Protocol for disc vendors

[olydiscgolf]

What is the protocal for selling discs at a course? What if it's a "club maintained" course? Should a vendor pay the club for the "privilage"? If so what under what terms? per disc? per month? year? tourney? What designates a vendor? A tax ID? If I sell my buddy a disc I don't throw, am I a vendor? What about traveling vendors? Should they pay? Im just currious about this topic, I don't know of any real problems yet. But, as more vendors are poping up I can't imagine it will be too far off. So what does everybody think?

[Scott]

It may depend on the park. Some public owned courses may prohit sales inside the park without permit. A private park would require permission from the owner.

[olydiscgolf]

Im really surprised at the lack of response to this. I figured there would be at least a few people to chime in. I know there is vendor rivalries out there (I was at Steilly when Ray backed his van in to the Huk Lab tent). Im not looking for rivalries though, just some thoughts to set some guidelines.

[Ol' Bob]

Turf wars? Time to get some goons and start a protection racket.

[CarlitosBonitos]

Originally Posted by Ol' Bob

Turf wars? Time to get some goons and start a protection racket.

I thought someone said Goons! I am here sign me up Bob~ 6'1'' 315lbs. Goontastic

[Ol' Bob]

'Eh, Me? I'm notta venda. Yous guys gotta do watcha gotta do. Old Oly dere, hees cood use sum muscle. I dunno, maybees just knock sum heds, roun' dem Huk Lab boyz. Thingz woik out, maybe yous do me a favor sumtime.

[olydiscgolf]

What did I start?!?!?! aye foget aboud it!

[snap7times]

if you want to sell disc golf merch at a course or tournament, ask the proper person in charge, simple as that. If you need to pay to sell at that tournament or fly mart etc then do it... as far as backing up into a competitor, whew, ouch.

[DMajor]

looks like team oly discs are coming to a course near you

[olydiscgolf]

well actually they are! But thats not the reason I was posting the question!

[SPIDER-DAN]

I sell discs all the time (only at public parks). I usually only sell discs that no one else sells.......kinda rare ones. People usually come to me asking for a certain kind of disc and i bring it to the next tournament.......it usually starts out as a request cause they could not find it anywhere else.

I do think that if the td's started to accept so called 'fly marts' to operate at the tournaments for a small price then players would have more to chose from. They could even accept script and give the amatuer class players more to choose from when they win. I see too often that amatuer players are given a pack of discs for thier prize and its ones they dont even want or would never throw. I remember the td at one of tournaments at seatac letting some fly-marts operate for a certain price and calling it a sponser.........great idea!

[olydiscgolf]

Originally Posted by SPIDER-DAN

I sell discs all the time (only at public parks). I usually only sell discs that no one else sells.......kinda rare ones. People usually come to me asking for a certain kind of disc and i bring it to the next tournament.......it usually starts out as a request cause they could not find it anywhere else.

I do think that if the td's started to accept so called 'fly marts' to operate at the tournaments for a small price then players would have more to chose from. They could even accept script and give the amatuer class players more to choose from when they win. I see too often that amatuer players are given a pack of discs for thier prize and its ones they dont even want or would never throw. I remember the td at one of tournaments at seatac letting some fly-marts operate for a certain price and calling it a sponser.........great idea!

I agree Dan, Im under the mindset of "the more the merrier", as long as there isn't cash taken away from local clubs that are selling plastic. I think if there is a club selling and a vender comes in to sell, there should be some sort of royalties paid. I don't think it needs to be alot, because most folks aren't making that much off plastic anyhow, but a little somthing.

[keith_shupp]

Originally Posted by olydiscgolf

I agree Dan, Im under the mindset of "the more the merrier", as long as there isn't cash taken away from local clubs that are selling plastic. I think if there is a club selling and a vender comes in to sell, there should be some sort of royalties paid. I don't think it needs to be alot, because most folks aren't making that much off plastic anyhow, but a little somthing.

I like the ideal of a flymart more to choose from and some vendors have disc only and some have disc, shirts and bags. Down here you must have a vendors lincense to sale in a city or state park and thats most of the course. I believe if you have a lincense you should be able to show up to any course to sale. If it is at a event you should get the TD okay and sponsor a hole or some CTP prizes. No club down here holds the right to get rolalties just because they clam a course plus its not legal you must go by the city and state laws. I lived up in Mountlake terrace for two years and that is one thing I did not under stand why they would do this at some of the courses. I would just find out what is the local law for your parks and if another vendor shows up ask if they are legal too. I like having several vendors to choose from because thats how you find the rare or custom stamp stuff.

[olydiscgolf]

The reason I think a club should get a cut, is because most courses are player maintained and that usually means club maintained. If the clubs are putting in the time and money for a course they should get kick backs from those that make money because of the course.

[papatart]

Well, I think there is more to this than a simple answer. I will say that when a club, person, whatever is throwing a tournament that it is that entity that should have the rights as to who sells at their event. They are the ones responsible for the people being at that park at that time and should enjoy the fruits of their labor. If they wish to let others sell, then it should be on their terms (payment, product donation, etc).

As for selling at parks when there is no event running, you should check with either the parks department or the local club. It could be something that is desired and could be mutually beneficial or it could be verboten. No matter what, just showing up at a park and selling without an okay, in my opinion, is not the way to do it. Chances are a lot of folks went to a bunch of trouble to get that course in, so don't step on toes. If it turns out you can sell by giving the host club a buck or two per disc, then hurrah!

As always though, I will say that if you are not a licensed business and are not paying sales tax on your sales, then I am against it period. There are people out there with shops that are doing it by the book and should not be undersold by trunk-junkies that do not pay their fair share. Again, just another way that we can get the image of our sport to become more legitimate is to not be hawking merch out of every random person's car. How many other sports does this happen?

So there's my input....from a TD, a course owner and installer and a pro shop owner....and a supporter of clubs and their needs to raise money.

Later!
Scott Papa

[Discdogs]

hey sausageguy here as most of you know(i hope),iam the vendor at pier.Yes i pay fees to health dept fire dept(cuz i used propane) and of course the parks dept.i would say protocal for tourneys, parks or whereever would be talk to the person in charge.You should expect to pay a vendor fee at tourneys.On the flip side if you are paying fees for tourneys the tournament should limit the number of vendors so the vendors have a crack at making there money back.thats my two cents anyway have a great day

[Ol' Bob]

Can I have that with onions?

[Discdogs]

u eat onions?

[Ol' Bob]

Every day. Garlic too.

[Ol' Bob]

I don't usually eat soy anymore. What are your veggie dogs made of.

If you slice your dogs thin, wouldn't those be discs? (There, back on topic.)