Where can I process my pass?

[King Maple The Tree King]

I currently have a voucher for my 2009 season pass. Now, my home park is Kings Island, but I was planning on visiting Carowinds this weekend and getting my pass processed there. However, there seems to be some confusion:

...You can process your 2009 Platinum Pass at any Cedar Fair park...

-Don Helbig, Kings Island Insider: http://www.kingsislandinsider.blogspot.com/

3/25/09

but...

Remember, you CAN NOT process your 2009 Platinum Pass at any other park other than your home park. Use your voucher until you can process at your home park.

-Tony Clark, OnPoint! - The Cedar Point Blog: http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/fun/blog/...29-c18a24634326

3/15/09

Anyone know which one is which? If not, I'll just plan on giving Carowinds a call this weekend.

[The Interpreter]

From Cedar Point's website:

NEW REDEMPTION POLICY: If you're a Platinum Passholder and will be visiting a park that opens before Cedar Point's Season Pass Center, you may process your Platinum Pass at that park. However, we encourage you, if possible, to process your Platinum Pass at the original park of purchase.

http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/admission...asses/index.cfm

I believe that trumps someone's blog, even if that someone was a PR type at Cedar Point...

I can assure you, this is chainwide Cedar Fair policy now...

Even still, I'd call Carowinds so they can get this straightened out before you go, should it be an issue.

[Diamondback FOF]

Yeah. That would be horrible to go to a park and then come to find out, you can't get in because they won't process your pass

[The Interpreter]

IF that happened, I'd buy another one, process there, then demand the park where I bought the first one issue me a refund...and a copy of my nice letter would go to Mr. Kinzel, along with screenshots of the KI blog and the Cedar Point website....

[Touchdown]

You can process a PP at any CF park. Its a new policy just announced this week, Tony posted in a Coasterbuzz forum about this: http://coasterbuzz.com/Forums/Thread/55430...x?page=1#768256

[Diamondback FOF]

Yes, that would be a good plan, but only if you had the screenshots. Because, I forget where, it states that you cannot return/upgrade/get any kind of refund for a pass or admission ticket purchased. Also, is it safe to assume that your 'nice letter' would not sound so nice?

[The Interpreter]

No, it is not. Nice letters get results. Nasty ones get filed.

[Diamondback FOF]

Very true and fair enough. Maybe that's why some people who send 'nice' letters never see anything get done and just stay upset.

[The Interpreter]

It's very important to state how much you were disappointed AND what you expect to be done. MOST of the time, but not all, you will get it, if you are reasonable. Most businesses want to keep their customers happy. Those who do not often do not stay in business long.

[dare-to-fly]

I have found this out as well. I will say that being too nice isn't always good either. It's a fine line.

[The Interpreter]

So many who work in customer service are some combination of overworked, clueless and/or have limited authority to deal with a situation. I have found it essential to state exactly what it is you want, not just complain. Say why you are unhappy AND what they can do about it. That seems to get results far more often. And don't threaten, unless you mean it and are willing to carry it out. Don't, for instance, say "I'm never coming t your stupid park again." If you said that to me, and I worked there, my quiet to myself response would be "Good," while to you I would say "I'm so sorry you feel that way." It's a coping mechanism.

You must remember customer service people truly do want to help, get confronted with many ridiculous complaints, must sort out the legitimate ones, and have only the authority management chooses to give them. Some managements only want customer service representatives (CSR's) to keep the complainers quiet and make them go away. If that's the case, it's not the CSR's fault, but it is yours if you keep going back to such a place with expectations that things will improve.