It does sadden me that folks will not be able to engage with the 2020 immersive brand experience that is better known as SXSW ( curated by KiaPepKraftFargoCo Inc LLC Esquire )
I mean, this year's experience included activities like $20 taco, guess the gluten allergy, and name-that-e-scooter-startup.
Not to worry!! 95% of all SXSW badges where purchased by VC backed social media managers where no one will actually give 2 shakes of a lambs tail when SXSW doesn't issue a refund. Their experience will be turned into a long format medium article outlining the companies personal struggle of grieving and loss caused by #COVID19.
These things are not consumer purchase. These sort of event are paid well in advance and blind by legal contracts and documented terms. From initial down payment to finalising should normally be out of the charge back period. This is to protect both parties, such as companies pulling out from last min with no final payment and event organisers have to tried and sell vendor in the last min.
You can only charge back within a period of time. Here in New Zealand I think it is usually quite short, I think mine is 60 days. Visitors from overseas may have booked outside of that period.
The clauses are to protect from damages resulting from those claims... not a cancellation from the hosting party. The transaction is incomplete, the funds should be returned.
SWSX was already refusing to cancel despite everyone pressuring them to. It was irresponsible of them to try and keep the event. It was only a city mandate that finally forced their hand.
They’re already clearly profit driven. This type of behavior is just the cherry on top.
They didn't cancel it. The city did according to this report.
Their insurance won't cover them.
And I don't think you can blame SXSW for not having Pandemic or War etc etc insurance, that seems pretty normal.
"South by Southwest's cancellation this year will not be covered by insurance, founders Nick Barbaro and co-founder and managing director Roland Swenson confirmed to the Austin Chronicle Friday. (Barbaro is publisher the paper's publisher.)
On Friday, Austin Mayor Steve Adler announced the March 13-22 interactive, film and music festival that takes place throughout Austin was being canceled by city and county officials over concerns about the spread of the coronavirus. After the announcement, Barbaro told the paper that the SXSW organization does not have event cancellation insurance that covers disease outbreaks or city-wide emergency declarations."
It sucks for the people who are losing money over this, but the policy is pretty clear, so it's harsh but fair. I think before we are done with the coronavirus, there will be a lot more economic losses spread around.
Just because the fine-print of a TOS or agreement says one thing about liability does not always make the terms enforceable. Many consumer protection laws are written to address the one-sided nature of agreements like this as the consumer typically cannot negotiate like they can with a normal contract.
This person needs to spend less time using childish turns of phrase on the internet and more time understanding the contracts he enters his business into.
If the screenshot of SXSW's force majeure language is real, his attitude has evaporated any sympathy I otherwise had.
> This person needs to spend less time using childish turns of phrase
It is just one guy's Twitter feed.
> more time understanding the contracts he enters his business into
Sure, he is in no way going to get his money, but I would have expected a refund without reading the fine print. Some Fyre Festival goers got money back, and that event did actually happen (in some sense of the word).
It is surprising that SXSW did not have insurance to cover refunds, but if you never give refunds you probably don't need insurance and get to walk away with some profit.
[+] [-] tacoartist512|6 years ago|reply
I mean, this year's experience included activities like $20 taco, guess the gluten allergy, and name-that-e-scooter-startup.
Not to worry!! 95% of all SXSW badges where purchased by VC backed social media managers where no one will actually give 2 shakes of a lambs tail when SXSW doesn't issue a refund. Their experience will be turned into a long format medium article outlining the companies personal struggle of grieving and loss caused by #COVID19.
[+] [-] turndown|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ksec|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] teruakohatu|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] tracker1|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Thomaschaaf|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] tracker1|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] say_it_as_it_is|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] qtplatypus|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] sushid|6 years ago|reply
They’re already clearly profit driven. This type of behavior is just the cherry on top.
[+] [-] aaron695|6 years ago|reply
Their insurance won't cover them.
And I don't think you can blame SXSW for not having Pandemic or War etc etc insurance, that seems pretty normal.
"South by Southwest's cancellation this year will not be covered by insurance, founders Nick Barbaro and co-founder and managing director Roland Swenson confirmed to the Austin Chronicle Friday. (Barbaro is publisher the paper's publisher.)
On Friday, Austin Mayor Steve Adler announced the March 13-22 interactive, film and music festival that takes place throughout Austin was being canceled by city and county officials over concerns about the spread of the coronavirus. After the announcement, Barbaro told the paper that the SXSW organization does not have event cancellation insurance that covers disease outbreaks or city-wide emergency declarations."
https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/touring/9330212/...
[+] [-] lacker|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] aeternum|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ncr100|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] KevinEldon|6 years ago|reply
[1] - https://twitter.com/patio11/status/1237201843131797505
[+] [-] perl4ever|6 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] finnthehuman|6 years ago|reply
This person needs to spend less time using childish turns of phrase on the internet and more time understanding the contracts he enters his business into.
If the screenshot of SXSW's force majeure language is real, his attitude has evaporated any sympathy I otherwise had.
[+] [-] teruakohatu|6 years ago|reply
It is just one guy's Twitter feed.
> more time understanding the contracts he enters his business into
Sure, he is in no way going to get his money, but I would have expected a refund without reading the fine print. Some Fyre Festival goers got money back, and that event did actually happen (in some sense of the word).
It is surprising that SXSW did not have insurance to cover refunds, but if you never give refunds you probably don't need insurance and get to walk away with some profit.