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Race number print @ home


Sam Laidlaw

  

45 members have voted

  1. 1. WOULD YOU PAY OF A PRINT @ HOME FEATURE FOR RACE NUMBERS?

    • YES
      36
    • NO
      9
  2. 2. HOW MUCH WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO PAY?

    • R15
      25
    • R25
      12
    • R30
      8


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Posted

Do you really think these two are comparable?

Yes, because this is being done to increase profitability. If I print my own number, I want a discounted entry fee.

 

Registration and number collection should be available to entrants on the day of the race, so no need for an extra trip just to collect your race number. 

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Posted

Yes, because this is being done to increase profitability. If I print my own number, I want a discounted entry fee.

 

Registration and number collection should be available to entrants on the day of the race, so no need for an extra trip just to collect your race number. 

Oh, I thought they were doing it to lower profits and run at a loss. Golly, I have this business thing all wrong!!

 

So let me get this straight, you want them to increase the convenience factor for you and discount it more for you too, when they don't actually have to do either as races are usually pretty full in the first place. Do you understand that if you demand more registrations tables on the day of event that there could be an impact on price too? Or should they do that for free too?

Posted

Oh, I thought they were doing it to lower profits and run at a loss. Golly, I have this business thing all wrong!!

 

So let me get this straight, you want them to increase the convenience factor for you and discount it more for you too, when they don't actually have to do either as races are usually pretty full in the first place. Do you understand that if you demand more registrations tables on the day of event that there could be an impact on price too? Or should they do that for free too?

No worries, I can see you have this business thing all wrong. I will try and clear it up, but I don't expect too much.

 

I don't want them to do anything except offer a race no that I have already paid for - it is fully covered in the entry fee. If there are more tables needed, then that would have been covered in the entry fee as well. I don't understand what you think I am implying that I want for free? If they don't print me a race no, and there are no extra costs such as more tables (haha), then I want to pay less, because there are no expenses for them there.

 

How can lower input costs directly lead to a higher selling price, and an increase in profits? They are lowering their costs, and then making me pay more for something that they should have covered with the original, "lower" cost? I guess I'm with you, we both don't get this business thing.

 

Just on a practical side - which material do you suggest the "print at home numbers" be printed on? Normal white paper?

Posted

No worries, I can see you have this business thing all wrong. I will try and clear it up, but I don't expect too much.

 

I don't want them to do anything except offer a race no that I have already paid for - it is fully covered in the entry fee. If there are more tables needed, then that would have been covered in the entry fee as well. I don't understand what you think I am implying that I want for free? If they don't print me a race no, and there are no extra costs such as more tables (haha), then I want to pay less, because there are no expenses for them there.

 

How can lower input costs directly lead to a higher selling price, and an increase in profits? They are lowering their costs, and then making me pay more for something that they should have covered with the original, "lower" cost? I guess I'm with you, we both don't get this business thing.

 

Just on a practical side - which material do you suggest the "print at home numbers" be printed on? Normal white paper?

That entry fee that you "already paid for" think a bit about how they arrived at that entry fee price, dont reply just think a bit first... seems to me that you simply accept that without understanding the underlying contributing factors, what if they increased all the prices and then simply said "free number printing" seems you wouldn't even know. 

 

As for the type of paper? I dont know dude, thats a different point, I wasn't presenting this as my solution, I was answering the question that I would be ok with paying for the EXTRA CURRENTLY NOT INCLUDED convenience of printing my own numbers, that was until you came along and asked if we are going to charged for not taking food.

 

If you aren't ok with paying for the extra service thats fine, but please dont think that moronic statements can be made with impunity..... charged for not taking food LOL

Posted

How about instead of asking me X amount for printing my own board on whatever paper floats your boat - give me the option to buy a permanent number board - Once off collection for the year or 3 (not sure how long the embedded chip can last), and at each race I can collect my batch sticker IF this changed from previous seeding.

This way I only need 1 maybe 2 tables for seeding stickers.

 

As for entry to starting chute, you have your permanent board on your bike, walk over a timing mat and if no entry is recorded for your number - enjoy the rest of your day on the side lines. No board, no ride. 

 

You can check your registration/confirmation 2 days before the race online to ensure all is set and you are ready to go.

This reduces number collection frustrations/costs/overheads.

Posted

How about instead of asking me X amount for printing my own board on whatever paper floats your boat - give me the option to buy a permanent number board - Once off collection for the year or 3 (not sure how long the embedded chip can last), and at each race I can collect my batch sticker IF this changed from previous seeding.

This way I only need 1 maybe 2 tables for seeding stickers.

 

As for entry to starting chute, you have your permanent board on your bike, walk over a timing mat and if no entry is recorded for your number - enjoy the rest of your day on the side lines. No board, no ride. 

 

You can check your registration/confirmation 2 days before the race online to ensure all is set and you are ready to go.

This reduces number collection frustrations/costs/overheads.

Agree here, this is the best solution at the moment (in my opinion). No problems.

Posted

I think it should be free because it would lower the admin side of collections.

Very simply you could print a QR code on each number which could be scanned quickly before the start of the race. That would quickly show if there were duplicates etc.

At the same time as you print the code you could confirm registration so it removes that side of things too.

It would be super simple to setup, Im pretty sure I could knock a system out in 20 mins to do that.

Posted

That entry fee that you "already paid for" think a bit about how they arrived at that entry fee price, dont reply just think a bit first... seems to me that you simply accept that without understanding the underlying contributing factors, what if they increased all the prices and then simply said "free number printing" seems you wouldn't even know. 

 

As for the type of paper? I dont know dude, thats a different point, I wasn't presenting this as my solution, I was answering the question that I would be ok with paying for the EXTRA CURRENTLY NOT INCLUDED convenience of printing my own numbers, that was until you came along and asked if we are going to charged for not taking food.

 

If you aren't ok with paying for the extra service thats fine, but please dint think that moronic statements can be made with impunity..... charged for not taking food LOL

I don't understand why I have to pay extra to print my own number? They have all the number son a pc somewhere anyway (before they go and print them), so why not just share that as an option to all entrants? Free of charge. You can indicate whether you want to print your own number when you enter, and if you do, then you pay less for the race. Easy as that.

 

The reason I bring up the ridiculous example of the food is because it is the same principle. I don't take something that costs you money, so then I have to pay you more for not taking it. Silly.

 

Anyway, it wont work. There was a big f*uck up a couple of years a go in Stellenbosch where race numbers were printed on paper, and then it rained. Very few riders had any numbers left, and the once that had was not readable. Try riding in wind with a paper number even when it doesn't rain - the paper just isn't strong enough. Plain paper don't work as race numbers, end of story.

Posted

 

The reason I bring up the ridiculous example of the food is because it is the same principle. I don't take something that costs you money, so then I have to pay you more for not taking it. Silly.

 

No its not the same principle.

 

Paying for convenience is not a new concept.

Posted

Years ago I remember we still got a yearly number in the PPA league and if you wanted a reseed you had to go into the offices and request a new number and pay for a new permanent number

 

I do think also the problem do arise that people will swop numbers out and it will be really difficult for the organizers to control who entered and not. As currently they do have control in a way who is entered and number allocated to them. Also got to do with emergency responses, personal details, etc

 

Yes agree also on the special link to be sent to that specific person with it's number they can print but where do you print it out? normal paper do not last, special paper is needed. But is the infrastructure in place to be able to do it from cycle events to be able to sent out specific allocated numbers to an entrant?

 

currently I do think the only way is how they do it currently and cycle events are happy to leave it this way as it attracts people to Cycle lab that will increase their sales in the shop. 

Posted

No its not same principle.

 

Paying for convenience is not a new concept.

I guess I feel that because it saves the organisers money, it should be free.

 

Long story short, I wont pay for it. Would probably not enter a race that offers the option at a higher price, out of principle. Obviously, opinions on this may differ to mine.

Posted

I guess I feel that because it saves the organisers money, it should be free.

 

Long story short, I wont pay for it. Would probably not enter a race that offers the option at a higher price, out of principle. Obviously, opinions on this may differ to mine.

I guess because they are doing something that saves me money (driving to fetch numbers, my time etc) that they could charge a little for it.

 

Not entering a race that has this an option over and above normal entries, well that is your choice...... Wedding Crashers Rule Number 6

Posted

I guess because they are doing something that saves me money (driving to fetch numbers, my time etc) that they could charge a little for it.

 

Not entering a race that has this an option over and above normal entries, well that is your choice...... Wedding Crashers Rule Number 6

Haha, good movie, good rule.

 

Not sulking though. I am just a bit (actually, a lot) pissed off with what things cost nowadays. Feels like everyone wants to squeeze every single cent out of you whenever you buy something. Maybe it is just my little protest, but it makes me feel better.

Posted

Reality :

 

Entrant : Go online, choose the print option, get to race day and admin ask, so where your number.  O sorry, I thought print means you print it. (Noone reads entry systems)

 

Admin person. Please go to that desk so they can print a number for you .

 

So this just caused another queue , another admin station, more power points (printer etc etc)

 

I work with this stuff daily.   Do not ever think anyone even remotely reads what is on a screen, they simply next next till end and then have hissy fit if they don't get what they thought they getting.

Posted

Well, just a thought.

 

Ok, so imagine events company get hold of a specific type of paper/material, that can run through a normal printer and is strong enough to use in races.

 

They do a deal with A LOT of cycle shops, so the LBS buys the paper from them, enabling ANY LBS that has affiliated with the events company to be able to print your number for you. 

 

You get a bar-code, go to LBS (closest to where you are) let them scan this and get your data from their system. Bobs your uncle, you have an official race number that you can collect at your LBS. The LBS gets the extra feet in before the event, so gets more business. 

 

Licenced riders get a permanent CSA number that is used by the events company and can be printed at the LBS. The racing numbers are also printed at the LBS and just uses your permanent number. You have 1 frame number for the year.

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