Please add the Cactus Jack’s Silverball Showdown to the list of casualties.
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Got 12M on that. Was hopping like a bunny 
Having worked in the world of event organization until…well, a few weeks ago…I can say that it’s likely not up to Replay, PAPA, or Doug alone, when and how refund information will be established. Everyone involved in events, from the actual locations to hotels and the organizations running said events, has no real “this is how you handle every event in the world being cancelled so here’s how you handle refunds” just yet, as this is an unprecedented time in the events world.
This has never happened on such a global scale. And with decreased staff most likely in other facets of event planning as well, this is not a resolution that will be attained swiftly (seriously, my now-former company is existing because only 1/5 of the staff remain).
A lot of the refund-specific details are determined by insurance or likely in this case, several different insurances (for example, of the convention center, the event organization’s site, etc). Not only that, but a lot depends on who is cancelling the event - is the city shutting down the event due to safety reasons, etc.
All of this to say, as is my experience, once an understanding of how refunds are to be handled when (and how) an event is deemed canceled, it will become incredibly obvious to those of us who have purchased passes or tickets, though that will only happen as soon as the organizers have that information themselves.
TL;DR - you’ll know about refunds as soon as the organizers of events do so I’m gonna go out on a limb and say I’m sure they’d appreciate some patience considering this is all new territory for all of us.
Edited for clarity due to lack of coffee upon typing up original response.
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What about change backs how does that work into this??
Let’s just they have it but no IFPA points or in a very cut down way can some win an change back in full just on that?
Ime the person that initiated the charge back will win 99% of the time, no matter what the reason is or proof given.
The service they used to facilitate the ticket sales should handle all their chargeback cases for them. That’s part of the fees you’re paying to those services so you don’t have to fight them yourself.
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Seriously? You’re even considering initiating a chargeback at this point on the Replay Foundation? Wow.
Please, everyone: have some patience on this. Go back and carefully re-read @ker_pow’s post just above mine. Initiating chargebacks against the Replay Foundation are a surefire way to hinder their ability to hold future ReplayFX/Pinburghs.
I have faith in Doug, Elizabeth, Mark, and their team on this. There is sooooo much stuff going on behind the scenes with contracts, obligations, legal, insurance, etc. and they need to be given time to work through all of it.
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No No No!
Just was asking ker_pow how they go in the world of event organization in other cases of stuff being cancelled / cut down in scope (not in an case like this like but in other cases)
Please don’t file chargebacks against pinball events. Payments processors have hefty fees (mine charges $15) for chargebacks even if the chargeback isn’t even disputed!
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That’s a pretty bad idea since chargebacks are more for disputing fraudulent charges and in this case, you’d be causing a more inconvenient situation for both yourself and the event. Additionally, it’s a last ditch recourse in dealing with an organization or business which may have over charged you or weaseled you out of money. In many cases, it ends up costing the purchasee (ie Replay foundation in the case) double what your initial transaction was. So, that really adds insult to injury as it’s then making the situation worse for the event organizers.
You will know, we all will know, once the organizers know. Our community won’t leave us stranded, and we need to support each other during this time. Chargebacks aren’t the way to go. I know it’s tough living in uncertainty, but that’s literally what every day is otherwise, currently.
EDIT - one other thing to consider too is that all of these events (and many others) are likely trying to reschedule with as little negative impact, and while competing with thousands of other events which need to reschedule as well. Patience goes a long way because of the new, unforeseen, additional hurdles that are impacting events like pinball tourneys that can’t opt for a virtual event.
Again, I don’t know the ins and outs of what each pinball event takes to organize as my experience in that respect is merely on a local level, and I can’t fathom it either as they’re so different and colossal in their own way, but adding a pandemic to all of the moving parts to make any convention occur certainly deserves strong consideration, support, and time on our behalf.
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I think the answer people would like to know is when ReplayFX will make an announcement regarding the impact the pandemic could cause. We’re 92 days out today, should we look for communication 60 days out or when? Thanks
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My guess is they are waiting for the convention center to cancel the event like many others have before making an announcment for financial/legal reasons.
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@GravitaR , that makes sense.
The next event on their calendar is June 2nd. It will be interesting to see if some start to come off / get pushed back.
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Could be as simple as if ReplayFX cancels they lose their deposit vs. if Lawrence Center cancels they get it back. I’m just assuming it won’t take place and they’ll let us know as soon as it’s appropriate.
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ReplayFX are a super organised; super professional organisation - they will do what’s right for the long term viability of ReplayFX which means they will be trying to ensure they keep us all happy - I have total 100% faith in the whole team and I wish ReplayFX (and all event organisers) all the best in what is probably the most challenging time in peacetime the world has faced.
(Goes back to dealing with asshats setting fire to his 5G basestations).
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City Champ added to cancel list.
The incremental steps I alluded to a couple of weeks ago were revealed earlier today. It’s a pretty dynamic situation. I’ll upgrade my statement from a couple of weeks ago about not anticipating traveling anymore for the rest of the year to being hopeful come October for some events. It’s really up to the individual states, cities, and are subject to change due to rebounds that are bound to happen in some regions. Some areas are expected to most likely cap events or “mass gatherings”. The tricky part for smaller events is whether or not they’ll be considered a mass gathering. My guess without knowing the full scope is that one day pinball tournaments probably wouldn’t fall under this definition. Multi-day tournaments at a convention no doubt would.
There’s a meeting tomorrow with the CDC and health officials that will hopefully provide more clarity.
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just noting that some large companies/organisations effectively stopping any meetings >50 until next June.
one day pinball tournaments probably will be grouped in to the things that BAR’s are listed under
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Yep, venue will win out in this instance. What it will probably boil down to are the events getting creative with set up and format when the time comes to start introducing some form of normalcy to areas.
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After careful consideration, the leaders of Pintastic New England
have decided to cancel the 2020 show. We hope that you will be able
to attend and play in our tournaments in June of 2021. The staff
at the Boxborough Regency has been very helpful in presenting
options to us, taking into account the changes in lifestyles
affecting us all.
We are selling Pintastic merchandise at
if you need some.
For next year, we still plan to have the vendor hall, flea market,
seminars, family entertainment, and tournaments. For now, stay safe!
The Pintastic Crew
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