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Comps at the Luxor

Discussion in 'Comps' started by VegasSchemer, Mar 17, 2015.

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  1. VegasSchemer

    VegasSchemer VIP Whale

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    So I ended starting my mLife play (had a card last year and play about 150 points on it at Mandalay) and got 2,000 points at Luxor (I hit pearl during the visit).

    This play was over two days. Now I need some help on how to handle asking for comps. I'm not staying at any mLife property but the guy at the desk alluded to comps. It was my first time giving mLife some real play (for me, that is) and didn't know what to say. I can go back tomorrow or the next night but need some advice on how to handle it.

    The conversation today at the mLife desk went like this:

    Me: Hi, can you tell me how many points I've earned?
    Them: Oh, you reached Pearl. You earned BLAH points today and you have comps available.
    Me: Like what?
    Them: Well, I can't say but are you hungry?
    Me: Just had a big meal but I could get a buffet then?
    Them: Yes.
    Me: Okay, not tonight but maybe tomorrow.

    -------------
    Later I go back just because I needed another card:

    Me: Hi, earlier someone mentioned I could get a free buffet comp. Could you tell me more about it?
    Them: You have enough in Express Comps for a free buffet.
    Me: The guy before seemed to suggest I could just get a free buffet without using express comp. It was all kind of in "code". Not sure exactly what he meant.
    Them: Oh, well it is kind of a code. You can get a free buffet.
    Me: How long would I have to get it?
    Them: Usually it's 72 hours.


    Alright, so that was a new step in comp world for me (I am very new to the Vegas scene).


    Please tell me everything I need to know about these weird conversations. haha

    Also, with 2000 slot points, what can I probably ask for?

    And, any insights on offers I might get in the future (if any)?
     
    Last edited: Mar 18, 2015
  2. SouthPoint

    SouthPoint Tourist

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    I'll be staying at the Luxor this Thursday, Friday and Saturday, so hopefully someone will be able to help us both! Not planning on going crazy, probably several hours of $25 a hand PaiGow Poker and 25cent Video Poker. I normally stay at the Mirage, so I hope this 'lower tier' property will be able to offer more comps.
     
  3. Elf70

    Elf70 High-Roller

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    How many tier credits did you get for the 2000 slot point or are you saying you earned 2000 tier credit?
     
  4. VegasSchemer

    VegasSchemer VIP Whale

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    The point/tier credit thing is a little confusing but I'm at 35,000 tier credits now after earning those points. Mostly came on their video blackjack machine and about 1/3 on slots.
     
  5. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

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    How many ECs did you earn?

    You can multiply that by 5 and that's about how many primary comps you have available.

    Based on those TCs I'm guessing about $60 in ECs which leaves $300 available in primary comps.

    So you can get a lot more than a buffet.
     
  6. VegasSchemer

    VegasSchemer VIP Whale

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    Sorry for not giving all info then. I have $35 in express comps (must have been a lot more on what will be counted as "VP" machines than I thought/old non-gaming purchases that were put on the card). Should I assume I can ask for about $150 in primary comps then?

    What can I ask for? I already have a place to stay and eat tonight and then the trip is pretty much over.

    I am planning to come back in a month (on a weekend though). Is it too soon to ask for a good rate on that night? And do I need to ask to speak with a host rather than players club people now?

    And what I ask for today or early tomorrow won't impact future offers, right? Sorry for all the questions! I'm a newb!
     
  7. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

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    You have about $175.

    Either use them now or lose them.

    A good rate for next trip has nothing to do with whether you use these comps or not.

    Worst case ask for a $175 comp at the steak house and go pick up a bottle of wine to go.
     
  8. DaiLun

    DaiLun R.C., L.C., and A.A.N.G.

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    Here's the long and short of it:

    There are TCs (Tier Credits), which, when accumulated account for your level. 25,000 TCs make Pearl. The next level is Gold at 75,000.

    Then there are Express comp credits, which are treated the same as cash. You can use them the same as cash at most mLife casinos.

    Open an account at the mLife website to see what generic offers you can get, you may or may not qualify for a host at Pearl level.

    It will also give you a count of how many Express Comps you have earned. There is also a mobile application for iPhone and Android.

    I can recommend you to a Telemarketing Manager at Luxor if you want.
     
  9. VegasSchemer

    VegasSchemer VIP Whale

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    Last questions, then (I think): The mLife desk is the right place to go to ask for stuff? Those guys both just said I could get a buffet. I assume they were low-balling me (as they are told to, I assume again). Do I just start negotiating at the mLife desk?

    DaiLun: What would a telemarketing manager be able to do for me?

    And finally, who can I talk to about getting a cheaper rate for April 17th (that's a Friday night)?

    thanks for all the info!
     
  10. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

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    the Mlife desk is fine.

    just go up and tell them you want a comp for $175 to eat at the steak house.

    a telemarketing manager is just someone that you can call to book your reservation next time.
     
  11. VegasSchemer

    VegasSchemer VIP Whale

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    Sounds like just the right person to speak with then. Thanks for all the help guys.

    And I'm assuming that my summer or fall offer would probably be lower because I am asking for something on April 17th? (probably won't gamble that day, it's just a quick stop on the way to Phoenix but want to give my brother's family a "fun" room to stay in)

    DaiLun, please PM me with this person's contact info.
     
  12. Hiero

    Hiero Tourist

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    Yep, generally. Until you have a host, you'll need to go through the desk. My last trip, the desk clerks started saying "I don't care what game you played or how many TC you earned, until you bet $125+ per hand at table games, I can't let you talk to a host." In some casinos, the hosts don't even have an open office. I think the Luxor does have a host office, plus it's a lower-tier casino in the mLife chain so you should have an easier time connecting with a host.

    Most of what you see & hear about hosts in popular media (books like Whale Hunt in the Desert, movies, or TV shows), hosts do a lot more than hand out buffet comps or book free rooms. They're generally reserved for the gamblers with $10,000+ bankrolls. It's not worth their time to hand out buffet comps. It used to be that pit bosses would do that. But now that everything is computerized and whatnot, there's a hole between the people that bet enough to earn a buffet comp and those that get free suites (which is where the hosts come in).

    I do think mLife has hired more "marketing hosts" recently to help alleviate this situation. They handle the guys like you & me that can earn free rooms and some food, but aren't yet sufficiently big fish to get suites and fight tickets and limos. (Sometimes I do bet high enough to get offers for suites, but so far free tickets & limos have been out of my reach.) If a marketing (or telemarketing) host has reached out to you, they'll be the ones to get you free rooms, freeplay, and dining credit -- i.e. more than the 8-10% that you get back in Express Comps.

    Yeah, they're low-balling you, but that's really all they're authorized to do. They're only going to talk to you about Express Comps and PointPlay. Express Comps are about a third of your Primary Comps, and are comps that you can consume yourself. There's normally a kiosk at the buffet where you can slide your card and "purchase" a buffet voucher with Express Comps. The desk doesn't really want everybody to know about primary comps -- and another issue is that players that have theos under $100/day are too expensive to talk to about anything more than a buffet comp, anyway. Up until you qualify for a free room, it's hard to get comped more than 10% of your theo.

    If y'all can get it worked out, I recommend going with DaiLun's contact. Otherwise, without a "Casino Marketing Executive," you can call VIP services for the hotel in question and they should be able to give you a good offer based upon your past play.
     
  13. VegasSchemer

    VegasSchemer VIP Whale

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    Thanks, Heiro. All of you guys have been so helpful, thank you.

    Love all the info. If anyone has another two-cents to pitch in, it's welcome.
     
  14. VegasSchemer

    VegasSchemer VIP Whale

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    I went to the desk but don't think I did it well. I mentioned primary comps for the steakhouse, he said he had no clue what I was talking about. Then "maybe you mean you want to be evaluated for comps?" I said, "sure". He said he could give me a $50 steakhouse credit. I assume I got lowballed again but didn't know if this was a standard negotiating phase. haha

    I'll play today or tomorrow and hit gold (started the trip sapphire), so I can probably try again, yes?

    Any tips on how exactly to handle the interaction?
     
  15. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

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    Yeah tell them you want more. Tell them you know you earned more than that.
     
  16. Hiero

    Hiero Tourist

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    The second mLife level is Pearl, which is great if you go to buffets. Single best perk ever in the mLife program: buffet line pass. Anyway.... my point is that if you get to gold, the third tier, in 3 days, you should be getting a free suite plus maybe around $100/day in FreePlay and/or food comps.

    I'm not sure "primary comps" is the official term. I think the desk clerks are going to play dumb regardless, again because they're not the ones authorized to do much for you beyond handle your express comps and tell you what your numbers are. As someone mentioned in a recent thread about Venelazzo, you could try to contact a host halfway through your stay and see what they say. If you're really picking up 25k TC in a day, you should get at least a telemarketing host.

    Make sure you charge everything to your room. Sometimes negotiations don't go so well, but if you're willing to drop $3000 in order to get a $100 steak dinner for free, then ... well the $100 isn't really a big deal. To me, being treated like a High Roller is where the fun is, and I hate being lowballed. That means talking to a host rather than the clerks. If you've got the points, usually the way to find a host is through the desk. Sometimes a host is at the desk.

    But... it sounds like you hit up the desk and they gave you no love. I can suggest:
    - "I'm planning on coming back in a few months. Is there a host that I can talk to?" (this is a better excuse for talking to a host vs the "I want a free meal" play)
    - "Hi, I'd like to talk to a host about my play."
    - "Can you tell me what my ADT is?" (this gives you ammo; helps both here at VMB and also when you're talking to a host) (also get time at the tables & avg bet)
    - stopping by the VIP room
    - calling the VIP desk

    and when you talk to a host:
    - "How much would I have to play to get X?" Have an idea what you want. A suite? Freeplay? Food comps? Show tickets? Spa pass? Strip view? A free cabana at the pool? Table service at a nightclub? Three strippers, a midget, and a guy that can juggle flaming torches in your room? Most of that is available but you should know what you want before you get to that point in the conversation. If you want three nights in a suite plus $200 in casino credit, then say that. At least it's on the table. Be ballsy, but polite; this is negotiation.
    - "I'm wondering what you can do for me." (make sure you charge EVERYTHING to your bill; it gives them more to play with. If you pre-paid for the room and only charged a $600 extravaganza of a meal, then he won't be able to do much. Normally they like knocking off entire items. If there's a handful of different meals, AND if you didn't pre-pay for the room, he's got more room to make discounts or free rooms.)
    - "I think I earned X." Kinda ballsy. Might not be for everybody. Can be perceived as having an "entitled" attitude.
    - "I think I earned X, can you do that for me?" Ballsy followed by some weaseling. Should be better received.
    - "I'm planning on coming back in a few months. Who should I contact about making reservations?" (the host should say "me", but otherwise he'll refer you to someone that handles players at your level. If you get referred to the VIP desk, then your play is in that gray area where you're worth giving free rooms to, but not yet worth a host's time. The VIP desk is basically telemarketing. Plus, this is a way of saying "I'm a live one, please try to catch me.")
    - "What kind of offer can I expect for a return visit?" (this should prompt your host to consider whether your current comps match your current play. If he gives you a BETTER offer in the future than you're getting comped for THIS visit, then that's room to negotiate. And if he gives you a crappy offer... then that's something to take to a host at a different casino!)
    - "Would my play be better received if I was playing GameX instead of my preferred GameY?" I've started to ask this, especially at the Mirage, cuz those fockers don't like my craps or roulette play.

    Whatever you do, be pleasant, and try not to come across as entitled. You don't have a right to comps. Comps are just a hosts' way of convincing profitable players to return. If they don't want you back, or if you're giving the host an ulcer, he's got negotiation power sufficient to tell you to go away.
     
  17. VegasSchemer

    VegasSchemer VIP Whale

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    Thanks for all of the advice. I just got an email and then talked to my new host. They assigned me someone, so that should make all of these details a little easier.

    And just for those who want to track offers:

    I went from sapphire to gold this weekend (have 111,000 TCs right now) playing their videoblackjack machine and a some slots. They offered me a free pyramid suite for tonight (to extend my stay a day) and $200 at the steakhouse.

    Thanks so much for the coaching, I wouldn't have gotten any of this without you guys. Also, the host was so easy to work with. She's great.

    And the best part: I'm up $1,000 for the week.
     
    Last edited: Mar 21, 2015
  18. hog

    hog Tourist

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    Congratulations re: getting all those comps. I will be at Luxor next month with a similar bankroll and plan on using your strategy.
     
  19. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

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    They're still low balling you.

    You should have about $1300 avail comps.
     
  20. VegasSchemer

    VegasSchemer VIP Whale

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    haha Shifter, you're killing me! I think I'm doing well and I learn I'm still just some clueless rookie. Alright, I'm just going to hit the spa and throw a few more items on the room and see what happens.
     
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