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Another Ballys screw up

Discussion in 'LV Strip Hotels' started by kel3420, Jan 21, 2015.

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  1. mrem3200

    mrem3200 VIP Whale

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    I don't know if they have to give water or not, but why the fuck not just give the water. They fucked up my offer my last trip in my favor, the girl at the cage gave me MORE free play than was on my offer. She was clueless and said "well that is what printed" when I told her it was too much. Not a lot of money to be sure. But I checked with Hunter on what I should do and he said to take it. So I guess they can be bad in favor of the house or the player.
     
  2. RockyBalboa

    RockyBalboa Front Line Winner

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    Yep!

    And I don't even think the water issue is petty. Not because they didn't give you a water but if the bartender and boss had attitudes then I wouldn't be happy about that either.
     
  3. thecarve

    thecarve Misanthrope

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    Exactly. It's the kind of nickel and dime crap that inspires dozens of threads on this board every day.

    I realize there are plenty of people looking to get something for nothing. And I have no problem calling a spade a spade in those cases. But how much does giving away water cost? Is it really worth not giving the benefit of the doubt that this might actually be a good customer that spends a great deal in your casino/resort?

    What exactly is the upside? Getting someone to buy a $5 water but hate your property?
     
    Last edited: Jan 21, 2015
  4. RockyBalboa

    RockyBalboa Front Line Winner

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    Agreed.

    Yeah you may "win" by getting the customer to spend $5 for the water but they'll take that and leave along with whatever they'd have spent on poolside drinks and food.

    Zero upside in that exchange by the bartender at all.
     
  5. Snidely

    Snidely VIP Whale

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    Hey, I'm sure they pay 10 cents for those bottles of water with their name specially labeled on them. They'll go bankrupt if they give the water away for free.

    To me, casinos are like airlines. Eventually, every one will piss you off.

    If I had a choice between comped rooms at Bally's and comped rooms at Cosmo... well, that's an easy decision for me.
     
  6. mrstealth

    mrstealth VIP Whale

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    if you don't know stepanie you must not gamble much -lol. She is a cocktail waitress at balley's and like bart said has been out on maternity leave since october. I don't think she'd leave since her boyfriend is a bartender at balley's front bar. Let's just say she is amazing in every way, and set's the standard of what the ultimate cocktail waitress should be. I know bart has posted one or more pictures with her in his trip reports.

    Everyone's experience at a property is different and you have to stay where you like and feel you are treated like you should be. I hope you are able to find a new property for yourself.
     
  7. broncofn

    broncofn VIP Whale

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    My point was that i believe as long as they have water available (not bottled for sale) they have to give you a cup of water without buying a drink by law. All bars have sinks and soda guns/nozzels that dispense water.
     
  8. wanker751

    wanker751 Dutch Rudder Enthusiast

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    I know from a friend that took a bar tending class here in Chicago that is 100% the true here...that being said after more research I found this.

    http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/02/19/conn-lawmaker-pushes-for-right-to-free-tap-water-at-bars/

    So maybe it is not required all places?

    Either way, what does a glass, ice, water cost? Makes no sense to deny it.
     
  9. broncofn

    broncofn VIP Whale

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    I honestly am not sure if it is or isnt required in all places. Maybe it is a state to state thing but i believe restaurants, bars etc have the same criteria.
     
  10. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

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    Some cheap ass places will charge you for the cup or other fees. Local ordinances may require it, but this page points out it's definitely not nationwide.

    https://www.restaurants.com/blog/are-restaurants-required-to-provide-water/#.VMCC3tJ4pnE

    This is disappointing overall with Bally's. I hope our res doesn't have issues like this!
     
  11. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    I tend to not always believe some of the complaints posted here - sort of wondering what the "rest of the story" is sometimes.

    In this case, I am going with the OP. And, sure he/she has been happy for a long time and at 85% (whatever that actually means).

    But, screwing up a offer with gift card, etc. is just stupid. As he said he left with a bad taste, or in this case - no taste. If this is the game they are about to play, it will bite them in the ass real quick.

    Maybe it is short term as the "rules" of the Bankruptcy get hashed out - maybe not.
     
  12. Funkhouser

    Funkhouser In Charge of the Big Door

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    This post is just synonymous with the ever declining service standard that has become the norm in Las Vegas.
    For the 20 years I have been visiting the city, I have noticed it. The corporate consolidation and wave of bad management has reached
    the front line employees. Driving cost downs means little options for front line employees who deal with guests and cost cutting mean lower paid employees on the front lines who have no clue nor care how to service hotel / casino guests.
    Now you have social media and online forums which can screw your brand, see how many hotel managers are on Tripadvisor now? Bad news travels fast today.


    These guys out in Vegas don't get it, and once the nightclub wave ends (and it will eventually in Vegas) and the joints have to evolve their financial models they will find they f@cked themselves.
    High value guests are not going to put up with this kind of crap for long. I myself cut back my trips to Vegas due to the lack of value / service. This highly influences where I am spending my vacation dollar.

    As nutty as Steve Wynn is these days, the guy still understands the value of great service, although one could question his pricing model. CET is screwed in my opinion, the level of service
    decline I have seen in the past 4 years has put me off on the brand. The lack of comp value in the face of their financial stress has killed any molecule of brand loyalty I had. This will probably be the last year
    I set foot in their Vegas casinos as I am burning off what remaining comps they are offering. Too many other joints in Vegas are offering better service and willing to work harder for my business.

    I agree with the OP, just accept it, and cut n run to another property.
     
  13. phade

    phade Keeping tabs on LV while not there...

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    As Beejay and other have commented...fuck 'em.

    I find all three of the recent experiences to be miscues that are valid.

    The water thing isn't petty. If that's the way they service clients/guests on something that minimally impactful, imagine the degre of care that'll be entertained on more serious matters, oh say as an offer screw-up. Seems consistent on their part as a service model. At least we have to give them that.
     
  14. mikeinctown

    mikeinctown High-Roller

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    To some the water might seem petty but things like that are an indication of the overall attitude that the property has about it's guests. They charge you a resort fee and then act like you aren't at a resort at all. Even on my best trip, I lost all the money I came with. If a hotel wants to ignore a request for water then I'll lose my money elsewhere. After all, if you get that much grief over water, imagine what attitude you will get with a larger issue.
     
  15. Ruark

    Ruark Low-Roller

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    Right. A couple of comments:

    1. Those guys aren't "out in Vegas" any more. Casinos are owned by international banks and middle eastern shieks. Long gone are the days when Benny Binion would bump into you on the casino floor.

    2. Yes, the nightclub wave will end. Relying on $1,000 bottle service is not a durable business model. They've ruined the buffets. They've ruined the gambling. They've ruined the shows. So when the nightclub wave and the Chinese baccarat wave end, what's going to be left? A freaking ferris wheel?
     
  16. Funkhouser

    Funkhouser In Charge of the Big Door

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    So when I say "Those Guys" I am not necessarily referring to the owners, as I am the operators and the front line level one and level 2 management. The guys who set local policy and practices, inspire the staff,
    and deal with the day to day operations. Most of them are being managed by cost control or by creating high performing organizations, which is code speak for squeeze as much labor out of each dollar spent.

    The days of personalized Vegas service ended when the corporations started acquiring the hotels. SteveW still tries to inspire the staff to take care of the customer, The D staff are personable, Hell the dealers and staff at the Trop have always seem friendly. In the bowels of CET the VIP desks (Diamond) uhhh not so much. Sales executives, forget it. Hosts, sure if you are helping make their paycheck. But otherwise Vegas is on the declining end of great product delivery.

    These guys could learn from the Disney experience. I gave up filling out the surveys since they seem to Gardner no response or changes. Seems like public shaming has become the best avenue to drive a response.
     
  17. gilly from philly

    gilly from philly Low-Roller

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    Why do people assume that something else won't cause Las Vegas to evolve? 20 years ago no one really saw the nightclub boom coming, something else will come to replace it, just as nightclubs have started to replace gambling.....And when it the nighclub era comes to an end there will be people bitching on the internet about how great the nightclub boom was, and how the latest and greatest trend has ruined Vegas.
     
  18. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

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    There's very little customer loyalty anymore... people will switch for a shrimp cocktail!!! Then they wonder or just flat bitch why the properties don't do back-flips to roll out the red-carpet to keep 'em.
     
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2015
  19. Ruark

    Ruark Low-Roller

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    I don't think the nightclubs have replaced gambling. Of course, the clubs have been major moneymakers for the casinos, but that's a different story. I mean, I don't think hordes of people have stopped gambling and are going to nightclubs instead. Gambling has always been the heart of the Vegas experience, the life blood that made it all work. Very, very few of those tourists you see on the sidewalks go to $1,000-a-bottle nightclubs and, casino revenue notwithstanding, if all those nightclubs disappeared overnight, you wouldn't be able to tell a difference.
     
  20. chef

    chef Resident Buffetologist

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    I would imagine Ballys has a policy against giving "free" water, especially when drinking fountains are available. The bartender is respecting that policy and doing his/her job.
    As a customer, I need to respect that and stop the whining.
    If I'm looking to blame Ballys for what troubles me, I'm looking at the wrong place. The problem is my reaction to the situation, not their company policy on water service (or lack thereof).
     
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