USTA Team Registration Fees Increase 17%

[tennis-n-sc]

Originally Posted by Roforot

What grates on my nerve is that they F*ing call the 2-3$ surcharge a "Convenience Fee" or something like that and there's no way around it? I can't mail in my registration or call in w/ my Credit card. At least over in Texas it seems like they use the same stick in Tournaments? So who is it supposed to be convenient for?
I know it's a small thing and overall if the USTA had just increased the membership fees it wouldn't bother me as much as the "Convenience!"

Don't know if you ever captained a team before "TennisLink", but I for sure condsider TennisLink a convenience, and worth every penny of the fee. The information available is incredible. The $2-$3 charge is nomina and I sure hope no one decides to go back to the good old days. It was a nightmare.

[Cindysphinx]

Originally Posted by bleach

I have heard that Tennis-Link is switching to a different company to provide the online services, thus the increase in fees. If you look at the Tennis Link home page, they are going to have a couple of down-days at the end of the month.

I sure hope the new company makes some changes. As I understand the current site, you can't do things like punch up a different league unless you have the name of a player in that league. It's also impossible to find someone if you don't have the exact spelling of the name; how come it won't offer you choices like Google does if you misspell?

Navigation at Tennislink is really pretty poor, IMHO.

[Roforot]

First of all, I"d argue that setting these leagues up on the web could be done for a lot less, pennies rather than dollars. We have a local/free tennis ladder that manages the same sort of info on 100-150 players (who rotate in/out)

Nevertheless, my whole irritation is based more on how the fee is presented. There isn't an alternative. It would be similar to you wanting to order from Amazon and they charged a $2 convenience fee so that you can order online!

All this being said, I do enjoy playing and have made some good friends on the team. But I doubt if I will continue playing in leagues after my 3yr membership expires.

[jagsv650]

It cracks me up what people will complain about. It's a $2 soon to be $3 fee you pay a few times a year. If that couple dollars is going to break you maybe you should be working a second job instead of playing tennis. I play with a guy like this. He complaines about the $15 court fee we pay at the beggining of each season. That $15 covers practice 2 days a week and our home matches for the league. If he would skip a few $5 cups of coffee from Starbucks each week or $6 drinks at the bar after work he wouldn't have a problem having the cash.

[tennis-n-sc]

Originally Posted by Roforot

First of all, I"d argue that setting these leagues up on the web could be done for a lot less, pennies rather than dollars. We have a local/free tennis ladder that manages the same sort of info on 100-150 players (who rotate in/out)

Nevertheless, my whole irritation is based more on how the fee is presented. There isn't an alternative. It would be similar to you wanting to order from Amazon and they charged a $2 convenience fee so that you can order online!

All this being said, I do enjoy playing and have made some good friends on the team. But I doubt if I will continue playing in leagues after my 3yr membership expires.

I've never heard it called a convenience fee but it is a great convenience to have it available. There is an alternative, don't play.

[Roforot]

Originally Posted by tennis-n-sc

I've never heard it called a convenience fee but it is a great convenience to have it available. There is an alternative, don't play.

Yes, if you did not notice, that will be my decision once my membership runs out. But I fear that as long as there are sheep, the USTA has no reason to change.

[Islandtennis]

roforot,

Its understandable that paying $3 instead of $2 to the USTA for a season is reason enough not to play league tennis.

I hope you understand that for Tennislink to be effective, everyone who plays league tennis needs to be a part of it. It would be worthless if everyone was not in the system. The whole ability to track standings and records is worth the $3 to any captain. You trying to send in a "paper" registration would cost everyone far more than the $3 you want to save.

The scope of Tennislink is far greater than your 150 person ladder. Comparing the two both from a programing and administration standpoint is worse than trying to compare apples to oranges.

[CrocodileRock]

Island, you're right on. Thanks for bringing some sanity to this thread. If the increase is too much for some people, I'd like to suggest a couple of other sports - rock-paper-scissors and paper football. I have heard their leagues aren't very expensive

[Roforot]

Perhaps we have different perspectives as consumers, which is fair.
I look at it this way, what has the USTA done to warrant a 17% increase in fees (as the title suggests), has it done something to improve the league play or improve the value of their product?

[mctennis]

So what do you get for these fees? Could you play without having to pay these fees? USTA is such a ripoff. I've stopped playing in these tournaments because of the fees. You can have tournaments and not be USTA event. So unless your team is really GREAT why bother being in a USTA sanctioned event and have to pay these fees?

[tennis-n-sc]

Originally Posted by mctennis

So what do you get for these fees? Could you play without having to pay these fees? USTA is such a ripoff. I've stopped playing in these tournaments because of the fees. You can have tournaments and not be USTA event. So unless your team is really GREAT why bother being in a USTA sanctioned event and have to pay these fees?

It is obvious that there are a great many people that do not understand the fees. First, the USTA has nothing to do with setting the entrance fees for tournaments. This is at the discretion of the local tournament director. The fees are used to cover costs and in my area, at least, any profit goes to a charitable cause that was pre-selected by the tournament director.

League fees are set by the local chapters. Again, USTA has nothing to do with the amount. As evidence of this, the fees for league entry in my location have not been increased in 5 years and were not increased this year. Once again, you live in America. If you don't like it, don't use it. But judging from the growth in USTA league play in most states, there doesn't seem to be a problem with the registration fees. Court time costs are not USTA associated.

Now I have some problems with USTA and its bureacracy, but it is not fee related.

[goober]

Originally Posted by tennis-n-sc

It is obvious that there are a great many people that do not understand the fees. First, the USTA has nothing to do with setting the entrance fees for tournaments. This is at the discretion of the local tournament director. The fees are used to cover costs and in my area, at least, any profit goes to a charitable cause that was pre-selected by the tournament director.

Can you explain why USTA tournaments are consistently 2-3 x the cost of nonUSTA tournaments? Every nonUSTA tournament that I have entered has been between $5-15, while USTA events are $30-40. The tournaments are usually pretty much the same for the most part in terms of draw, goodies and so forth.

[tennis-n-sc]

Originally Posted by goober

Can you explain why USTA tournaments are consistently 2-3 x the cost of nonUSTA tournaments? Every nonUSTA tournament that I have entered has been between $5-15, while USTA events are $30-40. The tournaments are usually pretty much the same for the most part in terms of draw, goodies and so forth.

Goober, I don't know for your area. We have very few non-USTA tourneys here and I have nothing to compare. The USTA tournaments here are usually held over a 3-4 day weekend and entry fee includes the tournament t-shirt, drinks and beer throughout the tourney, fruit and continental breakfast each day, a really fine meal on Friday or Saturday evening and the tropheys. The tournament also pays an official to be present each day and if not held at local club, court fees may have to be paid by the tournament. All balls are furnished, as well. I would say that at least 75% of the tournaments held in my local district are of the non-profit type. Most are single elimination but a few are seeing the benefits of a consolation bracket. I've assisted in some tournaments and they aren't cheap to pull off. The man-hours are unbelievable.

[Cindysphinx]

Originally Posted by mctennis

So what do you get for these fees? Could you play without having to pay these fees? USTA is such a ripoff. I've stopped playing in these tournaments because of the fees. You can have tournaments and not be USTA event. So unless your team is really GREAT why bother being in a USTA sanctioned event and have to pay these fees?

What do you get for the fees?

Well, you get to play with people who are about as skilled as you are, so you get a challenge without being blown away or bored.

You get to play with new people, so you can't mentally cheat by playing to their known weaknesses. I like the variety of league play.

You get a computer system that lets you track the playing records of your friends and relatives and scout players.

You get a rules structure that tries to discourage cheating. It's not perfect, but considering that there are no officials, it's terrific that most tennis matches go off without a hitch. Can you imagine a baseball, basketball or soccer league without officials?

Me, I don't want to play tournaments. I can't devote a whole weekend to being at the beck and call of a tournament director. With league, I know exactly when I must play, and I only have to play every other week or so. When I step on the court, I have a chance to win despite my various, erm, hindrances like age.

I don't understand all the griping about USTA tennis. I think it is totally awesome, myself.

[goober]

Originally Posted by tennis-n-sc

Goober, I don't know for your area. We have very few non-USTA tourneys here and I have nothing to compare. The USTA tournaments here are usually held over a 3-4 day weekend and entry fee includes the tournament t-shirt, drinks and beer throughout the tourney, fruit and continental breakfast each day, a really fine meal on Friday or Saturday evening and the tropheys. The tournament also pays an official to be present each day and if not held at local club, court fees may have to be paid by the tournament. All balls are furnished, as well. I would say that at least 75% of the tournaments held in my local district are of the non-profit type. Most are single elimination but a few are seeing the benefits of a consolation bracket. I've assisted in some tournaments and they aren't cheap to pull off. The man-hours are unbelievable.

Your USTA tourneys include a continental breakfast a " really fine evening" meal and free drinks and beer? Wow . Our USTA and nonUSTA tourneys get some food (definitely not fine cuisine and usually water) and a Tshirt. Some of the really cheapo ones don't have anything not even trophies yet they still charge $35-40!

[Roforot]

Originally Posted by tennis-n-sc

Now I have some problems with USTA and its bureacracy, but it is not fee related.

To be honest, a great part of my irritation comes from the above. It's like a waiter giving bad service and then asking for a bigger tip. I am fortunate though that I live in a place where there are alternatives if you want to play tennis and have fun.

[tennis-n-sc]

Originally Posted by goober

Your USTA tourneys include a continental breakfast a " really fine evening" meal and free drinks and beer? Wow . Our USTA and nonUSTA tourneys get some food (definitely not fine cuisine and usually water) and a Tshirt. Some of the really cheapo ones don't have anything not even trophies yet they still charge $35-40!

Yep, we have one of the largest tournaments of the year with over 300 entries at one of the priciest country clubs in town. The meal is in the main dining room and is usually a really good Italian buffet. At most of our tournaments, the beer supply never ends. You can even have beer with your bagel and creame cheese at 8:00 A.M. if you like. Of course, I don't drink alcohol and lose my butt with that portion of the fee.

[tennis-n-sc]

Originally Posted by Roforot

To be honest, a great part of my irritation comes from the above. It's like a waiter giving bad service and then asking for a bigger tip. I am fortunate though that I live in a place where there are alternatives if you want to play tennis and have fun.

I think the USTA would be much more responsive if there were alternate avenues out there. Atlanta, for instance, has an organization called ALTA, which has far more participants than USTA in the area and for less money.

[jagsv650]

Originally Posted by Roforot

Perhaps we have different perspectives as consumers, which is fair.
I look at it this way, what has the USTA done to warrant a 17% increase in fees (as the title suggests), has it done something to improve the league play or improve the value of their product?

It's not like they raise this fee every year. Would you rather a 4% increase each year? I'm sure they would do this instead since they would end up with more money that way. Cost of goods and services go up over time. The gas stations down here raised their prices something like 40% over the last year or so but the service and product hasn't improved any.

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

Originally Posted by jagsv650

It's not like they raise this fee every year. Would you rather a 4% increase each year? I'm sure they would do this instead since they would end up with more money that way. Cost of goods and services go up over time. The gas stations down here raised their prices something like 40% over the last year or so but the service and product hasn't improved any.

Along the same vein however is the fact that what you get for playing USTA league tennis is the same today as it was last year, two years ago, five years ago, and nine years ago. I don't see any added value to USTA League tennis today compaqred to 1998 when I first played USTA League tennis. The point has been made that for the price USTA League tennis is still a good deal but it is still relevant to question whether USTA League administration costs have increased from the point of charging $75.00 to register an entire team to $21.00 per person in nine years. I am referring about Norcal USTA tennis.