Is it just me?

[MarcL]

My fellow inmates, 

 

 

Does anybody else think it's in rather poor tastes to be receiving Early Bird eantry requests in these rather testing times?

 

I think the Comms' machine of Tankwa Trek, TransCape and Cycle Events should be a little more sensitive to our current situation in the country.

 

Or maybe it is just me!

 

Stay safe and stay at home....

[CAAD4]

Yes

[Eddy Gordo]

Extremely, especially considering that the cancelled south african events have not even given refunds or even offered entry for next year!!!!!

[Mamil]

Maybe it is but everyone is trying to shore up cashflow ... I raise a higher eyebrow at the CWC lockdown special with delivery at the end of lockdown.

 

Tankwa Trek also promises 100% refund guarantee if Corona necessitates cancellation of the trek. If anyone can guarantee still being in business by then is another matter.

 

Would be nice though to have something to look forward to. But shell out 9.6k now? ..... Not smart.

[mecheng89]

Agreed. 

 

Everyone may have just gotten over their event being cancelled, now we're being teased with these other events, like the Amashova. 

[Skubarra]

Mixed feelings, event companies also have salaries & overheads to pay while their income dried up.

 

But myself are sure as hell not entering anything before we are back to a semblance of normality

[Stretch]

Oh you mean like comrades who hasn't cancelled....I don't know in what universe they think we will be behind this in June

[NotSoBigBen]

Oh you mean like comrades who hasn't cancelled....I don't know in what universe they think we will be behind this in June

Had you entered Comrades?

[T-Bob]

It is to some degree but there are alot of events guys trying to keep their heads above the water so there can actually be some people around to run events when this all passes. 

 

More to the point, ask them what their plan is if the ban on events hasn't been lifted by then and what is their cut off point? 

 

I got a message from an event later in the year offing an early bird special. It's an event I'm super keen to do. First thing I asked was what their contingency plan / refund plans etc was and they came back with:

 

"we are applying our minds to what is appropriate. I guess that if normality hasn't returned by say end-July we'll probably offer refunds or carry-over to the next planned event in early 2021. I see you have an UK  email address. Are you considering coming out for this ride? If so, I would advise you to look at travel insurance to cover you in case we are forced to reschedule the September dates."

 

I think if you are sending out invites while all this is going on you have to communicate a clear, solid policy and for it not to be a bit of a 'ummm... errrrr... well I guess...'. 

 

Edited March 28, 2020 by T-Bob

[Stretch]

Had you entered Comrades?

Nope.. I'm over that now..3 is enough [emoji23] Edited March 28, 2020 by Stretch

[thisismyotherbike]

It is to some degree but there are alot of events guys trying to keep their heads above the water so there can actually be some people around to run events when this all passes.

 

More to the point, ask them what their plan is if the ban on events hasn't been lifted by then and what is their cut off point?

 

I got a message from an event later in the year offing an early bird special. It's an event I'm super keen to do. First thing I asked was what their contingency plan / refund plans etc was and they came back with:

 

"we are applying our minds to what is appropriate. I guess that if normality hasn't returned by say end-July we'll probably offer refunds or carry-over to the next planned event in early 2021. I see you have an UK email address. Are you considering coming out for this ride? If so, I would advise you to look at travel insurance to cover you in case we are forced to reschedule the September dates."

 

I think if you are sending out invites while all this is going on you have to communicate a clear, solid policy and for it not to be a bit of a 'ummm... errrrr... well I guess...'.

 

 

Point well made!

 

I'm 100% for them inviting early bird entries if they are 100% transparent on their policy should COVID-19 force a cancellation. Even if that policy is "no refunds or deferrals", just disclose it upfront.

 

Informed buyers making informed choices.

[Chris_]

I think a lot of people are being a little too presumptuous in thinking life can go on 'normally' in a couple months time. 

 

This gemors is going to be here a long time. And I certainly wouldn't want to be the first person encouraging/organising group gatherings again.

Edited March 28, 2020 by Chris_

[thisismyotherbike]

I see Amashova clarified:

 

We will introduce a Refund Policy for the Amashova scheduled for 18 October 2020. We encourage cyclists to enter now and benefit from the early bird discounts. Should the 2020 Amashova be cancelled for COVID 19 we will offer an option to either get a 60% refund or transfer the entry fee to the 2021 event.  We will communicate with cyclists once the Government has indicated their decision on cancelling events later in the year.

 

This is cool.  All races inviting early entry should be this transparent.

[nonky]

It is to some degree but there are alot of events guys trying to keep their heads above the water so there can actually be some people around to run events when this all passes. 

 

More to the point, ask them what their plan is if the ban on events hasn't been lifted by then and what is their cut off point? 

 

I got a message from an event later in the year offing an early bird special. It's an event I'm super keen to do. First thing I asked was what their contingency plan / refund plans etc was and they came back with:

 

"we are applying our minds to what is appropriate. I guess that if normality hasn't returned by say end-July we'll probably offer refunds or carry-over to the next planned event in early 2021. I see you have an UK  email address. Are you considering coming out for this ride? If so, I would advise you to look at travel insurance to cover you in case we are forced to reschedule the September dates."

 

I think if you are sending out invites while all this is going on you have to communicate a clear, solid policy and for it not to be a bit of a 'ummm... errrrr... well I guess...'. 

 

 

I'll translate:

 

"Once we have your hard-earned money, whatever happens thereafter is YOUR PROBLEM..."

[Paul Ruinaard]

I think a lot of people are being a little too presumptuous in thinking life can go on 'normally' in a couple months time. 

 

This gemors is going to be here a long time. And I certainly wouldn't want to be the first person encouraging/organising group gatherings again.

Agreed. 

 

But they are in big trouble in many ways.

 

Would you be willing to ride a mass event without guarantees that you wont contract a very contagious flu. This is the high road scenario. Low road is one that will potentially kill you. I suppose its similar for any flu but you can protect against those pretty well.

 

The public mindset is pretty much going to be stay away.  So all of these guys are seeing their cash flow evaporate. And as you say who believes that they will refund. So many of these events are dead. As are the organizers.

 

Who is going to be willing to go to the first concert when there is still a chance of COVID infection? IF you understand how the collective psyche is changing we will see a marked desire to stay in isolation. You are going to see less large events and more people attending from home than ever before.

 

There was a concert aired in a virtual format that had something like 750 000 attendees. And the thing was free.

 

Welcome to digital disruption where what you used to be able to charge for is now free.

 

You will have to re-invent yourself if your business is physical events. Maybe ZWIFT is going to be where we meet up for a long time.

 

Think of the airlines - they just aren't going to start flying at half capacity again. How willing will you be to travel to places until there is a very low chance of getting infection there.

 

We are going to see a vastly differing world around this for a long time. 

 

Or until there is widely adopted vaccine with general confirmation of antibodies in the populace that has had it.

 

 

But in every 

[babse]

Mixed feelings, event companies also have salaries & overheads to pay while their income dried up.

 

But myself are sure as hell not entering anything before we are back to a semblance of normality

Agreed

They some how need to try and keep their boat floating even tho there will be a moersa hole in it after this.

 

Saw attakwas entry discount (super keen to do it again) but i wont let loose a penny for an event just yet.