Fail

Revision as of 19:58, 13 December 2010

Oops, Maybe you were looking for Thorpe Park

Of course you could be looking for one of the biggest fails of recent times.

This fail started at about midday on Monday 13th December 2010 and continued long into the night.

The source of the fail was a Merlin offer to buy a MAP for half price this was offered via the Capital FM website. In the T&C of the offer was some new T&C relating to the cost of parking at Merlin attractions, currently free to all pass holders. But a suspected grinch style character at Merlin HQ thought it would be better to get all these loyal visitors to pay for their parking.

So With this information "leaked" into the public domain a couple of comments appeared on Merlin's Faffbook page. These few comments soon turned into a number of comments. This soon turned into a massive backlash. A media security silence soon fell over Merlin HQ, with all comments from Merlin disappearing and no new information coming out, with the exception on one post saying they would release a statement tomorrow. At the time of writing no new information has been offered.

Merlin's Faffbook page soon because just page after page of complaints.

A small selection can be found here:

DL: Sorry if you start charging for parking,we will not buy the 8 passes we buy each year. there is still many other theme parks in england,drayton manor,flamingo land, blackpool and great yarmouth pleasure beach. You should at least honor the free parking till the passes have run out.When we got the passes we got them with free parking as part of the pass.

NOT A GOOD MOVE MERLIN. 2 minutes ago · Like · Comment

ME: What next paying to park at the hotel? 3 minutes ago via iPhone · Like · Comment

NR:What a slap in the face! 5 minutes ago · Like · Comment

ME: Absolute disgrace! :( 5 minutes ago via iPhone · Like · Comment

CB:Awaiting the full note tomorrow about what's changing but from what's come out today it doesn't look like good news. The conditions and restrictions have grown in complexity recently and the benefits that some of us have enjoyed for many years are being taken away or changed to the point where the Annual Pass no longer offers the convenience of paying one price for the year and being able to visit as you fancy. 9 minutes ago · Like · Comment 5 people like this.

TB: Maybe I have missed a post but is Merlin going to charge pass holders for parking? 17 minutes ago · Like · Comment EH: likes this. NT: For standard pass holders, yes. 17 minutes ago · Like · NT: Well, according to leaked T&C's anyway. 16 minutes ago · Like · JP:Yes they are and you did not miss it they have deleted their posts regarding that. It slipped out via a competition and was confirmed by Merlin. Now they say they are going to make an announcement tomorrow. Brought forward from the new year... 15 minutes ago · Like

TB Just as you start to enjoy days out. Me thinks it could be time to start saving the money I would spend at Merlin attractions and go abroad instead. 13 minutes ago · Like ·

KW: Dirty robbing bastards.... 13 minutes ago · Like · 1 person ·

CW: Yes from next year 9 minutes ago · Like · PK: And at a time when the changes to the Tesco points means that the pass will be more expensive to many too. A strange business decision in my eyes. Save your money guys, and visit some European Parks instead - you will be glad of the change. 8 minutes ago · Like ·

PB: I was always taught never bite the hand that feeds you. 23 minutes ago · Unlike · Comment You and 4 others like this.

RH: Too far Merlin, too far. Bah humbug! 32 minutes ago · Like · Comment 2 people like this.

JW: Merlin seem to think that people only purchase the pass for the discount entry value into the long list of attractions. WRONG. Free parking is part of the value and actually encourages people to visit other attractions.

JB: You have disgusted me merlin!! 38 minutes ago · Like · Comment AL: likes this.

GJ: I think it's disgusting, limitations on when you can use the pass, no free parking and expensive food & drink outlets. 44 minutes ago · Like · Comment JS: likes this.

JS: Oh dear Merlin, what have you done?! All I see are pages of posts from your biggest supporters - many well known faces within your fan base - who you've managed to upset on mass in one go. These are the same people you see all season posting on your Facebook page and elsewhere on the web about your parks. At times it isn't all complementary but they stick with you, giving you the kind of publicity other companies would die for. What you seem to have done today has gone down like a lead balloon. When you bought out Alton, Thorpe and Chessington we began to feel the magic was coming back. Don't ruin it for an extra fiver in your pocket.

This was just a small selection of the backlash and we await to see what Merlins response will be and if they will go back on their idea of charging for parking to all MAP holders.

But out of this total Merlin PR Fail Light Water Valley did manage an Epic win at Merlins expense by posting this on their own Faffbook page. Lightwater Valley Theme Park: We value your business and think that parking your car should always be free of charge, don't you? If you drive all that way to see us it's the least we can do ...