Waldameer to go cashless

[PhantomTheater]

http://www.waldameer...actions_new.asp

Plus a second train for the train and a redo of Comet's braking system.

[CoastersRZ]

Hmm. That is interesting, and certainly could make cash handling at concession stands easier since workers do not need to make change. However, I sense that there will be quite a bit of a learning curve with this new system. How many people will forgo that impulse buy of a pretzel because they don`t have a Wally card or a credit card? Certainly an interesting concept to say the least. It will be interesting to see how it works and is received by the public.

[CedarPointer]

That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of a park doing. Yes, let's make it more difficult for the guests to spend money in the park. That's a good idea!

[Browntggrr]

^It is quite the opposite.

Wally Cards have gone over so well, and were used more frequently than cash in 2011, there really is no reason to use the cash option anymore.

[Guest TombraiderTy]

People are more likely to spend money when they're unable to physically see or hold it, hence why so many Americans have found themselves in credit card debt. Although there were likely be some losses here-and-there as a result of this , I think that, overall, it's a great decision that'll result in an overall increase in profit for the park.

[WOF Guy]

Wally Cards and respective points are also used to pay for individual rides. So points orginally purchased to pay for rides can also be used to buy food.

http://www.waldameer.com/plan_admission.asp

This is a brilliant move. The park will spend less resources to prevent employee theft of cash, preparing tills, counting tills, and trying to resolve over/shorts.

[CedarPointer]

So what happens when the system goes down?

[Colonel_SoB_fan]

Just like a ride they will fix it

[kingsrattler]

So what happens when the system goes down?

Free food for everyone!!

[flightoffear1996]

Wondering if you can return the card and get cash back if you don't spend it all plus what the lines would be like to get one of these cards

[sheikra_rocks]

Same as HoliCash at Holiday World.

[Browntggrr]

^Or Powercards at Dave & Buster's.

So what happens when the system goes down?

The same thing a bank does when their debit card/ credit card system goes down- call the IT department to reboot the system.

[KI-ORIG-EMP]

I am against this. People should always have the right to use cash for the petty things like drinks and so forth. If the employee is trained correctly, there will be no problem in giving the correct amount of change, problem with thief and and other cash handling problem. Just pay attention to detail, do ONE transaction at a time and the register will do the work for you and tell you how much change to give back. Is this Wally card just a park issued card? Does it have a Mastercard or Visa logo to be used any place where it is accepted? If not, what if they have funds still on it at the end of the day? Do they feel they must use the card in order to use up all the funds? What if they are short and need to do a split transaction with cash? How many people will keep a running balance on the card? It is one thing to use something like Scooby Bucks and replace it with a card like this, but do not replace cash as the official form of payment, which is good for al debt, both public and private. I see it as another way to increase profits at the expense of the guest that might not want to spend all of their hard earned dollars just to zero out that Wally card.

[CedarPointer]

I see two problems: whenever the system goes down, the park stops making money... even if it's only for a little while (every time something was down for a "little while" at KI it was always like 30min...) it might make people decide that they don't need to get that drink anyway, so the park will lose revenue on that. Also, since their main marketing push is "you won't lose your cash", what if you lose the card...? Oh, and if you don't spend all the money on it, can you get a refund for the remaining balance? I see no problem with this if it's an option, but it's stupid to require it.

[Browntggrr]

Wow, to have all these terrible things possibly happen, it is hard to imagine debit cards, credit cards, gift cards or gift certificates ever became popular!

[CedarPointer]

KI's credit card system goes down all the time- time to break out the kachunkers!

[Browntggrr]

After thinking about this while at work:

I can see where some may not agree with Waldameer's decision, but also understand Waldameer has free entry for everyone (which is unique for most parks). The only way to ride the rides is to use a Wally Card.

Simply put- cash is not accepted to ride the rides, why not just cut out cash transactions completely and make riding/ purchases consistant throughout the park?