Why is it that people always try to find a way to make money on something that was free. There are listings on Ebay offering to sell you an envelope for $50 and give you the tickets for free. This is why they have talked about doing away with the free tickets.
It's sad that so many people exhaust ways to make an extra buck. I think the free passes say on them that they MUST BE ACCOMPANIED WITH THE PASS HOLDER, however, when I was there at xmas, another pass holder was giving away her extra tickets for FREE, and no questions were asked when happy customers entered!
Quote from: tinmann620 on March 31, 2009, 10:01:10 AM
It's sad that so many people exhaust ways to make an extra buck. I think the free passes say on them that they MUST BE ACCOMPANIED WITH THE PASS HOLDER, however, when I was there at xmas, another pass holder was giving away her extra tickets for FREE, and no questions were asked when happy customers entered!
They do say that, but I've never seen them check anyone.
Ok, time to play devil's advocate...
Why does it matter if they are selling them or not?
Is it hurting anyone? Is it hurting the park? No, not really
Chances are these people are going to go to the park and spend money, which is the whole point of these tickets, to get people to the park to spend money.
Sure you could go on and on about the park not getting the chedda for a park admission -- but hey guess what, if they "brought a friend" instead of selling it, the park STILL wouldn't get any gate money.
I know it is morally incorrect to sell your free tickets, but at the same time -- so what.
There are lot more important things to stew and fret about then someone selling their free tickets. just imho.
Ummm . . . I don't quite see the morality debate here. SDC surely understands capitalism. There's a darn good reason why a season passport is cheaper to SDC than WW and WW offers extremely few promotions for buying a season passport.
I don't think you should sell something that has been given to you as a reward perk. It does to me seem wrong. I have heard in the past that the Bring A Friends were going to be phased out. But I ask, why phase them out when instead the park could just do what it says and require the friend to be there. I never sold mine and on a few occasions I ended up having them left over at the end of the season. Even when gas was high, I didn't feel the need to sell the free passes to cover my expenses.
I have also been able to see the employees giving away their free passes. About 2 or 3 years ago, I was stopped at the front and asked if I needed passes. It was late in the Christmas Festival and the passes had to be used so there were 2 employees giving away their complimentary passes. Anyone know how many the employees get?
The park makes money by having bodies on the property- The more people- more food and merchandise will be bought ( items that have a good profit margin).
Quote from: themeparkguy on April 16, 2009, 10:09:27 AM
The park makes money by having bodies on the property- The more people- more food and merchandise will be bought ( items that have a good profit margin).
But, the problem becomes that SDC is missing out on revenue from the tickets while the person who got the tickets free are making a profit.
This isn't a straight economic issue...there's a moral one here as well.
And then there's the conundrum of how many of these people who buy the "free" tickets would otherwise buy tickets at the regular price at SDC.
You have identified the issue- Would those using a free ticket actually buy one or just skip the park altogether-we may never know.
SDC has removed the moral question by honoring the person who has the ticket and NOT ENFORCING a policy. It woud appear they side with the more people the better philosophy.
Quote from: themeparkguy on April 16, 2009, 10:57:09 AM
SDC has removed the moral question by honoring the person who has the ticket and NOT ENFORCING a policy. It woud appear they side with the more people the better philosophy.
I'm sure SDC would like it if those people buying the free tickets would actually buy tickets from them, but as we discussed before, there's no telling how many people would actually buy full face value tickets. That could be why they don't enforce the policy.
However, whether or not SDC cares about it or not doesn't completely eliminate any moral issue with selling those "free" tickets.
There is no moral issue.
SDC gets exactly what they promised: one customer per ticket doesn't have to pay admission.
The person buying the ticket gets exactly what they want: a ticket for less than face value.
The person selling the ticket gets exactly what he wants: more for the ticket than it's worth to him.
If I can't go to SDC during the dates the "free" tickets are valid, they are worthless to me. If I toss them in the trash, they're worthless to everyone, including SDC/HFE. If I sell them to someone who can use them during the valid dates, SDC/HFE gets exactly what they would get if that person attended with me: another customer through the gate, and the revenue they add by buying souvenirs and food, plus additional ticket sales if this new customer has a good time.
If I can't go to SDC during the valid dates, but give the tickets to someone who can go, then SDC gets exactly the same thing as if I sold the tickets.
Don't worry about someone "selling" the "free ticket". It doesn't matter if the ticket is sold or given, it's a violation of the terms to use it if the sponsoring season pass holder isn't there. And, I have to add, the tickets are not free: you only get them if you spend extra money for a season pass.
I suppose I can weigh in here, but I don't want to slap anyone's hand or get my own slapped in return. No lies here - I have given my tickets away when I couldn't get any loved ones to commit to the date, but I gave them away on the tram or at the gate, and I accompanied the happy families through the ticket gate as per the terms of the season pass.
As for this morality debate, it's been a rich one. I'm glad there are still people out there who even care about morality in the first place. First of all, if it's wrong for you, then it's immoral for you. Period. That shouldn't be under question at all. Secondly, if SDC wants to turn its head to allow a freebie to sneak through, then that's their business, but it really doesn't answer the question of whether it is immoral for the pass holder or the free ticket bearer. A clerk could also turn their head to allow me to rob the store when the manager isn't looking - it's still wrong to rob the store. And if the manager approves, it's still theft.
I know the argument - that SDC isn't going to profit over a ticket not used - people spend money once in the park - but by not holding myself by a written agreement (terms, conditions), I have broken a written "contract". I suppose that makes me a little bit dishonest, whether SDC still profits or not. The ends rarely justify the means. I doubt if very many people really have SDC's welfare in mind when they use free tickets in this way.
Then there is the issue of scalping the free tickets - myself profiting from the service of someone else - that just doesn't seem right at all. The service being sold still belongs to SDC until it is delivered. I can't really see how I could sell something that doesn't belong to me. The item being sold is not the ticket that I possess, but the future service the ticket affords me.
Finally, I'll bring in the idea that if more people paid SDC and not individuals willing to part with free tickets, maybe (though I'm not naive enough to believe it would happen) season pass and admission prices could be reduced. I'm paying for those free tickets, a point appropriately raised by KBCraig, and someone else is paying a reduced price to someone else. Even if that's not immoral, it doesn't seem fair (but life's not fair, right?).
This is a good debate to be having, and it does us all good to weigh the issue. To each his or her own, but even if I don't always succeed (with Biblical principles in mind), I will always try to correctly make decisions for myself.
Well said History Buff!
If I were well spoken that's what I would have said! ;-)
Quote from: KBCraig on April 17, 2009, 04:44:51 PM
There is no moral issue.
I disagree.
Quote from: KBCraig on April 17, 2009, 04:44:51 PMSDC gets exactly what they promised: one customer per ticket doesn't have to pay admission.
From SDC's end, yes. However, what that doesn't take into consideration is that the person buying the "free" ticket may have spent money to buy a full price ticket directly from SDC. We don't know who would have done this though, and we have no way of telling whether SDC is losing money here or not (my guess is that they don't think they are, as I'm sure they know this goes on). But again, the problem doesn't really lie on the SDC end.
Quote from: KBCraig on April 17, 2009, 04:44:51 PMThe person buying the ticket gets exactly what they want: a ticket for less than face value.
Yes, but this issue isn't really about what the buyer wants.
Quote from: KBCraig on April 17, 2009, 04:44:51 PMThe person selling the ticket gets exactly what he wants: more for the ticket than it's worth to him.
This is the predominant issue.
Quote from: KBCraig on April 17, 2009, 04:44:51 PMIf I can't go to SDC during the dates the "free" tickets are valid, they are worthless to me. If I toss them in the trash, they're worthless to everyone, including SDC/HFE.
But this is not the issue. The issue is between selling them and giving them away, not throwing them away.
Quote from: KBCraig on April 17, 2009, 04:44:51 PMIf I sell them to someone who can use them during the valid dates, SDC/HFE gets exactly what they would get if that person attended with me: another customer through the gate, and the revenue they add by buying souvenirs and food, plus additional ticket sales if this new customer has a good time.
But SDC benefits all the same from giving that ticket to someone else too. Again, the issue isn't really on SDC's end, it's on the season ticket holder's end.
Quote from: KBCraig on April 17, 2009, 04:44:51 PMIf I can't go to SDC during the valid dates, but give the tickets to someone who can go, then SDC gets exactly the same thing as if I sold the tickets.
Exactly.
Quote from: KBCraig on April 17, 2009, 04:44:51 PMDon't worry about someone "selling" the "free ticket". It doesn't matter if the ticket is sold or given, it's a violation of the terms to use it if the sponsoring season pass holder isn't there.
I'm not exactly sure what you are trying to say here. Simply because you gave or sold the ticket doesn't mean the person using it will be violating any terms (as they could potentially be going with someone who does have a season pass).
Quote from: KBCraig on April 17, 2009, 04:44:51 PMAnd, I have to add, the tickets are not free: you only get them if you spend extra money for a season pass.
Are you implying that people only "spend extra money" to get the extra ticket? I would wager that a vast majority of the people would consider that ticket "free," as they would buy the season pass no matter if the ticket came with it or not.
The issue I've raised is basically about whether it is OK to sell something that you got for free. The issue exists in some form, no matter the answer.
Quote from: History Buff on April 17, 2009, 05:11:42 PM
I suppose I can weigh in here, but I don't want to slap anyone's hand or get my own slapped in return. No lies here - I have given my tickets away when I couldn't get any loved ones to commit to the date, but I gave them away on the tram or at the gate, and I accompanied the happy families through the ticket gate as per the terms of the season pass.
As for this morality debate, it's been a rich one. I'm glad there are still people out there who even care about morality in the first place. First of all, if it's wrong for you, then it's immoral for you. Period. That shouldn't be under question at all. Secondly, if SDC wants to turn its head to allow a freebie to sneak through, then that's their business, but it really doesn't answer the question of whether it is immoral for the pass holder or the free ticket bearer. A clerk could also turn their head to allow me to rob the store when the manager isn't looking - it's still wrong to rob the store. And if the manager approves, it's still theft.
I know the argument - that SDC isn't going to profit over a ticket not used - people spend money once in the park - but by not holding myself by a written agreement (terms, conditions), I have broken a written "contract". I suppose that makes me a little bit dishonest, whether SDC still profits or not. The ends rarely justify the means. I doubt if very many people really have SDC's welfare in mind when they use free tickets in this way.
Then there is the issue of scalping the free tickets - myself profiting from the service of someone else - that just doesn't seem right at all. The service being sold still belongs to SDC until it is delivered. I can't really see how I could sell something that doesn't belong to me. The item being sold is not the ticket that I possess, but the future service the ticket affords me.
Finally, I'll bring in the idea that if more people paid SDC and not individuals willing to part with free tickets, maybe (though I'm not naive enough to believe it would happen) season pass and admission prices could be reduced. I'm paying for those free tickets, a point appropriately raised by KBCraig, and someone else is paying a reduced price to someone else. Even if that's not immoral, it doesn't seem fair (but life's not fair, right?).
This is a good debate to be having, and it does us all good to weigh the issue. To each his or her own, but even if I don't always succeed (with Biblical principles in mind), I will always try to correctly make decisions for myself.
Wow, I should have read your post before I typed my previous one. It would have saved me some typing. :)
I guess I will chime in since I started the post in the first place. People keep saying that SDC does not care. They actually do. They check ebay and have been known to cancel the season pass holders tickets if they can find out who they are. That is why most people will not show the front of the ticket they are selling because they do not want SDC to be able to read the bar code and numbers and then be able to find out who is selling them. As for the statement that we paid for them I find that very wrong. We purchased our tickets early at a much smaller price and then they gave us free tickets on top of that. The people that are paying over $75.00 a pass not get no extra perks.
A written contract is meant to be enforced by two parties who have a "meeting of the minds". When one party does not enforce (SDC letting in someone not a season pass member)-then they have violated the contract and rendered it null and void.
Point is make up your mind SDC- you cannot have it both ways!
Quote from: themeparkguy on April 20, 2009, 09:13:59 PM
A written contract is meant to be enforced by two parties who have a "meeting of the minds". When one party does not enforce (SDC letting in someone not a season pass member)-then they have violated the contract and rendered it null and void.
Point is make up your mind SDC- you cannot have it both ways!
That's what the law says, but there's quite a bit of gray area here that would make it much more difficult and time consuming to prove, one way or another.
I'm just not a fan of rules for the sake of rules- have them mean something or don't waste our time or paper.
What I liked was that on the 1Branson forums, people who wouldn't be able to go for the days their free passes were for, would trade for ones that they *could* use. So all the free passes stayed free, and they all got used. It was really nice.
I haven't been on there in a while, so I don't know if they're still doing that, especially now that after a certain date, you have to pay for BAF passes (which I believe was one of SDC's ways to counteract the people who were selling the BAFs for profit).
Joy
Quote from: themeparkguy on April 21, 2009, 01:26:07 PM
I'm just not a fan of rules for the sake of rules- have them mean something or don't waste our time or paper.
I agree with you on that.
No argument here. They just waste ink spelling out rules if they don't abide by the rules. If they wanted to avoid allowing people to break any moral codes, they could just make the BAFs free to pass out. The secret it out - too many people are on to them allowing them to be used without the SP holder.
There is another issue that we haven't touched on: If SDC wants to reduce the demand for a cheaper Bring- a - Friend tickets, then shouldn't they put some coupons out there? There are reduced tickets to Six Flags at grocery stores, and Worlds of Fun also offers reduced advanced pries. SDC offers pitiful discounts- if any at all. Haven't they created the black market to a degree?
I do not believe that SDC if offering Bring-A friend tickets totally out of the kindness of their hearts. Why do they do it? To fill the park and sell stuff.
I really appreciate Hisory Buff's Words- I still thinking about some of the debates on this page. Morality and Capitalism is a nasty mix.
What kinda look do you think I would I get if I brought this to the ticket counter...
(http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu218/rubedugans/photos031.jpg)
I like making people go "huh" for a minute, so I think it would be worth it, but they would more than likely just brush it off as an "expired coupon" instead of a 35 yr old $1 off rare Coca Cola Bottle Hanger. I would laugh about it, heck I would even dress up like I was just in a 35 yr coma, and attempt to look right out of 74'. Okay I am a huge dork, I apologize for wasting your time reading this. But if you happen to see bell bottoms, and sideburns, stop and say hello to me, don't just stare, that is impolite!
(Oh and Tinman this is what the other half of that jar of coins SHOULD look like!)
OMG, Rube, you should totally do that, LOL. If I were working there, I'd be drooling over seeing one of those in person. I don't know how many times I tried to get one on Ebay and got outbid by snipers.
LOL
Joy
^^If I was working the ticket counter I'd give you the one dollar discount! :)
Then quickly whisk the bottle hanger away, and laugh menacingly that you just got a DEAL on the item.
I see both points on this subject. On one hand its wrong to sell your free passes. But on the other your selling them to get people into your beloved park to spend money. Its a double edged sword. Think about this though, you have the spares, you sell them, you use your profits to go to SDC. The people that purchased them go to SDC......who is winning here?????
as somebody pointed out earlier passes have bar codes on them...... All SDC would need to do is program computer to allow say 6 free entries per pass ( bar code). that way the people trtying to use them properly could... And the People who are cheating/profiting from them could not do so......
IF they do away with bring a friend perks for the early season ticket buyers, I'm done with season tickets. We use them for our kid's friends in the summer and my brother and wife and my two nieces come with us for Christmas. They usually pick up the hotel costs. This would tick this steady, dependable patron from NWA that comes the back way from Berryville to miss the traffic off.
thedy will not do away with the bring a friend passes. it brings them extra revenue and they know it. But i would like to see them figure out how to control the illegal "sales" of the tickets.
I would say that I agree with History Buff here:
"First of all, if it's wrong for you, then it's immoral for you. Period. That shouldn't be under question at all."
I think it is morally wrong to SELL Bring a Friend Tickets, but I am fine with giving them away if I can't use them. I do think that SDC is perpetuating the "problem" by not checking to see if the season pass holder is present. On the other hand, who can blame them? When you have upwards of 10,000 people entering a park on some days, and only 5 to 7 turnstiles, you really don't have time to ask questions beyond "Can I see your ID?" for season pass holders.
You could solve a lot of problems with fraud simply by switching to the plastic magnetic stripe card "Six Flags" style season passes that have a photo of the pass holder on them. The bring a friend pass could be eliminated by simply using the season pass itself as the bring a friend coupon. The employee would press the "Bring a Friend button" and swipe the season pass and the computer would check to see if I had brought a friend already between 11/28 and 12/30. It would have a message for the employee that either said "entrance granted" or "invalid admission." That technology has been in common use elsewhere for over 10 years, and isn't much more expensive than having a laser barcode reader.
Believe me, if SDC saw this as a problem, they would have done something about it. Bring a friend coupons are glorified advertising that bring those who don't buy tickets to the park. Many of these people will come back and buy their own tickets/passes in the future. Even if they never come back, they will have bought food/souvenirs and perhaps recommend the park to others.