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Joke of an offer from The Plaza

Discussion in 'Comps' started by ghettodan, Oct 14, 2014.

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  1. ghettodan

    ghettodan Tourist

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    3 free nights (*must earn 200 points a day or standard room rate will be charged)

    Is this what it is coming down to there? It's not like the place is busy lol.
     
  2. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    At least they spell out what they expect from you for a free room. I got the same offer and it's not really unreasonable. On slots, $1 = 1 point. On VP, $3 = 1 point. Table games are time played, plus dollars wagered and that is always open to interpretation by the suits.
     
  3. ghettodan

    ghettodan Tourist

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    It's starting a bad new trend.
     
  4. mwig

    mwig VIP Whale

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    I agree with this being a reasonable offer. I'm assuming if you get this offer you play at least a little. $900 coin in on VP brings the value of a room to $9/day if you are playing a decent machine. (Better pay tables are available) If you are a slot player, you can run that coin in through in very little time.

    My problem with this type offer goes hand in hand with the Plaza's approach in general. Comped players are used to upfront comps. If you are trying to attract "real" players, commit to that strategy. No half measures. If your target is casual players who are going to play for 30 minutes to an hour, stay with the current strategy. Problem is, most casual players don't spend a lot of time downtown. Your market is serious players or the party crowd and trying to stay in the middle seems self defeating.
     
  5. joshrocker

    joshrocker VIP Whale

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    I understand your point but if you're not putting at least a couple of hundred dollars through the machine you're probably not getting this offer anyway. All this does is ensure they don't get no played. The requirements are low enough that this shouldn't really affect anyone.
     
  6. Viskorix

    Viskorix Tourist

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    This really doesn't bother me at all. You know where you stand on the comp. How many threads on here are about someone asking what may or may no happen if they no play or low play a comp. In addition, this equates to $600/day on VP. For a decent play that is 1-2 hours on quarters tops. I also got the same offer and I didn't see an exclusion for Fri/Sat. If that's the case, it might be one of the best deals around right now, at least based on the play I gave them. (I may have run $20 or $40 through when I ate at Hash House there last trip)
     
  7. LoveDowntownVegas

    LoveDowntownVegas High-Roller

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    Agree. It doesn't bother me either. I would just throw it in the trash and accept an offer that doesn't require hoop jumping.
    'never chase comps' - by definition this offer is chasing comps.
     
  8. earth-3

    earth-3 VIP Whale

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    Years ago when you were rated at BJ at any level, I stayed at the Tropicana on a promotion for a free room with 4 hours of cumulative play and an average of $5 a hand. So a Ten dollar better only needed 2 hours of play. A black chip player barely got his seat warm and he qualified. You told the pit boss you were on that promotion and you sat in an area with players who were doing the same. The dealers rotated with others on the shift and dealt at the same speed, nothing out of the ordinary. A five night maximum, Sunday through Thursday.
     
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2014
  9. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

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    If the trend is to protect themselves against "freeloadin' hit and runners"... good for them!
     
  10. thecarve

    thecarve Misanthrope

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    What sort of history do folks who are getting these offers have with The Plaza?

    I can certainly understand feeling insulted if you have a history of giving them the type of action that would get you comp offers. But if this is a fishing offer of some kind, trying to reel in some potential gamblers who've only given The Plaza limited action in the past, then it just seems prudent to me.
     
  11. topcard

    topcard Here's to $10 3:2 two-deck, $5 Craps, and $5 UTH!

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    I'm certainly not worried about it. Not sure how my BJ & UTH play gets rated, but I always buy in for several hundred a day when I'm staying there, so I imagine that's enough...and, since we all got the mailer, I would assume that it's because we have previously met that requirement.
     
    Annual Spring Trip!
  12. gambler

    gambler VIP Whale

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    ^^^ totally agree smartone. I'm having a hard time seeing what the problem is here. The Plaza is not asking for much in return for free nights. The offer sounds more than reasonable to me.
     
  13. aaisack

    aaisack VIP Whale

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    This is a minuscule requirement. Anyone worried about getting 200 points a day isn't worthy of a free room. That requirement is basically 1 hour of quarter VP a day...
     
  14. JosieCat

    JosieCat VIP Whale

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    How exactly is this "chasing comps". Are you saying any time you accept a free room offer and give them play, you consider that chasing comps???

    I have no problem with this at all. I think a few people have the perception that offers are "paid for" with play from previous trips - and that there is no obligation to play on the current trip. I've noticed now on my NY NY offers, they make it quite clear that this isn't the case.

    "Comps are based on play during current trip. While Express Comps are to be used at your discretion, this offer may include expected earning and redemption of your Express Comps. If you choose not to use your Express Comps, components of this offer may change based on your gaming activity."
     
  15. Dewey089

    Dewey089 VIP Whale

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    I think the advice of not "chasing comps" which in my mind is about not playing over your limit is often confused with an advantage player's habit of not playing unless there are some comps coming because most of the time the pay table is negative even with perfect play. It is the comps that make it a decent investment.
    I like it all spelled out and clear for comped rooms. I too have paid for a room, asked afterwards for a comp, and been urged to play "just a little more." I don't often do that.

    Once, going for cash back at the D I was under, but very close to $5, so I went to push it over the limit, lost $10 on some sucker slot, went back and was still under, and I just got stubborn and played the progressive VP.
    I hit the progressive royal and the progressive straight flush. When I went to get my $5 chased cashback comp I said, "It cost the casino about $1300 to encourage me to play enough to earn $5 cashback.

    The Four Queens is doing more of tying comps mathematically to a certain amount of play. The new Comp dollars are awarded in a formula. So far there are still free night mailings, but I get just two nights and have to use the comp dollars for a third, but I can figure out if I am eligible without begging a host.
    While the whole "play where you stay" is sort of based on the same idea, it is not reliable. I have 5 "free" (with resort fee )nights on the strip next trip, and I won't play anything there except poker and then only if the table selection is good.

    Going for 24 nights on my next trip, I'll divide my bankroll where playing is also an investment in something:
    I'll play MSS for a couple nice porters but quit with no more than two.
    I'll play all the American Casino Guide 200 point deals for a free buffet.
    I'll play the Orleans when I get a free senior buffet and a cheap movie ticket.
    Last time I got two free movie tickets at Sam's town just playing full pay nickel Deuces.
    I'll play live poker at the Golden Nugget during the hours they double the high hand awards.
    I'll shoot craps one match play at a time and move on to another casino.

    It is the comps that increase the EV of our play.
    And in an interesting way, only playing while I am chasing comps is a great form of money management.

    I do agree that this argument works better for VP and sometimes for live poker than it does for slots because slots are generally low EV anyway unless we add in a "utility" argument that takes into account the value of the entertainment. There again the warning not to chase comps gets confused with the advice not to play if there is not some intrinsic emotional value to the playing. However, we should not like end up like these mythical players
    http://www.theonion.com/articles/casino-reporting-steady-profits-from-slot-machine,36906/?fb_action_ids=10201894203875601&fb_action_types=og.shares&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B842489955795902%5D&action_type_map=%5B%22og.shares%22%5D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D


    For intrinsic emotional value in slots I play a few pennies at a time, have a few drinks, and for me that is plenty of utility value. I can play a long while like that on the $10 coupon from the El Cortez and leave drunk and happy and satisfied. But I guess that too is chasing comps in the form of Myer's Rum.

    I'll play at the Plaza this next time, hoping to seed this offer and if the required play is as it is in the OP's post, I'll think of it as a pretty good deal.
    One question would be if the minimum play is enough to reseed the same offer on future trips.
     
  16. stackinchips

    stackinchips VIP Whale

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    Yep. If you're offended by this miniscule play requirement you're the exact reason they have it. $200 coin in on slots can be accomplished in 20 minutes for likely less than $40. If that's an unreasonable request in your opinion, it's because your play doesn't warrant a free room, and you're upset that you're no longer able to take advantage of the situation.

    If this MINISCULE play requirement keeps you from taking them up on this offer, then it's mission accomplished for Plaza, as they were going to lose money on you as a customer.
     
  17. zignerlv

    zignerlv VIP Whale

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    Not at all. The Venetian/Palazzo offers for YEARS have had a disclaimer that their comp offers are based on the player continuing to play at their normal level of play during the trip.
     
  18. zvegasz

    zvegasz Tourist

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    I agree with this entirely although my offer never had this stipulation. Im guessing they sent to people who havent been in for a while or dont usually play enough to qualify and put what is the bare minimum requirement. As you say if theyre not going to earn 200 points and have not earnt it on past play theyre not worth a room and they save the cost of housing someone there at their expense. I dont see the issue.
     
  19. leo21

    leo21 VIP Whale

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    Not only that, it's not like other casinos don't ever rescind comps on short play even if that wasn't clear upfront. They don't want to in this social media age, but it still happens.
     
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