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Park MGM charging a "venue fee" at their bars

Discussion in 'Vegas Nightlife' started by notfromconcentrate, Sep 4, 2019.

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  1. TrewBrew

    TrewBrew I may be right, I may be Crazy.

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    I agree that is not fair for the service people, but I can see customers pulling back tip amounts. But that comes down on the company and their employees will talk with their feet as well.
     
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  2. 44inarow

    44inarow VIP Whale

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    Some, but not all. The truly-outsourced places are oftentimes non-union. I remember hearing about this from people at Aria, that Alibi was non-union and so the union guys (1) couldn't work there, and (2) wouldn't visit there.
     
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  3. TrewBrew

    TrewBrew I may be right, I may be Crazy.

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    The thing that gets me about a fee like this is that they are describing at as a way to cover the cost of doing business. Isn't that what the cost of the beverage is supposed to include already. You don't go to the gas station and get charged a PUF (pump usage fee) to cover the cost of pump maintanence. I don't charge my customers a DCF (diaper changing fee) for when the kids...

    Figure the cost of doing business into the cost of the item i am buying and charge me that amount. It is obvious that the people that run the casinos have no idea what they are doing
     
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  4. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    To sum up a few other comments.

    The bartender has no control over this.
    AND

    The customer has no control over this and has nobody to complain to.

    STUPID STUPID STUPID
     
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  5. Richard Morgan

    Richard Morgan Tourist

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    I generally have an expectation what a beer is going to a cost, whether I look at the menu or not. If I walk up to a bar and have a $10 bill in my hand and the charge went from, say $7 to $7.50 - whether it is a price increase or a fee or whatever - the bartender will almost certainly get less of a tip from me as a result. I might have left $2 if it were $7, but probably would only leave $1.50 if the cost rose to $7.50.
    As to the argument that bartenders/wait staff shouldn’t be impacted, if people are purposely staying away from Park MGM due to this, they are already taking a hit, regardless of whether someone takes a percentage off their tip to “compensate” for the fee
     
    Last edited: Sep 5, 2019
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  6. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    https://junipercocktail.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2019/07/18-PMGM-04220-0045-Juniper-Menu-Inserts-Illustration-Version-v01-SWHIRes-PrintSpread.pdf
    Its on the bottom of page 2, next to where to says tax will also be added. They obviously aren't making it easy to find, probably because they know customers won't like it. Seems like these type of fees started regularly popping up (in more places than vegas) a couple years ago. I look for them now, but understand why others would not
     
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  7. whiskeyandslots

    whiskeyandslots High-Roller

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    This is true, but if MGM sees a loss in sales, they're going to pay a lot more attention to that than if their employees are losing out on tips. I can promise you that.
     
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  8. Viva Las Vegas

    Viva Las Vegas Elvis has left the building

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    I haven't stayed at an MGM property since January 2012, my Vegas trips have become more enjoyable as a result.

    There are plenty of better alternatives to stay and play, be it on the Strip, Downtown or elsewhere in the Vegas valley.
     
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  9. NotFromConcentrate

    NotFromConcentrate It’s a Cassowary :)

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    Great find, UK! If I'm not mistaken, don't they need to specify how much the fee is in order for it to be enforceable?

    Whatever the answer is, it's mere legal semantics... and what you said sums it up pretty well, that the bottom line is they're obviously trying to be obscure/coy about it, and the average consumer wouldn't necessarily think to look for such things.
     
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  10. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    I wondered that myself and don't know enough NV law to know the answer. But I am assuming its legally acceptable as written, or else an enterprising attorney would have already filed a class action on the grounds of a deceptive trade practice. Some of the other lawyers on here probably know more NV than I do and can answer better, though.

    Anywho, to try and get things back on track, I do appreciate you bringing this to the attention of the Board. I can add Juniper to the list of places I will not frequent because of this dumb fee :thumbsup:
     
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  11. Valgal

    Valgal VIP Whale

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    Looking at the menu that @UKFanatic posted it says a venue fee for all table service transactions. Seems it wouldn't apply if ordered from the bar?
     
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  12. NotFromConcentrate

    NotFromConcentrate It’s a Cassowary :)

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    The venue fee also supposedly pays for wifi... but what if you're already paying for wifi in your resort fee as a Park MGM guest? Do you get a reduced venue fee, since you're already paying for part of its inclusions?

    Too much simply isn't adding up here...
     
    [TENTATIVE Late Jul/Early Aug] Vegas by way of Chicago/Elko/Reno!
  13. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    That would seem to make sense.

    BUT - the idiot suits that came up with this will think it is some other reason and decide to remodel again. Most people that avoid a place never have the chance to tell them why. They just leave.
     
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  14. whiskeyandslots

    whiskeyandslots High-Roller

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    Ugh...MGM's greed makes me a little nauseous, though.
     
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  15. 44inarow

    44inarow VIP Whale

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    I have had this exact conversation numerous times, and it's one of the reasons why I take a few minutes to talk to a manager if something is bugging me. I'm always respectful and try to avoid sounding complain-y, but honestly, sometimes management doesn't know there's a problem, and instead people just leave and never come back. And I know just me saying something won't necessarily lead to a change, but if a dozen people say the same thing, that can lead to improvements.

    For example, I went to Crack Shack at Park MGM the other day. It was about 1pm on a holiday weekend, when you'd think they would be busy. There was nobody at the main register. I walked to the back, there were signs saying that those registers were closed. After standing around looking baffled for a few minutes, someone in a suit came over and said, "Um, do you need something?" No other employees in sight. I was absolutely on the phone with company management that afternoon.
     
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  16. The Rumor

    The Rumor VIP Whale

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    It is kind of crazy, though...how difficult is it to just charge $19 instead of $18 for a drink? Why give people this reason to be fired up? At these prices, $1 isn't really going to make people buy/not buy a drink.

    It feels like a skinning vs. shearing move when it's done in this way that leaves people mad.
     
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  17. Valgal

    Valgal VIP Whale

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    Lol the menu doesn’t even state the amount/percentage of the fee.

    They could just post a sign on the tables. 18% venue fee added if you park your ass at this table- enjoy- thanks for coming and y’all come back now ya hear.
     
  18. SMG

    SMG VIP Whale

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    I hate these ridiculous fees as much as the next person. Although considering all of the nickel and diming that most properties are doing these days and not just MGM, if I were to boycott all of them, I may as well not even visit Vegas anymore which will probably never happen (although I have reduced my number of trips/yr).

    Even before this latest Park MGM issue on fees, they've already lost my business, since I was never impressed with the Park MGM when I first visited the place shortly after their rebranding.
     
  19. vetsen

    vetsen Low-Roller

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    The placement and wording of this suggests to me that it's only supposed to be charged when you get bottle service.
     
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  20. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    I have struggled with the same thought for a couple years now. For me, I think it started with MGM announcing parking fees a while back. Basically, every resort in vegas that I enjoy engages in this nickel and diming to various extents. As a result, my outrage at this stuff was short lived and I just accepted it as part of the cost of going to vegas. But now that I have cutback on my trips there and expect to keep doing so for the forseeable future, I wonder how much of this attitude by the resorts subconsciously contributed to my decision. The nickel and diming aren't the reasons I cut back my trips there. But it probably made it easier for me to accept the decision
     
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