Ridiculous stuff here

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DougJ
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Joined: Sun Apr 13, 2014 9:54 pm

Ridiculous stuff here

Post by DougJ »

Sometimes I wonder if the clueless casino marketing folks/bean counters have lost the plot or simply too darn greedy. Examples:

(1) Tropicana started charging for parking several months ago, even though they have no parking control gates/parking ticket machines etc in the convenient outdoor lot. It's a stupid scan a QR code, that old folks maybe won't even understand. Yet, the Trop casino is consistently empty, even on busy event weekends. So empty casino, charge now for parking, makes sense, right?

(2) Being charged for a plastic cup of tap water? Unthinkable? NO. Encore/Wynn want $25 for that plastic cup of water at the bars. I've never seen a water fountain inside their casino. It's okay, it's only been 110 degrees here, we don't need to stay hydrated, and hey, we're looking out for Lake Mead.

(3) The old Hard Rock casino off Strip has been run by Mohegan Sun for about 2 years. It is a ghost town there. They shunned the Locals market, persist in having some of the worst VP pay tables here, and now have closed their large sportsbook bar for lack of business. I am speculating that Mohegan has deep pockets, but can't fathom why nothing changes there to bring in business.

(4) Buffets that were reopened after being closed during the pandemic are thriving, regardless of price. Wicked Spoon is about $38 per person at the least expensive time of day. Wynn buffet averages $55 per person, but goes as high as $75 each on peak weekends. Queues are typically 1-2 hours long.
Palms Lobster buffet on Wednesdays is $65 per person. The queue for that buffet is typically 3 hours long, with folks lining up at 2 p.m. for the evening lobster buffet.

YET: many buffets have not reopened, notably the M Resort and Stations casinos (Red Rock, etc). They claim the buffets are never returning, they were loss leaders.
Instead, M is turning their buffet space into a Sportsbook food court. (eye roll)

(5) Casino junk. Do marketing execs city-wide convene in a broom closet in Primm each month to choose what junk to give away as "incentives" to gamble in their casino? Cheap vinyl purses (no cows were harmed here), a set of 4 drink coasters, and so on.
YET: casinos in the Chicago area regularly bombard me with mailers for GIFT CARDS and GAS CARDS. I've gambled at a Joliet casino once and still get these offers months later.

Meanwhile, two upcoming festival events here were recently cancelled, for poor ticket sales. Room rates have been dropping. Hmmm, maybe less Californians want to pay crazy gas prices?

Yes, large corporate properties like Caesars and MGM report record profits quarterly, but that isn't telling the whole picture.
Start with those genius marketing folks/bean counters.
Tourists have so many more choices, why come to Vegas?





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case
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Post by case »

The Hard Rock casino just baffles me. How does a casino that is off strip expect gamblers to show up when you offer them nothing. I thought Mohegan Sun had enough experience by now to understand how you run a casino. I was wrong, then knew nothing. The Palms has the right idea, open a buffet, a food court and my favorite Mabel's. Then you throw in a few full pay machined and you are in business.

Pay attention Hard Rock because your life support is coming to an end.

FAA
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Joined: Wed May 28, 2014 11:58 am

Post by FAA »

Off strip expect gamblers to show up when you offer them nothing. I thought Mohegan Sun had enough experience to understand how you run a casino. I was wrong, they knew nothing. The Palms has the right idea, open a buffet, a food court and Mabel's. Throw in a few full pay machines and you are in business.
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MS' Resorts AC has a very popular food court. Nobody seems to clamor for a buffet, the casino "loss leader". Full pay machines are I suppose a given for AC boardwalk. They have promotions up the wazoo. It's the first AC casino and does cruise along on that legacy customer. But their upscale restaurants are tremendous and the ocean views are nice. Maybe they should fly some suits out to consult.

DougJ
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Posts: 406
Joined: Sun Apr 13, 2014 9:54 pm

Post by DougJ »

Based on the hours-long queues at the remaining Vegas buffets, people ARE clamoring for buffets here. Even the extraordinarily lousy MGM Grand buffet has queues, and even my dog wouldn't eat there.

Mohegan Sun royally screwed up the former Hard Rock. We don't have "ocean views" and that property overlooks a scruffy little group of shops. BEST part about location of the Virgin/Hard Rock: Across the street from one of my favorite places: "Big Chicken", owned by Shaq. Seriously awesome chicken sandwiches and great shakes.

jetermacaw
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Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2012 9:04 am

Post by jetermacaw »

I was at the Bellagio last month, the line for the $65 buffet was constantly 100 deep, being able to cut the line because of card status helped. Totally not worth it, the buffet at Borgata is way better.

TripleTriple
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Post by TripleTriple »

I would drink from the bathroom sink before I paid 25 bucks for water. I'd say max pre-hydrate til your pee looks like water and order drinks with fruit juice and ice. And as far as food goes, a fast is good for you every once in a while. Or, take a break and eat somewhere outside. I for one refuse to pay exorbitant prices the casinos are charging.

FAA
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Joined: Wed May 28, 2014 11:58 am

Post by FAA »

The more important benefit from early hydration is taking a mandatory break from VP. More likely than not, it's a cold cycle and mercilessly siphoning money.

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