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I think EAA definitely needs to have more durable wristbands for those of us who purchase weekly admission if we're expected to wear them 24/7 for the entire week. Mine is looking pretty beat up, and it's only Wednesday. Or at least give us something we can take off if sleeping or taking a shower.
For years they had strong plastic bands with a snap clasp. I think it was post covid they changed to the generic types. I’m sure it was for cost reasons.
IDK what the policy is, but maybe visit a ticket booth to see if they will do an exchange. The people who procure them won’t know there’s a problem unless they see they’re not holding up.
Definitely be careful with Deet repellant. It removes the ink color from the band leaving you with a white band
I've done an exchange in previous years, so I know it's possible. But if they had a better quality wristband, there would be no need for an exchange. And I believe there have also been complaints made by others in this forum in the past regarding the wristbands. Whether those people made their complaints known to EAA staff or not, I don't know.
The first years I came, before they got particularly money grubbing, they just used tie-on badges which you could get in the form of a pin-back button. Then they got stingy about people reusing weekly tickets and went to the bird bands.
The other perspective could be that some people WILL steal services and try to cheat the system everywhere they go. Paid entry venues across the country have adopted measures to limit the financial loss. Using inexpensive non-removeable wristbands is but one approach.Quote:
Originally Posted by FlyingRon
Except that they don't work. Lots of people put them on such that they can be slipped off and reused if they want. Frankly, for the second year in a row, I never even put my wristband on. I kept it in my wallet the entire show. The new paper ones suck for the weekly pass.Quote:
Originally Posted by CHICAGORANDY
My experience has been different. I wear the weekly band every year and haven't had any problems. I have no doubt if it failed I could obtain a replacement.
I agree Randy. I have never had a problem with the current style of wristband. Mine lasts all week with no problem, and is still readable when I cut it off at the wind down party. The wristbands have never been an issue for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by CHICAGORANDY
Mine stayed on (quite well) for 13 days (I kept it on in solidarity with my 13-yo daughter, who wanted to wear it to a CAP meeting to show off). It was clearly wearing out, but it had neither broken nor completely faded out. In my experience, these Tyvek wristbands do last quite a while, but they definitely get worn from wrinkling/etc. so they eventually wind up looking like they've been crumpled up into a ball 20 times a day. I - being the dingbat that I am - never used the bug spray that we had packed, so I cannot speak to it losing its coloring. I can speak to the inordinate number of bugs in Wisconsin!
For those that say theirs lasted the whole week without any fading, etc. -- I'm wondering if you took a shower sometime during the week? I was daily, and mine started to fade by Wednesday. It was virtually unreadable by the end of the week.
The only time I've really had trouble with fading is when using aerosol insect sprays and sunblock. I think it is something in the propellant. However, the admissions booth was aware of the problem and swapped me out for a new band.
Not speaking for others, but my daughter and I showered (almost) every day, 1.9-mi RT notwithstanding. I also used (spray) sunscreen with no ill effects on the wristband, although I wasn't exactly soaking it. Perhaps they had some bad production runs or something like that?
Yeah, it's been a few years since I've had issues with fading.
For the past two years I've put my wristband in my wallet and not even put it on.