ASG Berge en Dale MTB fee a bit steep

[greatwhite]

So, if you go to the Spar, and the sterie stumpie is overpriced (you can make nesquik at home, the checkers down the road is much cheaper etc etc), do you feel a duty to voice your opinions publicly about this, or do you just choose an alternative option or none at all. If you don't like it, don't buy it, but why try and persuade everyone else that spar's sterie stumpie is too expensive.

So you have never told someone "go to xyz store instead, they are cheaper" or had someone say something similar to you?

 

Blind acceptance that the 'price is what the price is', and 'take it or leave it' is not a good idea. IMO, we, as country have a problem just accepting things instead of questioning and then trying to do something about it

 

Anyway, the OP was also asking if others were able to give reasons why?

[Patchelicious]

We all like questioning price, until our bosses question the price it costs to employ us.

 

He should be paying you what you are worth, the same goes for products, services and races.

 

If ASG races are a bit more expensive but they are still worth it, then do them, if the costs exceeds the value, then support the other guys.

 

As for the reason that ASG are more expensive, well there are a few factors. Without over stepping my bounds, they prefer to do everything themselves and this carries a cost. Where as other races often leverage the community and local clubs to help put on an event, and these services are done for free.

 

Gerald and the Germiston Wheelers involvement at Race4Victory is a good example. If you actually had to pay Gerald, Spidey and the rest of the guys that help the costs would go up dramatically.

[Blue Monster]

Lets not forget that we want the organisers to make a profit.  It they don't, they will stop offering events.  There are a few events that have fallen by the wayside over the years.

If there are budgetary concerns, be more selective with the events.  Choose the events that you enjoy, offer the best seeding opportunity etc.

[Skubarra]

 

As for the reason that ASG are more expensive, well there are a few factors. Without over stepping my bounds, they prefer to do everything themselves and this carries a cost. Where as other races often leverage the community and local clubs to help put on an event, and these services are done for free.

Gerald and the Germiston Wheelers involvement at Race4Victory is a good example. If you actually had to pay Gerald, Spidey and the rest of the guys that help the costs would go up dramatically.

 

I am involved in a midsize event hosted by a school, most of the organisers are either school staff or do it for free, on the day of the event we have 100's of volunteers helping for free, a number of loyal sponsors and not a cheap entry fee (as faithfully reminded by fellow hubbers every year) - but at the end of the day the profits from the event is fairly unspectacular. So much so that I'm convinced there must be far easier/efficient ways to raise money for the school.

 

tbh I'm not exactly sure how companies like ASG & Advendurance makes money from organising events given that they don't have access to small armies of free labour! imo it would not be possible unless they have big sponsors on board, entry fees only won't be enough.

 

Again, not saying every organiser gets their price right, but I do think there is a misconception out there about the costs of hosting events. I am also more picky nowadays about entering events as I can't afford to race every weekend anymore, but think a entry fee around R300 for a one-day (longish distance) event is about on par.

[Chris NewbyFraser]

So, if you go to the Spar, and the sterie stumpie is overpriced (you can make nesquik at home, the checkers down the road is much cheaper etc etc), do you feel a duty to voice your opinions publicly about this, or do you just choose an alternative option or none at all. If you don't like it, don't buy it, but why try and persuade everyone else that spar's sterie stumpie is too expensive.

Pursuade? No. Warn others? Yes. Especially when there is a nasty trend of many event fees going through the roof on an unjustifiable basis(when other events contain their costs). It almost smacks of collusion by organisers - something that is rife in South African business.

[arendoog]

If you play a round of golf at an average course and you are an affilited member ,that means you are a club member somewhere ,you will not get change for R500.0 At a premium course this will be around R1000 . This is still cheap compared to european courses .I will do an event once and go back if i think it was value for money ,if not ,adios amigo ! I do think that R150 for 15km event is steep .Personally i would not pay more than R80 for 15km event .This is not the way to grow an event,s numbers or attract new customers

[Patchelicious]

If you play a round of golf at an average course and you are an affilited member ,that means you are a club member somewhere ,you will not get change for R500.0 At a premium course this will be around R1000 . This is still cheap compared to european courses .I will do an event once and go back if i think it was value for money ,if not ,adios amigo ! I do think that R150 for 15km event is steep .Personally i would not pay more than R80 for 15km event .This is not the way to grow an event,s numbers or attract new customers

So how would you grow it then?

[Patchelicious]

Pursuade? No. Warn others? Yes. Especially when there is a nasty trend of many event fees going through the roof on an unjustifiable basis(when other events contain their costs). It almost smacks of collusion by organisers - something that is rife in South African business.

If one events company is increasing price, and the other company is containing it, it hardly sounds like collusion.

 

Why do you say the cost increase is unjustifiable?

[arendoog]

So how would you grow it then?

Future customers are the youth,s that don,t have an income yet .If a parent is racing their kid,s should get a discount .Golf courses always subsidize the youth members to get them playing .The kid,s are paying R10 per km .The racing snakes are paying about R3. Per km

[Patchelicious]

Future customers are the youth,s that don,t have an income yet .If a parent is racing their kid,s should get a discount .Golf courses always subsidize the youth members to get them playing .The kid,s are paying R10 per km .The racing snakes are paying about R3. Per km

So they should charge the older guys more to cover the subsidies for the younger guys?

[BigDL]

Pursuade? No. Warn others? Yes. Especially when there is a nasty trend of many event fees going through the roof on an unjustifiable basis(when other events contain their costs). It almost smacks of collusion by organisers - something that is rife in South African business.

I would be interested in understanding how you quantify your allegation that the fee rises are unjustifiable?

[GLuvsMtb]

I am a Capitalist at heart, I believe that the free market system is the best pricing regulator and that supply and demand should override any undue profit taking. There is no evidence of collusion with regards to cycling events, and the free market forces are largely at play in these events. The correct price is after-all X-R1, with X being the maximum price the capacity field is willing to pay. The more expensive established events become, the bigger the opportunity for newer players in this field, and this stimulates the growth we all talk of.