1. Welcome to VegasMessageBoard
    It appears you are visiting our community as a guest.
    In order to view full-size images, participate in discussions, vote in polls, etc, you will need to Log in or Register.

Forced to use Express Comps

Discussion in 'Comps' started by Watts, Dec 4, 2012.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Watts

    Watts Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2011
    Messages:
    106
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    I've been reading about primary comps and express comps lately and I just had some experience with it.

    I went to the Beau Rivage last Friday for one night only to take advantage of free play from November and December. I had a couple of other trips there earlier this year and my average was $400 for roughly 17 hours of play over two nights for each of the trips. I don't charge much in food so I was able to get what I had comped without using my express comps. This particular trip I played BJ for 5.5 hours with an average bet of $205. I had a $160 bill from dinner the night I was there. The day I left I was told by the host on duty that they would have to use all available express comps first (I had more than enough to cover) then they would look for any additional comps. I thought it was weird but checked out anyway. On my way home I text my host and she said the same thing. I just thought it was weird because I was just in vegas late September and my host at mgm was able to comps things off without touching my express comps.

    Is this from the new system? Or is this just because it's Biloxi and they can do what they want? Would be great to hear from similar betting folks out there with their experiences. Thanks!
     
  2. d0nk3ypunch

    d0nk3ypunch Newbie

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2012
    Messages:
    9
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    5
    I had a similar experience at MGM Grand in Vegas in October. It seems to be the default approach more commonly now.
     
  3. Goosey

    Goosey Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Aug 5, 2010
    Messages:
    186
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    It seems to me that for low to mid rollers who uses a good percentage of their comp dollars should just use their expresscomps when it's more convenient than charging things to the room. High rollers' expresscomps will still be intact and will have to figure out a way to use them, but their express comps are now capped.
     
  4. Naturaleight

    Naturaleight MIA

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2012
    Messages:
    1,146
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    I think it differs by property. Why? I'm not quite certain.

    Hosts at Mandalay Bay and Mirage seem to want to use my express comps for food and not offer a per day F&B balance up front.

    Whereas the hosts from MGM, Bellagio, Aria, and NYNY give me an upfront credit for food to use without dipping into express comps.
     
  5. Goosey

    Goosey Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Aug 5, 2010
    Messages:
    186
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    I think you're talking about different things here. The point the OP is trying to make is that he's been told by two hosts that they have to use up his expresscomps first before applying into his primary comps (which is consistent with what has been written here in previous threads). So in your situation it would be the equivalent of you charging more than your upfront credit for food and your host will then dip into your express comps first before applying primary comps to the rest of your bill.
     
  6. CaptainJack

    CaptainJack Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2009
    Messages:
    467
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    24
    It's definitely one of those YMMV things. Some players seem to have better luck with hosts using the discretionary fund first and not dipping into the EC's. on my recent trip, my host took a few hundred out of EC and comped the rest. The bottom line is we're now earning EC at a slower pace since Oct 1 but a large part of that difference is now funneling into a discretionary fund that hosts have access to. It's become more and more like Total Rewards. Skillful players have always kept their TR RC balances low so that hosts could dip into their discretionary funds for comping. That's probably the best approach at mLife properties now as well. The difference with mLife compared to TR is that you can't convert EC to cash and merchandise the way you can with RC.
     
  7. Naturaleight

    Naturaleight MIA

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2012
    Messages:
    1,146
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    When I played at CET's properties I use to go into the gift shops and go on a shopping spree with my points before check out so the host wouldn't steal all of them.

    Unfortunately you cannot do that with EC's. In fact there isn't a whole lot you can do with them besides food, and those extravagant "experiences."
     
  8. Tellafriend

    Tellafriend MIA

    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2011
    Messages:
    900
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    77
    here is the answer:

    i have been told by the authorities that be at the Beau:

    the Director of the hosts is trying to impress his bosses. So, he is forcing hosts to use all aviable express comps before applying primary comps. Yes, this is stupid and counter-intuative. What the hell is the point in EC if this is the case? Just go back to having regular comps. It sucks, its stupid, and yet it is happening now at the Beau. Its is also the policy for high rollers. I'm headed there for NYE and will lay into him about this as I have other such stupid ideas and then probably quit going until they restart the Noir events which have also been stopped until they run out all the new Noirs....yes, this is also their plan straight from the horse's mouth.
     
  9. Iceicecool

    Iceicecool Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2011
    Messages:
    472
    Location:
    San Diego
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    100
    I checked out of Monte Carlo today. The only two charges on my bill were the resort fees. The VIP desk said that if you book an offer through marketing, you pay the resort fees. Only an executive host can comp resort fees. So she called a host and he said that I had to use express comps, not primary comps, to pay off the resort fees.

    Also Express comp earning is a lot slower than it used to be. I played the same amount that I always do and I normally earn $200 in express comps but this time I only earned $70.
     
  10. y2mulder

    y2mulder Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2011
    Messages:
    485
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    7
    Wow, use your comps earned during the trip to pay of your in-room wifi and USA today. I cant tell you how cool this sounds :Þ

    All these stories make me wanna short MGM stock into the ground.
     
  11. evoni

    evoni High-Roller

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2008
    Messages:
    825
    Location:
    Bay area, California
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    101
    If that is now the rule for all tier levels it's new as I have never paid a resort fee regardless if I used a marketing offer or went through my host.

    I agree with you that earning express comps is a lot slower then it was. Also at Noir level I didn't detect them giving me the extra points one is suppose to earn for that tier. I would like to think it's a computer glitch of their's but likely not.
     
  12. blackjacknut

    blackjacknut VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2008
    Messages:
    3,410
    Location:
    Northeast Ohio
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    56
    I've never had a resort fee either. My host always takes the fees off my bill.
     
  13. BeeeJay

    BeeeJay President of The Red Lobster Hostess Satisfaction

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2008
    Messages:
    9,150
    Location:
    Chicago & Scottsdale, AZ
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    100
    :popcorn

    Sitting back, watching it all unfold. Can't really say I'm too shocked. :wink2:

    :popcorn
     
  14. BeeeJay

    BeeeJay President of The Red Lobster Hostess Satisfaction

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2008
    Messages:
    9,150
    Location:
    Chicago & Scottsdale, AZ
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    100
    A duck walks into VIP check-in....

    [​IMG]
     
  15. littlepiggie

    littlepiggie VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2011
    Messages:
    1,086
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    40
    I did not get charged a resort fee during my stay at Bellagio.
     
  16. Vegas-TT

    Vegas-TT Tourist

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2011
    Messages:
    26
    Location:
    Calgary, Canada
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    75
    Just got back yesterday from Aria and was charged a resort fee for the first time. The fee was taken off my $200 resort credit I had. Made over 80,000 tier credits this trip (3 nights) and got no additional charges taken off.
     
  17. BeeeJay

    BeeeJay President of The Red Lobster Hostess Satisfaction

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2008
    Messages:
    9,150
    Location:
    Chicago & Scottsdale, AZ
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    100
    Did they give you a corner suite or some nicer room upfront? Seems like a lot of play (especially at the new lower earning rate to get that many tier credits) for a base room with $200 resort credit.
     
  18. Iceicecool

    Iceicecool Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2011
    Messages:
    472
    Location:
    San Diego
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    100
    Wow I must really be getting screwed. I earn between 150,000 and 200,000 tier credits per 2 night stay and I cant even get a comp room at Aria. I could only get 2 nights at Monte Carlo. I had 500,000 tier credits earlier this year and a host a Aria told me that Monte Carlo was more suited for my play if I want free rooms. I play BJ at $300 a hand for a few hours a day and I play $1 triple play VP for 3-4 hours a day. I currently only have 2 offers on their website and the best free room I can get is NYNY or Monte Carlo.

    I'm sure I could get Aria comped on the back end but I refuse to stay somewhere without an upfront comp.
     
  19. Goosey

    Goosey Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Aug 5, 2010
    Messages:
    186
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    I suppose ECs are there so you can "comp yourself" rather than save it up to spend for one of those Mlife moments. Oh wait that's an impossibility for 99% of people who use hosts.

    I have also never paid a resort fee. But does anyone know if "accerlated" EC earning ever worked?


    You probably are getting screwed. I understand your frustrations though. I took casino rate to stay at Aria (despite getting comped rooms at Bellagio) and promptly switched host the next time who brought me in suite and all.
     
  20. BeeeJay

    BeeeJay President of The Red Lobster Hostess Satisfaction

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2008
    Messages:
    9,150
    Location:
    Chicago & Scottsdale, AZ
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    100
    Yeah this is what I am talking about. My experience is very similar to yours. Just look at that play, and you can't get an upfront room offer? Same deal for me. It is insanity. I mean I get the "system" not being perfect, but at these levels you should be able to call up any of their properties and get 3-nights upfront.

    Bellagio was my favorite property until they pulled the rug out after my highest playing trip in a while. It seemed very counterintuitive to me. I mean HOW could I be getting offers from Wynn, Palazzo, CET's, Cosmo where I BARELY play, but not Bellagio where I JUST GAVE huge play!?!?!?

    The Mlife life shills here on VMB always beat me up for complaining about it, but I guess I'm just a little dense, cause I still don't get it.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.