Back on the Frugal Job
Just finished going through the 5 weeks of mail that piled up during our unexpected extended stay in GA. Lots of expired comps pitched into the wastebasket! But I looked them all over – and realized that although the casino environment is looking grim these days for the gambler searching for good value, there are some areas, at least in some casinos, where there seems to be a sudden realization by the powers-that-be that all those cuts suggested by the bean counters might be driving away customers!
Now I’m not saying the casinos are going back to those glory days of generous free play, easy comps, and good games. But I am seeing some positive moves. Wynn/Encore have dropped all parking fees, even for valet. It hasn’t happened yet but there is now talk that perhaps high and too “hidden” resort fees should be adjusted to attract those that are cutting down – or completely cutting off – their trips to Vegas casinos. And although it doesn’t seem that Boyd is thinking about getting rid of some of the onerous parts of their new players club – like Ruby players not earning points or being eligible for most promotions that are based on point earnings – there are some signs that they are trying to win back some of the customers that have fled. Must have been a lot of them at the Gold Coast because they have been adding extra bonus-point days for the last few months – in October this runs for four days each week, 11x Monday through Thursday. (Remember, this is like 5.5X for VP players since it now takes $2 VP play to earn one point instead of $1 like under the old club program.)
However, the most common positive note for many casinos is that they are upping food comps. Every free or discounted meal you get, leaves you more money in your pocket. Now not every casino is doing this increased food comp quite right. This has been a pet peeve of mine for 35 years. A casino sends out a free-buffet coupon to – it seems – everyone who has ever been a player club member, some who haven’t played there for years and even some who can’t participate because they are dead!
Are you listening, Palms? Does anyone from the ivory-tower offices in the sky ever come down to the casino floor and see the lines (both VIP as well as the regular one) snaked an unbelievable distance all over the place. Do you see the tired, disappointed, and often angry looks on the faces of people in those lines who know they are looking at probably more than an hour of boring wait time? When they finally do get seated and then finish their meal, how many are so mad by that time that the last thing they want to do is go to a machine or a table to gamble. A food comp is supposed to be something that makes a player happy and glad to be in the casino – not something that makes them mad at a company that doesn’t use good sense in their marketing tactics. Why can’t they spread out the dates for these coupons? We no longer even try to use all those free buffet coupons we are getting in the mail; Brad, like many other seniors, just isn’t able to endure such a long wait.
Related to this food gripe, is the gift-giveaways. These seem to be on the increase and I guess this is a popular perk for many players. Not my favorite and probably not for many of my fellow seniors – we are trying to size down, not collect stuff. It would be nice if there was an alternative free play choice. For years in some casinos we would schedule our time to pick up gifts for late in the give-away period, knowing that if they ran out of the advertised gift, we would be given a gift card or extra free play.
There is also the same long-line problem during gift-giveaways I discussed earlier. These often take place in cramped crowded areas and the lines have to snake through crowded slot machine aisles. This should only happen once in a casino. Someone in authority would see the problem and the next time it would be moved to a less crowded part of the casino and there would be enough staffing that long lines would not develop. And a personal wish: They would train the employees to smile and act friendly when they are checking in the players and/or giving out the gifts. So often we feel like these employees actually hate that we have shown up to ruin their day!
End of rant and a last technical note: Some people have told me that they can’t subscribe to this blog. We did have some problems with this earlier, but they have been resolved. So, you might try again. If it still does not work for you, drop a note to [email protected] and we will subscribe you manually.
Most casino managers have no idea what their goal is. They think it is making money. It isn’t.
A casino managers job is simple. Make happy sheep. (and don’t slaughter them).
Happy sheep are happy to donate their savings to your machines. Unhappy sheep
think your casino is “bad luck” and head for a “better” option.
This means short lines. Don’t you fools understand that most people have only so much time and when that time is wasted in line, it’s not wasted playing video keno or Buffalo slots.
This means decent returns on games. When games are set to 90% return and below,
the sheep get slaughtered and go away. You morons only give about 1% in cash back
on slots (and far less on the strip), yet typically take over 10%. Be less greedy. Either give 2-3% cash back on slots and keno (which can be a HUGE marketing tool compared to your competition) or set your games to return about 95% or so. People want to play awhile before they have to sell their car, body, children or soul for more gambling money. Most gamblers (especially locals) will lose that money sooner or later. So let them lose it slower. You truly don’t care if someone loses their $500 rent money in 1 day or 3.
You have this fantasy that the sheep will lose $1500 in 3 days if you abuse them, but that is insanity. The vast majority of customers can only lose so much and then there is no more.
This means promotions that don’t use deception and don’t have difficult rules that can trip up well meaning customers. No more “must be present to win” drawings, especially if most tickets are earned through play.
It means giving offers that are good for several days. Lots of these joints give free play or comps that are good 1 or 2 days. Nobody likes getting an offer they cannot even use because, god forbid, they have lives outside of your casinos. Do you really think you can get people to play more like this? At least pay attention to zip codes. If a customer lives more than 2 miles away, ease up on the frequency.
JUST SPENT 9 DAYS IN VEGAS, (3 IN LAUGHLIN) AND ALTHOUGH WE COULD GET COMPED FOR A ROOM ON THE STRIP (AND DID SO FOR A FEW NIGHTS) MY WIFE AND I REALLY LIKE STAYING AT OFF STRIP CASINOS (GOLD COAST, ORLEANS, M). I WISH I UNDERSTOOD MORE THE POINT SYSTEM BOYD HAS AFTER READING OF YOUR DISPLEASURE WITH THE PAST CHANGES. WE MAKE THE VEGAS/LAUGHLIN TRIP ABOUT TWICE A YEAR SO EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE BOYD PROPERTIES IN OUR AREA OFFERS DON’T AFFECT US LIKE IT WOULD VEGAS LOCALS. NEVER IN VEGAS WITHOUT A CAR AND ALWAYS HAVE FUN.
LOVE READING YOUR BLOG, PLEASE KEEP UP THE GREAT INFORMATION ON “WHATS HAPPENING IN VEGAS”.
The VIP line at Palms AYCE has gotten as long as the regular line due to all the “non-handicapped” who have figured out that they cannot be asked to show evidence of their “handicapped” status. The cashier can only ask if they are handicapped and as long as they reply that they are they are permitted to access the VIP line. Lately most patrons on the VIP line are not VIP cardholders but low level players who figured out how to game the system. The cashiers say they are helpless to do anything.
Tx Station casinos gave choice of free merchandise or choose $5 Freeplay. Or I saw that posted at fiesta rancho.
I was headed for the Gold Coast breakfast buffet in June. The line looked like about 45 minutes so I went to TGIF instead and walked right in. I’m too old to spend a lot of time standing in lines, and don’t need AYCE any more anyway. In fact, TGIF boxed up the leftovers, which is a “no-no” at the buffet.
So far I’ve survived the Boyd comps system changes, but it may be just a matter of time.
I usually close with “maybe I’ll see you in Laughlin”; but it doesn’t look good there either. Colorado Belle just closed their poker room and Golden Nugget mothballed their bimonthly blackjack tournament, which were the two major area attractions for us. Looks like it’s back to Vegas to Boyd and South Point, while they last.
Instead I’ll say “good luck and good counting”–if you can find a playable game.
It should be common knowledge, but the longer I spend in line whether it’s the buffet, a restaurant, the player’s club, a kiosk, etc. the less time I will have to spend gambling in the casino. This should be Casino Management 101.
The Palm’s management is blind?
They must be aware of the lines that clog the casino floor.
Perhaps the cameras are not in their offices.
Security people see this clog and perhaps the hungry patrons get cranky.
Marketing makes it a big mess.
Sylvia
Drop a note to [email protected] and tell them the error message you get – and they will subscribe you manually.
I still get ” oops unexpected error” when I try and subscribe.