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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have expected a refund or next visit free voucher

166 replies

Arkwright · 06/04/2016 20:03

We went to the zoo for the day. Paid the extortionate entry fees for the 4 of us. Ten minutes inside the zoo my Dd was very sick. There was no warning of this she was absolutely fine before. We left straight away as she looked awful and still felt sick. My husband took her to the car and cleaned her up. I went to the desk and explained and asked if we could have a refund or a voucher to come again another day. They refused and offered us 10% off another visit. I even wrote in and received the same answer. So we paid a whole days charge for a 10 minute visit. So were the zoo being unreasonable?

OP posts:
LettingAgentNightmare · 06/04/2016 20:05

No. Are you really asking?

Coldtoeswarmheart · 06/04/2016 20:05

Arf. No.

Sirzy · 06/04/2016 20:06

It was nice of them to give a discount off the next visit.

It isn't their fault she was ill. As frustrating as it is these things happen.

iPaid · 06/04/2016 20:06

YWU to go to a zoo. Animals in captivity Sad

SalemSaberhagen · 06/04/2016 20:07

No, no they weren't. It's a shame for you all, and I hope your DD is feeling better, but you just need to file it under 'one of those things' I'm afraid.

2016namechangecomingalong · 06/04/2016 20:08

Sorry YABU, it's not the zoo's fault you decided to leave early. It would have been nice of them to offer but I wouldn't have expected it.

andsoimback · 06/04/2016 20:08

Yanbu. I'm surprised they didn't offer free visits next time if you were only there 10 mins.

NeedACleverNN · 06/04/2016 20:08

Nope
It's nice if it was offered but you shouldn't expect it

ilovesooty · 06/04/2016 20:08

I think offering 10% off a repeat visit was a nice gesture. I can't believe you asked for a refund.

ElsaAintAsColdAsMe · 06/04/2016 20:08

They were very generous to offer 10% off imo.

Where do they draw the line if they start offering refunds? Half an hour? An hour? People will take the piss.

Just one of those annoying things you have to suck up when you have kids I'm afraid.

kippersyllabub · 06/04/2016 20:09

It's unfortunate but yabu.

PPie10 · 06/04/2016 20:09

Why is it their problem your DD was sick and you left early?how entitled of you to even have the cheek to expect anything.

Ameliablue · 06/04/2016 20:09

They have no obligations, but it would have been good customer service.

DontcarehowIwantitnow · 06/04/2016 20:11

YABU. You can't seriously think they should give you a free ticket do you? Shock

Andrewofgg · 06/04/2016 20:11

Just one of those annoying things you have to suck up

Perhaps not quite the phrase.

Sorry, OP, YABU.

starry0ne · 06/04/2016 20:15

These are the rubbish parts of been a parent.. You have to suck this one up...I do wonder if she felt rubbish but didn't wan't say as she was excited...

Original poster
Arkwright · 06/04/2016 20:15

The entry cost was £70 for us. I can't see how them giving us another day free would cost them anything. I understand places have to make money but we didn't use the facilities we had paid for. I appreciate the different points of view.

OP posts:
zoelife111 · 06/04/2016 20:15

just chalk it up to one of those things. We went to an expensive attraction last year, and couldn't move for the crowds. There was even a 20m queue to sit down on a picnic bench! In the end we left without participating in any single aspect of it, and just had to consider our entry fee as a donation to the monument, rather than a ticket for us to enjoy ourselves.

It happens

DontcarehowIwantitnow · 06/04/2016 20:16

we didn't use the facilities we had paid for.

That isn't their fault though.

kippersyllabub · 06/04/2016 20:17

Every single parent has an experience involving paying for an expensive activity which their child then doesn't participate in for some reason or another. It's frustrating, sometimes gutting if you've looked forward to it but it's just one of those things.

Hope your dd feels better soon

Lovepancakes · 06/04/2016 20:19

I actually think yanbu, the zoo should do the nice thing here as you effectively paid and didn't go and if I were them I'd have let you as it was a shame you didn't enjoy the tickets.

Some companies use common sense, some just have inflexible 'policies' I guess.

RoganJosh · 06/04/2016 20:20

I can't see why it would affect them to basically move your visit to another day. Yes, they are not actually obligated to refund you/let you transfer to another day bit it's pretty mean spirited not to.

Ameliablue · 06/04/2016 20:24

In fact they are more likely to make more money by giving free entry another day as you would then have had time to spend in their shops, cafes etc. You would probably also be more inclined to return and to recommend them to others.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 06/04/2016 20:24

I think YABU.

It's not their fault your dc was ill.
Anyone could say (dishonestly) they've only been there 10 minutes, and spent much longer. The zoo has to have a blanket policy.
10% was a nice gesture.

gpignname · 06/04/2016 20:29

Technically of course everyone is right to say they don't have to offer you a refund but you know what, good on you for asking - there is no harm in trying. I would not have expected a refund actually but a more substantial voucher to return again would have been nice.

A lot of decent places would have been more sympathetic so it would not make me want to go there again wherever it was. (which part of the country is this zoo I should be avoiding!!) I guess there is not much more you can do except perhaps give them a bad review on trip advisor. It is not nice customer service even if they are "within their rights".

By contrast, I once had to leave a Theme Park (Chessington) early with my DD who I had to take to the medical room she was so unwell. We had already been there a couple of hours. They gave us free passes to return any day for the rest of the season so some places are much nicer than others with their customer policies is all I can say.