Latest Salvo in the EE v RFTN Fight

[Ted Shih]

The Retriever Field Trial News has just issued a press release

http://www.working-retriever.com/rftentry.html

[Wade]

Thanks Ted

[K G]

I particularly liked this line:

Judges' travel costs, birds and catalogues are the three most expensive elements of a weekend event.

Which one of those three throw the birds all weekend at an event??? And how do they get them to do it for less than it costs to produce a catalog???

Inquiring mind regards,

kg

[tshuntin]

KG, I was thinking the exact same thing. Catalog costs currently are one of my least financial worries as a club president planning an event.

[Russ]

It seems to me if it turns out that RTFN would be losing money on entries by giving away the catalogs for a period of time, this would be considered an anti-competitive action to destroy the other firm in the arena. I do not know how much income is derived from advertising, so it still may profitable. It seems unlikely, though.

I am not an attorney. Perhaps someone here has some expertise in predatory business practices.

[Keith Stroyan]

Seems like competition to me. ShaYne can handle it.

[Ted Shih]

It seems to me if it turns out that RTFN would be losing money on entries by giving away the catalogs for a period of time, this would be considered an anti-competitive action to destroy the other firm in the arena. I do not know how much income is derived from advertising, so it still may profitable. It seems unlikely, though.

I am not an attorney. Perhaps someone here has some expertise in predatory business practices.

I am not an Arkansas attorney, but I doubt whether under these facts offering free catalogs consitutes impermissible below cost pricing.

[Franco]

I particularly liked this line:



Which one of those three throw the birds all weekend at an event??? And how do they get them to do it for less than it costs to produce a catalog???

Inquiring mind regards,

kg

Maybe they've never had to put on a weekend trial.

From the Press Release...

Free Catalogues

As an introductory offer, RFTEntry will provide free catalogues for the first 75 clubs that select RFTEntry for their event. This approach is the best way to both load our database and to provide the clubs with a significant cost savings! In order to spread the good word, this benefit is limited to one event per club.

Cost to the Competitor

We encourage everyone to load up the profiles of their competing dogs and to use the RFTEntry service. Electronic users will be charged $2.50 per entry. Electronic entries made through our VIP program will incur a $2.00 per entry charge. RFTEntry recognizes that some dog owners do not have access to a computer or simply elect to use paper entries. For this small group of owners there will be no cost in sending paper entries. In our discussion with field trial secretaries, there were generally less than 5 entries per trial that were received from owners in paper form. Agents and other members of “the trade” that file paper entries will incur a $3.50 charge per entry. For professional handlers, alternate handlers, and agents, this charge creates the proper incentive to use our electronic database.


Am I reading this corretly, they are only willing to pay for the catalogs for one trial only?
Big deal!

In regards to the $3.50 surcharge tactic for those that prefer Entry Express, that's what they have to do in an attempt to get Entry Express' business. I'd rather pay the $3.50 (which really comes to $2.50 with the double bonus bucks with Dogs Afield)chump change than be blackmailed!

I will cancel my subscrpition to RFTN.

[Golddogs]

"As an introductory offer, RFTEntry will provide free catalogues for the first 75 clubs that select RFTEntry for their event"

That should take about 5 years to reach.

[Vicky Trainor]

I will cancel my subscrpition to RFTN.

Out of curiousity, does anyone think that since RFTN is the "premier" FT (and AKC HT) reporting souce, RFTN feels that they have more to offer than the subscriber who cancels has to lose? Or, in other words, that RFTN doesn't really care if they lose some subscribers???

Doing without a RFTN subscription regards,