| yaggy |
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Coin-op fixer
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Rant: Separating the Classes (aka Perks for Rich People)
#282324 - 04/12/12 07:07 PM
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As the summer approaches, I'm checking to see what new amusement rides are planned for the season and pricing changes. Most of what's out there any more are the big corporate parks. The nearest one is also the busiest, biggest and has the most large rides and coasters. It's a Six Flags franchise. But then there's the pricing. Check this out.
Regular Parking: $20
Premium Parking: $30 (closer to entrance, they started this a couple years ago. all they did was put up a barrier and charge more. early birds used to park there, now it's just for those willing to pay more)
Adult Admission: $61.99 (might as well get a season pass, it's only $30 more)
And here's where it really gets sickening.
THE FLASH PASS.
Why wait in line like all the poor people?
Your time is precious. Spend it doing other things and we'll page you when it's almost your turn to ride! This is just for the main rollercoasters, mostly. But it gets even better.
Regular Flash Pass: $45 (you still wait the full time, just not in line with awful poor people)
Flash Pass GOLD: $80 (significantly reduced wait time)
Flash Pass PLATINUM: $120 (90% reduced wait time, PLUS you can re-ride a second time, unlike people who don't pay all this money)
So essentially, bribing the park gets
Another thing is Flash Pass holders get first dibs on seating before the gates open for the general chum of humanity. So if you've been waiting for that front seat, chances are your wait times are now 90% longer, because it'll keep getting "stolen" away from you. From having experienced this first hand, it is very frustrating and causes anger. And I rarely get angry!
Oh and then for $299, you can get VIP access. Get on any ride instantly. The ultimate in preferred treatment, at a price.
I'll be going to a much smaller park called KNOEBELS instead, I think.
Free parking
Free Admission
Real food cooked by little old ladies
Rides are $1.50-$2.00ea
Two cool haunted house rides
Picnic groves (bring your own food!)
Classic bumper cars (they're... bumpier)
I guess I'm wondering if anyone else is disgusted by this stuff. Money makes the world go round and all, but to blatantly shit on your regular customers by offering extra privileges over the standard park-goer for an extra price really takes the cake. I don't think a ton of people buy these Flash passes, but enough to make me scowl and get all onry like the old bastard I am.
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GatKong |
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Tetris Mason
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Re: Rant: Separating the Classes (aka Perks for Rich People)
[Re: yaggy]
#282326 - 04/12/12 07:16 PM
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Meh.
Coach, Business Class, and First Class.
Motel, hotel room, hotel suite.
Chicken, Steak, Fillet Mignon.
Costume, Silver, Gold.
Disney World has had the flash pass for at least a decade.
Charging more for better service isn't new. I agree, would be nice if I could afford the extra, and I'd probably do like you, go where I can afford it.
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| yaggy |
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Coin-op fixer
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Re: Rant: Separating the Classes (aka Perks for Rich People)
[Re: GatKong]
#282340 - 04/12/12 08:21 PM
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> Charging more for better service isn't new. I agree, would be nice if I could afford
> the extra, and I'd probably do like you, go where I can afford it.
Ah, but what's the "extra service?" Cutting in front of other people in line? That was always grounds for ejection from the park, but now it's okay as long as you pay Six Flags for the privilege.
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italie |
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MAME owes italie many thank yous, hah
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Re: Rant: Separating the Classes (aka Perks for Rich People)
[Re: yaggy]
#282342 - 04/12/12 08:38 PM
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> > Charging more for better service isn't new. I agree, would be nice if I could
> afford
> > the extra, and I'd probably do like you, go where I can afford it.
>
> Ah, but what's the "extra service?" Cutting in front of other people in line? That
> was always grounds for ejection from the park, but now it's okay as long as you pay
> Six Flags for the privilege.
Rules never do apply to those with money....
// grinds my gears too.
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| DMala |
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Sleep is overrated
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Re: Rant: Separating the Classes (aka Perks for Rich People)
[Re: yaggy]
#282353 - 04/12/12 10:11 PM
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> > Charging more for better service isn't new. I agree, would be nice if I could
> afford
> > the extra, and I'd probably do like you, go where I can afford it.
>
> Ah, but what's the "extra service?" Cutting in front of other people in line? That
> was always grounds for ejection from the park, but now it's okay as long as you pay
> Six Flags for the privilege.
I think it's indicative of what a bad place Six Flags and most of the amusement park industry is in. They can't get more bodies through the gate, so they have to try to wring every cent they can out of the people who do come in. The next step is a ride which suspends patrons upside down and shakes them, with an attendant underneath to sweep up all of the loose change, wallets, and valuables that fall out.
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| Bekki Doll |
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A cynical yet secular shiny retrogamer, thread ressurector and fan of the word "gay".
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Re: Rant: Separating the Classes (aka Perks for Rich People)
[Re: italie]
#282354 - 04/12/12 10:16 PM
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Quote:
Rules never do apply to those with money....
That's the REAL "Golden Rule". Any Christian with a conscience, a sense of awareness, and common courtesy should be offended by that and raise some serious Cain regarding that.
--Bekki
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Combating functional illiteracy with latex-clad drama since the '80s, because old video games rule!
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| Gor |
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Giver of truth.
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Re: Rant: Separating the Classes (aka Perks for Rich People)
[Re: yaggy]
#282361 - 04/12/12 11:00 PM
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> I guess I'm wondering if anyone else is disgusted by this stuff. Money makes the
> world go round and all, but to blatantly shit on your regular customers by offering
> extra privileges over the standard park-goer for an extra price really takes the
> cake. I don't think a ton of people buy these Flash passes, but enough to make me
> scowl and get all onry like the old bastard I am.
Have you tried crutches? That apparently worked as a line skipping pass for Mrs. Gor and pals in Jolly Old England
when she broke her ankle. That was like 12 years ago and in England, so your results may vary.
Edit: this also worked for priority boarding on Ryanair 6 years ago.
Edited by Gor (04/12/12 11:02 PM)
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Oh for Pete's sake.
loser.com
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| Bekki Doll |
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A cynical yet secular shiny retrogamer, thread ressurector and fan of the word "gay".
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Re: Rant: Separating the Classes (aka Perks for Rich People)
[Re: Gor]
#282365 - 04/12/12 11:46 PM
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Quote:
Have you tried crutches?
Make sue you also buy an elastic bandage to wrap around the ankle. And try not to hobble around while speaking with a Spanish accent with your significant other or friends.
Running gags and inside jokes: I love 'em! 
What's not funny? Racism is still alive and well despite how President Tom wants everyone to "jest git a'lonnnnnnnn..."
--Bekki
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Combating functional illiteracy with latex-clad drama since the '80s, because old video games rule!
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Free market in action
[Re: yaggy]
#282374 - 04/13/12 01:03 AM
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You must be a terrorist trying to take away Americans' freedom to price how they want.
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| Bekki Doll |
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A cynical yet secular shiny retrogamer, thread ressurector and fan of the word "gay".
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Re: Free market in action
[Re: Vas Crabb]
#282376 - 04/13/12 01:22 AM
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Quote:
You must be a terrorist trying to take away Americans' freedom to price how they want.
What's interesting is that one has to pay more money for the privilege of being an asshole. Courteous and smart people are more thrifty that way. :-)
That "asshole badge" they paid for is exactly that. It's a great way to find people who you really have no business wanting to associate with. Except for dramatic purposes for 4chan or ED, amirite?
I will admit to being wrong here: I'm beginning to see the value of becoming a /b/tard. I'm working my way towards that dark side. ;-)
--Bekki
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Combating functional illiteracy with latex-clad drama since the '80s, because old video games rule!
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Re: Rant: Separating the Classes (aka Perks for Rich People)
[Re: italie]
#282378 - 04/13/12 01:40 AM
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> Rules never do apply to those with money....
>
>
> // grinds my gears too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GC_ylRHtZs
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"Note to Noobs:
We are glad to help you but simply posting that something does not work is not going to lead to you getting help. The more information you can supply defining your problem, the less likely it will be that you will get smart-alec replies.
C.D.~"
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Re: Rant: Separating the Classes (aka Perks for Rich People)
[Re: GatKong]
#282396 - 04/13/12 06:48 AM
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> Disney World has had the flash pass for at least a decade.
Just for clarification: Disney has a "Fast Pass" and there is no extra charge for it - it's available to everyone. It works much differently than the "Flash Pass" at Six Flags. At Disney you put your park pass in a Fast Pass machine at the ride you would like to ride (there are machines at every major ride). The machine will spit out a "Fast Pass" (paper slip) telling you what time to return to redeem your ride (it's usually 2 hours from the time you received your pass) and there is a window of 30 or 60 minutes where you can use the pass before it expires. You can only have one Fast Pass at a time so once you redeem a Fast Pass you cannot change your mind and get another pass until the first expires. In reality you can only do this about 4 times a day because of the time constraints. Also, the Fast Pass does not immediately get you onto a ride - you stand in a special Fast Pass line and they blend the Fast Pass customers into the regular line but the Fast Pass line starts closer to the actual ride. There is little resentment since everyone can (and should) use them. Universal Studios has a similar setup to Disney's except it's nowhere near as efficient and is generally a waste of time.
No, I don't work for Disney - I've just been there quite a few times over the past 10 years :-)
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| Bekki Doll |
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A cynical yet secular shiny retrogamer, thread ressurector and fan of the word "gay".
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Re: Rant: Separating the Classes (aka Perks for Rich People)
[Re: Waremonger]
#282397 - 04/13/12 07:37 AM
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Quote:
At Disney you put your park pass in a Fast Pass machine at the ride you would like to ride (there are machines at every major ride). The machine will spit out a "Fast Pass" (paper slip) telling you what time to return to redeem your ride (it's usually 2 hours from the time you received your pass) and there is a window of 30 or 60 minutes where you can use the pass before it expires. You can only have one Fast Pass at a time so once you redeem a Fast Pass you cannot change your mind and get another pass until the first expires. In reality you can only do this about 4 times a day because of the time constraints.
Disney has it right! That works much better than some pricy "asshole badge" for those narcissistic wealthy assholes (I'll betcha they are the same wealthy people who complain about taxes, and you can blame asshole-in-chief Grover Norquist for that).
Spend extra money on an "asshole badge"! Oh yeah! But then these pablum pukers have the ignorant GALL to kvetch about being over-taxed!
Makes sense...if you're ignorant, stupid, or a Rapethuglican...but I repeat myself.
But I guarantee you that we, the sane folks here who are truly loony for speaking our minds here and actually WORK for a living, could buy some useful things like GROCERIES or pay the UTILITY BILLS with that money the assholes throw away on their "asshole badges"! Now that's real "cents" you can take to the bank!
I'll step off my soapbox now. ;-)
--Bekki
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Combating functional illiteracy with latex-clad drama since the '80s, because old video games rule!
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