And you like to eat during the entire day with free supplied food.

.

---

Dave Campbell | Facebook | @DaveECampbell | h2ofun@h2ofun.net

Boom Nutrition code 19F4Y3 $5 off 24 pack box | Bionic Runner | PowerCranks | Velotron | Spruzzamist

Lions don't lose sleep worrying about the sheep

But why would you WANT to??????

There are a lot of things we can do for under $1200 - but how many of them would we want to do.

That's the crux of it right there - the price point they are probing for is simply the premium on the M-dot brand name, not the price for the underlying commodity. Clearly an event with an outstanding, safe, scenic and exciting course, lots of amenities and unreal schwag can be put on for far less than $1200 a person. A reputation for excellent event execution also has value, and they've banked some of that, but that value component is at least in theory attainable by all, it's not explicitly protected.

I don't begrudge WTC their tenacious exploitation of the value of the trademark for as long as they can, but I think jinci is right, the trend toward wider acceptance of generics is inevitable, hopefully at a level that will allow other race organizers to reach the critical mass necessary to pull off such high quality events. For a savings of $600 or more, more people are surely going to be willing to take the risk of having to explain to an interrogator that their triumph was indeed in a legitimate "Iron Distance" event even though the ubiquitous logo is missing from the tshirt.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generic_trademark

Saw one in my local bike shop (getting a tune up) that has been well used.

Supply and demand don't matter when I'm the one being "exploited"

The market will determine what is too high.......sadly enough.

You can't rape the willing.

---

float , hammer , and jog

If I could I would

I think WTC is being irresponsible to its investors. To properly price their product they should set an expected sell out time. Then measure how quickly a race sells out and price accordingly. Continue raising or lowering pricing until expected sell out is achieved.

For everyone that doesn't like it, they can find other products.

---

---

"your horse is too high" - tigerchik

Saw a guy riding a P5 in a local sprint race. Maybe because he saved a few $1200 entry fees by entering shorter races?

---

. . . . . . . . .
-julie

How are you being exploited?

I'd really like to buy a Porsche; is it exploitation that the price is so high?

---

-Andrew

This.

I started racing mtn bikes tuesday nights. It's hella fun and $25 per week. Generally place high enough to take home a pint glass too. Sometimes even a $20 or $30 gift card. Way more fun, way less stress.

---

--
MyGearGarage - Track all your gear!

(S)he said go to Cozumel. He didn't say anything about racing in Cozumel.

---

--
MyGearGarage - Track all your gear!

Other than assuming "travelmama" is a she, you are absolutely correct. I read the post incorrectly. Sorry, Travelmama!!!!!!!!!!

---

Pink? Maybe. Maybe not. You decide.

"exploited" is this faux outrage that is generally thrown around when someone is at the sore end of an economics lesson. Same thing can be said for people getting butt hurt about the 5 day min stay at IMLP yet continuing to go year after year.

For someone who has "money to spend on whatever I want", you must weigh 60 pounds, live in a shoebox, and drive three Yugo's......

Exactly. But don't let logic get in the way of people's misguided anger.

Somebody mentioned that an economist could argue that the price is not high enough if events sold out. As an economist, I'd disagree with this a little bit. Standard supply/demand suggest increasing the price, but that's assuming a standardized product. Also, the standard rule of Supply/Demand is economics 101, which isn't really practical in the real world given the required assumptions. Not all IM events are the same. Very close, but venue being the main variable. Somebody else mentioned that they wouldn't pay that money to swim in the Hudson or deal with the logistics.

WTC has capacity to increase prices, but to put the prices at equilibrium would be a mistake and they know it. All businesses know it. First, there is no fixed equilibrium like there is in the classroom, it's a moving target. Second, WTC needs to maintain this high demand, thus sell out their events. This generates the capacity to expand into new markets as well as discretionary sales in merchandise, etc. It also gives them negotiation power when dealing with cities, granted NY had no flexibility. However, during an interview with the RD of IMNY, he mentioned one city repaved it's roads for in time for IM. Finally, selling out adds to the 'mystic' of participating in an IM event. (mystic may not be the right word).

I don't mean to criticize the person who posted that statement, I just wanted to clarify. When I teach into Micro/Macro, it's easier when discussing supply/demand. When I teach advance micro/macro, it can get messy really really quick.

---

_________________________________
The curious task of economics is to demonstrate to men how little they really know about what they imagine they can design.

Call BS all you want but first read my post then show where I made mention of accommodations. I know what I have paid and will pay and it is still less than $1200.

---

_____________________________________
DISH is how we do it.

Oh damn, you have got me on the floor laughing. I am much heavier with a house a bit larger than a shoebox. To own three Yugos is wishful thinking.

---

_____________________________________
DISH is how we do it.

Ultra-tri-guy wrote:

Man some of the responses surprise me because people are equating the place that the race is being held to the value for money of the race itself..I'll happily spend $600 to go to a race that costs me $2000 to get to if the race itself is value for money.Where the race is being held should not affect the price of the actual race and if it does and the RD's are passing on the cost of that venue to me then I won't go.

First of all, I really don't understand why so many of you care so much about this. Neither you nor Cerveloapple are planning to race WTC or Iron-distance so cost is irrelevant to both of you. Just another thread for the two of you to bitch.

And did you not read the title of this thread? The OP is bitching that $1200 is too much for a race, which you agreed to because you hate WTC and IMNY, but then contradicted yourself in the part I just quoted. You don't value the race, others do. I don't value Apple products, other people happily overpay for the same crap.

All you are really saying is that YOU don't think NY is enough of a destination, which is fine, don't go race in NY, with WTC, for an Iron-distance.

There is a new Irondistance in my home down that costs like $100, but I have no desire to spend $1200 to fly out there and race a place I already know with about 24 other participants. I plan to do Ironman Lanzarote next which is *only* 400 euros. Except that the flight will cost me $1200. Oddly enough, the fight to NYC is less than $400 so total race cost is LESS. You mentioned Brazil which is also on my list, costs less than IMNY but will cost a fortune to get to.

Let people decide for themselves what they think a race is worth. Obviously $1200 is NOT too much since lots of people spend way more than that already.

Someone mentioned the NY marathon that now costs over $200, but they forgot to include the three times you have to pay to enter the lottery.

And let's not forget that nearly all Ironman events have charity slots that cost twice the ticket price, and plenty of people pay. $1200 is obviously not too much for a race. Some people will pay, others won't, who the fuck cares?

To all those bitching about the $1200 price tag, can you please explain what part of the following you are not understanding?

1) It costs a ton to put on the race in NYC
2) If they don't jack up the registration, there will be no race
3) No one is forcing you to enter. If you think it's too expensive, there are plenty of other races for you to do.

What exactly is the problem again?

are you aware of the psychological/marketing term called "anchoring"?

---

Eric Reid AeroFit | Instagram Portfolio
Aerodynamic Retul Bike Fitting

“You are experiencing the criminal coverup of a foreign backed fascist hostile takeover of a mafia shakedown of an authoritarian religious slow motion coup. Persuade people to vote for Democracy.”

The word is "Mystique".
:-)

---

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * *
http://www.bobswims.com/

"If you didn't swallow water in your last open water race, you weren't racing"