What STEP is Designed to Do

[theCryptofishist]

Okay, I think it might be useful to talk about what STEP (Safe Ticket Exchange Program) was designed to do. I know, almost everyone is convinced that it won't work, but some of us think that it's too early to say.

I don't actually know what the STEP was designed for, I actually have inferred it from the description, and there are almost certainly nuances that I'm missing.

Simply put, I think STEP is the core of the anti-scalping strategy of the ticketing system. As long someone has a reasonably good chance of getting a STEP ticket at face value, scalpers will have trouble selling their tickets at a large mark up. If enough people participate, it could work. And I remember that last year a lot of people got their ticket from other burners at face price, so I'm not convinced that all the "missing" tickets are going to be scalped.

[BBadger]

It seems the common thread in this year's strategies against scalping is to create systems that prevent predictable buying and selling. For STEP in particular, it is my understanding is that it is like organ donation: while you can choose to "donate" (sell) your ticket via STEP, you do not have any choice in who it gets sold to. This would prevent someone from abusing STEP to sell tickets directly to a specific individual.

The unpredictable purchasing in STEP may be a problem for theme camps who may forego the STEP process and concentrate on the open sale where tickets can be purchased directly, and in larger quantities. I know that was my strategy if my group did not receive enough tickets, and it may very well be retained for the other camp members.

We'll see what happens but I do wish BMOrg would implement STEP sooner, as this ticket vacuum is creating some serious breakdowns in peoples' planning. The later in the year these programs are implemented, the more discouraged people are going to become, especially those who are used to buying early like all good burners do.

[FIGJAM]

My understanding is that people who did'nt get picked in the lotto would get first crack at the STEP tickets.

[Trishntek]

It seems many are convinced STEP is based upon naive belief in the burner community. I, being the eternal optimist agree with you that we need to give this thing a chance to run its course before crying foul. Like you say, how can scalpers compete with it unless the community chooses to support the greedy bastards?

[Bexx]

From the email I got.. It said those that didn't get tix from the lottery..will have first crack at the STEP tix.

Now, I would like to know what the numbers are.. On how many people entered the lottery, didn't get picked.. And will get put into STEP. any idea on the %?

[Minxy]

I think STEP could be potentially helpful for the redistribution of any tickets that aren't claimed by friends/camp-mates except for one thing, the cost.

I believe there are many Burners that would love to help other Burners get their face value tickets, even through STEP where they won't know the person who it's going to. I also don't believe with "most" people that their benevolence will extend to ignoring the fact that they will be losing money using STEP.

For each ticket purchased normally (lottery/open sale/pre-sale) a buyer must pay $6.00 per ticket, $1.00 per order and $12.00 for either will call or USPS Sig. Confirmation. According to what I've seen on STEP, it will only reimburse the "seller" FACE VALUE. Therefore, the seller is "eating" $19.00, which they wouldn't have to do if they sold through Craigslist or a post on Eplaya or to a local friend...or god forbid, scalped it in some fashion.

That's my only big concern about people choosing to not use STEP. I just hope there are enough loose tickets to make STEP viable!

[BBadger]

What I'm predicting (or at least hoping) is that STEP will benefit sellers as a direct transfer reimbursement system facilitated by BMOrg. In other words, as a seller, you get all the per-ticket money back for your ticket as a credit-card refund (face value + $6), and the ticket ownership simply transfers to whoever "bought" the ticket via STEP. Hopefully if both tickets are sold, all the money is reimbursed. It ought to, because then there is only one shipment that needs to be made rather than two.

STEP needs to be easy for people to use, equitable, and take advantage of the fact that BMOrg still controls all the tickets at this point.

One thing that I hope comes of this STEP thing is that we don't get the annual namaste-slinging, ticket beg-a-thon we normally see in the ticket forum. Maybe we'll see replacement "SELL YOUR TICKET TO US INSTEAD" posts replacing them.

[Minxy]

What I'm predicting (or at least hoping) is that STEP will benefit sellers as a direct transfer reimbursement system facilitated by BMOrg. In other words, as a seller, you get all the per-ticket money back for your ticket as a credit-card refund (face value + $6), and the ticket ownership simply transfers to whoever "bought" the ticket via STEP. Hopefully if both tickets are sold, all the money is reimbursed. It ought to, because then there is only one shipment that needs to be made rather than two.

STEP needs to be easy for people to use, equitable, and take advantage of the fact that BMOrg still controls all the tickets at this point.

One thing that I hope comes of this STEP thing is that we don't get the annual namaste-slinging, ticket beg-a-thon we normally see in the ticket forum. Maybe we'll see replacement "SELL YOUR TICKET TO US INSTEAD" posts replacing them.

Well what I've read (and re-posted here but it was deleted by a mod) is that people who sell their tickets back to STEP are only being reimbursed for face value. I'd re-post it here, but the BMorg told the mods here that it wasn't allowed on the Eplaya boards yet... *shrugs* Silly, IMO, since it was all over the internet, but whatever!

[Ataraxist]

Some one remind me, whats to stop scalpers from buying the STEP tickets?

[vargaso]

I'm betting on relatively very few tickets going into STEP because anecdotally those with "extra" tickets are few and far between, and more than likely those tickets will simply go to friends/campmates directly. That's the case with my camp. And of course, scalpers won't use STEP at all. And many honest burners who plan to sell their ticket at face value will go the Craigslist route both because it's less hassle and to avoid the "restocking fee" with STEP. Which leaves people who got tickets but decide not to go and don't have any friends who need a ticket and. I'm not too optimistic about the size of that population.

There is the fact that ticket don't mail until June, which would mean people selling before then would have to use STEP, but again, I think that population will be small, as people will wait and see how things shake out.

All speculation of course, that's just my hunch.

[vargaso]

What I'm predicting (or at least hoping) is that STEP will benefit sellers as a direct transfer reimbursement system facilitated by BMOrg. In other words, as a seller, you get all the per-ticket money back for your ticket as a credit-card refund (face value + $6), and the ticket ownership simply transfers to whoever "bought" the ticket via STEP. Hopefully if both tickets are sold, all the money is reimbursed. It ought to, because then there is only one shipment that needs to be made rather than two.

STEP needs to be easy for people to use, equitable, and take advantage of the fact that BMOrg still controls all the tickets at this point.

One thing that I hope comes of this STEP thing is that we don't get the annual namaste-slinging, ticket beg-a-thon we normally see in the ticket forum. Maybe we'll see replacement "SELL YOUR TICKET TO US INSTEAD" posts replacing them.

Well what I've read (and re-posted here but it was deleted by a mod) is that people who sell their tickets back to STEP are only being reimbursed for face value. I'd re-post it here, but the BMorg told the mods here that it wasn't allowed on the Eplaya boards yet... *shrugs* Silly, IMO, since it was all over the internet, but whatever!

Oh, well that could mean they're reconsidering the "restocking fee," which would be great news. Let's hope so.

[Minxy]

Oh, nope, I forgot to remark on the "restocking fee" when I wrote my post. That was in that bit about STEP, too. Sure wish we could post it here but it will just get deleted.

What I'm predicting (or at least hoping) is that STEP will benefit sellers as a direct transfer reimbursement system facilitated by BMOrg. In other words, as a seller, you get all the per-ticket money back for your ticket as a credit-card refund (face value + $6), and the ticket ownership simply transfers to whoever "bought" the ticket via STEP. Hopefully if both tickets are sold, all the money is reimbursed. It ought to, because then there is only one shipment that needs to be made rather than two.

STEP needs to be easy for people to use, equitable, and take advantage of the fact that BMOrg still controls all the tickets at this point.

One thing that I hope comes of this STEP thing is that we don't get the annual namaste-slinging, ticket beg-a-thon we normally see in the ticket forum. Maybe we'll see replacement "SELL YOUR TICKET TO US INSTEAD" posts replacing them.

Well what I've read (and re-posted here but it was deleted by a mod) is that people who sell their tickets back to STEP are only being reimbursed for face value. I'd re-post it here, but the BMorg told the mods here that it wasn't allowed on the Eplaya boards yet... *shrugs* Silly, IMO, since it was all over the internet, but whatever!

Oh, well that could mean they're reconsidering the "restocking fee," which would be great news. Let's hope so.

[vargaso]

What I'm predicting (or at least hoping) is that STEP will benefit sellers as a direct transfer reimbursement system facilitated by BMOrg. In other words, as a seller, you get all the per-ticket money back for your ticket as a credit-card refund (face value + $6), and the ticket ownership simply transfers to whoever "bought" the ticket via STEP. Hopefully if both tickets are sold, all the money is reimbursed. It ought to, because then there is only one shipment that needs to be made rather than two.

STEP needs to be easy for people to use, equitable, and take advantage of the fact that BMOrg still controls all the tickets at this point.

One thing that I hope comes of this STEP thing is that we don't get the annual namaste-slinging, ticket beg-a-thon we normally see in the ticket forum. Maybe we'll see replacement "SELL YOUR TICKET TO US INSTEAD" posts replacing them.

Well what I've read (and re-posted here but it was deleted by a mod) is that people who sell their tickets back to STEP are only being reimbursed for face value. I'd re-post it here, but the BMorg told the mods here that it wasn't allowed on the Eplaya boards yet... *shrugs* Silly, IMO, since it was all over the internet, but whatever!

Oh, well that could mean they're reconsidering the "restocking fee," which would be great news. Let's hope so.

Oh, nope, I forgot to remark on the "restocking fee" when I wrote my post. That was in that bit about STEP, too. Sure wish we could post it here but it will just get deleted.

That's what I mean, they could be deleting it because it's not set in stone any more.

[Minxy]

I sure hope they do. They would have to eat a bit of fees but I'd think it would be worth it to motivate people to use the STEP.

Oh, nope, I forgot to remark on the "restocking fee" when I wrote my post. That was in that bit about STEP, too. Sure wish we could post it here but it will just get deleted.

That's what I mean, they could be deleting it because it's not set in stone any more.

[lemur]

Oh, nope, I forgot to remark on the "restocking fee" when I wrote my post. That was in that bit about STEP, too. Sure wish we could post it here but it will just get deleted.

you cant post that here because that wasnt even what is actually going to be implemented, nor had it been approved.

the wording of it wasnt written for public release and could likely cause confusion among some people (as we've seen over this ticket ordeal some people cant seem to read even well written stuff without coming up with their own version of it in their heads) who are right now likely needing as unambiguous stuff as they can get.

the claims youve made about the STEP program and its supposed features, excluding aspects that have been released by the LLC, are not facts. The thing you saw is not a factual document so much as a proposal of the way it might be... It is not and was not finalized and there is good reason for it to have been removed from ePlaya. It spreading unchecked in the community might have caused even more hurt and distaste in peoples mouths when they may have found out their favorite feature of the proposal actually didn't make it into the final program.

There are some things that the Staff see that are not intended for public release because they are not finalized, because giving them out would serve no benefit, because they might impact the infrastructure negatively, among other reasons.. Surely youre aware that some stuff is shared between departments and within the organization to give people a heads up of what one department is doing. Sometimes these things change, sometimes they don't, this thing is subject to vast change and none of it may actually occur. Right now this is a thing that wasn't intended for public dissemination because it wasn't finalized it was intended as a 'heads up' to the people attending a Staff meeting who might have been interested in knowing what the ticket team was considering.

Take it with a grain of playa dust... and spread the word about it not being set in stone, as well, Minxy.. because it isn't ..vargaso is totally right....... and none of what you saw may actually be implemented.

[Minxy]

Thanks so much for clarifying that, Moderator lemur. What WOULD we do without you here to tell us stuff we already know?

There are things posted by the BMorg themselves that may change. Many things may change. Much of what everyone is blathering about for hours here is speculation. I'm just referring to information that was posted about STEP by someone who was at the actual meeting and commented on by two other people who were at that meeting.

But please, by all means, continue to bless us with your infinite wisdom! *sighs*

Oh, nope, I forgot to remark on the "restocking fee" when I wrote my post. That was in that bit about STEP, too. Sure wish we could post it here but it will just get deleted.

you cant post that here because that wasnt even what is actually going to be implemented, nor had it been approved.

the wording of it wasnt written for public release and could likely cause confusion among some people (as we've seen over this ticket ordeal some people cant seem to read even well written stuff without coming up with their own version of it in their heads) who are right now likely needing as unambiguous stuff as they can get.

the claims youve made about the STEP program and its supposed features, excluding aspects that have been released by the LLC, are not facts. The thing you saw is not a factual document so much as a proposal of the way it might be... It is not and was not finalized and there is good reason for it to have been removed from ePlaya. It spreading unchecked in the community might have caused even more hurt and distaste in peoples mouths when they may have found out their favorite feature of the proposal actually didn't make it into the final program.

There are some things that the Staff see that are not intended for public release because they are not finalized, because giving them out would serve no benefit, because they might impact the infrastructure negatively, among other reasons.. Surely youre aware that some stuff is shared between departments and within the organization to give people a heads up of what one department is doing. Sometimes these things change, sometimes they don't, this thing is subject to vast change and none of it may actually occur. Right now this is a thing that wasn't intended for public dissemination because it wasn't finalized it was intended as a 'heads up' to the people attending a Staff meeting who might have been interested in knowing what the ticket team was considering.

Take it with a grain of playa dust... and spread the word about it not being set in stone, as well, Minxy.. because it isn't ..vargaso is totally right....... and none of what you saw may actually be implemented.

[vargaso]

Oh, nope, I forgot to remark on the "restocking fee" when I wrote my post. That was in that bit about STEP, too. Sure wish we could post it here but it will just get deleted.

you cant post that here because that wasnt even what is actually going to be implemented, nor had it been approved.

the wording of it wasnt written for public release and could likely cause confusion among some people (as we've seen over this ticket ordeal some people cant seem to read even well written stuff without coming up with their own version of it in their heads) who are right now likely needing as unambiguous stuff as they can get.

the claims youve made about the STEP program and its supposed features, excluding aspects that have been released by the LLC, are not facts. The thing you saw is not a factual document so much as a proposal of the way it might be... It is not and was not finalized and there is good reason for it to have been removed from ePlaya. It spreading unchecked in the community might have caused even more hurt and distaste in peoples mouths when they may have found out their favorite feature of the proposal actually didn't make it into the final program.

There are some things that the Staff see that are not intended for public release because they are not finalized, because giving them out would serve no benefit, because they might impact the infrastructure negatively, among other reasons.. Surely youre aware that some stuff is shared between departments and within the organization to give people a heads up of what one department is doing. Sometimes these things change, sometimes they don't, this thing is subject to vast change and none of it may actually occur. Right now this is a thing that wasn't intended for public dissemination because it wasn't finalized it was intended as a 'heads up' to the people attending a Staff meeting who might have been interested in knowing what the ticket team was considering.

Take it with a grain of playa dust... and spread the word about it not being set in stone, as well, Minxy.. because it isn't ..vargaso is totally right....... and none of what you saw may actually be implemented.

I could be remembering this wrong, but I thought the ticket confirmation email mentioned the STEP restocking fee. I didn't get a ticket so I can't check. However, I strongly agree with this statement of yours: "vargaso is totally right."

[Trishntek]

My confirmation email states:

Should you find yourself with more tickets than you or your friends and family actually need, we ask that you PLEASE use Burning Man’s Secure Ticket Exchange Program (STEP) to offer them back into the community at face value (minus restocking fees). Watch for an email before the end of February with details about how you can participate in this safe, hassle-free program. If you need to update your email address before then, please go to http://tickets2.burningman.com/contact and select “update email address” from the support menu.

[The CO]

I, being the eternal optimist agree with you that we need to give this thing a chance to run its course before crying foul.

That's not optimism, that's the basics of scientific theory.

You cannot reach conclusions about an experiment until it is completed.

Or, in laymans terms, people need to STFU about how anything has failed until we see the final results. The final results won't be in until Sept. 4, 2012.

[BBadger]

I am pretty interested in seeing how the whole thing plays out. People like to abandon things immediately after something appears to go wrong--sometimes even before it even does.

[lemur]

I am pretty

i stopped reading right here, i refuse to believe this.

[BBadger]

Youmakebunnycry.jpg

[lemur]

crying ?


looks like that bunny is huffing paint to me.

[lemur]

Thanks so much for clarifying that(1+ sarcasm point), Moderator lemur (1+ sarcasm point). What WOULD we do without you here(1+ sarcasm point) to tell us stuff we already know (1- sarcasm point, not everyone knows this?) (+1 teenage 'whatever' point for the eye roll)

There are things posted by the BMorg themselves that may change. Many things may change. Much of what everyone is blathering about for hours here is speculation. I'm just referring to information that was posted about STEP by someone who was at the actual meeting (me too) and commented on by two other people who were at that meeting (me too).

But please, by all means, continue to bless us with your infinite wisdom! (+1 sarcasm point) *sighs* (1+ sarcasm point)

total score:
5 sarcasm points..
1 teenage 'whatever' point

Deductions:
1 sarcasm point

Final combined score
5 points!

Judges Opinion:
you can do better than that!! eye rolls, and sarcasm are sooo much less interesting than REAL wit..Alas, I guess sarcasm is one rung higher than puns ! +1 sympathy point for not stooping that low.




Hey, youll always have another chance in 4 years!

[yellfireinatheater]

Some one remind me, whats to stop scalpers from buying the STEP tickets?

funny i logged on just to ask this same question. i know there seems to be some controversy about how many tickets went to scalpers. i know some people think it's only a few some think its the majority, but i think that even a few is too many. but if i was a scalper i would try to get as many as possible and what would stop me from signing up for one or multiple on STEP?

[graidawg]

please stop with the scalpers already. if we are so worried about scalpers lets simple take the general advice. Don't buy from them.
lets wait till the general sale before we really start paniccing, then till the tickets are actually in peoples hands before assuming even one scalper bought a ticket.
if we see any ticket sales on ebay/craigslist/wherever get them taken down as at this point it is impossible to resell a ticket. There are no tickets in existence and no resale marketplace so nobody can resell them.
Please lets try and keep our heads and remember Black Rock City is a community based on well community, radical inclusion. So lets trust that the people who have extra tickets by accident or design will attempt to pass them on to fellow burners at cost until we know for sure that this is not the case.
Sure this system may mean that many long time theme camps won't be there but they haven't always been there and Burning Man will continue without them. We make the burn not sound camps or bars or any of the other things that people have got used to. The virgins who go this year have seen pictures and short videos they haven't been, so lets not think that because some of the things we have got used aren't there it will make it any less for them.
We can't control the weather, but we can help people prepare for the worst. we can decide who is there but we can make sure they have a good time, by being a community that respects the core principles
I for one am looking forward to BM this year even more, lets not say last year was better, lets make this year better and make it a new benchmark in what burners can do!

[Raymaker]

I predict that there will be no tickets in STEP. I'd be happy if this prediction is wrong, but I doubt it.

[lemur]

i predict that raymaker is gonna get a ticket to burning man 2012 and have the best time EVER!!!!

[Raymaker]

i predict that raymaker is gonna get a ticket to burning man 2012 and have the best time EVER!!!!

Well I would have loved for that to happen, but this whole situation is making me believe that even if I got a ticket, that by the time I arrive, and partly due to my mental state, I will be in a negative state of mind about the whole event, so for my own peace of mind I should really consider that this year is not for me. I have started to put together an alternative plan now, which is getting more attractive by the day, an idea that is exciting me, the complete opposite to going to BM this year. I think this year I will organise a road trip with my partner and visit American Land Art sites, such as the Roden Crater Project, Spiral Jetty and Double Negative!

[lemur]

[THIS SPACE RESERVED FOR PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY WANT TO HAVE A GOOD TIME]