Brochure now available for BotCon 2015

redoutlander wrote:I am a club member but, I've never attended Botcon so please excuse my ignorance. I like a few of the Cybertron Most wanted Figures but noticed that the Iacon package cost $409, I assume this does NOT include shipping. Also, The Primus Package is $409 and it includes Cyberton's Most Wanted, entry to the event itself, AND an additional figure!

Wha'why? Is this just standard Club shenanigans, or am I missing something?

Seibertron wrote:

redoutlander wrote:I am a club member but, I've never attended Botcon so please excuse my ignorance. I like a few of the Cybertron Most wanted Figures but noticed that the Iacon package cost $409, I assume this does NOT include shipping. Also, The Primus Package is $409 and it includes Cyberton's Most Wanted, entry to the event itself, AND an additional figure!

Wha'why? Is this just standard Club shenanigans, or am I missing something?

It's to encourage people to attend the event, which is the primary purpose of these exclusives.

If I ran BotCon, I'd immediately do away with non-attendee packages because I feel it creates an environment where people feel like they don't have to attend the event to get the exclusives. It seems extremely counter-productive to me to have sets available for people who aren't attending an event. Non-attending figures should be available only after the event if there is any stock left over. I would also reveal all of the available exclusives except for the "freebie" figure to help encourage people to attend.

Seibertron wrote:

redoutlander wrote:I am a club member but, I've never attended Botcon so please excuse my ignorance. I like a few of the Cybertron Most wanted Figures but noticed that the Iacon package cost $409, I assume this does NOT include shipping. Also, The Primus Package is $409 and it includes Cyberton's Most Wanted, entry to the event itself, AND an additional figure!

Wha'why? Is this just standard Club shenanigans, or am I missing something?

It's to encourage people to attend the event, which is the primary purpose of these exclusives.

If I ran BotCon, I'd immediately do away with non-attendee packages because I feel it creates an environment where people feel like they don't have to attend the event to get the exclusives. It seems extremely counter-productive to me to have sets available for people who aren't attending an event. Non-attending figures should be available only after the event if there is any stock left over. I would also reveal all of the available exclusives except for the "freebie" figure to help encourage people to attend.

Trikeboy wrote:Thats all and good for American attendees but those of us overseas who cant afford flights, hotels, then a $400 ticket price to get exclusives, non attending packs are great. I've wanted to go to Botcon for over a decade and hoped to make it this year but that is too much. Ebay sellers will have that set going For over $500.

Exhibitor’s product
content must be at least 50% Transformers related. This means robots,
action figures, comics, sci-fi or related products. General toys or dolls
are not allowed. Exhibitors must collect the 8% Illinois sales tax or
current rate in effect at the time of the show. Exhibitors must file and pay
using the forms provided at the show one week after the conclusion of the
event. Please do not bring products that violate Hasbro owned intellectual
property.

william-james88 wrote:Did anyone notice this passage from the brochure?

Exhibitor’s product
content must be at least 50% Transformers related. This means robots,
action figures, comics, sci-fi or related products. General toys or dolls
are not allowed. Exhibitors must collect the 8% Illinois sales tax or
current rate in effect at the time of the show. Exhibitors must file and pay
using the forms provided at the show one week after the conclusion of the
event. Please do not bring products that violate Hasbro owned intellectual
property.

It seems like Botcon will be banning IP infringing toys such as what we call 3rd party toys. Is this the first time this happens?

Seibertron wrote:

Trikeboy wrote:Thats all and good for American attendees but those of us overseas who cant afford flights, hotels, then a $400 ticket price to get exclusives, non attending packs are great. I've wanted to go to Botcon for over a decade and hoped to make it this year but that is too much. Ebay sellers will have that set going For over $500.

I don't understand this logic. I don't expect overseas conventions or stores to make it easy for me to obtain foreign convention or retail exclusives. I have to jump through hoops, pay middle-man markups, etc to obtain those items. I don't understand why BotCon exclusives should be any different than exclusives for other conventions or retail exclusives. There are a lot of fans who bend over backwards to attend the event every year (not to mention fans right here in the US). Convention exclusives are a selling point for why someone should attend an event. If you allow those items to be sold to non-attendees, aren't you in a sense eliminating one of the reasons why someone should attend your event. It just doesn't make sense from a business model that is designed to make money.

philswitch engage wrote:My assumption is that it probably has a lot to do with a combination of fan demand and production run costs. I am working with the assumption that it costs less per figure to make when they have a larger run. On top of that funpub had to notice that their sets were selling for a hundred dollars or more on top of the original cost on eBay after the events. If they have a demand for a product and they can get a lower cost per figure to make more, then their net profit goes up and fan customer satisfaction increases.

Seibertron wrote:Has anyone been able to actually book a room with Pheasant Run? I've been trying via the phone and through their website since October with no luck. I was not able to call them until after TFcon weekend.

Seibertron wrote:

philswitch engage wrote:My assumption is that it probably has a lot to do with a combination of fan demand and production run costs. I am working with the assumption that it costs less per figure to make when they have a larger run. On top of that funpub had to notice that their sets were selling for a hundred dollars or more on top of the original cost on eBay after the events. If they have a demand for a product and they can get a lower cost per figure to make more, then their net profit goes up and fan customer satisfaction increases.

I failed to mention one of my biggest reasons behind my statement above, which is that it seems like BotCon attendance has slowed or become stagnant over the past 7 years (particularly since 2009). I have attributed part of that decline in those exclusives being available outside of the event. While there are many factors involved with what I have observed at past BotCons (and by no means am I making any official numbers about attendance ... I don't have any numbers, just going by what I have seen and heard), it seems like people have become complacent in recent years about obtaining non-attendee packages instead of attending the show. Those that are on the fence every year would probably be more inclined to go if attending the show was their only way to guarantee that could get obtain the exclusives they desired.

While I sympathize with some factors that prevent people from attending, I still don't understand the "entitlement" attitude that I see regarding a convention product being available outside of a convention. I get what philswitch engage is saying, however, and maybe from a business perspective that does make sense. Production costs on a larger run isn't something I had considered.

However, I still think doing whatever it takes to encourage people to attend the event should take precedent. I'm just looking at this from a business perspective with regards to how to grow this event and that I think it's counter-intuitive to offer a way to obtain an event's exclusives outside of the actual event.

Trikeboy wrote:

Seibertron wrote:

philswitch engage wrote:My assumption is that it probably has a lot to do with a combination of fan demand and production run costs. I am working with the assumption that it costs less per figure to make when they have a larger run. On top of that funpub had to notice that their sets were selling for a hundred dollars or more on top of the original cost on eBay after the events. If they have a demand for a product and they can get a lower cost per figure to make more, then their net profit goes up and fan customer satisfaction increases.

I failed to mention one of my biggest reasons behind my statement above, which is that it seems like BotCon attendance has slowed or become stagnant over the past 7 years (particularly since 2009). I have attributed part of that decline in those exclusives being available outside of the event. While there are many factors involved with what I have observed at past BotCons (and by no means am I making any official numbers about attendance ... I don't have any numbers, just going by what I have seen and heard), it seems like people have become complacent in recent years about obtaining non-attendee packages instead of attending the show. Those that are on the fence every year would probably be more inclined to go if attending the show was their only way to guarantee that could get obtain the exclusives they desired.

While I sympathize with some factors that prevent people from attending, I still don't understand the "entitlement" attitude that I see regarding a convention product being available outside of a convention. I get what philswitch engage is saying, however, and maybe from a business perspective that does make sense. Production costs on a larger run isn't something I had considered.

However, I still think doing whatever it takes to encourage people to attend the event should take precedent. I'm just looking at this from a business perspective with regards to how to grow this event and that I think it's counter-intuitive to offer a way to obtain an event's exclusives outside of the actual event.

The reason for the drop off has nothing to do with the always increasing ticket price of course? $400 for two voyger,two deluxe, one pretender shell and four target masters is a bit much.

SW's SilverHammer wrote:Or it could be travel cost, I mean it's way more expensive for me to go to Illinois for botcon than it is for me to go to SDCC just due to my location alone.

It Is Him wrote:I want more info on this trivia thing

BotCon.com wrote:Hello Everyone!

We are still working on the final issues to get registration online. This will not happen before next Thursday. I will update you as we get the final issues completed.

The hotel is working on finding some more rooms for our block. I have not heard back from them yet. Currently they are searching for duplicate rooms so if you have a room you are not going to use, please release it so someone else can reserve it. Remember that you must put down a first nights deposit and if you don't cancel by the cut off you will lose the deposit.

If they don't find more rooms for us, we will get a block at a second hotel so, no worries. I'll let you know as soon as they figure out what they can do.

See you in St. Charles!

Brian

Hello Everyone!

We continue to work on the final issues to get registration online. This will not happen this week. I will update you next week. Now you don't have to worry about checking the site this week.

The hotel has told us that they are sold out and cannot add anymore rooms to our block. You will have to look for accommodations elsewhere if you don't have a room yet. We also cannot find a hotel in close proximity to the event to get a second block.

The good news is that the parking is free at the hotel for BotCon.

See you in St. Charles!

Brian

Sustain wrote:Does anyone know if IDW goes to Botcon, or is it just something Botcon doesn't put on their website?

ScottyP wrote:

Sustain wrote:Does anyone know if IDW goes to Botcon, or is it just something Botcon doesn't put on their website?

There's typically a presence, at least there has been at each one I've been to. Might be one of those "assumed" things, but yeah I'd think they'd publicize some of the guests more.

Sustain wrote:

ScottyP wrote:

Sustain wrote:Does anyone know if IDW goes to Botcon, or is it just something Botcon doesn't put on their website?

There's typically a presence, at least there has been at each one I've been to. Might be one of those "assumed" things, but yeah I'd think they'd publicize some of the guests more.

Thanks.

Hello Everyone!

Barring any final issues, we are doing the final touches tonight and should have registration live tomorrow. I'll send out an email when it is up.

See you in St. Charles!

Brian

LOST Cybertronian wrote:Only 27 days or so before the show .

Sabrblade wrote:Having just paid the bills with this week's paycheck, I'm currently in no financial condition to be registering for BotCon. Does anyone know how long the window for registration might be open? I need at least another week to get paid again before I drop another few hundred dollars on this.

Hello Everyone!

We have encountered a couple of errors in the final move to the production server. So, I'm going to call this off until Tuesday (holiday Monday) and we will try again. Meanwhile, we will be posting later today some instructions so you will know what to do in the new system.

For the Exhibitor's wanting multiple packages, please note that we will be extending the $25 discount for all multiple booth registrations.

I apologize for the delay and any inconvenience,

Brian

Sustain wrote:Postponed a little longer...

Hello Everyone!

We have encountered a couple of errors in the final move to the production server. So, I'm going to call this off until Tuesday (holiday Monday) and we will try again. Meanwhile, we will be posting later today some instructions so you will know what to do in the new system.

For the Exhibitor's wanting multiple packages, please note that we will be extending the $25 discount for all multiple booth registrations.

I apologize for the delay and any inconvenience,

Brian

Sustain wrote:My only issue is Air fare goes up every day, and this is making this trip almost too much just in transportation.

We are thrilled to welcome two design legends of Transformers brand history, Takara-Tomy designer and Hall of Fame honoree Kojin Ono and the Art Director for Transformers Animated, Derrick J Wyatt. Click the guests link along the left to read about our final two amazing guests!

Hello Everyone!

BotCon registration is now open until June 5, for attending and non-attending. Please use the registration link at BotCon.com.

See you in St. Charles!

Brian

We apologize!
We have temporarily turned off the 2015 BotCon Registration due to the load issue.
We are working with the service company to correct this problem.

Everyone is in the same situation, only a couple went through,
so it will basically it will be a re-start when turned back on.
We apologize for the issues,

Brian

Well to add insult to injury, we just learned that Authorize.net has gone down as well.

This is not because of our system, just a system wide issue.

We will try as soon as they come back up.

I am sorry for any issues this has caused.

Brian

We are watching AN's (credit card processor) status feed to see when they resolve their system wide outage. If they are not back online by 4:30 central time today. We will wait until tomorrow to start registration.

I'll advise when we have a status change.

I am sorry for any issues this has caused.

Brian

We are trying again. The credit card processor Authorize.net is back up.

It may take 5 minutes for the servers to spool back up to handle the load but I have made the time out for the registration 20 minutes so that should solve that potential issue.

I am sorry for any issues this has caused.

Brian

In fixing the scaling issue, the programmer broke the packages for the event so we have to try again tomorrow. We are very frustrated with the programming company too!

I am sorry for any issues this has caused.

Brian

We are trying again. The credit card processor Authorize.net is back up.

It may take 5 minutes for the servers to spool back up to handle the load but I have made the time out for the registration 20 minutes so that should solve that potential issue.

I am sorry for any issues this has caused.

Brian