Come on GenCon. The will call line is WOEFULLY understaffed so it's either wait hours in line or pay $10 for shipping? Next year I guess it will be $20-30? Then $50? Come on.

It's been $10 for years. This isn't a new cost, nor do I expect it to go up like you unreasonably suggested. I take it as a "Processing and Handling" fee more than "Shipping" fee. Lots of extra work must go into sending out all of those packets of badges and tickets. This isn't an outrageous price.

Also, yes at times the line can be slow, but as long as you aren't there Thursday morning you should be more than OK. Lines go pretty quick on Wednesday even when they look long. The staff at the Will Call work hard to get to everyone as quick as possible.

I do 100% appreciate the folks working that line, they were great.

As a late-registering-first-timer last year I got to stand in the will call line a couple times... not the most fun hours I spent at the con. So I got in early this year, and it's $110 for the badge... ok that stings a bit but hey, Gen Con. Then "oh, just kidding it's $120, taxes ya know!" and I'm like oh come on. Then next step it's "hey, just kidding again, it's really $130, S&H ya know!" 

Sigh. It's like buying a concert ticket from ticketmaster!

But it is bolstering to know it's been like that for years now. Thanks for that info.

Keep in mind, shipping alone is 6.70 (6.55 commercial) flat rate envelope USPS, more if you include tracking.

GenCon also has no control over taxes. Why are you upset with GenCon over something they cannot control?

It's $10 to mail any number of badges and event tickets with tracking and signature requirement.

If you will be arriving Thurs or Saturday morning, $10 is worth not having to wait in line. But the Will Call line is shorter and faster on Wednesday, and it's open all night.

I’d pay $10 not to stand in that line. Whether that’s an hour, or outside, or whatever.
 

The cost is some what ridiculous. It costs no more than 5$ for this shipping, but the cost is the cost. 
I guess you have to pay someone to put it in an envelope as well. 

If they're making 3-4$ off me, I don't care that much 
 

If you think about it, you are also paying for the ability to see all of your tickets and badges before you get in Indy. You can rub the badges all over your body and smell the freshness of the tickets in your hands.

You are also paying for the privilege of walking into the convention center Thursday morning and going directly to your 8 a.m. game without stopping or planning when you will stand in Schrodinger's line (you don't know if the line is alive or dead until you look at it).

You can post pictures of your badge on Instagram or facebook to make your friends jealous.

You can realize that you just bought tickets to the same event twice.

You are paying for the excitement of getting a postal notification and a reason to leave work early to go to the post office and get your badge (or is this just me?). 

You are paying for the ability to say "Lines are for peasants."

I get how it can seem high if you're just buying one badge, but it's $10 for the entire packet, which could be multiple badges and dozens of tickets, not $10 per badge. Over $6 of that is actual shipping and postage rates are also going up at the end of this month. I don't know, I think $10 is more than reasonable for the convenience of not having to wait in line at will call. 

;)

$10 is SOOOOO cheap compared to standing in that horrible Will Call line...

It also includes sending your event tickets, so it is not at all outrageous to me.

It always amazes me how much people here complain.

Seriously, if you think $10 is too much, stand in line and pick everything up.  I do think it's too much and stand in line and the line moves well and is fast, even on Wednesday afternoons.  People will post about how terrible the lines are as well, along with everything else.  It's not that bad.

i have no patience for lines, so I gladly pay the $10 to save me the hassle. my time is more valuable than $10.

I'm more concerned about remembering to pack them in my suitcase. I would hate to leave them behind and then in the middle of the plane ride I pull a home alone and remember that they are sitting on my desk!

If your worried about $10.00 at GenCon, you should just stay home.  

Simple solution to forgetting the badge at home: When the packet arrives, open it to check for accuracy, then immediately pack it in your carry-on, unless you have other trips planned before Gen Con.