Park MGM charging a "venue fee" at their bars

Look @notfromconcentrate. You are mentioned in this article.

https://www.casino.org/news/las-vegas-keeps-getting-more-expensive-fees-now-applied-to-drinks/amp?__twitter_impression=true

 

This is a perfect example of why I hardly ever visit the strip anymore, and why I havent dropped a dime into an MGM machine in over 4 years.

 

I recall the days of "Energy Surcharges" at the Riviera in the 1990s. A few bucks back then, even inflation adjusted, nowhere near what they are charging across the valley today, but it was the principle of the matter.

Not From Concentrate's story was tweeted by Vital Vegas.

Meanwhile, Jim Murren's greed runs a world in need.



Another article from the same site:

“Without you, they [casino and hotel staff] don’t have a job. You are coming here supporting this destination and helping those families take care of themselves.” - Jim Murren

Another explained, “I was joking when I suggested a toilet flush fee, an air conditioning fee, a housekeeping fee, a towel fee, quadruple zero roulette fee, pool lounge chair fee, casino admission fee, an hourly slot machine fee.”

 

Deleted.

 

I don't think they know how far NFC will take it.

 

They messed with the wrong dude, NFC is anything but your typical Canadian. http://www.thecanadaguide.com/culture/manners-and-etiquette/

 

MGM is the person that farts in a room and runs away while loudly proclaiming “it wasn’t me, I swear!”

 

You’re my hero !!!

 

But you shouldn't have to take the time out of your vacation, an expensive one oftentimes, to ask about concession fees, surge pricing, etc. Things like this do not make for a relaxing trip. I go on vacation to enjoy, not to get screwed out of my money, or to have to spend the time and effort to avoid getting screwed out of my money. The problem is enough people aren't outraged and just accept things. People are way way too passive.

 

I believe the point is to make a mental list of what is unacceptable when traveling. For me it is on pen and paper. The point of the board (I think) is not to debate the right or wrong of the issues when so clearly defines (at least in this case) but to make members aware of such b.s. And then go >>> I know a place just as good..... So continue to conversation but not sure the destination. .

 

I feel similarly. I just know NFC doesn't. (Sam's Club, anyone?)

 

Respectfully, I think that the trouble with this approach is that it basically suggests you should never take information, even pricing in a menu, at face value. As though it requires clarification, even though it's printed in front of you (figuratively) in black and white.

That is, if I see a cocktail on a menu for $18 (with no indication that there is a service fee)... there is absolutely no reason for it to cost even $0.01 more than $18. Other than tax (which is a legal requirement) and a tip (which is discretionary).

As a customer, is it my responsibility to "double check" that the menu is accurate by coming up to the bartender and essentially saying "I know it says right here in the menu that the cocktail is $18, but I just want to make sure that's correct"?

I'm aware that it sounds like a diligent thing to be in the habit of doing, but saying that there is a need to check every little thing (whether that's Googling "Does _____ charge a service fee?" before going, or asking the bartender as above) presupposes that everything you're seeing or reading is probably a lie... and further implies that you've accepted it to be a nearly universal reality.

For many, it's simply not worth fussing over once they realize they've been hit with this fee, as they'll "know better for next time". Then, it's simply a matter of principle and corresponding personal preference... and with a range of such preferences stated here, we can see it varies widely from person to person.

 

I guess so. Not sure. Maybe.
Though customers are still going to do what they choose to do, being informed is always a good thing.
Thank you for providing the information. Good to know.
Has the dead horse not been beaten at this point?

 

From the perspective of discussing/whining about/getting worked up over added fees that are hidden/deceptive/sneaky, yes.

I'd say we've come to the same (varied) conclusion that all threads on this subject eventually come to... though with an added perspective on the depth of the issue, now that we know (a) that Park MGM is doing this, (b) the silly reasons they're providing for it when asked, and (c) that they've been so bold as to block me when asking a simple question about when I supposedly agreed to pay it.

So as a general subject, I'm in agreement that the dead horse has been beaten. As an issue of the increasingly sneaky and hostile approach that these companies are taking (especially MGM), this is still pretty new as it's much more than just an annoying fee; it's an attitude towards customers (and front-line staff) that I think all of us can agree is high-handed and reckless.

 

One thing that I think hurts your case: it took you months to even notice it. Had you never read the post from Vital Vegas, you never would have known about it at all.

 

No. I saw movement just now.
Hit him again and let’s see!!
Yes, I think so. Let’s kot overthink everything.

 

I think there's a middle ground between outrage and simply voting with your feet. The problem with the latter is that management won't know why people aren't showing up, and I have a feeling most business owners or managers would want to find out from customers (in a respectful manner, of course) what their problems are. For example, it's not a fee thing, but at one point Herringbone took a dish off the menu that I really liked. I didn't "complain" about it, but I did say something to management, and the response was along the lines of, "Thanks for telling us, we've had a lot of people saying the same thing and we're going to take that into account." A few months later, the dish was back on the menu.

Some things are too structural to change (like the bad Yelp review of Picasso complaining that it was French/American food rather than Spanish tapas), but sometimes management does something that they just don't realize will lead to a negative customer reaction. If nobody says anything, nothing will change.

This is a fair point, and goes back to my whole thing about how the resorts get away with so much because people don't notice. Just look at blackjack conditions -- I regularly see a full 6:5 table sitting next to an empty 3:2 table, with all other rules exactly the same.

 

I totally agree but you can’t make informed decisions when establishments hide it in fine print.

 

Article about drink fees in Las Vegas:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.casino.org/news/las-vegas-keeps-getting-more-expensive-fees-now-applied-to-drinks/amp