e-tickets are a great idea!  Easier for GenCon, easier for those who choose that option.  Maybe next year??

Hate to be a bubble buster..as much as I LOVE the idea, that would just make it way to easy for people to scan the 'e-tickets'  to make multiples.

 

Just sayin

katsobsession:

Hate to be a bubble buster..as much as I LOVE the idea, that would just make it way to easy for people to scan the 'e-tickets'  to make multiples.

 

Just sayin

true.  The only reason e-tickets work for concerts and the like are the new barcode scanners that will ensure each code is only scanned once.. GenCon would have to buy a huge computer system as well as hundreds of scanners to link into it and it would cost a ton.  Its alot more than the 3-4 gates at most concert venues, and its also money that GenCon most likely doesn't have given the current state of things, so while a good idea for some places, its not really possible for the con.

Yea, I mean it would be impossible for that to work I go in and out of the dealers hall all day, and there would be a huge line just to get 'scanned'.

Not saying it was not a good idea, it just wouldn't work at GenCon. But they do need a better system..so let's keep thinking!

In response to the people that have mentioned mail confirmation and it's price, I would like to point out that I have been an Ebayer for years.  I ALWAYS do electronic option delivery confirmation now. PRICE: 18CENTS!  Why? Because when you sell something by mail, you are legally responsible for making sure your agent (aka postal service) delivers the goods for which your customer has already paid.  And I don't charge extra, that's built into my price.  It also includes free tracking.  My only exception is if I happen to have another exact copy of the item in case there's a problem which I am willing to give away. 'Cause that's what it amounts to.  For 18cents, this all could have been avoided. (Of course, this is probably only domestic, but that's a huge amount.)

Business law 101.

Allora:

In response to the people that have mentioned mail confirmation and it's price, I would like to point out that I have been an Ebayer for years.  I ALWAYS do electronic option delivery confirmation now. PRICE: 18CENTS!  Why? Because when you sell something by mail, you are legally responsible for making sure your agent (aka postal service) delivers the goods for which your customer has already paid.  And I don't charge extra, that's built into my price.  It also includes free tracking.  My only exception is if I happen to have another exact copy of the item in case there's a problem which I am willing to give away. 'Cause that's what it amounts to.  For 18cents, this all could have been avoided. (Of course, this is probably only domestic, but that's a huge amount.)

Business law 101.

How can you be held responsible for the actions of the Post? You should be responsible for delivery of the item to the post, but from there they should be held responsible.

COD from UPS was worth it for me this year.

But I agree it is sad if your badge is lost in the mail and you have to pay an extra 10 bucks at the door because no one believes you. If someone came to me with their receipt and proof that they ordered a badge online, I'd nix the extra cost for onsite badges.

The other problem with a scanner, is that at a concert, you have entrances, each eticket is scanned once, and once you leave the building, you can't get back in without a handstamp, or whatnot. With Gencon, not only do you have multiple times that someone could enter/leave the center, but multiple days.

A scanner wouldn't be ABLE to work.

 There is no perfect system.

Scanners, barcodes, etickets, exploding nanobots to stalk those without badges.... 

There will always be thieves and innocent victims of delivery problems.

With that said....get this...in two of the three years of my Gencon experience, I have either lost a badge or even worse, a wallet (and therefore no ID for purchasing tickets LOL.)   In both instances, Gencon was extremely graceful and 'with it' in managing the situation.  

 As things are, Gencon is forced to deal with matters on a case by case basis, and the current policies allow them great flexibility in doing so. Approach is everything (for both sides) and if you get a customer service rep who can't help you, keep climbing up the ladder.   It shows resolve.  

 The con artiste who goes through seemingly earnest measures is probably better saving such an act for robbing a bank than getting a free badge.  Karma will eventually smoosh such a weed anyway -- I mean c'mon...considering the cost ($75) and the subculture (gamers) who is going to go out of their way to slime their way to a free badge?  Sad thing is, I'm sure there are a few, but the numbers can't be THAT high, and if they are, I'd be cautious of hosting an event in such a den a thieves let alone attending.

My instinct: for every 1,000 honest attendees, there is perhaps one miscreant set upon thwarting Gencon for a $75 badge.

Until things are changed, the best policy:   will call.   

 

That reminds me:  how did the badge scalping on the streets go last year?   If we change the system, won't we be crushing an important secondary badge market?  :p   JK of course.

You are responsible because you PAID the post office to deliver it for you. They are your agent. Actions of the agent fall back to the principal.

 

Allora:

You are responsible because you PAID the post office to deliver it for you. They are your agent. Actions of the agent fall back to the principal.

 

Exactly, I said this same thing back when people mentioned it being at your own risk to get it sent USPS. If I pay for an item, and it does not arive I am intitled to either get that item or a refund. Gencon should use delivery comfirmation to be sure and I have no idea why they do not as it cost so little on a first class delivery.

In transactions you can, actually, specify where responsibility ends. At least between businesses. Some have it end at their door, others when it is put on the train, etc etc. I believe something like FOB? Freight on Board. Buyer and Seller can determine who has responibility for the goods during shipping--whether it is origin or destination.

Solitude:

Allora:

In response to the people that have mentioned mail confirmation and it's price, I would like to point out that I have been an Ebayer for years.  I ALWAYS do electronic option delivery confirmation now. PRICE: 18CENTS!  Why? Because when you sell something by mail, you are legally responsible for making sure your agent (aka postal service) delivers the goods for which your customer has already paid.  And I don't charge extra, that's built into my price.  It also includes free tracking.  My only exception is if I happen to have another exact copy of the item in case there's a problem which I am willing to give away. 'Cause that's what it amounts to.  For 18cents, this all could have been avoided. (Of course, this is probably only domestic, but that's a huge amount.)

Business law 101.

How can you be held responsible for the actions of the Post? You should be responsible for delivery of the item to the post, but from there they should be held responsible.

COD from UPS was worth it for me this year.

But I agree it is sad if your badge is lost in the mail and you have to pay an extra 10 bucks at the door because no one believes you. If someone came to me with their receipt and proof that they ordered a badge online, I'd nix the extra cost for onsite badges.

It's more proving that you delivered it to the agent-without some sort of confirmation service (and, honestly, delivery confirmation does NOT provide tracking or proof of drop-off unless you go to a post office that realizes they can scan the packages and you actually ask them to do so, most of the time they aren't even aware of the capability, in my experience-it's something relatively new for them). I could easily say "oh, yes, I dropped that off at the post office" while sitting there holding the package in my hand, which is exactly why PayPal won't invoke their seller protection policy unless you can show proof that the package was actually delivered to the customer. Interestingly, even that level of proof is not enough for credit card companies-I had a package that was showing as delivered in the USPS system and the customer claimed he never received it. PayPal rejected his claim, so he filed a chargeback with his credit card. PayPal disputed it because of the delivery confirmation, but the credit card company still took the money back (and PayPal covered me under the seller protection policy). Yeah, I don't get it either, my only assumption can be that the credit card companies have such a stranglehold on their merchant customers that PayPal had no choice but to eat the loss to maintain their account status.