5/11

[FParker185]

I honestly don't see how anyone can defend the park so animatedly in this situation. Sure the park reserves the right to close whenever they want. But I also reserve the right to park my car across 3 handicap spaces at the mall. In both cases it's a bad idea, it inconveniences people and should be consequences.

It's blatantly obvious that SFGAm and SF in gerneral no longer cares about the paying public, not one bit, and I bet all you people will defend the park right up to the point it's sold off to condo developers in the coming years.

The park obviously does not want these people's business anyways.

[Chitown]

Oh yeah, comparing a park closing early to murdering somebody makes total sense.

I am willing to bet the very few people that were actually in the park today were season pass holders. They offered rainchecks to everyone even though policy states rainchecks won't be distributed.

I agree, it sucks, but move on. It's not the end of the world. Season pass holders will definitely return and the people that paid admission will most likely return some other day in the season with their complimentary admission ticket.

[KissyLou]

Actually, it seemed as if many were season pass holders. The members of management that were at the front gate handing out the rainchecks mentioned that people needed to give them their purchased ticket or the bring a friend for free on Mother's day coupon. I saw more coupons being handed to them than entrance tickets.

[Chitown]

That's what I meant.

When I said few people, I was referring to everyone that showed up and most likely the majority were season pass holders.

[tsalas08]

....

[Bob O]

Some of the posts here and on another thread show you that some among us will defend SF no matter how crappy they treat there geusts!!!

There was no reason to close the park, other than to save a little money, which by the end of the year wouldnt have a great impact on the bottom line of a multi million dollar company,but shows no concern for the guests who might have traveled long distances and spent hard earned money to enjoy a day at the park.
They give no compensation to guests who come on a very busy day and dont get to ride many rides due to that, but on a day that isnt busy they will happily close down and kick you out of the park. So much for caring about your guests, but since SF has never rated high on customer service this shouldnt come as a surprise.

[Littleone816]

First post for me!

You know, my sister and I were planning on going, too. I was going to get my son and I seasons passes, and we had planned on getting there at around 2. My sister got there before me, and called me to let me know they were closed.

Honestly, Mother's Day at Great America has become a tradition for my family and I BECAUSE the attendance is so low! And I know quite a few other people that feel the same way! So our Mother's Day outing was ruined, and when I called to lodge an official complaint with customer service (couldn't yell at the employee because he IS just an employee), I was told that it was on the website that it was closing at noon. When I mentioned that I had checked the calendar on the website and that it said 5, I was told that the calendar is just a general timeline. Then I mentioned that the recording said that they were closing at 7, and he didn't know what to say.

This is the second bad experience my sister has had there this year, and she's rarin' mad. I'm not so much mad as disappointed. We look forward to Mother's Day at Gream America all year long.

Linda

[UWW-10]

I remember the park closed early perhaps 2 years ago (also a Sunday in May but I don't think it was mother's day)....but I don't actually remember anyone making a huge deal about that...I tried searching for it here. I do remember it wasn't an early closing (meaning 2 hours into operation), but what prevented someone from coming at 4pm expecting to have a fun time if they closed at 3pm? How is that different from someone that came at 1pm expecting to have fun when they closed at noon?

As for the refund, it may not have been practical for a season pass holder to receive a free ticket, but they did offer a compensation when they could have done nothing at all, and as someone else pointed out they mention they don't offer rainchecks (which is not just for inclement weather) in the map/brochure, at the ticket booths, and at guest relations. They are a business...if they aren't making money, whether it be 5 hours into operation or 2 hours into operation...why lose money?

[Bob O]

Tsalas08, very well written letter!!!!

Make sure you let us know what type of response you get.

[w00dland]

This is a trend thats less SFI and more American Corporations in general. There isn't very much loyalty left in the American marketplace whether its to employees or customers. This is an effect of big corporations, in the past it was easy to take your business elsewhere because there was lots of competition, but now its not as easy to do that anymore. Six Flags can screw you over and over again, but what are you going to do, stop coming? Not likely.

The only other park with roller coasters anywhere near here is Mt. Olympus, which is an inferior park and has similar customer service.

I'm not defending the park, I'm just saying thats all we can expect from business right now.

[CoasterDave316]

I remember the park closed early perhaps 2 years ago (also a Sunday in May but I don't think it was mother's day)....but I don't actually remember anyone making a huge deal about that...I tried searching for it here. I do remember it wasn't an early closing (meaning 2 hours into operation), but what prevented someone from coming at 4pm expecting to have a fun time if they closed at 3pm? How is that different from someone that came at 1pm expecting to have fun when they closed at noon?

I was there that day as well (It was Mother's Day). However it was a completely different scenario. Winds got up to 50mph that day and the only ride operational most the day was Batman:TR....(V2 and Iron Wolf opened for a brief period). The Park even lost power for a little while that day. The attendance was just as bad as yesterday and they stayed open until 4pm.

The difference is they gave that day a chance, they were open for 6 hours before they closed. They didn't decide to close a hour into the day. The weather was also MUCH worse that day, unlike yesterday where the weather was good enough for all the rides in the park to be operational.

[tsalas08]

^ I don't think customer service exists at Mt. Olympus, especially when some can't speak english!

[coasterfreak04]

I remember the park closed early perhaps 2 years ago (also a Sunday in May but I don't think it was mother's day)....but I don't actually remember anyone making a huge deal about that...I tried searching for it here. I do remember it wasn't an early closing (meaning 2 hours into operation), but what prevented someone from coming at 4pm expecting to have a fun time if they closed at 3pm? How is that different from someone that came at 1pm expecting to have fun when they closed at noon?

Sunday of opening weekend in 2006, the park closed at 1:30 pm.

[v2boi369]

the park has every right to close for whatever reason..weather.. attendance. Why complain regaurdless if you paid $40 for gas. I understand your frustrations with driving 2 hours because i would be pissed to but what can you do. You cant blame guest services for anything nor the lady you spoke to on the phone because they are relaying information im sure that was passed on to them from upper management. I dont see a reason for them to hand you free food tickets or whatever.. take your free tickets and be happy. Its a theme park... s*h*i*t happens.

[shockwave guy mark]

ouch. I never have heard bad customer service like that. Sue them!

[tsalas08]

....

[bobbinbop20]

I would be happy if i only got to go for a half hour... better than nothing

[Bob O]

Mt Olympus is so bad it makes SFGAM seem likd wdw in comparsion.

Does the park have the right to close, of course it does. But that doesnt mean it should have or that it was the right decision in regards to the guests who visited the park that day. A well run company wouldnt treat its guests in such a shoddy manner and would have people properly trained to handle guest relations in this type of situation, and not let people pay to park, then not let them enter the park itself as was posted on this thread or on the other thread about this topic.