Hurricane Irene came and went with fortunately few casualties. Unfortunately, amongst those casualties were both of the races I was registered for this weekend. Mayor Bloomberg rescinded all permits for public events on Saturday and Sunday, so I sat on my couch like a lump in lieu of racing. Or running. Or doing anything that wasn't "eating junk food and pretending like the impending natural disaster made it okay."
But now for some controversy. Well, sort of. Because, you see, the NYRR's policy is to not offer refunds in case of race cancellations.
This is a standard policy with races, as most of us know. Many of the costs are sunk, including the permit, the t-shirts, the bibs, the Gatorade, the labor, etc. But that didn't stop many people on the NYRR facebook page from complaining about the profiteering NYRR and their greed for race fees.
I get the policy. I read the small print before I checked the "I agree to these terms" box and I wasn't one of the complainers. But... it would be nice if they acknowledged it somehow. I was registered for two races that were canceled in one weekend, and both of these race registration fees were expensive (by NYRR standards). Instead, their acknowledgment of the cancellation came via email:
As you see, the email is three sentences: 1) race is cancelled, 2) YOU GET NO MONEY BACK SO DON'T EVEN ASK YOU GREEDY GREEDY PERSON, 3) be safe! I might have liked an apology thrown in there. With a refund, you see, I could have bought more, better junk food for the weekend.
But now for some controversy. Well, sort of. Because, you see, the NYRR's policy is to not offer refunds in case of race cancellations.
This is a standard policy with races, as most of us know. Many of the costs are sunk, including the permit, the t-shirts, the bibs, the Gatorade, the labor, etc. But that didn't stop many people on the NYRR facebook page from complaining about the profiteering NYRR and their greed for race fees.
I get the policy. I read the small print before I checked the "I agree to these terms" box and I wasn't one of the complainers. But... it would be nice if they acknowledged it somehow. I was registered for two races that were canceled in one weekend, and both of these race registration fees were expensive (by NYRR standards). Instead, their acknowledgment of the cancellation came via email:
As you see, the email is three sentences: 1) race is cancelled, 2) YOU GET NO MONEY BACK SO DON'T EVEN ASK YOU GREEDY GREEDY PERSON, 3) be safe! I might have liked an apology thrown in there. With a refund, you see, I could have bought more, better junk food for the weekend.
I also understand the no-refund policy... BUT would it be so hard to include an bit of an apology, or - even better - a discount coupon that could be used toward a future race???
ReplyDeleteNYRR sounds like the most arrogant non-customer service oriented bag of dicks organization ever.
ReplyDeleteI think they just don't get it on some weird level. And partly I think it's their audience - seriously, these people on facebook were whimpering like NYRR had cleaned out their life savings rather than not refunded a ~$30 race entry fee.
ReplyDeleteBut NYRR is just consistently pretty tone-deaf to their audience. I agree with some people who have called for more transparency. Like, how far would have an email have gone saying, "Unfortunately, we can't offer refunds for race registration fees. Not only is it our policy, but the sunk costs have already been spent, including XXX, XXX, XXX." The numbers wouldn't even have to add up for me to feel appeased. They purport to be a "member organization," but I think some of us don't feel the connection of membership - and this is the most expensive membership organization I've ever belonged to, all told!
Oh, well...
I agree with Beth.
ReplyDeleteI was registered for Beachpalooza and even though their policy is no refunds, they are giving them or you can transfer to a different event this year. But I think that might be the difference between a for-profit and a non? I don't know.
At least they're giving 9+1 credit, right?
Sorry about your races :-(
i agree with beth! they had mentioned earlier in the week that those registered could still pick up their bibs and tshirts. not that that makes up for anything, but i figured, if i couldnt get an official half marathon time from the bronx, i would at the very least, get whatever i could out of my registration fee--which was the bib and tee. but when i got to nyrr HQ on fri, they were out of every size but xxl. i can try back tuesday, they might have some smaller ones in. thaaanks guys. i have nothing betttter to do than hike up the UES for a race shirt for a race that didnt happen. le sigh!
ReplyDeleteMW, if it's anything, I have two small shirts and a size medium shirt in my apartment right now (I picked up on Thursday for myself and two friends). They're yours if you want them.
ReplyDeleteLet's get to the heart of the issue. We need to know if the shirts are cute enough to justify an unscheduled trip to NYRR.
ReplyDeleteNO THEY ARE NOT. I REPEAT: NOOOOOOO. Grey cotton men's fit tank tops with the same logo you've seen before (Brooklyn half, Manhattan half, Queens half, etc - the block letters).
ReplyDeleteEWWWWWW! Sad trombone.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm a lazy ass and was planning to sign up for the race just a few days before...
ReplyDeleteYou're giving away my shirt? I haven't even decided if I want it or not! It could make an excellent dust rag.
ReplyDeleteI haven't given away anything yet, no worries! Well, I did throw out your bib, sorry (kind of by accident in a fit of Irene housecleaning). I thought I tweeted you to see if you wanted it?
ReplyDeleteI didn't notice the tweet - but don't care about the bib. Not sure why I care about the shirt ( a little) it might be just from your mentioning you were giving it away.
ReplyDeleteI agree - that email is totally cold and I would be annoyed if I got it, especially since weather-related race cancellations almost never happen. A coupon for a discounted or a free entry in a future event would have been a really nice gesture. (We had one race cancellation out here a couple of years ago due to snow - go ahead, laugh - and they gave everyone who was registered for that race a free entry into the following year's event if they wanted it.)
ReplyDeleteI mean, I really get the no refunds policy. But I feel like it's mostly targeted towards people who might register and then not race for some reason. When they cancel the race on YOU? There needs to be something more than, "Sorry, suckers."
I'd never considered the fact that the no refunds policy is usually more geared toward YOUR situation than THEIRS, but you're absolutely right. To their credit, they've announced some sort of indeterminate "rain check" policy - still waiting on details...
ReplyDelete