After the initial dissapointment of not getting into IMOO has settled in I get an email about the chance at one of the 100 lottery spots. Perhaps this could be my chance… until I read they want to milk everyone who enters for another $20!!! So they save out 100 spots just so they can generate that much MORE money! Ironman has been a dream but I sure am consider giving it up and heading for a non IM event. Enough is ENOUGH!
You’re gonna be paying something like $400 if you get in - what’s another $20?
The lottery was how got into Ironman Canada a few years ago. If you want to race, give it a try, its only twenty dollars.
If you get in they credit you the $20. Its the principal here. They take 100 spots and above the normal entry fee for those 100 they generate another who knows how many 1000’s for people trying to get in! They are generating a ton of extra money just from those last 100 spots. GREED.
So they save out 100 spots just so they can generate that much MORE money! Ironman has been a dream but I sure am consider giving it up and heading for a non IM event.
Until people stop just considering to do something about it, and actually do something, things will never change.
Once you come over to the non M-dot races, you will never go back.
When you say Ripoff it implies that someone is being cheated or stolen from. I don’t think that’s fair. The fee covers the administrative cost of the lottery (plus a profit). After being informed of the rules, one can choose to take a chance or not. Whether spending $20.00 for a chance at getting into IMoo is a good value or not is debatable, but it’s not a ripoff.
Gary Mc
Well put. Is buying a Super Lotto ticket a “rip off”? No. Good use of your money? Maybe not, that’s for you to decide, but certainly not a rip off.
FWIW, the lottery itself exists because of the insistance of Ironman founder John Collins. I hardly think you can accuse WTC of being motivated by greed for something that wasn’t even their idea.
FWIW, the lottery itself exists because of the insistance of Ironman founder John Collins. I hardly think you can accuse WTC of being motivated by greed for something that wasn’t even their idea. <<
I believe the OP was talking about IM Moo lottery slots, not Kona. So the John Collins thing doesn’t apply.
clm
My bad. I read his post as “I didn’t get into IMMoo, so I was thinking about giving the Kona lottery a shot” (which opened a few days ago). You’re right though, he didn’t explicitly say that.
I think registration was different for IMWI this year and not all slots were purchased by the people who signed up on site. Yes, they’ll probably make more money from it, but we know they are greedy business at the core - look at how much the pay the winning pro’s.
In fact, if you want to bitch, complain about how IMNA treats pros - like crap. They have to stay at people’s homes for free to be able to race.
You know, you can do all distances on any given day for FREE, just leave home and go for a very looooooong training day, stop the whinning. If WTC or IMNA told you the $20 would get you in for sure and then you didn’t, then it would be a rip off.
You think it’s a “ripoff” (i.e. poor value for the buck)? Then don’t participate. Silverman, Great Floridian, et al would be glad to have you.
If enough people perceive that M-Dot is fleecing their customers, then the market will certainly let them know. It’s not a monopoly - you’ve got several other choices.
For the $400 entry fee, or in this case $20 lottery fee, it appears that folks feel they are getting equivalent or greater value in return…right?
That being said, I see your point and would probably not participate in this lottery. I’ll bet that more people disagree with us than not though.
“You’re not paid to be right…you’re paid to make money!” - old wall street trading axiom
Look on the positive side.
You pay $20 and you don’t win. You’ve just saved yourself $380 !!
I received the email and originally thought the $20 “lottery ticket” fee would go to charity.
If they are going to profit from the race fee anyway why not make it more palatable by having the fee go to charity?
What irks me (but doesn’t shock me) is the fact that the lottery is also being offered for IMC. Just three months ago, we were being offered the opportunity to buy a special package that would ensure entry. Then we were told that everyone would get in if they signed up onsite. Now the lottery is being offered.
While I appreciate how these businesses are run, I think they need to evaluate their communications plan.
I would love to stay at someone’s home during IMLP that could save you a ton of cash. Sounds like a perk to me.
S
Please forgive the simplicity of my inquiry, but why would you (or anyone) continue to support a race or an organization that you feel is a “ripoff”? The only way you can change it is to not support it. Don’t like the cost? Don’t pay for it! Don’t like their communication? Don’t pay for it! Don’t like the region of the country, the venue, the weather, the lack of…whatever it is people complain about? Don’t pay for it!
Am I missing something?
What about the $20 fee they charge for using a credit card to sign up. Very few companies charge a fee to recoup their cost for using the credit card. A few years ago this was not the standard.
S
I didn’t say it was a ripoff - I said they have an issue with communications. I believe that they would come across a lot better if they presented a consistent message. I actually don’t have an issue with the races or their costs.
Sorry. I actually wanted to respond to the original poster. People get chastised for asking questions on the forum that, while extremely useful for newer posters, were repeated before. I think it’s worse that people complain about the details of races, but try and sign up as soon as registration opens.