OK so we are going to the London Aquarium/Eye in 2 weeks with GP. I decided to check out prices so i could get the best deal as there are 5 of us and found that Merlin have a great sale on annual passes at the mo (finishes tomorrow).
Now we like going to Legoland and went to Chessington for the first time last year and had a great time, so it seemed like a great deal. But they stipulate that to buy a sale pass you must pitch up at one of the attractions in person. In the case of our family that's getting all 5 of us to an attraction at the same time. The reason given is that photos must be taken.
All fine except that you can buy a full price annual pass online and collect it from your chosen attraction when you next visit. For us this would be in 2 weeks. But to get the sale price we need to visit the Aquarium this weekend (but not go in or the DC won't be too interested in playing ball in two weeks). The difference in price between sale and full price is about £50pp, so a not inconsiderable reduction.
When i called up to query this i was just told that it is the policy with sale passes? But i just can't work out why? Many of the attractions are actually closed at the moment but open for purchase of passes. So you pitch up with your DC buy the passes and then explain to them that you're not actually going in? It's not exactly family-friendly, given that any school age children will be in school 5 days out of 7. And not exactly environmentally-friendly getting folk to make a journey to out of the way places just to buy a cheap pass, which if you are prepared/can afford to pay the higher price you could do at the touch of the button.
There must be a reason for this element of the policy. it can't just be making people 'work' for the discounted pass? If it's to do with the date the pass starts from (full prices passes can start from the collection date i assume) then i really don't see why this couldn't be addressed and still be able to purchase sale passes online.
And before anyone says it, of course i don't have to buy them, but i'd like to. And yes it is up to them to make their own rules, but there must be some reason for this particular rule and i'm wondering if anyone can enlighten me as i just can't see it. Or am i just BU and grumpy as i now have to trek into town just to pick up passes?