TOPIC: Grumble Grumble Price Increase

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If the price goes much higher I suspect many members of my group will quit. Hopefully the increase this year won't cause any to drop out.

Mike Steele wrote: If the price goes much higher I suspect many members of my group will quit. Hopefully the increase this year won't cause any to drop out.

I'm likely/finding it harder to draft an impulse casual from my group to play. I fall in the category of volunteer/play only so it doesn't hit me that bad in my mind. Finding other randoms to play... Again it keeps selling out so really price increase is A, inevitable and B, not really affecting demand across the wider groups.

Would have been better if stated because of new stipends (great idea) for all volunteers not sure any of us would really grumble that loudly.

Druegar wrote: Between the aforementioned gencon.highprogrammer.com (thanks Jeff321), the TD Timeline (Thanks Mike Steele), and Guildmaster Nightshade (thanks Raven!), I was able to fill in the gaps. This is how prices have changed over the years:

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To play devil's advocate, with the ticket price increases, hasn't the T.D. experience been enhanced? Haven't the details (i.e. lightning, sound systems, props, room, etc.) also improved. I understand that we have lost some players who couldn't financially afford the new prices, but new (more affluent) players have filled behind these folks. I guess what I'm trying to ask (or point out) is: are you getting value for the increased cost? If you answered "No", sorry to see you leave and peace be with you. But if you answered "Yes", then see you at Lucas Oil in three months. And for those that answered " HELL YEAH!", you won't be shocked by next years increase to $60-$62. But, it might have been nice to see the price increase tagged with the Lucas Oil Stadium move newsletter. Then folks could have taken it as, "Well, I guess that makes sense!" And some folks with a "borderline" budget could have more time to save cash to play?

It always come down to price versus value!

Matt wrote:

Mike Steele wrote: If the price goes much higher I suspect many members of my group will quit. Hopefully the increase this year won't cause any to drop out.

I'm likely/finding it harder to draft an impulse casual from my group to play...

Would have been better if stated because of new stipends (great idea) for all volunteers not sure any of us would really grumble that loudly.

Interesting thought: in spite of the price increase, many volunteers will come out ahead because the stipend will cover the increase. Some volunteers may even see their way clear to play an extra time or two. And, some volunteers who used to sell their vol tokens may decide they don't have to, driving up their value. But, we may get more volunteers for the opposite effect, and which would allow for more events to be run and tickets to be sold, lowering the price again...

It's a tangled web. As a player, I'm not a fan of rising prices, but it will probably all work out for the best, in the long run.

Brad Mortensen wrote:

Matt wrote:

Mike Steele wrote: If the price goes much higher I suspect many members of my group will quit. Hopefully the increase this year won't cause any to drop out.

I'm likely/finding it harder to draft an impulse casual from my group to play...

Would have been better if stated because of new stipends (great idea) for all volunteers not sure any of us would really grumble that loudly.

Interesting thought: in spite of the price increase, many volunteers will come out ahead because the stipend will cover the increase. Some volunteers may even see their way clear to play an extra time or two. And, some volunteers who used to sell their vol tokens may decide they don't have to, driving up their value. But, we may get more volunteers for the opposite effect, and which would allow for more events to be run and tickets to be sold, lowering the price again...

It's a tangled web. As a player, I'm not a fan of rising prices, but it will probably all work out for the best, in the long run.

Its a nice extra perk for those that are giving up X hours of con, especially for those of us that part time and do look at how many hours of vacation/con time giving up. I was volunteering before the stipend obviously but i do appreciate the change.
Think last year took my coaching stipend and bought more tokens that I couldn't otherwise afford.

I'm actually hoping we fall a little short of a sellout this year. I suspect another quick sellout would result in another price increase. The price increases of the last several years have been way above inflation.

Mike Steele wrote: I'm actually hoping we fall a little short of a sellout this year. I suspect another quick sellout would result in another price increase. The price increases of the last several years have been way above inflation.

The fixed costs (renting LOS, development, sets, advertising, etc) are pretty high, I'm guessing. The incremental costs (tokens, volunteers, etc) would then be relatively low.

So, a sell-out would justify adding more runs outside the current hours, if volunteers are available, which could allow the fixed costs to be amortized over more runs, which would allow for lower ticket prices.

Give me a one-handed economist! All my economists say, ''On the one hand... on the other.'' -- Harry S Truman

Druegar wrote: This is how prices have changed over the years:

Dennis Burdick wrote: To play devil's advocate

What part of my participation in this thread makes you think I've chosen a side? I am reporting facts, not pontificating on whether or not the prices are justified. Please don't put words in my mouth Dennis.

Brad Mortensen wrote: The fixed costs (renting LOS

Has it been established that the move to LOS is costing TD more money?

Druegar wrote:

Brad Mortensen wrote: The fixed costs (renting LOS

Has it been established that the move to LOS is costing TD more money?

I have no idea, and I didn't mean to imply that renting LOS costs more than any of the other halls in the main convention center. It could be less for all I know. I hope so, considering it's less convenient and accessible.

I'm just saying that I'm sure the rent (and some other expenses) is the same whether it's actively used 2.4 or 24 hours a day.

Druegar wrote:

Druegar wrote: This is how prices have changed over the years:

Dennis Burdick wrote: To play devil's advocate

What part of my participation in this thread makes you think I've chosen a side? I am reporting facts, not pontificating on whether or not the prices are justified. Please don't put words in my mouth Dennis.

Apologies Druegar, but I meant to play devil's advocate to the entire thread, not your post in particular. Your post did (most accurately) show the price increases on an easy to read chart; which I was trying to tie in my point of "value for the money." I meant no offense, just opinion.