MGM Parking update

If Vegas doesn't treat you well, it's because you play in the wrong places.
I put $200 into a vp machine(9-5 bonus) and received a .375 bottle of Captain Morgan. Cycled $50 thru a slot today and got a free lunch buffet. Also got two tickets to Helldrado Days ,a $50 value, and a souvenir 64 ounce pitcher of Bud Light for $8.

9/5 Bonus??????? Where do you find that?

Huh?..."Demanding"?

Yeah. When CET originally announced Resort Fees back in 2013, they made this statement:

"This is in response to the increasing demand from our guests to provide a package price instead of the inconvenience of separate fees."

It's been a running joke ever since....because...Nobody ever demanded being forced to pay for things they used to get for free.

Original Statement From CET

Sign me up for the boycott. I had little reason to go to MGM properties in the past, that just changed to NO reason to go to MGM properties in the future.

If you are staying at any of their hotels, parking is totally free, not just at the hotel that you are staying in. Also, if you want to run in take a look around, or are picking someone up, and leave within the hour there is no charge.

This sounds like the same arguments that took place when the resort fees started. Everyone will bitch and moan, but they'll pay them. As soon as MGM institutes this policy, ALL of the other strip hotels will quickly follow suit.

Just got back from Vegas and broke my self imposed boycott of MGM properties because of parking fees. I had two times I had to park.

1. Sunday morning at around 11am I parked at the northern parking lot for the Mirage, in order to go to the Carnegie Deli. The parking structure was less than 25% full. I parked and we headed to the casino. On the way in we passed by two valets. They had absolutely no cars lined up, NONE. I talked to one of them and asked him if valet was like this most of the time and he told me ever since paid valet ($18) that business is almost nonexistent. I told him that I thought I had read where valets were going to get a raise, due to them losing a lot of tip money. He said that his pay hasn't changed at all and that his income is now about 40% of what he used to make.

Inside the casino, it was packed in the sports book. I don't know if they parked in other structures on the premises or over at Caesars or the Venetian.

On the way out, the pay machines were confusing and I skipped the prepaid machines and headed out.

At the exit gate, there is a device to push your credit card in and it is very hard to pull it out. I tried several times and the machine wasn't working. The parking person came over and tried several times and got it to work and apologized.

2. Went to the MGM Grand to see the Mike Tyson show. I parked in the parking structure behind the hotel. Once again, it wasn't even 25% filled. At this structure they have signs indicating how many empty spaces there were on the level. When driving up to a higher level, the signs to the left and to the right showed 1,000 to 1,500 empty spaces (looking left and looking right) on each level. I prepaid this one, and followed an exit sign that was a different route than everybody else was taking. When I got to the gate, it automatically opened without me having to put my ticket in. I don't know what happened, but I have noted in my mind to maybe use that one again if I ever go back.

Bottom line is I heard that MGM Grand was averaging over a million dollars a day in parking revenues, but I sure didn't see that many cars in each parking structure.

Roulette man, I am so disappointed. You broke your boycott to go to
Carnegie deli. Sorry, I just think that true boycotts from the American people is the only way to get businesses to start appreciating their customers. It is actions like this that corporate America knows that Americans just want what they want with no regard to the actual price in the end. They know we have no spine and they can make whatever policies and pricing they want and we will pay it. The same for athletes and politicians. America has got to start showing some kind of integrity and values and not instant gratification.

As for mgm, I have not and will not go to an mgm property and there have been two major concerts that I really wanted to go to at the new arena. I have written at length that....I am a player and will not pay for parking while giving gaming dollars, we are not like other cities where it is a place of business and others will park at your place and go somewhere else. If you are on the strip, you are patronizing the strip. As a local, I have company at least once a month. My business and recommendation is important to you...or well, should be. These companies are creating monopolies and then making billions and cutting out competition. Also people are coming on vacation not to go to the grocery store and wait in line. Vacation is for fun. By the time you get your comp card, wait in line at check in, wait in line at restaurant, wait in line at box office, wait in line, wait in line, wait in line. It gets both old and not fun for both me and my company. To add another inconvenience to the day is just not fun. As the gambling pamphlets say....when the fun stops! They are running gamblers out of town. They are killing the market. Also we already pay 2-3 times more for food and show tickets. We are already paying for parking. It is included in our cost.

I will continue to boycott mgm. Let companies know that your business and loyalty much be earned and appreciated. But only real discipline and sacrifice will ever actually make change.

Oh and actual gamblers move from place to place. Paid parking does not allow a gambler to "not be hitting" and move on. As well as the fact that we also go dinner at one place, a show somewhere else, meet people for a night cap somewhere else. Drop people off, pick people up. Mobility on the strip is important. You also have to pop in to pick up tickets, etc. I don't want to be stuck somewhere for he day because you already paid for parking.