How Exactly do I actually GET my tickets?

I'm supposed to leave LA to go to Edmonton on August 18,2011. Bought R/T ticket for $305; by time I charged it, fare was $426 + Ins for $25 = $451.  
This is the 1st time I've ever bought airline tickets NOT from the airline itself.  I assumed that I'd get the tickets from CheapOair, but today, when I read the fine print, I saw that even though they'd already charged my card, it said they did NOT guarantee the PRICE until I actually HAD the actual TICKETS. Departure = two flights with United; the two return flights are with Alaska. Since it's already Monday, I started worrying about how to RECEIVE the tickets.  I put this question into Google, and all of this stuff came up.  I don't believe it.  There's NOTHING on CheapO's site stating that we don't get the actual tickets from them, even though we Paid THEM! I've bought hotel tickets from Hotels,com,and they sent me the actual paperwork to use to check in. I didn't have to turn around and get my tickets from the actual hotel.  Why is this different???  When I had a travel agent, they are the ones who got me the tickets and delivered them to me.
This here is CRAP.  I do NOT want to call and get put on hold for who knows how long....
Maybe "R Andrews" from Customer Support at CheapOair can help me.

I just copied this company info here so I'd have it....
Randrews@cheapoair.com
Customer Support
866-636-9088

I STILL do not know how to actually retrieve my tickets... and I'm not a happy customer.

Thanks,

Judy