Busch Gardens Williamsburg Membership Program

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I guess it comes down to a glass half full/half empty approach; why did they decide to have this sale? Personally, I was very surprised by it, given both the recent history of memberships, and the historical lack of Black Friday sales on tickets for the following summer (at least the past 5 years or so, that's as far back as I go). I guess, for me, that surprise tends me towards the glass half empty approach.

One other note: the fun cards do not have any black out dates (aside from expiring Sep 8).
 
I think that they are looking at not doing something as a lost opportunity for them. Having this sale allows them to make a gain at a place that they never had. I think we need to look at this as a glass half full that they want to start being proactive about making sales.

Wasn't talking about Fun Card Blackout dates....talking about basic membership if that's what the one membership is.
 
At the end of the day SEAS took a half-baked experiment and made it more convoluted and confusing than necessary. Depending on the park depends if its an annual pass or membership, depending on the park depends on what you pay. Things they said they wanted to be rid of they bought back, obviously because there was demand vs an AP or membership. The park went back on their word that you would get a year with static benefits only to turn around months later and change and introduce a new plan forcing members to play the customer service game to get what they are paying for.

In the end front line employees are just as confused at who is supposed to have what benefit and if the scanners at the gate or at POS don't pick up the correct info its a pain trying to fight them. Ultimate they win, they got everyone money on promises they didn't keep.

Want action, start contacting John Riley, Walter Bogumil and others in positions to make changes, they aren't hard to track down.
 
Here's something I noticed in My Membership listings online, My remaining commitment for the initial year is $150. Three more easy pays of $50 each = $150.00.

But in one of the sections it lists SIX more monthly payments to meet the initial commitment. Hope this just A typo but something I will watch closer to the time to decide whether or not to renew gets closer.

Didn't screen shot because to much personal info to edit out as we have custody of our nieces via court order and we never post info with there names on it just to be careful. but that's another story for another day, but they love Busch Gardens.

Just my thoughts
 
We bought fun cards with the black Friday special, so we're already committed to canceling the memberships after CT this year.

I'll keep this in mind to make sure it lets me cancel when it should, but I'm not going to bother looking until the New Year. If there's a problem I wouldn't call them about it until then anyway (too much of a chance they'd mess up the CT admission), or, maybe it would self correct by then.
 
VACoasterFan said:
Here's something I noticed in My Membership listings online, My remaining commitment for the initial year is $150. Three more easy pays of $50 each = $150.00.

But in one of the sections it lists SIX more monthly payments to meet the initial commitment. Hope this just A typo but something I will watch closer to the time to decide whether or not to renew gets closer.

Didn't screen shot because to much personal info to edit out as we have custody of our nieces via court order and we never post info with there names on it just to be careful. but that's another story for another day, but they love Busch Gardens.

Just my thoughts
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I am a little confused. Have you been paying 50 a month for the membership? I didn't think any went that high in price. My understanding was that you either paid all at once or made equal amount payments over a full 12 month year and that your membership ended after that 12th month.
 
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horsesboy said:
I am a little confused. Have you been paying 50 a month for the membership? I didn't think any went that high in price. My understanding was that you either paid all at once or made equal amount payments over a full 12 month year and that your membership ended after that 12th month.
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Sorry, should have specified our total Memberships.

One Premier Membership a $20.00 a Month + two Whatever they are called BGW/WCUSA Memberships at $15.00 each = $50.00 Monthly
 
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Got an email from BGW today. I find it ironic that apparently they can't even give away the lanyards and ornaments. I remember back in August it was "Hurry before they are all gone" with the lanyards but according to the email today they still have "plenty" left. Then in November it was the same thing "before all of the ornaments are gone" but they have those left, too. It indicates to me not as many people were either members or didn't care about their "giveaway gifts" which if I remember correctly was supposed to be one of the "incentives" to buy membership. Be interesting to see what they try to "coax" people with next year.
 
Zachary said:
I'd point out that both @Nicole and myself have not yet managed to go on a day that the ornaments were available. If they have to many, I'd love to know why they're making it such a pain in the ass to actually get one.
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I went once on a Thursday and had no problem grabbing one at the end of the night. Strange...
 
Zachary said:
I'd point out that both @Nicole and myself have not yet managed to go on a day that the ornaments were available. If they have to many, I'd love to know why they're making it such a pain in the ass to actually get one.
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This ^

Honestly, restricting which days you can and can not get them is really stupid and probably the largest reason why they have so many left over. Maybe it would help IF there was a large demand and they wanted to make sure every member had an opportunity to get one; but clearly the demand isn't that strong and these rules are unnecessary
 
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I received extra ornaments and a lanyard after I bought an item from the gift shop at the front of the park on Sunday. I didn't ask for it, not did i have the print out from the kiosk, since I already used that earlier.
 
We have tried ALL year and have not yet been able to get our three lanyards. Day specific BS or "none left". Now they have plenty? Oh, but only specific days. Again, when we can't be there. Maybe I don't understand "benefits"? I would think they are suppose to be a fun add-on. Not a piss me off total royal pain in the ass.
 
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its totally understandable to have some benefits be date specific like certain discounts or free tickets; those type of benefits are designed to promote visitation to the park on slow days or buying low-performing merch/food

but free gifts should be available anytime
 
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I hope a BGW person sees this post:

If you are going to do free stuff or exclusive stuff again...change up how it's done. Personally I think it would be really nice if you did it automatically as part of the membership, because at the price some levels pay we shouldn't have to pay on top.
So here's my proposal:
When you to a member preview day, have a 'goodie bag' with things like the lanyard, coupons, and other freebees in it. If you have a certain level membership (like say the top two), and you are there on the preview day, when you exit it is given to you. If you do not (or cannot) show up, it automatically gets shipped to you. Then if there are extras, make them available for purchase online using the membership number.

Do this for the 3 major previews (spring, HOS, CT), that way it limits confusion on when to get items, how to get it, or even if it's available. Then if you want to do extras (hint hint, this would be awesome), like say a print of Nessie (yas plez), do a 'presale' of these items before a non-member sale of the item.

This is where a member lounge would be REALLY nice is you could distribute these things or have exclusive sales from within the member lounge.
 
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The issue with that proposal is there is reasoning behind the monthly benefits that force you to come to the park at certain times.

They want people with memberships to come very regularly to the park, and making them come to the park at certain times essentially forces the members to be regular income for the park. If a member only had to go three times a year to get everything out of their membership, the park would be losing money versus the traditional ticket system.

I am not saying I agree with it, but it isn't like they do it just to make the public angry.

All they should do for member only days is hand out chips as you exit, that's a good way to say "thank you".
 
So their idea of a "benefit" is trying to force me to the park when I don't want or can't go. Even when I might have been there the week before, or the week after, but not THAT week or THAT day. This only discourages me to not bother coming at all, rather than jump when they wish. They need to change the wording from "benefit/reward" to "petty money lure".

Here, let me help you with this BGW, since it's too hard to look up nor understand.

Webster said:
Definition of benefit
1a : something that produces good or helpful results or effects or that promotes well-being
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BGW Benefits/Rewards = good or helpful useless results or effects or that promotes well-being ILL-WILL!

It's a simple F*@CKING lanyard that I really don't even want anymore. Along with the rest of the non-benefits. But you are welcome BGW for taking more of my money in return.

EDIT: BTW Customer Service told us (the first time we asked) that they would mail them to us, took our address, and did squat. Bold face lie to just get irate customers out of their face.
 
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