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Original poster

Lying about child's age for free admission

801 replies

user1489773847 · 17/03/2017 18:16

Costing out a day trip to the zoo, now that DC has turned two have to factor in their ticket cost. DH says that we should just say he isn't yet two so it's free, and that everyone does it. Just wondered what the general consensus is on this? I feel bad lying but see his point that DS is still pretty young and could end up napping through a lot of it so won't necessarily benefit.

OP posts:
KidLorneRoll · 17/03/2017 20:48

If a family can afford £100 they can afford to pay for the toddler too.

It just reeks of dishonesty and entitlement. Deflecting it by trying to excuse that it's a "big business" - because no "big business" supports jobs or anything of course or that you are doing them a favour by sneaking people in doesn't make it any less of a dick move.

If nothing else, you can't encourage your kids to be decent and honest if you don't set a proper example.

Natsku · 17/03/2017 20:49

I don't lie just because I have a terrible poker face (oddly enough I'm good at poker...) but if they assume that DD is under the age then I go with it. Usually its happened when I haven't actually realised she was over the age threshold and later realised and was honest.

I will, however, not buy a ticket on the train and wait instead for a ticket inspector to come and buy from them and pay the extra fee (just one extra euro) because most of the time no inspector comes.

joystir59 · 17/03/2017 20:50

Lie. The cost of taking a family out anywhere is ridiculous.

WillWorkForShoes · 17/03/2017 20:52

Haven't rtft so I apologise. But it's 7 pages already!

Lots of places have introduced a height restriction for charging rather than using age, to counter the 'I'll just lie, cos it saves me money and who cares who else it affects'. My friend ends up paying for her young children who have 'tall genes' even though they are actually young and would probably get in free otherwise.

Where's the cut off point?

babybythesea · 17/03/2017 20:53

Most zoos don't keep animals they can't afford to care for. They know what their income is, and they manage their collections accordingly. Unless something drastic happens, like the collection has to shut unexpectedly for a bit, like when foot and mouth hit, most zoos do a reasonable job of budgeting. They have to. There is too much riding on it not to.
But zoos aren't companies. They are charities. No, you are under no obligation to feel for the employees. Most love it and most of my friends wouldn't do anything else because despite the lack of money it's an amazing job. But it is not about lining anyone's pockets. It's about funding a charity, when you pay an entrance fee.

CrohnicallyPregnant · 17/03/2017 20:55

Actually, I think there are other options.

How about lowering the prices, or having special offers, to increase the number of people that come in? The zoo's costs are fairly fixed regardless of how many guests are there. So you want to maximise the number of guests coming in, up to the capacity of the place.

Loads of people on this thread have said that the high prices put them off, and they wouldn't come in at all if the prices went higher than their maximum. So why not drop prices and entice more people in?

Maybe raise the age that children have to pay up to 12 or so instead of 3- that more or less guarantees that families with 4-11 year olds will at least consider your zoo over any others locally!

Or 'child goes free' vouchers in local newspapers- the Merlin/Kellogg's ones are always popular!

Or is there a really obvious reason why lowering prices wouldn't work?

MsGameandWatch · 17/03/2017 20:56

I've done it many times, in many places, for as long as felt I could comfortably get away with it. I have no regrets.

picklemepopcorn · 17/03/2017 20:57

It's interesting how many people are totally happy to lie in a way which is very obvious in front of their children. Do you get cross when they lie?

I'm not particularly bothered by children lieing- obviously I teach them not to but think they probably will if they are afraid of getting in trouble. But I never lie and definitely wouldn't in front of a child who would know.

Astro55 · 17/03/2017 20:59

Our local zoo charges more for children and less for adults - it actually is a good idea because it's the kids that want to go and they are the target audience - cafe is reasonable as well plus big indoor area and lots going on /something new

Makes more sense to me!

Theme parks should be based on height rather than age due to height restrictions - no fun for a small 7 year old and over zealous employees

AYankinSpanx · 17/03/2017 21:02

What do people say to their older kids about lying to get the youngest in?

I'd rather fork out than have my older DC listen to me lying to save a few quid, to be honest!

WillWorkForShoes · 17/03/2017 21:02

Theme parks should be based on height rather than age

This makes total sense. You pay more related to the rides you can go on. But not a zoo, or an aquarium (which is my personal bugbear!)

CleanMess · 17/03/2017 21:02

Nah, I find life more straightforward if I tell the truth. Big stuff, small stuff, free stuff, saving a few quid, whatever. I try to be honest all the time, it makes me feel better

I agree with this. I consider it stealing in the same way as shoplifting so I wouldn't dream of doing it. I think I have more respect for people who openly admit that it's wrong but don't care rather than the ones who try and justify what they are doing by blaming the businesses or whatever. If you are going to do it then at least own it.

Although I have never lied about my kids ages I found that if I was honest about their ages and asked for a favour and for them to still be let in free or to get a child's tickets that I would more often than not be given it. I think the cashiers appreciated my honesty.

Apart from white lies I taught my kids that being honest was really important - How could I have taught them that if my own honesty was 'flexible'

We also pay all our taxes and our tv licence too (etc,etc) . It frustrates me that I am subsidising dishonest people but there isn't much I can do about it.

Trainspotting1984 · 17/03/2017 21:04

Charities are companies. They're just not for profit

babybythesea · 17/03/2017 21:05

The zoo I was at did some fairly intensive research about prices. A number of offers were run, at certain times of the year (eg not in the middle of the holidays). They increased footfall but locals often waited for those days and only came once each year, so although more people came in through the gates, we actually didn't make as much money as you might think because prices were so much lower.
You basically have to figure running costs, taking into account things like if you have more people you need to have more shop staff, cafe staff, cleaners etc on site, and then look at catchment area, including possible tourists in the area, and then figure that if you set rices too low you will get lots of people in, which is great, but the costs go up because of all the non-animal staff needed, so essentially same income, double running costs. And work out where you can fit on that scale.

Simplified, if you charge £10 and one person comes in, you have your normal running cost (animal feed and get fees for example) plus one person in the shop to serve them. Now, charge £5. Two people rock up. You are still making £10 but now you need two people in the shop. So maybe you go for £7.50 as a compromise.
Does that make sense (without being patronising - I've got a poorly child so am not doing this fluently)?

CrohnicallyPregnant · 17/03/2017 21:05

Yes astro, there could be a discount for very tall people too, my DH can't fit on many rides with shoulder harnesses as he is too tall and his shoulders are usually past where the harness hinges down.

Blinkyblink · 17/03/2017 21:05

Up until the point my children become aware that I'm fibbing, I'd be happy to do it. So 2, fine.

But once they can grasp that I'm fibbing, no way.

babybythesea · 17/03/2017 21:07

Fair dos. Charities are companies. It's just that when people talk about companies they tend to mean ones where shareholders are making a profit. Whereas in a charity like a zoo, the money can go towards funding habitat reconstruction in South America, for example, which isn't generally the first thing that enters your head when someone talks about companies.

Blinkyblink · 17/03/2017 21:07

Babybythesea
It doesn't really make sense because there are economies of scale. An extra 500 people, but certainly don't need extra 500 staff.

Trainspotting1984 · 17/03/2017 21:09

Crohnicallypregnant they don't lower fees because you always charge as much as people
Would be willing to pay. Some people on this thread are saying it's too expensive but that doesn't mean they're not getting paid that by others. Promotions are just marketing and part of the pricing strategy

Trainspotting1984 · 17/03/2017 21:11

The reason I mentioned it's a company is that charities are still
Faceless in the same way companies are. You can't feel for a corporation

londonrach · 17/03/2017 21:12

Lie! Its close enough.

Porpoiselife · 17/03/2017 21:12

There's lying and there's lying. So to lie to get someone in trouble or yourself out of trouble is one thing. To lie to get the 3 year old into somewhere for free so that everyone can have a day out is another thing. Yes it's lying. But my kids know the difference. Plus with 4 kids, once we're in there we will spend on extras. And the extras generally are not cheap, I think we compensate for the 1 free entry of a 3 year old by the amount we spend once in tbh. And all companies know this. They are not daft!

neveradullmoment99 · 17/03/2017 21:12

Do it! I have done it before dd could speak

FreshStart2017 · 17/03/2017 21:13

I did it last year in Florida, DS was 3yrs 2 months and I never paid for him once where ever I went. He got into Disney for 2 weeks for free, ate at buffets for free, got into other attractions for free. I was never asked his age once so saved quite a bit of dollars.

Trainspotting1984 · 17/03/2017 21:15

"Today 20:57 picklemepopcorn

It's interesting how many people are totally happy to lie in a way which is very obvious in front of their children. Do you get cross when they lie? "

A few people have said this and I don't really get it. Life isn't that black and white is it? Like many people my parents and especially my grandparents did this with us- it didn't turn us into harmful liars.

Everyone lies, everyday. Society accepts some lies and manages to continue running without the whole country being outrageously decitful

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