Adults sulking over tickets

[Applepipsx]

Our local national trust house has announced its opening back up from the 3rd. You have to book online in advance. I decided to book mine at midnight as I was still awake and really want to take the kids for a picnic and a walk. It's been a long time since they've done anything remotely normal. There were 58 tickets available for each day. I got two. Then by 9am this morning Saturday was booked up. Still spaces available on wed and Thurs and Sunday.

The page put a really positive welcome back post on Facebook. Everyone is kicking off. Threatening to cancer membership. Kicking off about non members being allowed to go.

None of them have bothered to read it states the house and play areas are remaining shut. They are asking if it's all open etc. Basically you can go for picnics and walks in the gardens.

If I didn't get a ticket I would not be on FB giving the page hell and being mardy. Theres literally 58 spaces and everyone seems to think they deserve it more than others. We won't be selfish and book again for a few weeks to give others a turn. But Jesus what is wrong with people's attitudes.

[Goldenbear]

It shows an element of greed I think.

Equally, the normal admission charges are quite high for non NT members, probably not affordable for people who are not well off so I don't think that the access for all argument stands.

[cologne4711]

I think they are desperate for cash so want non-members to book because they have to pay.

[cologne4711]

the NT literally are not allowed to prioritise their members under charity tax law. It would be grossly unfair to stop supporting them for something they can't help

But as a pp has said, other organisations are - and private schools do! And as I said, I cannot think that the Charities Commission would take action against one of the biggest charities in the country for briefly giving its members priority for car parking spaces (we're not even saying non-members shouldn't be able to visit, just that they shouldn't be able to book car park spaces ahead of members at this time).

As I said, I received an email from Historic Scotland saying they would be prioritising members - so it sounds like English (and Welsh) law should be brought into line with Scots law on this one.

[bigbluebus]

Have seen similar complaints for my nearest NT property. I think they should have given priority to people who have been paying membership without any benefit over the last few months (I'm not a NT member). I live in a rural county and there are plenty of free places that everyone else can go to.

I am a member of a club and when it finally reopens I hope I get priority over the non members and those who cancelled their memberships upon lockdown as I've continued to pay to support the organisation so that it is hopefully still there for me to use once we are allowed.

[Goldenbear]

It's not 'entitlement' at all!

You are sold this idea of membership that buys you entrance to lots of NT places.
They are desperate to take your money and sign you up at the entrance of an NT place, as it's a huge income earner for them. At no point so they say, 'Do you want to just come over here, become a member and donate £120 to our charity today?' The membership is about entrance fees

[JudyCoolibar]

They emailed members before booking opened to alert them, and in practice over 90% of tickets have been booked by members. Charity tax law allows them to give this sort of priority, but it does not allow them to give exclusive access to members.

[Dozer]

My layperson’s understanding of the rules on tax status is that it’s based on a “basket” of indicators. So doing X, eg prioritising members for ticket sales, doesn’t automatically mean loss of charitable tax status.

[Dozer]

I’ve seen the NT’s statement above that they “cannot” offer members preferential access due to tax regulations, but other charities (for tax purposes) do offer preferential access to facilities and services to their “members“. Private schools and sports clubs, for example.

[MaggieFS]

@JudyCoolibar But as has also been pointed out, other charity organisations ARE managing some sort of members priority/early booking window/ allocation, which suggest the law it open to interpretation or there is more than one way to organise this type of thing whilst still being compliant. IMHO it's not unreasonable of NT members to therefore question this, if they aren't happy.

[JudyCoolibar]

Why does that mean nothing now? I am afraid I will be voting with my feet on this one

@Howaboutanewname, as has been pointed out more than once, the NT literally are not allowed to prioritise their members under charity tax law. It would be grossly unfair to stop supporting them for something they can't help.

[janet1267]

Nothing in the membership guarantees priority entrance!

The entitlement on this thread is shocking. I'm a member, but the NT is for everyone.

[Goldenbear]

They are not 'free' as membership has been paid, the membership fee is the payment!

[WaffleCash]

I wonder how many of these spaces will get booked by members on a just in case basis? Always an issue when things are free but restricted numbers

[Goldenbear]

The whole point is concerned with the lack of priority to NT members who have already bought their tickets

[Goldenbear]

The marketing of NT is all about membership to get a discount on entrance fees. They are constantly trying to sign people up at the entrance if you are not a member and promote this idea of something for your money. They don't stand there asking you to donate £120 on the spot for their charitable causes. The wealthiest people I know who are objectively very wealthy, would never buy membership to NT as they rarely visit these places, having more expensive pursuits to fund.

[24hoursfromtulsa]

To those throwing their toys out of the park and saying they will cancel their membership etc, what makes you more special than the other 5,799,999 members?! There are only 70,000 tickets available this week.

[CatandtheFiddle]

Yes, they should be prioritising members. But I suppose those of us who are members can be pleased of we are paying for the opportunity for the rest of you to enjoy nice gardens.

[24hoursfromtulsa]

Not only are they legally not allowed to prioritise members over non-members for tickets, the NT has 5.8 million members, so there's no way all members would be able to get tickets for this week.

[Howaboutanewname]

nobody deserves it more than anyone else

I have paid hundreds in membership over the last 10 years, spent hundreds more in cafes and gift shops. I have based whole holidays around visiting NT and EH properties, castles and museums. Why does that mean nothing now? I am afraid I will be voting with my feet on this one.

[Wewearpinkonwednesdays]

Yes it's a shame if you can't go but nobody deserves it more than anyone else.

Member do deserve it more.

[mrsBtheparker]

As members have already paid to go in then they should get first dibs on any tickets, others can I either join or stay at home.

[Goldenbear]

I've also been working throughout so going back to work to distract me from my woes over NT tickets is not going to help!

My point is that their business plan is very much focused on widening accessibility (for revenue)now, hence the adverts of children in wellies enjoying
'nature' not lots of photos of the buildings and why it has received a lot of criticism about the theme park approach it has taken to make it more accessible. The focus is certainly not on preserving some old homes!

[Saints22]

Some people cannot accept disappointment easily it seems.