January 2019 Announcement Video

[BeckyAH]

I said elsewhere that I understand inflation and that NADAC needs to increase prices.  I stand by that.

I also said, though, and it's important to remember, that most people I know don't have a 'max' number of runs per trial, they have a set amount of money per trial (or month) they can spend.  This is also true.   I won't complain about clubs raising prices, because I understand (as I understand with NADAC), but I also won't be giving them any more money, I'll just being doing a few fewer runs.  What I've got is what I've got and I'm already giving it to them.  So their income - from me, anyway - is mostly static while their costs go up.

Again - I get NADAC has to increase prices, but dismissing this as 'people will pay it' is a bit too simple in this case.  Yes, most of us WILL pay it - but in many cases they'll pay it for fewer runs, which won't help the clubs. 

(I also don't think this is for NADAC to resolve/solve.   Just recognize that it's not a non-issue in all cases.)

[Chris Nelson]

I completely understand that dilemma,  and I wouldn’t expect anyone to enter more runs than they can afford to.

We will still be the cheapest venue that I know of in regards to recording fees, or at the very least we’ll be a tie.   

It’s just one of those issues where in order for things to improve you need the capital to make that happen.   And I just don’t see 6 people working for nadac for free,  and I wouldn’t ask them to.


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[Linda W. Anderson]

I said elsewhere that I understand inflation and that NADAC needs to increase prices.  I stand by that.

I also said, though, and it's important to remember, that most people I know don't have a 'max' number of runs per trial, they have a set amount of money per trial (or month) they can spend.  This is also true.   I won't complain about clubs raising prices, because I understand (as I understand with NADAC), but I also won't be giving them any more money, I'll just being doing a few fewer runs.  What I've got is what I've got and I'm already giving it to them.  So their income - from me, anyway - is mostly static while their costs go up.

Again - I get NADAC has to increase prices, but dismissing this as 'people will pay it' is a bit too simple in this case.  Yes, most of umore moneys WILL pay it - but in many cases they'll pay it for fewer runs, which won't help the clubs. 

(I also don't think this is for NADAC to resolve/solve.   Just recognize that it's not a non-issue in all cases.)

Basically, what Becky said.   Our club (me as trial chair) have done everything we could think of to draw in more people and/or increase the number of runs.  We have also cut costs everywhere we can.  But we still see a decrease in profit from one year to the next.  I am competing with 2 AKC trials that make a huge amount of money.  I totally understand the need to increase the fees, everything is going up.  But to just dismiss it as "people will pay" is unrealistic.   If person A has been entering 10 runs at $10 per run for a total of $100 and now will only enter 9 runs if the price per run goes up to $11, that equals $99.  We lose $1 and NADAC and the judge loose as well.  The only way I see this working is if exhibitors also spend more money (which they may or may not have).  Any suggestions to make this work would be greatly appreciated.
Linda

[Chris Nelson]

Again I think a lot of assumptions are being made.

Give it a chance.  If it fails you all know we’ll adjust. 

If the price does have to decrease then a lot of improvements for nadac will not happen, judges designing their own courses definitely won’t happen for starters


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[Amanda Nelson]

This is a decision that the NADAC office did not take lightly and we went through LOTS of discussion before deciding upon it.

We definitely are not dismissing it as “people will pay”, and we do realize how this affects clubs and competitors.

We are trying to keep our prices as manageable as possible while still being able to pay our current staff, and the new staff we will be hiring to streamline NADAC and continue to make it better and better.

We do really appreciate the feedback, and we want it to keep coming! Chris and I take every post, and every email we get into account and it plays a part in all of our decisions.

You all are the best! Thank you!
Amanda


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[Liane B]

As the owner of a small business (I am a veterinarian and own a small animal practice), I totally get the need for an increase in fees. Would I like to be able to make prices low enough that everyone can afford to look after as many pets as they like, provide all the care and services recommended and not have it hurt their pocketbook? Of course!!! However, I also need to keep the lights on, buy equipment and supplies and pay my very qualified staff a fair wage. This means that for some people decisions have to be made on what they, personally, can afford.  As mentioned, it has been many, many years since NADAC has increased its' fees. I agree this is likely not an issue for NADAC to solve/resolve - it just is what it is. Along the same lines, clubs will likely need to adjust their fees accordingly, and people will play  based on what they can afford. Maybe the conversation needs to shift to other ways clubs can increase revenue, cut costs, increase the total number of participants, etc.

[danforth]

living in NH,  the cost per run is not a big factor is.  Cocoa just doesn't want to run many runs per day.  since I am at least 2 hours from either of my nearest NADAC trials, the cost of a motel room has a much larger impact on my trial budget.

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[BeckyAH]

I completely understand that dilemma,  and I wouldn’t expect anyone to enter more runs than they can afford to.

We will still be the cheapest venue that I know of in regards to recording fees, or at the very least we’ll be a tie.   

It’s just one of those issues where in order for things to improve you need the capital to make that happen.   And I just don’t see 6 people working for nadac for free,  and I wouldn’t ask them to.


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I wouldn't ask/was not asking NADAC not to increase fees, either.  It's life, the cost of things go up.  It's just what it is.  Some clubs are going to have to hustle, and I'm a little scared for them because I not only love NADAC,  I *really* love my local clubs.

We'll figure it out and it'll work out.   I'm a worrier by nature, but I'm also pretty optimistic.

[Chris Nelson]

I wonder if there would be a way for nadac to help out smaller clubs that are doing an excellent job, to make sure they survive?   

I’m all for ideas in ways that nadac could sponsor clubs in some way


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[Amy McGovern]

In my opinion, the leash thing is getting blown out of proportion.  I have been doing both AKC and NADAC since I started doing agility about 10 years ago.  AKC has always allowed tugging on the leash while still in the ring at the end of a run.  Believe me, it is no big deal.  Some people do it and some people don't.  I have literally NEVER seen a situation where the incoming team got distracted by the departing team during this process.  And that takes into consideration that the AKC judges tend to be much more lenient about when to let the next team start than NADAC judges.

I'm just curious: where do you trial at AKC?  We show in 3 venues and I've NEVER been to an AKC show where the judges are "lenient" about when to get into the ring.  In fact, I've been literally yelled at by the gate for trying to avoid a potential situation with the dog ahead of me.  Never happens when the same dog and I trial in the other 2 venues.  The other handler and I ran into each other tonight as we were again back to back into the ring (at TDAA this time) and we discussed this post.  Both of us want to know where you have seen this as both of us have experienced NADAC and TDAA being amazingly nice but AKC is terrible with both of our dogs at the gate... So I'm just curious!

p.s. I don't think tugging will be an issue either.  I'm quite excited about it!!

[bettyj.carter]

Amy, in regards to your statement about AKC and the previous statement about AKC judges being lenient, what I have experienced in AKC (and perhaps this what the previous poster meant), many AKC judges release the next dog to run before the previous dog has been leashed. Not lenient in that you can delay your entry or the start of your run to clear the previous dog out.

[SandeeStewie]

As I mentioned in the video, there hasn’t been a price increase basically since the inception of nadac.   Name a single product in the world that doesn’t adjust for inflation?    The cost of everything involved in running nadac has increased,  the number of employees has increased, but we’re still charging the same as in 1993.

I'm fine with the plan for NADAC to increase the fees as published. Supply & demand. Those who don't have unlimited budgets adjust accordingly.
But I wouldn't universally use the argument given... lots of businesses are unable to increase prices. The tech industry has lots of these examples. Prices come down every year, comparatively few companies in that industry can raise their prices.
It's not unusual for revenues/income to fall every year over decades. Different business models, different dynamics & different adjustments... permanent layoffs, offshoring, mergers/acquisitions, bankruptcy etc. Holding still can even be a challenge because competition in some industries gets tougher every year.
 

Again, show me any other service where someone gets something entirely for free, and then gets to go out and make money from it,  and the person who put in the work for that product gets nothing?

Open Source Software is a good example. Products are 100% free. Customer can download for free & use. Some businesses make money selling a service around said products they pick up for free, such as providing support for said software. Lots of people volunteer their work for free & get nothing in return.

That said, from my perspective given some runs in USDAA can be as high as $30 for 25 seconds in the ring (e.g. Steeplechase Tournament), $10, $11 or $12 a run in NADAC is a bargain even if the courses are shorter & simpler.

Everything is supply & demand or provided voluntary. This will pass & people will adjust. I don't think what NADAC is asking is unreasonable.

Matt.
Sandee/Stewie.

[Amy McGovern]

Amy, in regards to your statement about AKC and the previous statement about AKC judges being lenient, what I have experienced in AKC (and perhaps this what the previous poster meant), many AKC judges release the next dog to run before the previous dog has been leashed. Not lenient in that you can delay your entry or the start of your run to clear the previous dog out.

Ok. That isn’t what I’d call lenient but I see what you mean at least.

[Rena Bonem]

I really think in looking at the entries for our last trials and looking at my budget for entering trials, that $1 a run will not be the problem.  The biggest problem that I see is the increased cost of lodging.  For two nights, at the last two trials I entered, the cost was $250-$330.  I would have entered another trial, but it was going to be about $500 for 2 nights.  Add that to the new pet fees that LQ is imposing in many of their hotels, I can see why folks are only doing one day or maybe 2 days at our March trial.  In the past, I could get by with $90-150 per weekend for lodging.  I am limiting overnight stays because I also have to pay a pet sitter for my other 2 dogs.
Rena

[Lisa Schmit In The Zone Agility]

In regarding to judges and course design,  as a club we will pay the judge as usual correct?    The judge will then pay the course designer?
I am doing taxes and thinking about how this will work.   


In regards to the fee increase,  Is there going to be a change in the minimum daily run fee?