RFID Badges FAQ

Otakuthon 2019 will be using RFID-enabled badges to enhance your convention experience. Your badge serves as your ticket to enter the event faster – with just a quick tap of your badge!

So, what is RFID? RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification. It is a generic term used to describe a system that transmits the identity (in the form of a unique serial number, or UID) of an object or person using radio waves. RFID is designed to enable readers to capture data on tags and transmit it to a computer system without the need for physical contact. Pretty cool stuff, huh?

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR RFID BADGE

Badges must be easily identifiable and visibly worn at all times.
- Cosplayers may temporarily conceal their badges for the purpose of photos, but must keep them visible for the remainder of the time.
When entering the convention, you must scan your badge “in”. Similarly, when exiting the convention, you must scan “out”.
- Attendees who do not properly scan out their badge upon departure will not be able to re-enter the convention.
Prepaid concert tickets and Host Club admission are programmed in your badge, which will be scanned when you enter the event room.
Pre-purchased merchandise can be picked up at the merchandise table by scanning your badge.
Badges are non-transferable and non-exchangeable.
Badges may not be tampered with.
- Any attempts to tamper with the badge will lead to its deactivation with no refund.
- Badges will still be visually checked. The defacement of badges (ex: with words deemed offensive or altered in any other inappropriate way) will not be tolerated. Any attendee violating this rule will have their badge revoked and deactivated with no compensation.
Otakuthon reserves the right to scan RFID badges at any time during the convention in order to make sure that the identity of its holder matches the badge.
Attendees are reminded that they must keep a valid photo ID on them at all times. If they are unable to confirm their identity, they risk having their badge confiscated with no refund.
Only badges purchased from the official convention website and ticketing partners are valid. Do not purchase badges from third parties.

Read the Registration Rules.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Where can I specify my badge name when pre-registering?

In order to expedite registration, we will not be printing names on badges except for Premium badges. Your badge information and extras are encoded inside the RFID chip of your badge instead and can be verified by Otakuthon staff when scanned. No name will be visibly displayed on your badge (except Premium badges).

2. Why is it not possible for mail orders to include badge names anymore?

Expediting registration this year not only involved switching to RFID badges, but also involved outsourcing mail orders to a third-party provider in order to ensure service quality. Otakuthon has opted not to pass on the increased costs of this new RFID system to attendees and is keeping its base admission the same as last year to keep the event affordable. However, including names on badges for mail orders would have added an additional cost overhead that would not be possible without increasing our rates.

Premium badges are already planned to include a custom design with foil text.

3. My badge was lost or stolen, what do I do?

Please immediately report your lost/stolen badge to the customer service desk at registration located on the first floor (metro level) of the Palais des congrès de Montréal so that it can be deactivated. A valid piece of ID will be required to identify the lost/stolen badge to be deactivated.

4. Do I need to do anything with my RFID badge before the event?

YES! If you receive your RFID badges in the mail, you will receive a packing slip identifying the registrant’s name associated with each badge’s UID, or unique identification number. The UID is a 16-digit code located on the back of your RFID badge. Simply match this number with the registrant’s name to ensure you’ve distributed the right badge to the right person.

5. When will I receive my badge?

For those who purchase their registration with the mailing option by 11:59pm EST on July 21, 2019, you should receive your badges in the mail by August 5, 2019. If you have not received your order by August 5, 2019, you will need to contact fulfillment support (otakuthon2019@fulfillmentsupport.com). All accounts who paid for badge mail orders will receive instruction on how to contact fulfillment support (otakuthon2019@fulfillmentsupport.com) by email when badge mail out begins on July 22-25, 2019.

For all others who registered online, bring your confirmation statement (mobile or printed) and valid photo ID to the Otakuthon Registration Area onsite to pick up your badge.

6. Where is the Otakuthon registration area located and what are the hours of operation?

The Otakuthon registration area will be located on the first floor (metro level) of the Palais des congrès de Montréal and will be open during the following hours:

Thursday, August 15, 2019	12 pm - 9 pm
Friday, August 16, 2019	8 am - 10 pm
Saturday, August 17, 2019	8 am - 10 pm
Sunday, August 18, 2019	8 am - 4 pm

7. I purchased my registration before 11:59pm EST on July 21, 2019 but haven’t received my badge in the mail yet. Who should I contact?

Badges will ship in batches beginning on July 21, 2019 and should be received by August 5, 2019 at the latest. If you have not received your badge in the mail by August 5, 2019, please contact our fulfillment support (otakuthon2019@fulfillmentsupport.com). All accounts who paid for badge mail orders will receive instruction on how to contact them by email when badge mail out begins on July 22-25, 2019.

8. I need to change my address. Who should I contact?

All address changes must be made before 11:59pm EST on July 21, 2019. After this, we will be unable to make any address changes. Please contact fulfilment support if this becomes an issue. All accounts who paid for badge mail orders will receive instruction on how to contact them by email when badge mail out begins on July 21, 2019.

9. I need to change/add to my order. Who should I contact?

All orders are non-refundable and non-transferable. However, you can modify and add extras to your registration by logging in to your account on the registration website. For mail orders, all changes must be made before 11:59pm EST on July 21, 2019.

10. The order that was shipped to me is missing badges/different than what I purchased. What should I do?

Badges are shipped by account, meaning that if you purchased badges with different accounts, they will be shipped to you separately. Badges are fulfilled and shipped in batches, so you may not receive all of your orders on the same day.

If by August 5, 2019, you have not received all of your orders, or the order you received was incorrect, please contact fulfilment support. All accounts who paid for badge mail orders will receive instruction on how to contact them by email when badge mail out begins on July 22-25, 2019.

11. My buddies and I completed our registration the same day. They received their badges, but I have not received mine yet. Should I be worried?

Not to worry! Badges are fulfilled and shipped in batches. If you purchased your badges by 11:59pm EST on July 21, 2019, but have not received your badges by August 5, 2019, please contact fulfillment support (otakuthon2019@fulfillmentsupport.com). All accounts who paid for badge mail orders will receive instruction on how to contact them by email when badge mail out begins on July 22-25, 2019.