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The Sinking Ship: (Un)Love Letters to Merlin

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ihaveaspergers said:
Fyi BBC radio derby are doing something on Alton Towers tommrow some point round 7:45 involving having a passholder (my sister) go on to talk about the changes.
I will try and record it and post a link here

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I'd just wish she doesn't call me her little brother quite so much!

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ihaveaspergers said:
Fyi BBC radio derby are doing something on Alton Towers tomorrow some point round 7:45 involving having a passholder (my sister) go on to talk about the changes.
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BBC radio iplayer will have the show about an hour after it gone off air. (Subject to tech issues)

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I think its something the press would be interested in, given that they try and sell their annual passes in January, they try and flog off their hotel rooms early in the year, they do all the advertising with all the facilities advertised, and then, once people have bought their passes, tickets and hotel stays, they announce that actually, some facilities are not available, that in fact the park might be closed, and that half the rides are closed until midday.

In a way, its very sly and I wonder if it could constitute to false advertising. For example, tree top quest was only advertised as closed two days ago. What if people had booked a hotel break because they saw it advertised, what then. Yes, they can cancel their hotel stay, at a charge.

Sure, its in the terms and condition they can close and alter what is available, but, its all very sly. Its almost in a way they are saying, lets see how many tickets we sell and then decide what we open!
 
GaryH said:
I think its something the press would be interested in, given that they try and sell their annual passes in January, they try and flog off their hotel rooms early in the year, they do all the advertising with all the facilities advertised, and then, once people have bought their passes, tickets and hotel stays, they announce that actually, some facilities are not available, that in fact the park might be closed, and that half the rides are closed until midday.

In a way, its very sly and I wonder if it could constitute to false advertising. For example, tree top quest was only advertised as closed two days ago. What if people had booked a hotel break because they saw it advertised, what then. Yes, they can cancel their hotel stay, at a charge.

Sure, its in the terms and condition they can close and alter what is available, but, its all very sly. Its almost in a way they are saying, lets see how many tickets we sell and then decide what we open!
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It seems to be what they did with the sale.

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Great stuff @ihaveaspergers more of this is whats needed. Even that short clip played out to a couple of hundred thousand people on their drive to work will have an impact. planting negative seeds ans no doubt some talk in the office.

I think there is a case for false advertising. The whole T&C's about ride availability is based around protection for unforeseen circumstances such as ride breakdowns, bad weather, or safety concerns. It shouldn't be used as a marketing tool to trick people into parting with their money only to reduce the offering.

:) :)
 
I obviously do not agree with all of these cuts but if all of the information is on their website, which it is, then how can it be false advertising? They're hardly going to put it in your face when booking tickets that some rides do not open until 12pm!

:)
 
Rob said:
I obviously do not agree with all of these cuts but if all of the information is on their website, which it is, then how can it be false advertising? They're hardly going to put it in your face when booking tickets that some rides do not open until 12pm!

:)
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They did sell people passes before such major changes hot published

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It happens every year. I bought a Six Flags Season Pass during their sale in December, opening hours for some parks still have not been announced. If these are reduced from last year's hours then is this also false advertising?

I'm just playing devil's advocate here as I do get the point that is being made and agree to an extent. Although I do not think that they would ever get done for false advertising with this.

:)
 
It's legal what they are doing, but it's still a con. I think you'd have more grounds to complain about the Tree Top Quest. It was advertised as something to do at the resort when people where making hotel bookings. If you booked a room with the intention of doing TTQ on your second day after your day in the park then I think you'd have every right to demand a full refund for your hotel booking.
 
GaryH said:
I think its something the press would be interested in, given that they try and sell their annual passes in January, they try and flog off their hotel rooms early in the year, they do all the advertising with all the facilities advertised, and then, once people have bought their passes, tickets and hotel stays, they announce that actually, some facilities are not available, that in fact the park might be closed, and that half the rides are closed until midday.

In a way, its very sly and I wonder if it could constitute to false advertising. For example, tree top quest was only advertised as closed two days ago. What if people had booked a hotel break because they saw it advertised, what then. Yes, they can cancel their hotel stay, at a charge.

Sure, its in the terms and condition they can close and alter what is available, but, its all very sly. Its almost in a way they are saying, lets see how many tickets we sell and then decide what we open!
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Its something Merlin are very good an unfortunately. Being sly, but remaining within their "terms and conditions" I worked for them once upon a time (SEALIFE Manchester) after a lengthy selection process. Until only a week in, I was being sent home early due to "low visitor turnout" at last minute, with over an hours journey home via public transport. Then the following day, I got an email, not personalised in any way, saying I'd been laid off for this reason, with a warning that if I didn't return my badge and jacket, I'd be fined and face prosecution. Very humane...

It seems this kind of sly treatment is now being passed on to visitors too, which I'm sad to see. The company have become a shambles. It's only the creative department that keep the thing going...
 
The way I see it is this. If I lets say go to the website and I am looking for a short break at the "resort". I do this during the sale a few weeks ago.

I see that there is the waterpark, theme park, tree top quest, spa, etc etc. so I base my decision to book a 2 day break on what is published at the time on the website.

Once booked, 3 weeks later, I learn that the tree top quest has now vanished from the website, the theme park is limited opening and actually closed one day I have booked the hotel, and only half the waterpark is open. I can now at this point either cancel my stay (with a cancellation charge) or just shut up and put up. Its the same as booking a summer holiday based on what the brochure tells you, but to arrive and find that half the facilities are not available.

People booking NOW are in a more informed position than those who booked earlier - EXCEPT, the theme park opening days and times have not yet been announced - so booking a stay in the resort is still a bit of a gamble.

Ideally, at the time of booking, i.e. 1st Jan, EVERYTHING should be clearly set out as to what you can expect during the year ahead - when the park is open, when it is closed, what is open, what is closed etc.

Maybe its not false advertising, but its extremely sly and damaging to their reputation to operate like this. When we booked in the past (unfortunately, many years in the past now) you knew that the park would be open from a certain time and close at a certain time, that all rides would be available when it opened, and what facilities you could expect to use during your stay. That is no longer guaranteed.
 
GaryH said:
The way I see it is this. If I lets say go to the website and I am looking for a short break at the "resort". I do this during the sale a few weeks ago.

I see that there is the waterpark, theme park, tree top quest, spa, etc etc. so I base my decision to book a 2 day break on what is published at the time on the website.

Once booked, 3 weeks later, I learn that the tree top quest has now vanished from the website, the theme park is limited opening and actually closed one day I have booked the hotel, and only half the waterpark is open. I can now at this point either cancel my stay (with a cancellation charge) or just shut up and put up. Its the same as booking a summer holiday based on what the brochure tells you, but to arrive and find that half the facilities are not available.

People booking NOW are in a more informed position than those who booked earlier - EXCEPT, the theme park opening days and times have not yet been announced - so booking a stay in the resort is still a bit of a gamble.

Ideally, at the time of booking, i.e. 1st Jan, EVERYTHING should be clearly set out as to what you can expect during the year ahead - when the park is open, when it is closed, what is open, what is closed etc.

Maybe its not false advertising, but its extremely sly and damaging to their reputation to operate like this. When we booked in the past (unfortunately, many years in the past now) you knew that the park would be open from a certain time and close at a certain time, that all rides would be available when it opened, and what facilities you could expect to use during your stay. That is no longer guaranteed.
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I wonder if Merlin are going to have a load of credit card companies contacting them in regards to a spike in section 75 claims?

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GaryH said:
People booking NOW are in a more informed position than those who booked earlier - EXCEPT, the theme park opening days and times have not yet been announced - so booking a stay in the resort is still a bit of a gamble.

Ideally, at the time of booking, i.e. 1st Jan, EVERYTHING should be clearly set out as to what you can expect during the year ahead - when the park is open, when it is closed, what is open, what is closed etc.
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Alton Towers confirmed their opening days a while back, certainly before the start of the MAP sale!

I agree that ideally all information should be available for when the sale starts, but I suppose this is not always possible, we do not know the internal timeframes for these decisions.

Where do you draw the line though? If someone's pass expires at the end of the season, should all information for the next season be available then so that an informed decision about a renewal can be made?

:)
 
GaryH said:
, the theme park opening days and times have not yet been announced
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Opening DAYS were announced a while ago. The opening times came out this week, its just closing times we are waiting for. Anyone who booked a hotel stay for 2018 at least knew the theme park is shut off-peak Wednesdays and most September weekdays.
Waterpark opening times are up on the website (I'm not sure when they were published though).
So the only major part of the resort that hasn't announced is Tree Top Quest.
Also of course we don't yet know the theme park closing times.
 
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