Merlin Membership Pass

[T]

hmm does this mean after a year contract you can just continue at will? So you could essentially have a year and a half pass.

I suppose it makes sense sort of....

Still a bit more expensive then buying an annual pass.

Unless they demand you sign another annual contract that is! Can't imagine they'd be happy with rolling contracts, as it were. Part of the reason for this product is so they have additional forecasted income, but anything other than an annual contract wouldn't provide them with this.

 

[Fredward]

Then from a consumer point of view, I would much prefer to buy the annual pass in one go for £20 less or even through somewhere like Tesco for even less.

 

[T]

Then from a consumer point of view, I would much prefer to buy the annual pass in one go for £20 less or even through somewhere like Tesco for even less.

As would I. I can't deny this will be useful for students, younger people etc, but its not for me. I'll be sticking to my current AP + Renewal.

 

[EuroSatch]

hmm does this mean after a year contract you can just continue at will? So you could essentially have a year and a half pass.

I suppose it makes sense sort of....

Still a bit more expensive then buying an annual pass.

Unless they demand you sign another annual contract that is! Can't imagine they'd be happy with rolling contracts, as it were. Part of the reason for this product is so they have additional forecasted income, but anything other than an annual contract wouldn't provide them with this.

Not really. Most 12 month contracts become rolling after the standard period. You don't have to sign up to a further 12 months of Sky after a year, so why would this be different?

 

[T]

hmm does this mean after a year contract you can just continue at will? So you could essentially have a year and a half pass.

I suppose it makes sense sort of....

Still a bit more expensive then buying an annual pass.

Unless they demand you sign another annual contract that is! Can't imagine they'd be happy with rolling contracts, as it were. Part of the reason for this product is so they have additional forecasted income, but anything other than an annual contract wouldn't provide them with this.

Not really. Most 12 month contracts become rolling after the standard period. You don't have to sign up to a further 12 months of Sky after a year, so why would this be different?

It's Merlin.

I kid. My main reasonable thoughts that indicate to myself that it would only ever be an annual contract is, if it was turned into a rolling contract, you would be gaining access to *all* their Theme Parks & Attractions for £12.99 a month, without anything holding you to it. So, in effect, you could visit all the places in one month, on your 13th+ month of your pass, then cancel, and they would make, in their eyes, a loss, in the sense that you haven't purchased an annual subscription, nor the entrance tickets on each visit.

At least, that's how I see it. Of course, I don't know anything more than you do, and at this point, anything is possible.

 

[Poisson]

Got my map for £83 this year. This new system would see my renewal shoot up. So I will stick with what I have.

My posts have that many mistakes in them?! Damn this Tapatalk milarky

 

[smudge]

They won't tie you in for another year, once they have had their 12 months money off you anything else is a bonus. I would imagine this will increase sales by a significant amount.

I'll give an example:

Family of 4, got BOGOF tickets, total £93 (ish) - walking past the AP office, to upgrade to MAP's as it stands would cost them £732 minus their entry fee of £93, so £639 - not many families would be willing to spend that sort of money on a whim I can't imagine. But for £52 a month ( approx, ) They would get £48 cash back!! and 11 months left to pay. More attractive...?

People do like to pay things monthly sometimes, even if they can afford the one-off payments. I, for example, buy warranty, insurance & service plans for our cars (paying monthly) as I don't like the idea of having to shed out £1000's (unexpectedly) in one go, regardless if I have it or not.

 

[markfranklin]

I mentioned on TT also about the Tesco points:

I really like the concept of the monthlies, and would ordinarily be very interested. However for the last 3 years we have converted out Tesco Clubcard points in to annual passes. It works out at around £46 I think in Tesco vouchers to get a Standard AP (which you could then upgrade for £35 cash).Since I always shop in Tesco anyway, the effect is I see the MAPs for the family as "free" every year.Would be interesting to see if they offered any such discounts on the monthly pay system, with tie-ins to Tesco, Nectar and anyone else offering discounts currently on annual purchases.

 

[thefatone]

Website is now up and running, as is this thread. Wonderful.

http://www.merlinmembership.co.uk/

 

[Rob]

Unless I'm blind and haven't seen it, they appear to have missed something rather important off the website. They do not state the difference between the Standard and the Premium Membership. I know it is probably the same as the difference between the Stand and Premium Annual Passes but not everyone will know this and people will want to know the difference before having to phone up.

 

[nickhutson]

It's hidden in the T&C's.

 

[Towseriv]

It's hidden in the T&C's.

If thats true could you point out where since I have just read the T&C's and it only details standard passes.

I wonder if this will be given as an option at the end of an annual pass? (i.e. without the 12 month tie in) I can see the benefits but wothout a credit check in place this system is still open to huge abuse

 

[James]

It details everything here: http://www.merlinmembership.co.uk/terms-of-use.html

Restrictions and certain additional fees apply to the Merlin Membership including, but not being limited to the following:
NO entry into Madame Tussauds (London), the EDF Energy London Eye, SEA LIFE London Aquarium and London Dungeon during the whole of August;
NO entry to the EDF Energy London Eye on 14 February and 29 October to 31 October;
NO entry to the London Dungeon from 1 March to 10 March and 29 October to 31 October;
Secondary attractions at Warwick Castle including, but not limited to, the Castle Dungeon and Merlin the Dragon Tower will be subject to additional charges;
An event booking fee will apply to Fright Nights and other special events at THORPE PARK regardless of the time of entry or departure; and Parking fees at the Attractions.
For the avoidance of doubt, the restrictions and additional fees set out in this clause 13 do not apply to the Premium Merlin Annual Pass.

The bit I've bolded is basically saying that all of that only applies to the Standard pass. Everything else mentioned on that page applies to both passes.

It's very hidden and isn't at all straight to the point. Very naughty of Merlin. They need a short and concise page that highlights what you get and do not get with each pass.

Your average potential customer will not be willing to trawl through all those pages. You would think a company such as Merlin would have some sense to make sure their customers can understand the product fully and find this information quickly.

 

[Novas]

As others have said, I don't mind this but only if it's in addition to the option of buying an up front annual pass.

The monthly option is quite rightly more expensive. Merlin will have additional costs associated with setting up the contracts and Direct Debits, and they'll need to cover the fees they'll incur for chasing non-payers which imo will be shed loads! People are stupid. I bet loads will take out the pass for a day and then try to cancel the Direct Debit...

 

[Rob]

I've just had a quick read through the T&Cs and they appear to be rather confusing, and that's coming from someone who is very familiar with the current MAP system. The T&Cs do not appear to clearly state the difference between a Standard and a Premium Membership. My interpretation of them is that the restrictions apply to all Merlin Memberships, and they point out that whatever is in Clause 13 (helpfully they don't bother to number any of the clauses) does not apply to the Premium Merlin Annual Pass. This could be a typo and they may mean Premium Memberships. Typos in important T&Cs however would be a little strange and very poor. Then again one part does say: "An Membership does..." so SPG mistakes are not beyond them.

So yeah, I'm sure there is a difference between the Standard and Premium Membership, however I have no idea how to work out what!

 

[Towseriv]

In looking at the "design" of the cards and reading through the "t&c's" It would seem like it's a bit of a cut and paste job from other "t&c's"

I would expect this has been rushed out to press due to it having been leaked and some of the web sites it was on not wanting to play ball.

 

[josht]

Aha it's back, but I'm still not a fan of the idea

 

[Jordan]

My new favourite ambiguous T&C clause:

9.2 Merlin may terminate the Agreement immediately on any of the following grounds:

(e) if You or a Member engages in any behavior or activity that is disruptive to or damaging to any Merlin business or operation, process or practice.

Fansites beware!

 

[Plastic Person]

Don't default on your contracted payments, or you might run into Merlin's crack debt collection agents.

 

[Rob]

After another look it appears that there are 3 different sets of T&Cs. Membership T&Cs, Membership terms of use and website T&Cs. Is it just me that thinks it's set out in a very confusing manner?

The main T&Cs can be found here but I am yet to go through these. I initially thought the terms of use were the T&Cs.