Paying for Parking

This thread seems to be getting unnecessarily analytical, IMO. Let's consider the airline industry for a moment. Airlines charge for tickets. Airlines also charge for checked bags (and some, now, for carry-ons, too). Do they really expect passengers to travel without bags? No. But they've come to the conclusion that the diversified fee structure generates more income than does a single, bundled price.

Isn't CP the same? They want to make money. By advertising a lower ticket price (lower than it would be if they included the parking fee), they can encourage more people to come out to the park. The parking fee becomes more of an afterthought.

Thank you, that is basically the same thing I said in one of my first post (and have been saying) but you went into more detail and clarified it better. ... and for the record, baggage fees are a scam also. Most, but not all airlines charge for them. It is a straight money grab by the airlines as well. They do it to advertise a lower price for a service that always was included and still is not included by others.

^How is paying parking/for airline luggage a scam?

Take it from someone involved in aviation, most revenue for airlines comes from ancillary revenue (i.e., baggage fees or premiums). Before airlines started offering more premiums and charging baggage fees, they were having a hard time making money. Name all the airlines that went bankrupt prior to baggage fees being initiated. I bet you that most of your majors will be listed. Sure there are low-cost carriers, but they charge for luggage too. Southwest may not charge for luggage and they offer great service, but there are trade-offs somewhere (i.e., no assigned seats so no large separation of classes etc...).

We actually did a study in one of my classes in college of how hard it is for a flight to make money. Most flights would operate in the red if it weren't for premiums or luggage fees. That is how the airline makes the money needed to continue.

In the amusement industry, it works like this.
Premium=VIP Parking/Fast Lane etc...
Luggage=Parking

That additional money helps a lot. When you see the amount of cars that park in the lot during an average summer day, you know how much that helps. If you aren't whining about parking, you'd be whining about the increase in ticket prices if parking were free. Not to mention some people who would usually car pool wouldn't care to anymore and parking would fill up more frequently.

It's a business model, plain and simple. Speaking from an investor here, I'm glad they charge parking. They fit right in line with the industry and the business plan. A way to generate revenue is a way to generate revenue. Without the parking fee, some things may not be covered (because the parking fee goes to cover specific operational and non-operational aspects).

Now you're claiming to understand economics? After clearly demonstrating otherwise? Come on.

Mav, I have demonstrated a better than average understanding of economics. It is other peoples lack of understanding for the basic fundamentals of economics that is in question.

You are always paying for added fees one way or another it is just whether or not you realize it because they are either added in together or seperately. A majority of fees, not all fees, are to cover operational costs. You cant cut out all of them or else there would be no profit and then there would be no reason for a business to exist.

A lot of it has to do with a consumers perception of a good deal. If CP were to market price of admission to include things like parking, convenience fee/processing fees the price of admission obviously goes up. A price of a ticket now looks far more attractive than the price of a ticket with the other fees added in. Everyone pretty much knows that those fees will need to be paid whether it is when you buy your ticket online and then again when you get to the park for parking but it is "easier" to spend it in a few smaller incraments then all at once. The same kinda idea as to why most things are $.99 and not $1.00, it is how the consumer feels is value.

Actually in this way we pay for our security. The security which are hired for people are managed through this(expanses). But if the management tries then it can be free for the visitors but a number of people use to come that is why it looks a good source to earn money.