turd ferguson wrote:Jwolf wrote:dgrant wrote:turd ferguson wrote:dgrant wrote:La wrote:Yes, that would have the effect of having people sign up well in advance, but that's actually better for the RDs. It sucks for people who want to secure their spot, though.
Do we know that to be true, or might it have the opposite effect? If people know there are later (and official) opportunities to acquire an entry, wouldn't that help cool off the frenzy for early entries?
Melissa's sells out in a morning. Everybody knows that there's a healthy market for bibs on various websites as well as at the start line, but it still sells out in a morning.
Fair enough, good example. I see from their website that they only charge $5 to transfer a bib as well. Seems very fair. (Apart from having to register so early, everything about that event seems like a shining example for others...)
[b]Except it just encourages the frenzy of registrations on the first day[/b] (filling within hours of registration opening). We have a race like this (First Half Half-Marathon in February) which fills within hours and allows transfers closer to the event. Many people register even if they are unsure they can run, knowing it will fill and that they can always sell their entry. That was me this year... yes, I could wait to buy an entry, but it tends to be easier as a seller.
I'm not sure I'd want every race to end up like this....
Are you suggesting that the fact that entries are transferrable encourages the frenzy? That if entries weren't transferrable, they wouldn't fill up as fast?
Interesting theory. I'm not sure I buy it for the popular races where demand is greater than supply - I imagine they would sell out no matter the transfer rules.
I think for popular events (like Melissa's) we'd just see "unauthorized" bib transfers like we do with other races that sell out!
The STWM Half sells out every year, but not until closer to race day (and they allow transfers). Ottawa seems to sell out earlier than it ever has before, and they've offered transfers for a few years now (ever since it started selling out).