"We're still ironing things out"
Seriously, not sure what to post when there's nothing new to say. But I'm happy to post the above every week lol
Mike
And yet, if those companies have to spend extra to account for the pandemic, and yet end up with 30% of the normal traffic and restrictions on how they can present and sell, it may not make any difference. For some of the game developers I know, it would represent a net loss over not showing up at all.
All I can do is repeat myself. The dates for refunds are weeks away still. You have not heard anything because Gen Con is not ready to say anything yet. If you understand that it is a tough situation then your continued patience is appreciated.
I need to get my GENCON on this year. Let the booth stockpile sanitizer, mandatory if you are going to touch anything. Maybe as part of the day one, everyone gets a pack of masks and have them color coded by time period to ensure people are changing them according to health standards. Make the rows in the hall one way (yes I realize this will not solve the crowding issue, but it will at least give some flow) and let us all show our support for the hobby which has helped us get through these last few months! (Please)
people complaining about updates and no info are making it harder than it is.
Gencon has a covid update page. that has the most recent info they can share. it is that simple.
For us, it is why 4 of our 10 are still holding and willing to wait. We want this convention to hang around for as long as it is able. I've done enough cons in my years that I have seen them come, go, in a few glorious cases implode spectacularly...
From what we know it seems like such a razor edge. 2020 I think everyone agrees could make or break the con. But the double edge sword to that is it could make or break the con regardless of how it goes. Holding the convention could ensure it comes back in 2021, but it could also doom it. Likewise canceling could save it... or also doom it. We don't know.
Honestly, if Gencon was in dire straights financially and did something like a fundraiser to help ensure, no matter which way things go, that they would be back in 2021 I would throw as much as I could at it. And I would like to think everyone here would do the same.
There is a zero percent chance that there is no new information regarding specifics of the convention be it vendors backing out, changes to event structure, or changes to guidelines. to insinuate as such is to talk to us like we are fools. Every other company or gathering has done something or had something to say. So either you guys are truly terrible at running a business and not talking about the largest event in 100 years or you do find us to be fools.
Like it or not your hard line stance is no longer acceptable for today's customers. you have been given more than enough time to formulate a PC response or some sort of plan that allows your customers to be informed about a decision, instead you are choosing to add stress to peoples lives by treating them like idiots.
Small things make large impacts in peoples decisions. For instance if you already know that you are making Masks mandatory this is a huge thing, your convention already has tons of issues with sexual harassment, do you think I may change my plans if i know that I am now taking my wife into a convention hall with 50k people all wearing masks and unable to be identified? I would imagine there are known vendors that have cancelled and are unable to attend the Con this year, what if my favorite vendor is no longer coming. that probably changes my thought process on if i am going or not. The fact is you do have information and any information is going to be pertinent to someone.
At this point it is humorous to watch you delete posts that you find to be fear mongering yet you have done nothing to curb that type of though. without direction and information humanity for the most part will assume the worst and guess what, those fear mongerers and their statements will be closer to what happens in reality than opposite thinking side will say.
The fact is you are stuck in a rock and a hard place and most everyone knows that but there is no reason for you to be putting your customers in an additional rock and a hard place. You are completely underestimating the impact, time and thought that a lot of us put into attending this con each year and to dismiss each of those customers with a "well if you dont like it cancel" attitude is beyond tasteless. At this point you literally look like a company waiting for the government to make a decision so you can cancel and enter an insurance claim thus you cant say anything that may put that in jeopardy. IE you are willing to gamble with our health and have the convention be a go if you cannot collect your check.
I will never stop going to gen con because of what it is to me but I can say with certainty that I will no longer buy any other Gen Con related items. While that might mean less than nothing I honestly don't care, additional support for a company that is content to conduct business in this way, especially during a time like this, does not deserve any further financial support from me. I am fine with Gen Con failing, something better is born out of the failures of its predecessors.
I am not quoting that because I figure it won't survive long. I'll take some of that popcorn though lol.
But I will say, on a fundamental level? They aren't really wrong on some of those points. It probably sums up how a fair number feel.
Personally I think it's more than a little harsh, given that GenCon's hands may well be tied.
I may be biased because I'm an actuary and have actually read insurance contracts from beginning to end (it's about as much fun as it sounds - unless you're a contract lawyer, I suppose) and I'm willing to believe that the representatives are sharing all that they safely can. What we choose to conclude based on their lack of enhance communication may all seem obvious (and be correct) but that still doesn't mean that they can actually say it.
Also, I kind of want to hoard popcorn and sell it at a premium right now.
Not deleting, chaos62417 is entitled to their opinion.
But now you have had your say chaos62417, so that's it.
[impressed]
Wanted to share this with the thread:
If you emailed us asking for a refund in the last few weeks (the only way to get one) you will get a this reply:
"We can process a refund for you back to your original method of payment minus a $10 per badge return fee now, however if a cancellation does occur, we will offer the option to roll your badge forward to 2021 free of cost.
Or, would you be interested in refunding it to your account?If you do refund to your Gen Con account balance (system credit), we will waive your $10 return fee per badge as an exception to our policies.
system credit is non-refundable or transferable, but it can be applied to Gen Con 2020, should you change your mind or any future Gen Con for badges and tickets as it does not expire!
You may want to wait. Should the convention be cancelled for the year, our refund policies may be updated.
How should we proceed regular refund with return fee, account credit, or wait?
Please make sure any reservation that you made on your “My Housing” page has been cancelled before we process the refund.
If you have not given us this we will need the name on the badge(s) and the ID number of the account it was purchased on (Next to your name on the account) to cancel your badge(s)."