offering less money if I just go to BM for 2-3 days

[scott2trott]

Hi all,
FNG here(Fuc*in New Guy)

Is it poor taste to offer less money for a ticket on the grounds that I would only want to go BM for 2/3 days?

My thinking is this-If the ticket is $500 for 7 days, offer $200 for 2/3 days.

Thoughts?

[HarryN]

Today is Sept 04.

Doesn't it end on Sept 05?

I would say yes, but what do I know.

[scott2trott]

sorry I meant to say I was looking to go next year('23) just for the weekend.

[HarryN]

Ah - now I understand.

Well - it isn't all that easy to get a ticket in the first place, at least it has not been for me. I have seen some people offering tickets last minute that were either extras or could not go.

I don't know if this is an acceptable thing to do, but maybe you can time share the ticket with some friends? Each of you go for a few days?

The logistics of getting stuff in there, associating with a camp (or going completely on your own) is a lot of work. I do understand though - I completely get why a few days would be enough for me.

[gaminwench]

The original purchaser of the ticket paid X amount of dollars. If they're selling, they are trying to recoup their money. Why would they give anyone a discount just because they're doing a weekender?

[Lonesomebri]

Sure, it's do-able. But anyone who manages to buy a ticket either wants to use it, or sell it for what it cost. Nobody is buying a ticket at cost and saying, I'll wait til the event is almost over and sell it at a discount. Nobody. So you are counting on hopefully finding a person who can't make it at the last moment, or is stuck with a ticket somehow halfway thru the event. That's totally possible, and happens. But finding that situation, and you making your plans around that gamble, which is unplannable, is another thing. And there's no way to re-use a ticket if a person leaves early, that ticket has been scanned.

[Token]

So, to summarize … NO!

First and foremost, it’s super douche my man to work that kind of angle on an incredibly scarce resource like a ticket.

Second, there is a strong culture of only reselling tickets at face value. So strong, it’s almost a religion.

Besides, if you wanna go, do the whole 9 yards. Make it happen. Get involved.

Don’t be a tourist.

[HarryN]

Sure, it's do-able. But anyone who manages to buy a ticket either wants to use it, or sell it for what it cost. Nobody is buying a ticket at cost and saying, I'll wait til the event is almost over and sell it at a discount. Nobody. So you are counting on hopefully finding a person who can't make it at the last moment, or is stuck with a ticket somehow halfway thru the event. That's totally possible, and happens. But finding that situation, and you making your plans around that gamble, which is unplannable, is another thing. And there's no way to re-use a ticket if a person leaves early, that ticket has been scanned.

So - if a person needs to leave during the event - for example to go to reno for more suppliers - they can't get back in?

If 2 people want to share the experience, but only have the budget for 1 ticket, they can't each go for 1/2 of it?

I don't know - it is a question.

[gaminwench]

First, one should plan enough supplies for the duration.
There is an in&out wristband ($20?) at exit, and one will need both your ticket 'stub' and wristband for reentry.
It is at least a six hour round trip to Reno, plus road conditions and gate line.
This is a wasted day.

Once a ticket has been scanned, it cannot be used again.

[some seeing eye]

No.

All the expenses to put on the event are fixed in advance, and most expenses the BMORG pays before the event, thus the advance ticket sales. The expenses to put on the event don't change if you go 1 day or 15.

[HarryN]

It seems like the cost to the organization is essentially the same, if one person uses a ticket for the entire event, or if 2 people are able to go for 1/2 of the time.

There is no change in infrastructure cost to the organization or anyone else, as these are "per ticket" costs.

The only things that really change are:
- It would take a lot of pressure off of the ticket shortage.
- It would enable some people who can't afford to go to lower their cost by sharing the cost
- People could go without using up so much vacation time

Two people in the same camp could make nearly 2x as much preparation volunteer contribution to it than 1 person.

As it is now, it is more like a Disney 7 day pass / walled garden concept vs the "freedom oriented" concept that I imagine it as.

Perhaps it is an area where the rules can be adjusted in the future.

[ygmir]

what could possibly go wrong with 2, 4, 9 people sharing a ticket? (see netfilx, etc).
Imagine gate staff verifying the ticket if it's gotten damaged at all, verifying the correct wrist band for re entry, and that that person is who should have it, the sense if angst of those sharing, that "their turn" will happen on time, or even at all (if the person forgets to come out), along with "I need to be there, why are they late?", and the associated charge of the gate because "hey I paid my share, but X didn't show up, so I deserve to be in there, ticket or no"....

[Token]

No amount of examinations of the BM ledgers will give you any insight to the question posed by the OP.

The simplest explanation for what is just not explainable; BM is a journey, not a destination.

Yeah, cliché for sure, but it’s absolutely true.

There is a whole theme park of stages of joy and grief in that journey, and it crosses annual event boundaries.

It’s not about unit economics. It’s one of the few remaining adventures one can take, and then keep coming back for more.

So, no matter how clever the rationale, you just won’t get it until at least year 3 of actually being there for 10 days … and even then, you’re still a greenhorn.