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New Entry Express Fee - Clubs to Pay additional Charges for Credit Card Fees

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Tammy Z

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
Our club tried to put our event up on Entry Express today. To our surprise, we were alerted to a new charge the clubs will incur for all new events going forward. In addition to the $4.50 (today's rate)assessed for each entry when entering an event, the club will be charged 3.75% of each entry to defray the credit card charges Entry Express incurs. For example, if you charge $80 as an entry fee, Entry Express will deduct $3 from this amount when forwarding the net check to the club. If the entry fee is $90,Entry Express will deduct $3.38 from your club's check. If you have an event with 150 entries, Entry Express will deduct $450 from your check.

It is naïve to assume the clubs can absorb this cost when several clubs in the country are barely making ends meet. The logical alternative will be to increase entry fees for all the events.

While we understand Entry Express is a business, it is customary in business to give your clients ample time to adjust to increased costs. The clubs deserve the time to evaluate their own financial status with the increase in fees, how it impacts the clubs financial situation and what alternatives are available.
It is disappointing that Entry Express opted to spring this change without any notice.

Tammy
 
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#3 ·
FWIW I received notice last week from my credit card processor that the charge per transaction (for non business people this means each time I accept a credit or debit card for payment) will be increased beginning Jan. 1 , 2016. In addition, the per cent that I pay to the credit card company for each transaction will be increased. This all means that my profit margin will be shrinking unless I increase prices and pass on the charge to my customers. Also for non business people, the merchant pays the credit card company each time you use your card. It is not a free service.
In spite of what the general public perception would like it to be, EE provides a service and needs to be compensated for it. EE has employees that like to be paid, overhead that needs to be maintained and general business expenses. If the cost of business increases, some one has to absorb it. Either the consumer in increased prices, or the business in the form of decreased margin.
If a club is not making their expenses, they need to raise the price in order to at least break even or cancel the event. Don't blame it all on EE just because it appears to be an easy target. Birds have increased in price, insurance premiums are up, hotels and travel expenses for judges and workers are also up. Maybe a club should ask judges to pay some of their own expenses :-(
I know of no other options.
It's a 4 letter word called LIFE.
MP
 
#4 ·
While I think EE could have notified all of us of its policy/pricing changes in a better fashion, I agree with Mike. The credit card companies charge me more to accept credit card payments, just like they are charging Mike more. I assume the same is true for EE. In essence, the "new charge" is a pass through. The $4.50 fee per entry is what EE is using to pay for its business. I don't think that the profit margins are there, but if they are a new competitor can enter the marketplace - and if they offer a similar product at a lower price, I am certain the business will be there.
 
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#5 ·
Mike you're 100% correct. A few years back, many merchants would not take Discover cards. The reason was that the percentage paid by merchants was higher than Visa and Master Card. Fees paid by merchants should always be part of the bottom line.
 
#6 ·
Half the places I used my credit card do this, I'm not surprised nor do I even care about $5. Feel free to add $5 to the entry fee to offset this cost. By the time you enter, drive to the trial, maybe stay over night, have a couple 3 4 meals, a $5 increase in the entry fee, is the last of your worries.
 
#8 ·
Credit card merchant fees are part of the cost of doing business, something everyone who owns a business must deal with for the convenience of being paid on the spot. High volume businesses generally pay a much lower fee than do low volume businesses. The fee EE is charged may or may not be negotiable however I think it is better practice to increase the price of the service versus attaching an add on fee. As consumers of the service we can pay by check rather than by credit card thereby avoiding the credit card fee.
 
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#9 ·
So can clubs reduce the number of catalogs we are sent? Crap we end up throwing away at least 2-3 bundles per event. May not be "that much" but every penny counts and not to mention, it's a waste of paper! It would be nice for clubs to determine what they need for number of catalogs. EE has to manage their expenses and so do the clubs....
 
#10 · (Edited)
Where are you seeing this notice about the fees to the club? I looked on EE and it still says no fees to the club, though on second glance I do see it says they subtract fees :mad:.

I set up our events a few weeks ago and did not notice the fee increase.

From http://www.entryexpress.net/exprocess.aspx):

"Notes about pricing.
There are no fees to the club, other than catalogs and postcards. Even credit card processing fees that are passed to the clubs are reimbursed from entry fees received. The various other processing fees are ONLY applied to handlers. Fees apply for all entries including mailed entries, see pricing from the menu. For the non-computer user, the only difference is that they mail their entries to a different address. We do charge the club for shipment of the catalogs."
 
#11 ·
FOM said:
So can clubs reduce the number of catalogs we are sent? Crap we end up throwing away at least 2-3 bundles per event. May not be "that much" but every penny counts and not to mention, it's a waste of paper! It would be nice for clubs to determine what they need for number of catalogs. EE has to manage their expenses and so do the clubs....
Click to expand...
The answer is yes, on the pricing page (http://www.entryexpress.net/pricing.aspx) it says:

"Pricing for AKC club catalogs:
$2.50ea up to 300. Over 300 dogs will be $2.85ea. You will receive one catalog for every .75 dogs. ex: 150 entries = 112 catalogs. If your club would like more or less, price will be negotiated on a per case basis."
 
#13 ·
Do we really need catalogs?
Should clubs have the option to not have a catalog?

Handlers can print there own running order. Just have it stated as such in the premium.

The only mention of a catalog I find in the rules is Chapter 13. This statement deals submission of, the judge signature page, number of entries and number of starters to the AKC after the trial. That could addressed with 1 sheet of paper.

EE could loss some advertising income but that is another topic.


Tim
 
#14 ·
Tim Carrion said:
Do we really need catalogs?
Should clubs have the option to not have a catalog?

Handlers can print there own running order. Just have it stated as such in the premium.

The only mention of a catalog I find in the rules is Chapter 13. This statement deals submission of, the judge signature page, number of entries and number of starters to the AKC after the trial. That could addressed with 1 sheet of paper.

EE could loss some advertising income but that is another topic.


Tim
Click to expand...
darn right you need a catalog...for the majority of the field, its all you have to show for you entry fee. Years from now when you are looking through your dog's career, unless you keep meticulous records its difficult to remember who you ran against, who judged your stake, and maybe even the breeding of your next potential sire..

A few years back I asked if anyone ever saw the day that tablets and computers would replace the paper/notebook judges book, and many scoffed at the idea...well technology allows the ability to put the catalog in a pdf type format which could be downloaded to a smartphone, but who wants that job ?

If I can get both my brother and Lanse to use a Mac Pro and and an iPad respectively, along with giving up their flip phones (well one of them at least) then anything is possible
 
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#15 ·
BonMallari said:
darn right you need a catalog...for the majority of the field, its all you have to show for you entry fee. Years from now when you are looking through your dog's career, unless you keep meticulous records its difficult to remember who you ran against, who judged your stake, and maybe even the breeding of your next potential sire..

A few years back I asked if anyone ever saw the day that tablets and computers would replace the paper/notebook judges book, and many scoffed at the idea...well technology allows the ability to put the catalog in a pdf type format which could be downloaded to a smartphone, but who wants that job ?

If I can get both my brother and Lanse to use a Mac Pro and and an iPad respectively, along with giving up their flip phones (well one of them at least) then anything is possible
Click to expand...
I am a little confused with this (T Bond post)Haha
We really don't need catalogues (canadian)
Everyone can print or write down their dog's running order.
EE has a $ interest in the advertising, is this good, or a waste of money?
What do you'al think
 
#18 ·
Mike Perry said:
FWIW I received notice last week from my credit card processor that the charge per transaction (for non business people this means each time I accept a credit or debit card for payment) will be increased beginning Jan. 1 , 2016. In addition, the per cent that I pay to the credit card company for each transaction will be increased. This all means that my profit margin will be shrinking unless I increase prices and pass on the charge to my customers. Also for non business people, the merchant pays the credit card company each time you use your card. It is not a free service.
In spite of what the general public perception would like it to be, EE provides a service and needs to be compensated for it. EE has employees that like to be paid, overhead that needs to be maintained and general business expenses. If the cost of business increases, some one has to absorb it. Either the consumer in increased prices, or the business in the form of decreased margin.
If a club is not making their expenses, they need to raise the price in order to at least break even or cancel the event. Don't blame it all on EE just because it appears to be an easy target. Birds have increased in price, insurance premiums are up, hotels and travel expenses for judges and workers are also up. Maybe a club should ask judges to pay some of their own expenses :-(
I know of no other options.
It's a 4 letter word called LIFE.
MP
Click to expand...
yep, the thought process is different when you are self employed. im fine with the charge,
i will just adjust entry fee....
 
#19 · (Edited)
Am trying to figure out what this would mean for our club, so created a hypothetical example. Feel free to check assumptions. (Does the processing fee cover the catalogs or is that separate?)

Example: 100 entries @ $80 each = $8000 revenue

Total expense
75 catalogs @ $2.50 each = $187.50
processing fee @ 3.75% = $300
catalog shipping = $50?
AKC fees (@$3.50 Ea?) = $350

Expense per entry
catalogs and shipping: $2.37
processing: $3.00
AKC: $3.50

Total: $8.87 per entry, about 11% of the gross revenue
 
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#20 · (Edited)
JKOttman said:
Am trying to figure out what this would mean for our club, so created a hypothetical example. Feel free to check assumptions. (Does the processing fee cover the catalogs or is that separate?)

Example: 100 entries @ $80 each = $8000 revenue

Total expense
75 catalogs at $2.50 each = $187.50
processing fee @ 3.75% = $300
catalog shipping = $50?
AKC fees ($3.50 Ea?) = $350

Expense per entry
catalogs and shipping: $2.37
processing: $3.00
AKC: $3.50

Total: $8.87 per entry, about 11% of the gross revenue
Click to expand...
What is the AKC $3.50 per entry? Is that something paid by club direct to AKC?

So if club raised entry to $83 would net exact same amount as before, right?
 
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