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RTS charges $600 per station per year.

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That must be your database computer?

The base charge for POS stations is $250/yr. There are additonal licensing fees for credit card processing and internet ticketing (only the database computer needs these "add-ons"), but you don't have to buy those items to make a good system. A single computer could do tickets, concessions and manage the database for as low as $250, though that's a lot to ask from a single station. Additional stations are $250/ea, and all "talk" to whichever computer you designate as the "database" (which also can be a sales station).

We chose not to keep our database downstairs. That turned out to be fortuitous, when our boxoffice system got ripped off.

RTS product/price pages
 

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Posted by Brad Allen (Member # 470) on 01-25-2004, 03:40 PM:
 
Mark, the basic RTS yearly fee is $250.00 per station per year.
Then optional additional $250.00 ea for Credit card server and Internet ticketing. The credit card and internet ticketing price is per location, per year, not per station.

The price of $1500 I quoted, was based on savings of Kevin not buying "two" LCD touch screens.

And on speed of keyboard ticket selling vs touchscreen....you can sell tickets to 3 times as many people with a keyboard than with a touchscreen in the same amount of time. This is based on the theatre having 6 or less screens. Over 6, then the touch wins.

Of course @ a concession station, touch wins hands down.

I tried Sensible Cinema couple of years ago, but decided not to buy it based on Rusty not answering emails with questions I had about it. And at that time, it had a horribly convoluted end of day close out procedure. I may have to check SC out again, as RTS tech support has been slipping the past yr. I think growing pains is taking it's toll.

Mark, where do you find LCD touch screens for $500.00.
I paid that for a CRT one. Inquiring minds wanna know.

Ian, what brand computer are you refering to when you say "$2,500 gets you the computer and touch-screen built in to one box that sits on the counter. It also comes with a card reader and a fingerprint scanner." Had not ran across one with a finger printer reader built in.

Jack, that is exactly why a daily data base backup gets emailed to my home office computer. Have you had any issues with the data base not residing on the ticket computer? I talked to Rob about putting the data base on back office computer, and he really was against it. But can't remember his reasoning.
 

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Posted by Rob Chabot (Member # 387) on 01-25-2004, 06:12 PM:
 
Touch Screens or Keyboards

All our new installs are using the touch screen interface. Some are using the mouse to sell initially. Training users on the touch screen is much easier and faster in most situations. Keyboard selling may be applicable in special situations. For instance if you have a limited number of ticket classes (adult, child, pass) and a small number of screens, it is possible to sell tickets faster with the keyboard assuming your ticket seller knows which title is in each screen without constantly scanning the keyboard.
When selling concession there is no comparison, touch screens should be used.

Brad,
The finger print reader is an optional add on. The unit that Ian is referring to is the PT4000 which is still available but has been replaced by a better offering.

As for the main database location.
I strongly suggest that the main database is located on the main ticket selling computer. Back office machine are usually used for many purposes. Running office applications, internet downloads, music sharing. We prefer to keep the database of the office machine due to windows reboots, reconfigured networking, viruses, etc. Also if your network hub in unplugged, I prefer to have the main ticket machine functioning with the database.

Jack,
Each machine on you network creates a backup of the database server every night. If your database server was stolen, we can restore your backup to another machine on the network in a few minutes. I’m not suggesting that you move your database server to the main ticket computer; everyone has a unique situation and must make their own determination.

Computer speed to a certain point is not a factor in picking the database server. Our file access functions are written in optimized assembler. That being said, I would not use a Pentium 90 for more than 4 stations, or a133 for more than 8.

Licensing Costs
Ticketing, Concession, or Dual $250 per selling station / yearly.
Internet Ticketing $250 per location / yearly + ticket fees
Integrated Credit Cards $250 per location / yearly

Back office software is free. All users receive 24 hour emergency support. I have three full time NETWORK CAPABLE technicians in addition to myself to make sure you theatre is operating.

We have approximately 400 locations in all 50 states, Canada, Australia, and US territories.

Hardware can be purchased locally or obtained though us.

Mark,
Are you still reselling Sensible Cinema?

Robert Chabot
General Partner
Ready Theatre Systems
http://rts-solutions.com
 

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Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 01-25-2004, 08:09 PM:
 
Actually I don't remember ever reselling it although GTS may have done that. Normally the customer deals with them directly for the software end of it. Its been a very good alternative to utilize. Considering its just one person, Rusty does a darn good job with support and assistance. You say have three techs for 400 screens in 50 states? Sounds like you're a bit understaffed to me. Which parts of what tech do you send both north and south at the same time? Parts of the other goes east and west then the last one sits and answers the phone....? Ok.
Mark
 

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Posted by Rob Chabot (Member # 387) on 01-25-2004, 08:45 PM:
 
Mark,

You are listed as a dealer on Sensibles web page.
So now I'm curious, are you a reseller/dealer now?

400 theatres not screens.
 

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Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 01-25-2004, 08:52 PM:
 
If we had a customer that wanted to buy it through us I would be happy to oblige and take care of them. I can't remember re-selling to anyone recently though. We have had several inquires lately for complete systems though. So far as I know CLACO has always been a dealer for Sensible Cinema as there are quite a few DOS systems still out and about that were sold long before I was there. Also, Sensible is not the only system I would consider using on a job, there are other software ticketing systems that do other things Sensible does not...such as reserved seating.

Mark
 

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Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 01-26-2004, 12:58 AM:
 

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Back office software is free. All users receive 24 hour emergency support. I have three full time NETWORK CAPABLE technicians in addition to myself to make sure you theatre is operating.

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Just curious, were you inferring that the people in that thread weren't "network capable"? I think you found the thread with the most "certified network capable" people in it.
 

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Posted by Rob Chabot (Member # 387) on 01-26-2004, 01:57 PM:
 

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Just curious, were you inferring that the people in that thread weren't "network capable"?

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Not at all. All good ideas.

I'm was surprised that a network issue like this was not solved with a call to tech support after the network dropped, instead of a message board as the software provider should be able to solve it almost immediately.
 

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Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 01-26-2004, 09:29 PM:
 
Rob, please edit your profile to include a city and state before posting again. Thanks.
 

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Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 01-28-2004, 06:43 PM:
 

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Jack, that is exactly why a daily data base backup gets emailed to my home office computer. Have you had any issues with the data base not residing on the ticket computer? I talked to Rob about putting the data base on back office computer, and he really was against it. But can't remember his reasoning.

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