Michigan MisAdventure or CF Courtesy

[The Interpreter]

http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?A...90313/1016/news

[KIBeast]

I sympathize, but they did give them rain checks, which doesn't happen too often. I would have been equally angry over trying to sell the tickets and having to give the money back.

[CoastersNSich]

So, the guy tried to SELL his rain checks on park property? It's nice that the park gave them rainchecks for their inability to enjoy the park due to downed power lines, but parks like theirs generally don't give out refunds.

If he was so concerned about getting some of his money back, could he have done so at home, at work, or somewhere that's NOT park property? If I were the park, not tied by corporate rules, I would have given him a refund knowing the special circumstances. I can understand though why they have a no soliciting/selling policy at these parks, so as to stop scalping of tickets that could possibly be counterfeit. If he was desperate to unload the tickets at the park, he wouldn't have asked for money.

[SOB_TOM]

Thats why you are not park mangment.

I can relate to both sides of the story. Does it suck that he had rain checks? Yes. Did the park go above and beyond what they were bound to? Yes. Should the girl have walked (if I remember the parking lot) a whole 1000ft off property with the guy, sold the tickets, and then left? Yes.

[Gordon Bombay]

The park had a policy in place, they were very genrous to give him a raincheck when they are not obligated to give him anything at all. He took the risk of park closure when he decided to go to the park. The park was generous to him and went above and beyond what they usually do. Sure, it may not be what HE wanted, but its better than nothing. There are plenty of other ways to sell the tickets, he could've done it online, talked to co-workers, neighbors, etc. He had his daughter do it for him on park property when they clearly as most private businesses do, have a no solicitation rule, he shouldnt have broken that rule or tried to. CF has done some pretty un-friendly things to guests in the past but I'm glad they stood firm on this one and didnt treat him differently than the other guests just because he was whining. They were nicer than needed but he still wanted more, dont bite the hand that feeds.

On the other hand, I remember a few times when PKI just caved in to guests because they were way too afraid of a little bad publicity. Last year when some height requirements changed one lady complained that her kids werent tall enough to ride what they rode last year and wanted refunds on all her passes. I remember even as teh park was winding down for the closure of the 2004 season hearing about the height requirement changes that would soon be coming. The fact that this lady did not make any attempt to research the product before she bought it is her problem but instead, since she was ignorant, PKI sent a spokesperson on local news to present her with 8 free season passes for her and her extended family. What a joke.

[The Interpreter]

You seem to think that guests are responsible for having common sense. It is guests who decide whether or NOT to go to a park, and they DO talk to their friends.

This experience, published in the newspaper up in Michigan, did the park a world of damage. People here seem to be forgetting that the visitors were from Germany.

I bet anything that by now Cedar Fair has made this situation good, and in spades. But, ONLY because it was in the newspaper. Parks that do the right thing even when they know others are not watching earn respect (think Holiday World, Kennywood, and yes, Kings Island under Paramount). Those who do so only after the news media gets involved (think Geauga Lake not honoring DARE tickets until after the media covered the story, then backing up and doing so) earn little to nothing at all.

[CoastersNSich]

On the other hand, I remember a few times when PKI just caved in to guests because they were way too afraid of a little bad publicity. Last year when some height requirements changed one lady complained that her kids werent tall enough to ride what they rode last year and wanted refunds on all her passes. I remember even as teh park was winding down for the closure of the 2004 season hearing about the height requirement changes that would soon be coming. The fact that this lady did not make any attempt to research the product before she bought it is her problem but instead, since she was ignorant, PKI sent a spokesperson on local news to present her with 8 free season passes for her and her extended family. What a joke.

I don't want to try another PKI vs. CP, but one thing that I bet will change at KI next year will be the opportunity to check height before guests enter the gate. For the past couple years, Cedar Point has graphically shown the height requirements and the rides/coasters associated with that minimum height, in front of all four park entrances, not just the main gate. Oh, and greeters. I've ranted so much how much the park needs them to make sure every rider is of the correct height before they get in the train or ride unit.