Post by schlager7 on Dec 2, 2010 23:26:26 GMT -6
I found this thread on Fencing.Net and commend Joe biebel for starting it. I re-print it here and recommend the fencing community respond, here, on Fencing Net and elsewhere...
Living in Milwaukee, I had almost all of my students come to the NAC to watch and to buy gear. I spent an unusually large amount of time at many of the vendor’s booths. While seeking service from the various companies, I noticed that over and over again, either fencers or parents (this was a youth event) were seeking repairs for gear. Some, frankly, were a little panicked. Some of the vendors were doing some repairs, but often their technicians were busy with setting up (building weapons for example) items that they had sold for customers.
Of course the armoring staff at the NAC have their duties. This interruption happened so often, that it was noticeable. I asked around and was told that "Swordmasters" was not there, and that previously, they did the bulk of equipment repairs at the NACs, Nationals, and other events as well.
I happened to have business with Scott from Swordmasters the following week and asked him about this. His explanation was as follows:
“It pains me to know that there are people out there at tournaments who are having these sort of problems because the powers that be at the USFA do not see the need for a competent repair staff. It really was a service. We rarely made enough to even cover the expenses of bringing in three armorers. We thought about cutting back the number of people we hired, but that would place an undue burden on them and still be a disservice to the fencers who would not be able to get their equipment repaired in a timely fashion. Besides that, there is no way we could make up the losses that would be caused by the $12,000 fee that the USFA (Greg Dillworth) was wanting to impose on us. Gary will be at the NAC in Dallas and we both will be at JOs in Dallas, Only because it is cost effective to be there since he lives in the area and I will have my RV there to house additional armorers.”
Further I asked him if he would mind me quoting him on a thread I am starting on F.net and he responded as follows:
“Joe, that is great. One thing, the $12000 was for the season and that was the "reduced rate". We had offered them $6000 to be able to vend and offer repair services as the "Official Repair Center". This was rejected out of hand, even though it would have been a 625% increase over what we had paid last year. They said that they would find some other vendor that would agree to do the service and pay the $12000...evidently that has not occured, since they are asking all the vendors to take up the slack and as you saw it has not worked out as they have planned. But I do not think that they will change their minds as they view the NAC B as a successful event, since no one was arrested and the fencers paid their fees.
You can share whatever you wish from our conversations...i have nothing to hide and what I have told you may not be common knowledge among but the fencers need to know what is going on in their organization ; besides they are all about transparency. It would be nice if all cards were on the table, including the deals that they make with all vendors.
Best Regards,
Scott”
What do you think?
Should the USFA give Swordmasters or some other company, because of their emphasis on armoring (service to the fencers) at the events, be given a special pricing plan, or perhaps even paid to go?
Is the USFA, in its effort to gain more income, actually decreasing income by reducing the number of vendors that will pay the fees?
Is the USFA removing a valuable asset to the fencing community at these tournaments in a shortsighted effort to turn a profit?
If even one vendor is priced out of the venue, can the additional income from the other remaining vendors make up for this?
Do all vendors pay the same fee or it based on square footage used?
If it is square footage, perhaps the amount of space a company like Swormasters uses for its armoring services could be “not counted” or counted at a much lower rate.
Personally, I am immune to armoring problems at meets. Not everyone has skill at armoring. Obviously, I would like to see quality repairs be available at all of these competitions. Stuff happens, things break. I think repairs should not be for free. They need to be available though and they need to be reasonably priced.
Finally, I'm guessing that Scotts figure of a 625% increase is a typo. Perhaps 62.5%? Maybe he will comment on that.
Living in Milwaukee, I had almost all of my students come to the NAC to watch and to buy gear. I spent an unusually large amount of time at many of the vendor’s booths. While seeking service from the various companies, I noticed that over and over again, either fencers or parents (this was a youth event) were seeking repairs for gear. Some, frankly, were a little panicked. Some of the vendors were doing some repairs, but often their technicians were busy with setting up (building weapons for example) items that they had sold for customers.
Of course the armoring staff at the NAC have their duties. This interruption happened so often, that it was noticeable. I asked around and was told that "Swordmasters" was not there, and that previously, they did the bulk of equipment repairs at the NACs, Nationals, and other events as well.
I happened to have business with Scott from Swordmasters the following week and asked him about this. His explanation was as follows:
“It pains me to know that there are people out there at tournaments who are having these sort of problems because the powers that be at the USFA do not see the need for a competent repair staff. It really was a service. We rarely made enough to even cover the expenses of bringing in three armorers. We thought about cutting back the number of people we hired, but that would place an undue burden on them and still be a disservice to the fencers who would not be able to get their equipment repaired in a timely fashion. Besides that, there is no way we could make up the losses that would be caused by the $12,000 fee that the USFA (Greg Dillworth) was wanting to impose on us. Gary will be at the NAC in Dallas and we both will be at JOs in Dallas, Only because it is cost effective to be there since he lives in the area and I will have my RV there to house additional armorers.”
Further I asked him if he would mind me quoting him on a thread I am starting on F.net and he responded as follows:
“Joe, that is great. One thing, the $12000 was for the season and that was the "reduced rate". We had offered them $6000 to be able to vend and offer repair services as the "Official Repair Center". This was rejected out of hand, even though it would have been a 625% increase over what we had paid last year. They said that they would find some other vendor that would agree to do the service and pay the $12000...evidently that has not occured, since they are asking all the vendors to take up the slack and as you saw it has not worked out as they have planned. But I do not think that they will change their minds as they view the NAC B as a successful event, since no one was arrested and the fencers paid their fees.
You can share whatever you wish from our conversations...i have nothing to hide and what I have told you may not be common knowledge among but the fencers need to know what is going on in their organization ; besides they are all about transparency. It would be nice if all cards were on the table, including the deals that they make with all vendors.
Best Regards,
Scott”
What do you think?
Should the USFA give Swordmasters or some other company, because of their emphasis on armoring (service to the fencers) at the events, be given a special pricing plan, or perhaps even paid to go?
Is the USFA, in its effort to gain more income, actually decreasing income by reducing the number of vendors that will pay the fees?
Is the USFA removing a valuable asset to the fencing community at these tournaments in a shortsighted effort to turn a profit?
If even one vendor is priced out of the venue, can the additional income from the other remaining vendors make up for this?
Do all vendors pay the same fee or it based on square footage used?
If it is square footage, perhaps the amount of space a company like Swormasters uses for its armoring services could be “not counted” or counted at a much lower rate.
Personally, I am immune to armoring problems at meets. Not everyone has skill at armoring. Obviously, I would like to see quality repairs be available at all of these competitions. Stuff happens, things break. I think repairs should not be for free. They need to be available though and they need to be reasonably priced.
Finally, I'm guessing that Scotts figure of a 625% increase is a typo. Perhaps 62.5%? Maybe he will comment on that.