ⓘ This article is for Event Organizers
If your attendees want to come back after registering for your event to purchase add-on sessions, our system’s restriction on duplicate email entries through the same registration form can create a challenge.
But don’t worry — we’ve got you covered! Below are three effective solutions you can choose from. While all are viable, the best option may vary depending on your event's specific needs. Option 1 is generally recommended for long-term event clarity and attendee experience, but other options may be more suitable in certain scenarios.
🔧 Option 1: Create a Second Event (Recommended)
This is the cleanest and most efficient solution. By creating a second event used only for add-on purchases, you avoid altering your main event’s records while still giving attendees a smooth experience. However, note that this method may complicate accounting as payments are split between events and must be reconciled separately.
Steps:
Create a second event dedicated to add-on registration only.
Set up your add-on sessions:
If there’s only one add-on session, you can build it as the registration level.
If there are multiple add-ons, use a general registration level at $0, and then create the add-ons as separate purchase options.
Remove these add-on sessions from the registration levels, so they are available as purchasable sessions.
After attendees register in the second event, manually add them to their purchased sessions in the main event.
Why this is recommended: It keeps your main event's data clean and intact, which helps with reporting and support. It takes a bit more setup time but offers a better overall experience for attendees. Additionally, organizers should be aware of potential accounting challenges due to payments being split across events.
💸 Option 2: Use a Promo Code
If you'd prefer not to create a second event, you can allow attendees to re-register by using a promo code that discounts the original registration cost.
Steps:
Create a promo code that discounts the full registration amount (use a $ value, not a percentage).
Remove the attendee from all sessions they’ve already registered for.
Then remove the attendee from the event entirely via the attendee data table.
The attendee can now re-register, using the promo code to avoid duplicate charges, and purchase their add-on sessions. Ensure that the attendee uses a different email address when re-registering, as the platform uses email as a unique identifier.
⚠️ Be sure to remove the attendee from sessions first, or this can affect your event data.
💳 Option 3: Refund & Remove the Attendee
Another route is to refund the attendee, remove them from sessions and the event, and allow them to register again with their full registration and add-ons included. This approach ensures that attendee records remain clean, avoiding duplicate profiles and ensuring smooth access to the event platform.
Steps:
Refund the attendee from the Transactions tab.
Remove them from any registered sessions.
Remove them from the event.
They can now re-register, this time including any desired add-ons. This method avoids creating duplicate profiles and ensures a seamless experience for attendees using the mobile app.
⚠️ IMPORTANT: Always remove attendees from sessions before removing them from the event.
💡 Note: Credit card transaction fees are not refunded. This means the EO will absorb those costs from the original registration if choosing this option.
Still Need Help?
Reach out to our team anytime if you have questions on which solution is best for your event structure.
Converting Items to Add-Ons
If you want to offer items like tours or meal tickets as add-ons instead of separate registration levels, follow these steps:
Create the item as a session and mark it as a paid add-on session.
Attach the add-on session to the appropriate primary registration level.
Remove the session from being its own registration level.
This allows attendees to select the add-on during the primary registration flow.
Best Practices for Add-On Management
Plan Ahead: Clearly define which items or sessions will be offered as add-ons during the event planning phase.
Communicate Clearly: Ensure attendees understand the options available to them and how to add sessions or items to their registration.
Keep Records Clean: Use the refund and re-register method to avoid duplicate profiles and ensure smooth access to the event platform.