Clallam County fair committee weighs Ticket Tomato online-ticketing amid fee and privacy concerns

The Clallam County Fair Committee heard a presentation and preliminary demonstration of an online ticketing option from Ticket Tomato, and members spent extensive time weighing consumer fees, data‑privacy limits and contract unknowns.

Chair opened discussion by noting the committee had met with a Ticket Tomato representative and liked the vendor’s security emphasis and lower consumer fees compared with prior options. Committee members praised the company’s analytics and the company’s offer to provide gate hardware and staff to operate a separate pre‑bought‑ticket lane so online purchasers would not wait in the cash line.

"My biggest concern was that that not apply to any volunteers or, like, 4‑H kids or their parents," the Chair said, pressing that the committee should avoid imposing additional charges on low‑income participants and unpaid volunteers. Committee members repeatedly asked whether discount tickets and season passes could be excluded from the per‑ticket fee.

Staff member said the vendor indicated it does not sell customer data. "They don't they don't sell data," the staff member said, but added that the county must confirm any data collection practices align with county rules on collecting private information.

Committee members also flagged the optics and affordability of a fee applied to cash buyers: according to the presentation materials, Ticket Tomato uses a small base charge plus processing fees. Staff summarized media‑kit numbers shown in the meeting: a service fee of about 10% and a processing fee the presenter listed at roughly 3.75%, which together would raise an adult season pass example from $36 to about $40.95 in the slide example. The vendor also proposed a $1 per‑ticket fee for certain cash transactions as a base system charge; committee members said even a small flat fee could be controversial for families and volunteers.

Several members said the committee should obtain more detailed written pricing and contract terms before recommending a vendor to the county commissioners. "We don't have to panic. We haven't signed anything," one committee member said, noting the contact was informational and that Ticket Tomato seemed more amenable to negotiation than a previously reviewed vendor.

Staff and IT reported current connectivity at the ticket booths is adequate and that the county’s Stripe‑based gate operations have handled credit‑card volume to date; staff said the ticketing vendor’s analytics could provide real‑time attendance and peak‑time breakdowns that the fair currently lacks.

The committee did not take a formal vote; members asked staff to gather contract terms, sample reporting outputs, and options to exclude volunteers, 4‑H participants, and certain discount tickets from fees. The issue will return for further review before any contract recommendation to county commissioners.