Outrageous Fees
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Member
281 days
wirebook posted 24 weeks ago.
Even worse is the Active Advantage crap. Why do you pay extra only to be charged those additional processing fees you speak of?
The fee's are out really stupid - include them in the cost of the race if you must.
-Ray
Tri Blog: Http://dcrainmaker.blogspot.com
1168
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89
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Joe_H posted 24 weeks ago.
you can still mail in your application and run the chance your race isn't sold out in 34 minutes :(
181
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248 days
psychosyd posted 24 weeks ago.
wirebook;86475 wrote:
Even worse is the Active Advantage crap. Why do you pay extra only to be charged those additional processing fees you speak of?The fee's are out really stupid - include them in the cost of the race if you must.
something like 26$ for IM. Silly!!!
137
Member
526 days
TriOnLife posted 24 weeks ago.
"Processing Fees" are just a total scam. I expect they represent what the company that provides the computer platform and software charges the RD but as noted, just figure out the fee/registrant and bake it into the cost of the race. Or better yet - give a t-shirt OR a visor but not both. How much swag do we need?
Active Advantage is a joke and a half. They offer the same discounts you can get a hundred other ways and they offer a whopping $2 off the price of registration. You have to do 25 races to get your money's worth. Absurd. I'm really surprised anyone pays for that.
Sincerely,
Ms. Cranky Pants ;-)
- A 21st Century Mom who is tri-ing to get better instead of just getting older
555
Member
366 days
Iron Dan posted 24 weeks ago.
I think a majority of the processing fees is that they are trying to get back the money that the credit card charges them for the sale. However, I about hit the ceiling when I saw what they were when I signed up for a HIM using active. My local races are about a $2 processing fee, Active was about $20. This is a joke, when it gets to be that much, they definitely need to build it into the price of the event.
137
Member
526 days
TriOnLife posted 24 weeks ago.
Credit Card companies charge 2% to 3%. $26 on $500 goes well beyond that. I'm sure Active charges the race for the listing and the registration process, maintaining the database, sending the confirmation, getting the data to the RD, etc. That's what the RD should either bake into the race fee or eat as part of the cost of doing business. Actually, I suspect it saves them a bundle over managing all that themselves so really they should just enjoy the extra margin they get and quit screwing the racers. :-)
- A 21st Century Mom who is tri-ing to get better instead of just getting older
555
Member
366 days
Iron Dan posted 24 weeks ago.
The problem is that it will never change as long as races keep filling up. If I, as a business owner, was able to charge a fee and still have my races fill up fast, I would continue to do it or even raise the price of the fees.
This does not mean that I don't think that the fees are excessive or that they should be at least posted before you get to the end of registering before they nail you for $25. But the fees will not change until people stop doing races because of them.
However, I still reserve the right to be able to complain about them.
1458
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1341 days
PrinceofClydes posted 24 weeks ago.
Isn't it time we started banding together and negotiating a group rate?
Of course, if we get a big enough group we can just start our own race.
PoC
"Pain heals, chicks dig scars, glory is forever." - Shane Falco.
2377
Member
1169 days
Anton posted 24 weeks ago.
PrinceofClydes;86551 wrote:
Isn't it time we started banding together and negotiating a group rate?Of course, if we get a big enough group we can just start our own race.
PoC
And you can be the RD, POC!
"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?"
- Vincent Van Gogh
My Blog: http://anton.trifuel.net
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Iron Dan posted 24 weeks ago.
I don't want POC to be the race director, we would have to race it in the nude. :D
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Brad Nicholson posted 24 weeks ago.
...my two cents: after volunteering at a few races i realize that most are lucky to break even - with tons of free labor. that being said i still hate paying big time fees, especially third party graft like above.
192
Member
772 days
Sling posted 24 weeks ago.
Brad Nicholson;86555 wrote:
...my two cents: after volunteering at a few races i realize that most are lucky to break even - with tons of free labor.
That's very true. My wife works for a race outfit, and very often they LOSE money, and if they do make money, the margins are usually very small.
I know it's easy and tempting for us to gripe, but they have an awful lot of costs that most of us don't even think about: permits, equipment, labor, police, race officials, insurance, etc.
It takes a heck of a lot to put on a race. Volunteer at a few races, and get to know your RD's. I think a lot of people might be surprised. I worked several races and a marathon this past year, and I have a whole new appreciation for the people who put on these events.
Speed hurts; how fast do you want to go?
1287
Member
1207 days
brittda posted 24 weeks ago.
Active is simply getting an administrative cut for handling the registration (someone has to do it), The people who maintain the website need to be paid, etc. Then the RD does not have to get volunteers to handle the process manually. I don't have a problem paying the fee, but I would feel better if it were just a flat fee or if I knew what the percent would be upfront. I generally get sticker shock, esp after my last IM registration. You know it's coming, you just don't know how much:eek:
Honestly, its the nearly 500$ for the race not the 20$ active fee I have a hard time chocking down
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994 days
sldotter posted 24 weeks ago.
I was a little pissed at IM this year when you feel like you pay all this money and then waiting in line to pick up the packet you are FORCED to buy a USAT insurance! what a load! It wasn't that much money but getting a lady to come down the line and say you have to pay ten more dollars or you can't get to race kinda hit me the wrong way
Trevor Douglas YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!
I'm sure Trifuelers are accustomed to forking over a large portion of their paychecks for tri gear and race entry fees. Spending Money is really the 4th discipline of triathlon.
What I don't get is the insane processing fees we are also faced with. I was just charged $9.42 as a processing fee for online race registration. Online registration is more convenient for all parties involved, and yet we are charged nearly $10 to take advantage of it? That's just a scam :(
/rant