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Latest on cost cutting/drinks

Discussion in 'Comps' started by chantellevegas, Aug 1, 2016.

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  1. chantellevegas

    chantellevegas Low-Roller

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  2. phade

    phade Keeping tabs on LV while not there...

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    Ouch - looks like comp drinks are really being gouged. Minimizing pours is one thing - dragging down the average number of drinks per guest (by the light system or otherwise) is a second shot across the bow for those who enjoy the freebies.
     
  3. BaileyPaws

    BaileyPaws Low-Roller

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    That's just wrong... for all the money we pump into there stupid machines. I hope they loose money. First resort fees, then parking fees, half a$$ pouring shots..and now,you wanna give me a damn drink slip because I've "earned" a free drink. I usually bring my own drinks anyways but this just really pissed me off watching the video in the link...
     
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  4. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    First, isn't this old news? I thought I read about this months ago.
    And just another reason I am a happy downtown tourist.:beer:
     
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  5. BlacklabberMike

    BlacklabberMike MIA

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    yeah, it's been discussed before....just another bean counter move....
    but there are many that milk the system at vp bars and don't worry,
    the bartenders know who they are....

    ps. just heard that MGM is upping the resort fees again later this month
     
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  6. DeMoN2318

    DeMoN2318 The DERS

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    I feel bad for the CWs, their tips are going to be much less.

    Seems like they would want people to get sauced up so they make bad choices and keep pumping money in... I know I would be many thousands of dollars richer if I didn't drink when gambling.
     
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  7. chantellevegas

    chantellevegas Low-Roller

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    Yeah, it was mentioned a while back but there was no real "proof" that this was happening. There was speculation and some drink lists someone found that confirmed the good booze was reserved for paying or high limit players. This is the first real article i'ce seen confirming drink service will be cut.
     
  8. Turtleman

    Turtleman VIP Whale

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    An out-of-state gambling buddy told me about MGM's drink lights and resort fee increases early this morning and included, "… they will (soon) be just hotels with high end overpriced food and clubs with bottle service." I responded, "I hate to tell you, but what do you think they are now!!! They lost anything resembling good gambling and decent value years ago. These days they're just for idiots and those with enough money not to care. I know I'm not in the latter group and try not to be in the former."

    As for resort fee increases, "I couldn't care less if they make (the resort fee) $400 or $4000 a night! The only bad thing is that it may encourage more of the same from other hotels.

    Maybe next they'll impose an admission fee and a tax on winnings. Gee, I wonder why I quit the Strip when they took down the Stardust. It's been off-Strip and downtown exclusively ever since.
     
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  9. PTC Larry

    PTC Larry Off We Go

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    I ordered a Tito's Vofdka on the rocks at Harrahs Biloxi. The CW told me I couldn't get Tito's, so I ordered Absolute. She brought it in a plastic cup, no ice and it barely covered the bottom of the cup. I asked her if this is what they served for a shot of Vodka and she just nodded. Everyone at the table was laughing so much that the pit boss came up and asked what was so funny. I showed her the glass and showed her what we were laughing about. She asked what I wanted and I told her. She came back with a double Tito's on the rocks and I had no further problems getting a good drink.
     
  10. Blonde_4_ever

    Blonde_4_ever LasVegas4ever.com

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    Scott Roeben wrote this article a year ago, so there was proof that this was beginning.
    A pilot program, sort of.....

    Mirage Las Vegas Tests Comped Drink Voucher System and Everything is Ruined
     
  11. Brad8173

    Brad8173 Low-Roller

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    This ticket system has been out for a while - and although I may be swimming against the current....I don't see a problem with this.

    This new set up is to get rid of the ones who game the system for free drinks. The ones that slow play at the vp bars or gave a $20 in the slots when a cw comes by. For those that gamble and feel they should get comped drinks - this will not impact us as these new systems still gets us the comp drinks.

    from my experience (Caesars sports book & Bond bar) the tix come out frequently enough to always have a drink in my hand. Now if they change the intervals I may have a problem but for now it's good.

    I always ask myself if it was MY casino and I had to make it profitable what would I do...ya maybe I would get rid of the freeloaders would be a good idea. In fact, if I do this I can treat my paying customers even better.

    JMHO.

    B
     
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  12. bigalbr

    bigalbr VIP Whale

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    MGM International Properties provided us with the statement below.

    "We are pilot-testing a new slot machine feature at the Lobby Bar, which provides vouchers for drinks based on the time and length of slot play. The new technology has eliminated the guessing game for bartenders about how many drinks each guest is eligible to receive based on play. Further, it has made the number of comped drinks that players receive consistent for all slot players at the bar.”

    Gotta love this quote from MGM. Essentially pretending that a policy that will piss everybody off is designed to make them happier.

    From reading the article, it seems like this only applies to bars at the moment. I'm sure the bartenders are going to hate this. Kills the frequency that they get to serve and have an opportunity to get a tip, and likely reduces a lot of the larger tips to encourage faster service.

    Will this spread to the floor? Casino's already have ways of limiting drinks at the slots. They can limit the number of runs the cocktail waitress makes per hour. Although that doesn't stop people who are slow playing the machines.
     
  13. thecarve

    thecarve Misanthrope

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    Stay classy! :thumbsup:
     
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  14. gambler

    gambler VIP Whale

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    This system was recently installed in Harrah's when we were there last month. I sat at the bar to play VP and the bartender asked what I wanted to drink. After I gave him my order he just stood there. After playing a few hands, I jokingly said "okay, I have money in and am playing max credits. Why are you just standing there?"

    He replied he was waiting for my light to go green before he could get my drink. He said after I played through a few hands, the light would go green. It would stay green so long as I consistently played, whether it was for max bet or less. The important thing was consistency. If you stop and talk for too long, the light goes red and it will take a few more hands to make it go green (it went red while I was talking to the bartender later).

    The following day when I played at the bar, the same bartender brought my drink right away. He knew I was going to play so said he didn't need to wait for the green light. He did tell me though that he'd just had an argument with another customer who came to the bar, inserted a $100 bill and ordered a cocktail and a water. When he was told he had to play a few hands, the customers argued that he had $100 in the machine and pretty much demanded his drinks. Bartender wouldn't budge until he played a bit so the customer took his money without playing a single hand and left. That is the reason they put in the system. The bartender said they were tired of people scamming drinks. This way the bartender has an out if someone's just putting money in the machine for a free drink.

    The light system seems to work pretty good if your actually playing and didn't cause us any problems. We were able to drink just as much as normal and still stop and talk.

    100.JPG
     
  15. BlacklabberMike

    BlacklabberMike MIA

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    Gambler. was this at all the vp bars? who was the bartender...just curious
     
  16. gambler

    gambler VIP Whale

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    It was my first stay at Harrah's so I don't know the bartender's name but it was at the L shaped bar by the BJ tables. They also have it in the Race and Sports book too. The bartender said other casinos on the strip will also be installing the system soon.

    While I met up with Breeze at the sports bar (and he was busy doubling his stake), my machine got down to about $5. I had invested enough on that machine but wanted to stay and visit with Breeze so I just played 25 cent blackjack for the last 1/2 hour or so. They still brought me more drinks. I'd been sitting and playing for over an hour so I don't think the bartenders were too concerned with me.
     
  17. BlacklabberMike

    BlacklabberMike MIA

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    ok, eddie's bar...thanks
     
  18. leo21

    leo21 VIP Whale

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    Yep, it's old news. Traditional news outlets always seem to be well behind us in reporting what's going on.
     
  19. tcocona

    tcocona Low-Roller

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    When you need a tickee for toilet paper we're in trouble!!!!!!!!
     
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  20. rgrif57

    rgrif57 VIP Whale

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    Brad I agree. I saw a person playing penny games 1 penny at a time getting comped drinks a few years ago and thought that something would eventually happen. There is no problem with getting drinks while playing (though I don't drink and play but when finishing a session I might grab a captain and coke) but as with everything people take advantage of things and think it then act like it is their right to have it. I don't ever see the drinks stopping to any player who plays but the freeloaders probably will not be happy..................Rick
     
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