The Kessel Run Events

By Flashover, in X-Wing Organized Play

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R5Don4 said:

I clicked on the link from the announcement page and read over the application, it was very clear they were not allowed to charge for this event. FFG could have changed it without notice, they do things like that. This was the main reason, I did not actively solicit this event at the area LGS's because from what I know of the owners they would have nothing to do with putting up $60 for an event and not charging for participation.

Thanks for confirming. FFG must've changed it. I can't imagine the venues taking a chance on charging if they hadn't.

Jim

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I just took it as the LGS's not taking FFG OP as seriously as they would DCI.

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Don't mind me. I'm just posting here so I get an email when sopm,ebody posts in this thread since I'm guessing with the application link closed down its only a matter of time until the official venue is posted and it will more than likely be posted about and probably linked in this thread once its up.

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Emrico said:

qwertyuiop said:

I'm seeing more and more locations charging entry fees for this. Seems lame, but if FFG didn't frown on it in the application…

I'm curious as to why you think it's lame? FFG is charging the retailers for the KRE kit and the store is providing space, tables, utilities and employee pay to host the event (likely at the cost of displacing another event in their store that day). They get no guarantee that attendees will buy anything to cover these costs. And it's already proven that some winners will put the ships on eBay for profit. So why should the retailers pay out of their pockets to support that? They are running a business after all.

jim

So the retailers aren't going to ebay their two extra ships? They're not going to get 2-4x retail like anyone else?

Space, tables, utilities aren't available for gamers in a specific store any other day of the week? What event is being displaced? No store is going to replace Friday Night Magic with a Kessel Run tournament. So, what? Pokemon league? Yu-Gi-Oh? Maybe if the store doesn't want to run a late afternoon/early evening Kessel Run tournament. 40k? Those guys aren't buying anything…or they're already playing X-wing.

Retailers pay out of pocket as an investment for future sales. Fun tournament + great prizes + $0 entry fee = return business from anyone old enough to have a part time job and above. Just seeing the ships in action raises the chances of purchases in Feb/Mar when the product is available to everyone.

And if the application indeed prohibited entry fees and retailers are charging it anyway, then yes, it's lame. Lame like Toy's R Us trying to sell video game demos marked as not for resale.

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qwertyuiop said:

So the retailers aren't going to ebay their two extra ships? They're not going to get 2-4x retail like anyone else?

Space, tables, utilities aren't available for gamers in a specific store any other day of the week? What event is being displaced? No store is going to replace Friday Night Magic with a Kessel Run tournament. So, what? Pokemon league? Yu-Gi-Oh? Maybe if the store doesn't want to run a late afternoon/early evening Kessel Run tournament. 40k? Those guys aren't buying anything…or they're already playing X-wing.

Retailers pay out of pocket as an investment for future sales. Fun tournament + great prizes + $0 entry fee = return business from anyone old enough to have a part time job and above. Just seeing the ships in action raises the chances of purchases in Feb/Mar when the product is available to everyone.

And if the application indeed prohibited entry fees and retailers are charging it anyway, then yes, it's lame. Lame like Toy's R Us trying to sell video game demos marked as not for resale.

I can't speak for any FLGS other than the one I go to, but I can 100% guarantee that the 2 extra ships from their event will NOT be on eBay. And I can guarantee that because I'm running the event so those two ships are MINE. happy.gif

As far as costing sales on a Saturday…Saturdays at my FLGS are a paid tournament almost every week. We have no FNM (thank the Force). The monthly 40K tournament got cancelled in favor of the KRE and while the 40K guys wherever you play may not spend any money, the ones at my FLGS do spend a good deal of money. Product buy-in for their tournaments are typically $20 so you're looking at $200-$400 in sales on a Saturday if they only buy the minimum buy-in (typically 10-20 players each month). So, yeah, that's a lot for the owner to give up to run an event for X-Wing.

One of the local stores is charging $30 in pre-orders to play in their KRE. I don't mind that they are charging that, but it's too much for me to want to go play in it because I'd rather spend that $30 at my regular store instead of having to make another hour drive in February to pick up my order. Just seems to me that they are trying to guarantee that only their own regulars will be coming to the KRE at that store. Thankfully, we have a 3rd store in the area that got the event as well and is only charging $10 so I'll run the event at the shop I frequent on Saturday and then go play on Sunday for a chance to win another ship (which I also will NOT be putting on eBay happy.gif ).

Jim

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Emrico said:

R5Don4 said:

FFG clearly stated in the application for the event that venues are not allowed to charge for this event. So I'm curious if they went back on that and said they could charge $10 because that seemst to be the going rate I see floating around.

Just curious, did you actually see the application page? Our local FLGS owner told me that it did not say that retailers weren't allowed to charge.

I didn't see the application first-hand and the page isn't up anymore. I'm curious because with every event listing I've seen it says they are charging. I can't see 90% of the venues bucking FFG if it was explicitly stated that they could not charge.

Jim

Or there are no consequences for violating the terms in the application.

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SierraKiloBravo said:

Endgame in Oakland, CA is running the event on 12/15. They are not charging an entrance fee. Game Kastle in San Jose is charging $10 for the event the same day.

I hope I see you at Endgame so you guys can kick my ass some more. Yaaaaaaaylastplace!

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I am a store owner and I just heard back from my FFG rep. You guys are correct it has been requested that there be no charge for this event. As such we have changed ours at Big Kidz Games to be free. Kessel Run event Saturday Dec 15th 1pm, 3661 Plainfiled ave NE, Suite B, Grand Rapids 49525.

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Any word on Portland, Oregon?

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Good Times Games & Electronics in Prince Rupert, BC has been told by their distributor that they're getting it. And there was much rejoicing.

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GhostHawk said:
I am a store owner and I just heard back from my FFG rep. You guys are correct it has been requested that there be no charge for this event. As such we have changed ours at Big Kidz Games to be free. Kessel Run event Saturday Dec 15th 1pm, 3661 Plainfiled ave NE, Suite B, Grand Rapids 49525.
Well done. I believe that if FFG states that there should be no cover charge, then it would be unethical to charge a cover for the event. Yes the event host must pay for the kit, but think of it as an investment in marketing. Such events grow the fan base for both the xwing game and the venue hosting the event. Even if you don't see immediate sales from an event, it is building your market and potential future sales. Only good can come of this event. And the possibility of winners selling their ships on eBay is entirely irrelevant to the general wellbing of such an event. If the winner wants to sell their ships it is their own prerogative. It sounds like some people just want their piece of the pie and don't much care for their fans or the good nature of this event. But kudos to those of you who have dropped your cover charges.