using the service. More than a third of all sales are now occurring via the 24-hour online ticketing system which provides customers with the opportunity to purchase tickets at times that suit them best, and this percentage is going up. As well as this, Shetland Box Office offers face-to-face and phone bookings seven days per week.

In order to cover the cost of running this service, from software licenses through to staffing and credit card charges, Shetland Box Office will be changing its charging system. Keeping in line with other leading ticketing service providers, from 1st July 2012, a service charge will be added to each online transaction sold through Shetland Box Office.

The charge of £1.50 will be levied irrespective of number of tickets bought. For face to face and phone sales a 50p transaction charge will be levied on all card sales (credit/debit cards etc). These charges will apply to all tickets bought online except cinema tickets. Shetland Arts will absorb the charges for cinema ticket purchases. Cash sales will not incur any charge. Postage rates will remain the same at £1 per order.

Lisa Ward, Marketing Officer at Shetland Arts, said: “In order to continue to deliver, as well as further develop, the best possible service that we can, we are introducing this new service charge. The introduction of this charge brings Shetland Box Office in line with other major ticketing service providers and will enable us to continue to provide the public with an exceptional 24 hour ticketing service across the Isles and beyond.”

Shetland Box Office is the result of a special relationship between Shetland Islands Council and Shetland Arts Development Agency. Shetland Box Office is based in Islesburgh Community Centre and can be reached on 01595 745 555 or at www.shetlandboxoffice.org

Read our letter to promoters and other users of Shetland Box Office here.