What's the deal with packet pick-ups?!? (Page 2)

^{Running races can be different because there is no USAT license to check. For example, the Bolder Boulder will mail the packet (for a fee), or send it to centralized locations in many places throughout the state for free. Somehow they manage to get this done despite having over 50,000 people in the race. However, they also have race day pickup as well. I think they even do race day registrations.}

I would always rather pick up the packet the day before or earlier. I don't want to have to stand in a line on race day. Standing in a line for a packet, then another for the potty would leave little time for setting up transition and doing a warmup.

I've done 6 races this year.  Only one had a expo, all required packet pickup before the race.

Most of them were at some Bike shop for half a day.  Maybe the bike shop pays for that.... but I think they just do it for free to spread out the locations where you can get the packet.

I think they do it for time reasons.  And honestly, I hate it when the chip isn't in the race bag and I have to get it seperately at the race for reasons stated above.

I didn't read through all the responses, so I may be repeating something here.  

My husband and I will not stay in a hotel if the race is 2 hours or less away from us.  That saves us money for hotel fees, dinners out and my husband doesn't lose time from his job.  So it makes us think twice about signing up for a race if there is no race day packet pick-up.  It's just too much money in gas for me to drive that far before the race and then drive it again the day of.  Plus my husband would have to take off even more time from work because I can't pick up his packet for him.  He has to be there in person.  Most of the races we do offer a day of packet pick-up, but I have learned to read the fine print before I sign up for anything.  Now if it's over a 2 hour drive, then we will arrive the day before and stay at a hotel, and thankfully most races do have a pick-up the day before.  2 days before is out of our league, we can't afford 2 nights in a hotel unless it's some major special race.

jami     

How many people in each race? 1000+? 

And also keep in mind that if a single bike shop can indeed both staff and man the packet pickup for a day, they attract well enough business to make it worthwhile. 

If the packet pickup is done at a site-neutral place, the economics are less of an issue. I've been in plenty of 5ks/10ks where it's done at a community center, but these were all under 1000 people.

I could see the logistics for triathlon being easier for packet pickup day, but I'm still convinced that the reason, as they are for mega races, is economics. It would be far cheaper and faster to automate a mailing service to send the chip/bib out - especially for some races where nearly all the participants are traveling over 2 hours, if not flying to get there. 

I'm OK with packet pick up early, even if it requires a drive.

Nothing irks me more than not getting the shirt size I need.  My first tri, I did race day pick up and they were out of shirts by the time I got through the line.

That and I like getting race belt and stuff ready the night before.  The less to do the day of, the better for me.

How about race day packet pick-up if you live more than xxx miles away?

Let's say 60 miles.  

That would limit the line on race morning and reduce unnecessary driving.

The one with the expo was 1500.  The others I'd say were 600-1000.

One thing they usually do here that is nice is move it around the city.

If one of the local Bike Chains is involved it will be at there west store on Wed, North store on Thursday and East store on Friday (for example).  Or it might be at different shops.  In one case it was at some medical guys office (forget what type).

It can take over an hour one direction to get across Houston, so that helps.

That's my biggest issue with them. I haven't done a race closer than 60-70 miles yet, seven so far.  Only ONE of them was I able to get my packet race day. I had volunteered at a previous race and called the RD to cash in my credit and they had it waiting for me.

The serious of races I'm doing now it wasn't so bad since I was either camping out and did the day before pick up or I coordinated runs into the metro with other business I had to attend to, but 100 miles or more round trip in a pick up truck is not cheap or environmentally friendly.

It would have been nice if I could have done ONE packet pickup for the series instead of making three separate trips too...

?I personally don't mind having to get the packets early.  I would rather have everything in my possession beforehand to minimize what we have to do on race morning.

Not to mention, my very first Tri I did race day pick up and by the time I got through the line, they had run out of shirts.  That stung.

There are things that irk me more, but I agree that I should get the size I noted on my registration form. It only happened to me once, but it was also the only time a race I did had running singlets as race shirts. I saw many people "exchanging" their shirt size and when I got the the table, with my bib cleanly marked with "shirt - M", there were no medium shirts. I ordered a medium. They knew I ordered a medium. There should have been a medium shirt for me. Me, me, me.

"See, you know how to take the reservation, you just don't know how to hold the reservation and that's really the most important part of the reservation, the holding. Anybody can just take them."

Being an RD as well, I think a lot of participants don't realize the sheer number of man hours and volunteers needed to run an event.  For my races, I offer day before and race day packet pick up.  I usually do something to strongly encourage people to pick up the day before, simply so that I'll need fewer volunteers at registration the day of the race.  Being able to spread man hours over two days is a huge help and let me use the "extra" people for other jobs on race morning. 

Oops.  Sorry I posted twice.  My computer was acting funky and quit on me and I didn't realize my first one went through.

I'm sure that's an awesome reference, but I suck at remembering movie lines.

Seinfeld...nice!

blaaaaahahahahahaha!

Let me point out you that these people are your CUSTOMERS and should be treated as such, and with great respect.  Your continued arrogance and anger at the people that pay for the event is bewildering and, frankly, disrepectful.

You are the RD.  You set the price.  We pay.  If you can't staff your races, raise your rates or get out of the business.  I don't need, require, want, etc  any insight into your job or your problems or difficulties.  That is why I pay an entry fee - so that you worry with it.  It is your job to do your job, which is to put on successful and safe races.  Get that through your head and stop the belligerent whining.

Why don't you set up a "Woe Is Me" booth at your next race and see how many people who just paid $75+ to do your race really care.

With the exception of 2 day events, any of my local Tri races are race day pickup only, WTC HIM excluded.  (When I say local, I mean within 300km.)  The part that confuses me in the argument about volunteers time, is that you are now using resources for an extra day.  Volunteers now need to be around on both Saturday and Sunday, or whatever day, rather than just race day.

And you're right, I have no idea about what goes into putting on a Tri, however it seems interesting that you're getting a lot of feedback about the fact people don't appreciate having to make an extra commute to the race site.  The fact that the event is popular, is not a clear indication that there aren't areas to improve.