Dang Expensive
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1369 days
Anton posted 48 weeks ago.
"Shouldn't that come out of the event directors pocket for using their system?"
ROTFLOL! Like THAT will ever happen!
Look, we really only have ourselves to blame. We love this sport and promote it. We create web sites that make it seem really cool. TV networks show a one hour show with great music and make it all look easy (to paraphrase Macca.) Then we wonder why races sell out or are overbooked and wonder why the folks that own the rights to these races jack up the price...because they can and people will pay it. Actually...I'm kind of sick of the rampant commercialism connected with it all. It's not about your desire anymore...it's about your wallet.
"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
My Blog: http://agingsuperhero.blogspot.com
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Sully800 posted 48 weeks ago.
The worst part is that they tack the registration fee onto the end, when you've already decided to register and filled everything else out. They should be required to show up front what the true cost of registering is going to be. And if needed, the race director should have to pay the registration fees and then charge 10 or 15 more bucks for the race. But at least then you'd actually know what you were paying for from the start >:O
The fees in this sport are outrageously expensive. I don't mind the fact that you need to spend lots of money to get nice equipment, but when the absolute base fee to enter a sprint race is $50 it really is only about your wallet. And when you get into longer and better races you easily spend a few hundred just to put yourself through hell. Thats a crime!
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jugg3rnaut posted 48 weeks ago.
Hey, just a comment
Its actually not that bad, look at what you get, each gift bag at any minor race is worth at least 20 dollars and I do not know, but I am assuming as you rise in the ranks (ironman) that those gift bags are even better. Plus they have to pay for hydration, and nourishment of the athletes, and the volunteers. and the volunteers do such an amazing job setting up and cleaning up after we finish using the facility, they have to pay for the rental and disposal of portapotties and I imagine renting a beach, some water, and some of their roads isn't the cheapest thing out there. They have to purchase the bike stands, and signs, barriers, and blockades, vehicles and spare parts as well as servicing stations.
be glad its not more, I am satisfied just as long as the prices don't get too out of hand.
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566 days
Iron Dan posted 48 weeks ago.
I'll see you at Boise.
I have never understood why they need to ask you all the personal questions. You basically need to tell your life story in order to register.
Also, Jugg3rnaut, it is not the cost of the race we are complaining about it is the fee that active charges on top of the cost of the race and then the fee because it is a USAT sanctioned race. They hit you with $25 worth of fees that they do not tell you about ahead of time. When you calculate only the U.S. HIM races, assuming there are 1500 participants at each, which I think is fairly reasonable event though I have not looked at the capacity of every race, the fee active charges totals over $250,000. This is not money that goes into making races any better, this is money that active gets to charge you for the honor of doing business with them.
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Tribro posted 48 weeks ago.
True. It's those extra fees I'm talking about. I don't have a problem with the race fees, most of the races are put on veyr well and the cost is understandable, tho expensive. it's the 15% additional fees tacked on and all the marketing questions. then the numerous email "offers" active sends out :) just seems the guys making the profits should pay the fees not us, or at least include it in the price so it's not a frustration after the 3rd page of registration...
427
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440 days
Sully800 posted 48 weeks ago.
The only solution is revolution!
Perhaps pressuring race directors to host race registration in a different format would in turn cause Active to reduce the fees they levy against us?
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armyjive posted 48 weeks ago.
Beware of the Top Ramen. I am a Correctional Deputy and inmates who live off of Top Ramen for expended periods of time typically gain a lot of weight. There is a lot of sodium in each packet. They are tasty and cheap, but they can do a number on your health...
~Chris
~Go hard or go home - Chris Loranger
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4949
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beads1985 posted 47 weeks ago.
If you go to active and want to add an event to register it gives you the fee structure, which is based on the event fee.
From Active:
The contract includes accepting the processing fee that covers the cost to fulfill the registrations. This charge is for services like taking and maintaining registration data on our registration systems and providing customer service. It is applied to the entire order. There is a $3.00 minimum per registration per person. The processing fee can be charged to the participant when they register online or can be absorbed by your organization.
Fee Structure:
Registration fee: Processing fee:
$0- $150 6.5% plus $1.00
$150.01 $500 3.5% plus $5.50
$500.01 and up 2.5% plus $10.50
Basically the fee for the event goes up depending on the cost to enter the event.
The registration process doesn't change much from a $10.00 5k to a pricey IM event.
Active just provide convenience, and unfortunately if you want to get into and event in a timely fashion you will be left out in the cold with a mail in registration.
Nothing to it, but to do it
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2427 days
Tribro posted 47 weeks ago.
hmm. interesting. so Ironman chooses to make the participant absorb the fees. $200-$500 isn't enough for them to take the hit :D
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kylie posted 47 weeks ago.
I *think* (but don't quote me on it) that I read somewhere that the guy who runs active is also a big part of the IM business family. Not sure though, but it does make some of it make a bit of sense...
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Tribro posted 47 weeks ago.
kylie wrote:
I *think* (but don't quote me on it) that I read somewhere that the guy who runs active is also a big part of the IM business family. Not sure though, but it does make some of it make a bit of sense...
ya. Mike Reilly, the Voice of the Ironman. you know... the guy that says "You ARE an Ironman!" is a founder and VP of Active.
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danaz posted 47 weeks ago.
I TOTALLY GET WHAT YOU ARE SAYING!!! I have such issues with this extra charge. I do a lot of different events (marathons, 1/2 marathons, tri's) and that stinkin' fee pisses me off every time. I usally search the events website in hopes I can print the registration form and mail it in (like we did before computers) but I have only been able to do that once.
I'm glad to hear that I'm not alone in this frustration!
dana
453
Member
506 days
stewarba posted 47 weeks ago.
Tribro wrote:
ya. Mike Reilly, the Voice of the Ironman. you know... the guy that says "You ARE an Ironman!" is a founder and VP of Active.
Well I was going to chalk this up to no competition against Active and that Tribro should look into it, but with Mike Riley and IM behind Active I doubt anyone would stand a chance.
Pain is the sensation of weakness leaving the body!
Man, not sure why it's always a shock how expensive this stuff is... :) Just went through registration for Boise... $15+ processing fee? $10 USAT fee? man this stuff adds up fast. And why does Active charge the end user for processing? shouldn't that come out of the event directors pocket for using their system? Is it free for event directors but customers get charged for them to use it? Seems backwards. iTunes doesn't charge me close to 10% on top of an album cost, they take their cut from the entity making the profits. sorry always to need rant when spending $200+ dollars in a monopolized system... :)
So, now to get back to training... albiet on top ramen and grilled cheese sandwiches for a while... :D
btw, not necessary to require so many questions to be answered during the reg process. local newspaper? television market? do your own demo research...