General Discussion Triathlon Talk » SOMA 1/4 Man now a 1/6 man extended Sprint Rss Feed  
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2007-10-17 10:27 AM

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Master
1759
10005001001002525
Peoria, AZ (Near Lake Pleasant)
Subject: SOMA 1/4 Man now a 1/6 man extended Sprint

All the oompf out of your sails and looking for a quarterman race that does not measure up?  Try SOMA where you get a rousing 18.6667 mile bike leg for a bigger fee than your Olympic race and less satisfaction.  Good news is that even if the swim is short like a sprint, the run still gets to be 6.5 miles of luvn!

 

Have issues?  email [email protected] and let him know!



Edited by perkins_jerryw 2007-10-17 10:27 AM


2007-10-17 10:41 AM
in reply to: #1011844

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Master
2216
2000100100
Subject: RE: SOMA 1/4 Man now a 1/6 man extended Sprint

I hear their "solution" is to let you register for the half.  I'd like to ask Jeffy just what training plan he recommends that would prepare me for a half Ironman in less than 2 weeks.

I can guarantee this will be my last Redrock Co. race.

 

EMAIL JEFF!!!!!   [email protected]

2007-10-17 11:03 AM
in reply to: #1011844

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Master
1759
10005001001002525
Peoria, AZ (Near Lake Pleasant)
Subject: RE: SOMA 1/4 Man now a 1/6 man extended Sprint

Here is Jeff's reply to me:

"Overcharged and Disappointed?  Jerry, I normally don’t respond to emails in this manner, but your email was rude and unacceptable.  I will offer you a full refund for the event if you choose.  Red Rock does so much for the athletes to say that you’re over charged and disappointed.  If we made these changes to save money, that would be unacceptable, however we were not granted a request that we asked for a long time ago, which is limiting us to what we’re allowed to do.  It is only causing us headaches, not profit.  We are going to request another route to add 7 more miles, though it is not our first choice.  I would prefer to send you a refund. 

Best Regards,

Jeff Suffolk

President,

The Red Rock Company, Inc

2209 West First Street #108
Tempe, AZ 85281"

 I do not think he likes me very much!    But perhaps they will add 7 more miles if enough people e-mail him as disappointed! 

 

 

Edited by perkins_jerryw 2007-10-17 11:04 AM
2007-10-17 11:27 AM
in reply to: #1011844

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Master
2216
2000100100
Subject: RE: SOMA 1/4 Man now a 1/6 man extended Sprint

Well now he's just throwing it at you.

1. They made NO statement to the fact that they had put in a change to ad 7 more miles to the course and that they were doing everything possible to make the course as close to "as advertised" as possible.

2. They have made NO apology or even the slightest hint of some kind of compensation anywhere or at any time.

He's trying to throw this back on you.  If he offers me MY money back. I'm taking it!!! 

2007-10-17 12:56 PM
in reply to: #1011844

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Master
1759
10005001001002525
Peoria, AZ (Near Lake Pleasant)
Subject: RE: SOMA 1/4 Man now a 1/6 man extended Sprint
StandsWithFist - 2007-10-17 10:40 AM

These too are the people who had on the Timex website that it would for sure be wet suit legal ALL year up until 2 days prior after my constant prodding. 

However, having said that.  I thought the Timex race was great, and very well run.  If Jeff was the guy who gave the pre-race talk (and I think he was) he sounded like a great guy.  I am sure it is very hard to pull all this stuff off.  I received a survey email after Timex to rate the race and provide feedback, which I did.  Make sure you take the time to fill yours our after SOMA and provide constructive criticism for the things you did not like. Always help when you are delivering bad information to also say something good as well. 

Agreed that they need to account for every detail and be clear, especially when it comes to the course details. 

I think you look very nice today.  However, you are wrong!

Like that?

2007-10-17 1:08 PM
in reply to: #1012230

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Expert
1330
100010010010025
Arizona
Subject: RE: SOMA 1/4 Man now a 1/6 man extended Sprint
No...no...no.

Like:

"Wow, your bike looks so nice I almost didn't notice how fat your is."

See, totally cool because of the compliment.

-Jot



2007-10-17 2:03 PM
in reply to: #1011844

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Master
2411
2000100100100100
Goodyear, AZ
Subject: RE: SOMA 1/4 Man now a 1/6 man extended Sprint

Cool! Now its 25 miles I really like Red Rockco, I've done 2 races that they ran. They probably could have saved themselves from answering so many complaints if they had put a better explanation in their email/website yesterday.

I'm going to do the pre-ride/run on saturday because I have a brick on the training sched anyways and I'd like to see the course again- I'm not at all familiar with Tempe.



Edited by riorio 2007-10-17 2:03 PM
2007-10-17 2:31 PM
in reply to: #1011844

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Master
2216
2000100100
Subject: RE: SOMA 1/4 Man now a 1/6 man extended Sprint

They probably could have saved themselves from answering so many complaints if they had put a better explanation in their email/website yesterday.

How about any explanation?

2007-10-17 3:29 PM
in reply to: #1011844

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Expert
782
500100100252525
Wandering through AZ
Subject: RE: SOMA 1/4 Man now a 1/6 man extended Sprint

I've gotta come in on the side of Redrock on this one. The change was last minute for them as well. It was Tempe that screwed them on the construction project. They did send out emails, probably before they should have, and now they've reacted positively to customer complaints and added more distance to the course. I'd wager that if they went ahead with the old course and someone got injured there'd be a few more complaints than this.

Overall I've been pretty happy with this organizer as they put on a very tight ship of a race. Also SOMA is a BIG affair. Second only to IM events in the number of entrants. They've got their work cut out for them, so I think we owe them some slack.

2007-10-17 3:38 PM
in reply to: #1011844

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Master
2216
2000100100
Subject: RE: SOMA 1/4 Man now a 1/6 man extended Sprint

I understand what you're saying and agree with you and Redrock about changing the course because of safety reasons. Again though,

1. It's pretty apparent that they were going to go with only 18 miles for the bike until people complained to them heavily. Remember, I paid $128 for this race!

or

2. If they WERE trying to do something about it, there was NO communication about trying to get a bigger ride in or some sort of compensation for such a huge change.

So either they were going to rip us off, or they dropped the ball with their communication.

 

Either way, I feel they have done what they can do to make things right by making it a 25 mile bike (but only after being bombarded by emails/calls I'm sure).  Now, if I get an email like the one Jerry received then I'm going to get my money back. They have to expect people to be rude/pissed off after being treated that way.  Communication is KEY with an event like this.  



Edited by cordova61 2007-10-17 3:44 PM
2007-10-17 3:52 PM
in reply to: #1011844

Subject: ...
This user's post has been ignored.


2007-10-17 3:58 PM
in reply to: #1011844

Pro
3715
20001000500100100
AZ
Subject: RE: SOMA 1/4 Man now a 1/6 man extended Sprint

Ummm.....I think you only paid $128 because you were late in registering.  I think when I signed up for the Oly it was only $99.  (Sorry....couldn't resist).

As someone how has had to deal with LOTS of angry people in customer service over the years, I have to say that the people I actually wanted to try and help were those that presented their issue in a calm, tactful manner, and not the smart-arses or the people who yelled at me.  Constructive complaining that involves facts and less emotion will always get you further. 

Like Harry said...this is a HUGE event.  A destination race for many outside of AZ as an end of season race.  Huge undertaking to pull off, and if the city pulled the rug out from under them, what can they do? I think they did the best they could with dropping to plan B with the shorter route.  But I am sure at the same time they were franticly working on an alternate plan that would provide some more distance without the 2 courses crossing each other or causing a dangerous intersection.   Seems like they did the best they could, and luckily there were able to salvage the race with a more appropriate bike distance.   And another thing to remember, is our race fees don't just going into the pockets of the race directors.  It cost a lot of money to have the off-duty officers directing traffic (which I am grateful for), the barricade companies, and the medical staff on hand.  All things that handled improperly can make for a very unsafe race. 

OK. I've said my peace now.

2007-10-17 4:23 PM
in reply to: #1011844

Master
2411
2000100100100100
Goodyear, AZ
Subject: RE: SOMA 1/4 Man now a 1/6 man extended Sprint

I hear ya- I worked in Customer service for years, I usually err on the side of being too polite when I complain

I got an email back from Jeff this am saying that they had 10 people working on it. I like the solution that they came up with

2007-10-17 4:49 PM
in reply to: #1011844

Master
1759
10005001001002525
Peoria, AZ (Near Lake Pleasant)
Subject: RE: SOMA 1/4 Man now a 1/6 man extended Sprint

Does not really matter as I was in for a penny in for a pound (meaning I would beat the guy in the Pink Crocs even if he got his money back!) , but I e-mailed him to say that I was disappointed and thought that changing the race to a sprint in the last weeks was disappointing and expensive for those looking for a race closer to Olympic in length.  I think that I was just his venting board after city troubles etc.

However, being a dim witted guy, I am better with 25 mile work-around over an 18 mile make do leg. 

 

2007-10-17 4:54 PM
in reply to: #1011844

Master
2216
2000100100
Subject: RE: SOMA 1/4 Man now a 1/6 man extended Sprint

My point about the money is that I paid much more than a "sprint distance" would cost, whether it was $128 or $99.  No way I, or many others would have paid that kind of money for a race as they had it yesterday.  That was my point.

Paulette put it perfectly: "Redrock co kind of slyly encased the "change" in their blurb about "here's you athlete guide," instead of saying "Hey guys city of Tempe has dropped the ball"

That wasn't cool.  And, I wasn't "rude".  I was blunt by saying that this wasn't the race I had signed up for, and I expected a partial refund.  I haven't gotten the chance to check my email yet to see if I received the same reply as Jerry either so I don't know if they took it as "rude".

Anyway, it's over. I'm happy with the changes, and if the guy didn't leave me a rude email like the one he sent Jerry, then I'm in the race.  They just could have avoided it all by not doing what Paulette pointed out very well.

2007-10-17 5:09 PM
in reply to: #1011844

Master
1759
10005001001002525
Peoria, AZ (Near Lake Pleasant)
Subject: RE: SOMA 1/4 Man now a 1/6 man extended Sprint

Chris, I did not see your name on the Athlete list, are you sure you signed up for SOMA (and not a different event)?

P.S. It is next weekend in case you are event time challenged!



2007-10-17 5:29 PM
in reply to: #1011844

Master
2216
2000100100
Subject: RE: SOMA 1/4 Man now a 1/6 man extended Sprint
It's there. I see it.


Edited by cordova61 2007-10-17 5:32 PM
2007-10-17 5:37 PM
in reply to: #1011844

Elite
3221
20001000100100
the desert
Subject: RE: SOMA 1/4 Man now a 1/6 man extended Sprint
Wow!  I hate being in meetings all day with NO wireless internet.  Just look at all this I've missed.....
2007-10-17 5:45 PM
in reply to: #1012851

Master
1759
10005001001002525
Peoria, AZ (Near Lake Pleasant)
Subject: RE: SOMA 1/4 Man now a 1/6 man extended Sprint

triguyfitz - 2007-10-17 3:37 PM Wow!  I hate being in meetings all day with NO wireless internet.  Just look at all this I've missed.....

You did not miss anything except the lack of cheese with our whine!

2007-10-17 6:15 PM
in reply to: #1012860

Expert
1330
100010010010025
Arizona
Subject: RE: SOMA 1/4 Man now a 1/6 man extended Sprint
Chris was looking for a reason to pull out so that Jerry couldn't beat him. Jerry was trying to figure out if that meant he won by default. There was wrangling about distances and footwear. Really, not pretty.

-Jot
2007-10-17 7:37 PM
in reply to: #1011844

Pro
3715
20001000500100100
AZ
Subject: RE: SOMA 1/4 Man now a 1/6 man extended Sprint
Well, I am glad it all worked out.  But just remember, we are trying to become a Tri club here....complete with uniforms, flags, tents, etc.....    just don't wan to be the club with all the trouble makers on it. (Well.....that's pretty much unavoidable). :-) But what I mean is just be careful in representing yourself, as you are representing the club as well. 


2007-10-17 9:50 PM
in reply to: #1011844

Master
2216
2000100100
Subject: RE: SOMA 1/4 Man now a 1/6 man extended Sprint

I'm out. This is the email I had sent them:

Subject: This is not the race I paid for

I paid a LOT of money to enter this race. Reducing the bike leg by 10 miles
basically means I paid $128 for a sprint race with a longer run.

It's not the race that was advertised when I entered, and I believe that
some kind of partial refund is in order to those of us who paid to race
1/4 of an Ironman race.

 

This is the reply I received:

Chris,

I just withdrew your name and asked for a credit to be applied to your
credit card for the $120.00. You will see it on your next statement. If you
do not, please contact Active.com accounting department

 

Good! After what I've seen from them, I have no desire to give them my money.  I now have Tour De Tucson entry fee money!!!



Edited by cordova61 2007-10-17 10:08 PM
2007-10-17 10:45 PM
in reply to: #1011844

Elite
3602
20001000500100
Mesa, AZ
Subject: RE: SOMA 1/4 Man now a 1/6 man extended Sprint
Chris - I am sorry you are out, really.

I do agree that RR puts on good events but the event is NOT just the day of. It is the registration process, the keeping of results, dealing with personnel, etc. It is very true that I would rather ride a shorter course due to safety but the way it was done was no contest an inappropriate way of doing it. I agree with how Paulette put it as well. This will be my third RR event and not a single one has been problem free:

1 - Tri for the Cure: split times. UMMM last I checked this is kinda important for triathletes and when you are payinggood money for a racee you expect to have TIMING. MANY people were irked at packet pick up that we only got a timing chip for our shoe. If you go to the website it STILL says "split times will be posted this week" that was in MAY. Honestly I don't care about little stuff like this but if we are going to be harsh on Chris and Jerry for calling a race company on a foul then well, thats the details.

2 - PBR - Race course detail fiasco. For weeks the course changed DAILY. Mtn biking is a little tricky and most people kind of like to pre-ride to know how to ride techy spots and what not. I even heard that the course changed from the PRE-RIDE! We were told new maps would be posted (written on web site) on X date and they would not be there for days. Day of, EXCELLENT organization, FUN FUN RACE...oh but wait...someone DNFed a race that did not DNF. Is this not a HUUUUGE deal? Red Rock said it would be fixed BY WEDNESDAY. Its almost 9PM, they have 3 hours. Again, I did not pay money to not get my results or worse yet, look like a DNF.

3 - SOMA, no need to explain further here. I do think just yanking Chris from the race when his email CLEARLY did not state that is rediculous.

I do not expect perfection from ANYONE, as WE would need to be perfect to expect that so I am more than happy to cut them slack here. BUT this is getting a bit out of hand.
2007-10-17 10:51 PM
in reply to: #1011844

Elite
3602
20001000500100
Mesa, AZ
Subject: RE: SOMA 1/4 Man now a 1/6 man extended Sprint
But what I mean is just be careful in representing yourself, as you are representing the club as well.


This reminds me of when my grandma would always say "remember young lady you are a DECKER and people are always watching you." Sends chills down my spine....ICK! If wearing a uniform means I have to act differently and not say what I feel then we have big problems. LOOK at who is in our club. I don't think any of us have those "governors."
2007-10-17 11:14 PM
in reply to: #1011844

Expert
748
50010010025
Big Bear City, California
Subject: RE: SOMA 1/4 Man now a 1/6 man extended Sprint
That sucks that they just straight took you out of the race Chris. It does irk me to see that the race director seems to be taking his anger out on the athletes (via remarks in replies to Jerry and Chris). It would seem better suited to just be up front and say that there have been changes to the course because of the city of Tempe not fulfilling promises, then I am sure our emails would have gone to the city of Tempe urging them to fully consider the impact of sporting events in their city.

Don't worry though I will make them use up some overtime keeping the course open for me
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