[LJ Jubner]

Originally Posted by breiner

If this thread stays on topic, I will be happy to answer questions.

Ground rules for my participation:

1. No post here is intended as advertising against Northwest Sign-Ups -- Just answering questions. Nuff Said.

2. Stay on topic. No arguing, complaining, etc.. Start a new thread if you wish to do so. I will not be participating in said thread.

3. All statements are MY OPINION -- You don't have to agree with them.

Here are answers and opinions to a few of the questions that have been asked...

@ LJ Jubner Post #20

- Remember, PayPal also charges a per transaction fee (same as other Credit Card providers).
- Someone (Tournament Director, Club, etc..) still has to set it up.

Assuming the view of 'other' sign up sites as 'competition' to www.pdgasignup.com...

True competition will most likely never come from a '3rd Party Site'... there's really not a profit incentive for someone to build a truly competitive site.

The actual 'competition' if you look at it that way will most certainly come from Club Websites using a content management system, and a payment service such as PayPal. PayPal, and similar services (Google Checkout, Amazon Payments, etc..) have made it pretty easy for 'anyone' to accept credit cards. The tools for integrating their services are getting better and better each year.

The PDGA system will grow; but it will grow because of the SERVICE BEING PROVIDED (ie.. Labor, Features, Tournament Director Tools, etc..)... not just because we can process credit cards.

PayPal offers a great service and most certainly should not be discounted. I have PayPal integrated into various shopping carts, and use their services on a daily basis.

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@ LJ Jubner Post #23

If you like PayPal better, then use PayPal. Use the system or site that best meets your needs.

It is absolutely TRUE that you can simply process a credit card payment cheaper; you (as the Tournament Director), still have to handle everything else after that.

Depending on the Sign Up service that you use, various aspects of processing are taken care of on your behalf, thus hopefully making your life a bit easier. To provide these services, a portion of the 'Handling Fee' is just that, a 'Service Charge'.

Currently, as far as I know, every sign up site passes this 'Handling Fee' on to the Player in the form of a 'Convenience Fee' -- maybe that will change someday under a different model.

As an example, an advertising supported model; which is VERY HARD to justify, b/c signing up for an event is a 'destination service' -- People arrive, do what they need to do, and leave. There is almost no way for an advertiser to get any real benefit out of it. Tournament Directors are all too familiar with this model. There are certainly some very good hearted 'sponsors' out there, but most of the time, they are just that -- good hearted.

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Breiner
1-888-596-9347

I am curious
Are you an extension of the pDGA or a separate company?
If separate how did you acquire the contract with the pDGA?
If part of the pDGA doesn't the organization already do what you are doing for a fee?

As a 10+ year TD I made the decision to go with (at the time the only way to take online payments) PayPal. I suppose that doing as you stated "everything else" is just part of the TD game. Personally I am use to relying on myself to make sure things get done. Yes, I do realize growing pains are bound to occur but I personally don't think I should add $3+ to a players entry fee for the convenience of all that you offer and that I am willing to perform as you so aptly put it as good hearted.

Side note Good luck with the thin skinned rules you hope to use. As a TD I would hope that If I chose to use your service your actual site feedback is less confrontational. After all If you piss them off they don't attend my event.