BMW ECO 2012 ripoff!!

[Coetzee Zietsman]

Coetzee Zietsman, I am confused. You had 750 entrants, how many was planned for? Was Minzi's place filled after he cancelled or not? What do you mean by "all those that could not crack an invite?"

There was 620 bikes entered. Add to that a couple of pillions, BMW SA Staff, Club Staff and the media and you get to a number of 750. Much the same as last year.

[2StrokeDan]

Coetzee Zietsman, I am confused. You had 750 entrants, how many was planned for? Was Minzi's place filled after he cancelled or not? What do you mean by "all those that could not crack an invite?"

There was 620 bikes entered. Add to that a couple of pillions, BMW SA Staff, Club Staff and the media and you get to a number of 750. Much the same as last year.

I understood that only 600 bikes would be allowed to partake, due to the Eco unfriendly footprint after that figure. Therefore I can only make the deduction that Minzi's payment was kept ON TOP of that of whoever filled their places?
If you can assure me that after withdrawing, Minzi's places were left unfilled, but already catered for and paid, I would understand that a refund would have been impossible.

[BennNevis]

Hey one eye king let it be. Not your fight oh little one

[2StrokeDan]

Hey one eye king let it be. Not your fight oh little one

Or your's??

Would'nt the organisers love for it to melt away, like Nkandla!

[BennNevis]

Should you not be putting out fires on another fred?
From what i can tell the organizers could not give a toss, see they've got the T&C to fall back on

[blauth]

Did you accept the Terms and Conditions when you entered?
Edit: Yes you did

2. By registering for this event, you automatically accept the terms and conditions and agree that you are attending the event entirely at    your own risk.

Did you cancel before or after 18 September?

That is really all there is to it.

Agree with you 100% in terms of the law and they are entitled to not refund however....a fair resolution would be a refund less handling fee considering the slots were filled so this just gives me the impression that they are full of shit....

Marketing spends big dolla's to uplift the brand and the event just to screw it up again for a couple of bucks. Backward ECOnomics!

[RogerL]

A very entertaining read, thank you to all who participated.

Not surprisingly, the jury was out for less than 2 minutes...in fact they never left their chairs.  BMW, very poor effort.

Unfortunately, social media is viral and this story will circulate and it will do damage to the brand.  You can try and defend it, but to allow something like this to even get to a stage where your name is associated with something negative like this, especially within the exclusive niche where you operate.  No BMW, No!  Even though you are not the organisers, it is still your show.  People will remember the name BMW long before any other name.  This should never have been allowed to happen, not on this forum in this day and age.  For R800!!!

PR 101 - do not piss your potential market off, ever!  And the bold statements about no brand damage, don't be fooled into a false sense of security.  Yes, you have a waiting list so you will always be full, but how many return clients?  And how many from this forum - the biggest free advertising spot you can get.  People vote with their feet very quickly, and the arrogance of the organisation is only inflaming the situation.

[Gingerball]

Will I stop riding a BMW because of this thread? No
Were the organizers by rights to refuse the refund, as stipulated and signed by the entrant? Yes
Do I think the organizers and BMW could (not should) have handled it better? Yes.

[TheBear]

 

[ETS]

IMHO

[BlingKing]

IMHO

no shite sherlock!

[RogerL]

Will I stop riding a BMW because of this thread? No
Were the organizers by rights to refuse the refund, as stipulated and signed by the entrant? Yes
Do I think the organizers and BMW could (not should) have handled it better? Yes.

The issue is not that, but rather that they charged Minzi, and then (re)charged the replacement people who took the spot that was already paid for, as well.  They simply filled the vacancies from the waiting list.  If they advertised 600 places, they would then have only asked the suppliers to quote on 600 places.  They allowed it to be overbooked, but nobody plans a bash, sets a limit and then overbooks and allows the overbookees to also attend.  Why not then just tender for 800!  Or just close entries on 18 Sept as the planning seems to be a free-for-all anyway.  Then you can justify not refunding as the suppliers were paid.  But double selling the spot - nothing less than blatant theft!

No sirree, only the soccer stadiums work on that system.

Do I think the organizers are unscrupulous?  Yes

[africanSky]

Why is it in this day and age that people enter into a contract, knowing the conditions up front, then break the contract and get pissed off when the supplier / organiser enforces the terms of the agreement?
We live in a time when people do not seem to be willing to take responsibility for their actions?

[Snafu]

IMHO

 

I agree

[2StrokeDan]

Why is it in this day and age that people enter into a contract, knowing the conditions up front, then break the contract and get pissed off when the supplier / organiser enforces the terms of the agreement?
We live in a time when people do not seem to be willing to take responsibility for their actions?

What reason would a supplier/organiser have for holding you to the T+C's, if they get immediate fill-ins that cover all cost? One reason. Dishonesty.

[Garfield]

Round and round she goes...

[africanSky]

Round and round she goes...

Yep, like a stuck record.....

[Fuzzy Muzzy]

Nearly 3000 views 

[BOER!]

Cant believe this thread is still going.

[Fudmucker]

Caution, gentlemen - some of the postings on this page are borderline libelous.