Incident at the Vending Machines...

Thread necrophelia hey? Yeah well, so be it.. I'm brand new here and just browsing thru all the threads. So just because I wasn't "around" so to speak when this or any of the other threads were started, I'm not allowed to comment or add my 2 cents? I speak of a current incident during a recent visit to the point and saw that my topic of vandelism hadn't yet been touched here. Funny that you should be getting the updates tho.. And that you think you have the liberty to police the threads.

Well Said Wendy,

I understand that CP charges a crapload of money for there pop. There are a lot of familys there that can just barely afford to get themselves in. (Like Me and my wife (My mother buys us Season Passes)) I found it hard to afford the gas to get there. I did not mind drinking free water. It is better for me anyways. I cannot see affording that much for a pop. I think it is not right that they charge so much. However, they know that guests will pay that much so they do it anyways.

I know that this is off topic, but can you imagine CP's profits from beer. I have only seen it more expensive at Blossom. I would love to have a beer at the point, but I cannot afford to pay there extreme profit margin. ooowww, My fingers hurt I am done venting now!!!

Peace Mike

Thanks Mike,

I totally understand what you mean by the poor man and his family having a hard time getting into the park, much less being able to get out with two nickles to rub together. I'm part of one of those families. I'm only 29 years old and come from a family of 4 (Theres me, my biological parents and my brother). Being only an hour away from the park, we used to make a family summer getaway out of Cedar Point every year. I remember being able to get in and out of the park for under 100 dollars. Nowadays, thats unheard of going in as a couple (minus the kids).. I understand that everything with time has increased in price. Inflation is a wicked pisser, but charging $3.00 for a 20 ounce beverage and being forced to discard the bottle before entering the ride is criminal. (I would have less difficulty parting with a paper cup that I only paid a buck for even if it was half full.) When we took our daughters to Cedar Point this past summer, I was amazed upon entering the train station that the station operator had the nerve to make me discard a closed bottled water that was tucked in my fanny pack before we took our place in line, but she allowed my 5 year old and my 6 year old to suck on their Camp Snoopy souvoneir (sp?) cups that had pop in them while we waited for the train. I could understand if it was a safety issue or something, but I would think that an adult with a bottled water tucked away would be less of a threat than a child sucking a cup/straw. Bottom line, it's just another way for them to get your green stuff. Thats just BS if you ask me.

Last time I was at the Point there was no charge at the water fountains.

Its cold too!

besides the fountains, you can get a free cup of ice water from any place that sells fountain soda, just ask for it! anyone who pays for water at cp is a sucker...

Mikeybo2004 said:
I know that this is off topic, but can you imagine CP's profits from beer. I have only seen it more expensive at Blossom. I would love to have a beer at the point, but I cannot afford to pay there extreme profit margin. ooowww, My fingers hurt I am done venting now!!!

CP's prices for beer are no worse than any sporting venues. Besides the profit margin, high beer prices also help keep the number of drunken idiots down. Can you imagine how many idiots would be wandering around if they only charge 2-3 bucks for a beer?

Kevinj said:
Last time I was at the Point there was no charge at the water fountains.

Its cold too!

and you can bet that I hit those too at every opportunity given, however when you're an hour and a half into a long coaster line and 45 mins away from the loading station on a 95 degree day and your thirsty, whats one to do? I for one am not willing to go without or jump out of line to find the nearest free fountain. I'll pay the $3.00, as most anyone would.

dorkdork said:
anyone who pays for water at cp is a sucker...

The very same could be said about anyone that pays $9 for a parking spot in CP's parking lot or $44.95 for a single ticket to enter the park to ride 5 rides and spend the rest of the day standing in mile long lines. As long as the consumer keeps consuming, the vendors will keep vending.. Thats the way it works.

I can sum up my opinion like this.

Do I like the high prices of everything at the park? Of course not. That being said, I do expect it, though. And it's all worth it.

I dont consider myself a "sucker" for buying a bud light for $6.50, or paying $9.00 for parking, or $90.00 for my season pass. To put it in better perspective, I'm also a graduate student, so my wife and I aren't exactly enjoying a big income, but we still find a way to make it work, because it's worth it. When the cost starts exceeding it's worth to me, then I wont go, but to us, while 9.00 to park is certainly high, it is still worth paying to enjoy a spin on TTD and relax for the day.

For myself, 3.00 for the water is not worth it, because taking a second to stop at each water fountain ends up being enough for me.

Stealing water from the vending machines is not exactly a productive way of protesting the cost of the water in the lines.

Anyone who sells a product can tell you, the type of protest (even though its less fun) that hurts the worst is not buying the product.

The behavior these people did only makes cost for the rest of us go up.

Why would anyone expect to be allowed to bring in ANY food or beverage? It is not a rip, or a cheat, or a crime, it's business. If you owned a store, and a huge chunk of your paycheck came from people buying and eating peanuts in your store, would you make a policy against people bring in "outside" peanuts? Yes...well, if you want to succeed you would.
*** Edited 10/20/2005 2:40:55 PM UTC by Kevinj***

Why would anyone expect to be allowed to bring in ANY food or beverage?

Because CP is an amusement park, not an eatery park. The primary form of amusement is provided through rides, not vending. The vending is there to support the primary function of the park.

Now, if people wanted to bring in their own rides, then I can see a problem. ;)

If we wanted you to be a moderator, John, we would've made you one.

I would agree that it's not an eatery park, but an amusement park. But the amusement we enjoy at CP costs millions of dollars each year, with a huge chunkof that coming "eateries".

1) CP needs money from the food

2) You hate the prices so you sneak something in

3) CP loses potential food money

4) Dont forget number 1. Your actions havent caused CP to need less food money.

5) Prices go up, b/c CP still needs the money

6) So by sneaking something in, youre only contributing to the problem that you are trying so hard to get around.
*** Edited 10/20/2005 3:02:37 PM UTC by Kevinj***

Right, but how much food can one "sneak" into the park. I'm not talking about a ham or a meatloaf here. Whats the harm in bringing in a sandwich or a couple apples? If thats all the food it takes to keep a person full all day, how much $$ has CP lost on that person?

And its not like CP is barely operating in the black. Sure, they invest millions of dollars on an almost constant basis, but the key word here is invest. They don't spend the money - they put it toward something that will give them a return.

And, for the record, CP does allow food in the pavillions, which not too many people use (I know I don't), which means that not all that many people are worried about the food costs.

Very true. Im still picturing someone bringing in their own ride. :)

Yeah, obviously youre not sneaking in a turkey...at the most its a water here, a gatorade there

I could be wrong, but I think you're allowed to bring in one sealed bottle of water upon entering the park.

That's correct.

Witches wheel Wendy said:

dorkdork said:
anyone who pays for water at cp is a sucker...

The very same could be said about anyone that pays $9 for a parking spot in CP's parking lot

not really... if there were a FREE parking spot right next to the $9 spot, then youd be a sucker for paying... the difference with the water is that theres a choice between free and paying. and the suckers pay.

You could always walk to the park, provided you have feet.

nope youre not allowed to walk on the causeway... i would if i could!

Unfortunately, djDaemon, you can't walk to CP. Walkers are not allowed on the causeway.