Drayton Manor now charging for car parking

[Pierre]

Reading through this topic all the way through I couldn't understand why parks don't just add this parking charge in the entrance fee... that way they're probably winning both ways by making the charge more 'stealth' like and stinging people per person not per car (lets face it, £2 per car = 40p per person in most cases).

The Great British public will complain more about £32 PLUS ANOTHER £2 than if they were just paying one fee of £34 guranteed.

£32 entry for four people using 2-4-1 vouchers = £64 + £2 car park = £66
£34 entry for four people using 2-4-1 vouchers = £68

Martyn B I know you're saying its backtracking with what they have done with the vouchers but they were probably using vouchers before hand (not 2-4-1 more like buy one get one half price or 3-4-2) and it works out marginally more - however because the voucher was 2-4-1 people will immediately feel they're getting a fantastic deal.

 

[Ollie]

^If they add it to the ticket price then people with annual passes wouldn't have to pay.

 

[TP Rich]

If people are paying less than the original price, then they can't complain, because while it might still be expensive, they're getting a better deal than others.

 

[Darren B]

If people are paying less than the original price, then they can't complain, because while it might still be expensive, they're getting a better deal than others.

I don't think your quite getting what people are saying, £32 is not the entrance price for the park (unless your an idiot), they don't expect people to pay that amount. They expect you to pay £16 and think you've got a steal which is good business, hence why most parks in the UK use this sales ploy.

As for the original £2 parking charge, I mirror most peoples opinion, its only £2 and split between a car load then 40-50 pence per person. I've always liked DMP like most people on this site, especially due to them being a family owned theme park and i certainly don't put them in the "money grabbing bastards" category as i do with Merlin. They have made a good investment this year with Ben10 and have all but confirmed that they will make a large investment in 2013 so i really can't see the sense in slating them for the parking charge when they are putting it straight back into the park.

 

[Gavin]

^^Do you actually read anything on here?

Parks themselves have stated that only around 7% of people actually pay full price to get into theme parks. 93% of people are "getting a better deal" are they?

No, they're paying what the park want them to actually pay. The 7% that actually pay full price are:

1. Idiots.
2. A bit of "bonus" cash, not the main source of gate takings.

Edit - Darren beat me to it.

 

[TP Rich]

Yes, I do read everything on the thread, which I why I used these facts in my points that £2 really isn't a lot to pay to park a car - it costs more to park at an NHS hospital for one hour.

 

[Gavin]

^I agree that £2 is not a lot.

I don't agree with your attitude that, as paying customers, we're "priviliged" if we use the 2-4-1 offers that are thrown our grateful way.

 

[TP Rich]

I see your point - and I agree. But if we are paying something that is affordable, then we're getting a good deal.

 

[Mackem Lad]

^That's not exactly true.

For argument's sake, I can afford to pay £1.80 for a bottle of Coke from the vending machine, but I wouldn't exactly consider that a good deal.


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[andrus]

£2 is nothing! Start crying when they charge €10 like **** Efteling does!! It felt like I got raped even before I entered that park.. ><

 

[Martyn B]

^ Thats true, but from what I've seen, parks are generally cheaper in Europe than here in the UK. For example, Plopsaland works out at about £20 for you lot in Europe (£24 for us Brits)! Thats cheaper than Mingo, Paultons, Lightwater and Camelot!