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.

[Perisoire]

Offering your members an opportunity to purchase tickets before non-members shouldn't cause loss of revenue. If anything, things like this often help drive interest.

[MrsTravers]

I've been a member for over 10 years and had no idea sites were re-opening. Just gone back through my emails to check and my last email from the NT was early April to tell me how they'd be sending lots of emails in the coming weeks.....

Not too fussed about not being able to book, although totally get why others are. I probably wouldn't go right now- no cafe,no playground and lots of other people are not terribly attractive. I have made a point of not cancelling my membership to support their work, though, particularly when so many others have, and find it slightly disappointing that they couldn't find a small amount of time last week to draft an email to members thanking them for their support and explaining that they were reopening and how/why that would work.

[MulticolourMophead]

@Applepipsx Thanks.

On a side note, I wonder how much of this lovely weather is down to less pollution?

Meanwhile, I need to go and get a straw hat or something to keep the sun off my face.

[Noodledoodledoo]

I missed the suspending the membership email - my ZSL membership was automatically suspended on the day of lock down, we have the option to reject the suspension if we want. Best of both worlds.

It's not a lot of money but irritating that there are 4 opening near me and all sold out.

[matchboxtwentyunwell]

I didn't see the suspending email, but I did note you could ask for a 25% deduction for next year when renewal comes up.

[SkelingtonArgument]

@MrsTravers

I've been a member for over 10 years and had no idea sites were re-opening. Just gone back through my emails to check and my last email from the NT was early April to tell me how they'd be sending lots of emails in the coming weeks.....

Not too fussed about not being able to book, although totally get why others are. I probably wouldn't go right now- no cafe,no playground and lots of other people are not terribly attractive. I have made a point of not cancelling my membership to support their work, though, particularly when so many others have, and find it slightly disappointing that they couldn't find a small amount of time last week to draft an email to members thanking them for their support and explaining that they were reopening and how/why that would work.

I’m a member and I’ve had 4 emails since 12th May from the National Trust, outlining their reopening plans and booking procedure

[MLMsuperfan]

When I contribute to something like this it's because I want everyone to benefit from it.

[Goldenbear]

When you join NT they very much promote the idea that your membership allows you free entry in to NT properties and gardens. The NT places I visit regularly have an admission price for both the garden and estate and the property. I personally would not be able to donate the one off sum I paid for nothing in return. Equally, I don't have a garden only a tiny yard and up until 3 years ago lived in a flat and paid for membership for my children to enjoy some outdoor space that wasn't a park.

[Goldenbear]

I'm a member and have had zero emails fro NT.

[Goldenbear]

The website directly says the benefits of your membership are:

'free entry to over 500 special places'

How is that interpreted as you are just getting a perk of some free parking but essentially you are supporting a charity? I know it has charitable status but I don't think people on the whole are paying just to support this charity.

[Goldenbear]

The National Trust's annual income last year was 634.3 million, 243.4 million of this income was from a huge rise in membership contributions so not exactly pittance as a PP had suggested- I mean where do you get this idea from?

Plus, they know the importance of this income probably over and above everything else, why else would they take out a 100m loan to improve visitors' facilities if these contributions are insignificant?

[SD1978]

Do you definitely have enough tickets? You mention kids but only two tickets- doesn't every person regardless of age count?

[Rowgtfc72]

This (slightly) whinging fucker has worked throughout! Hence I'd like to see something other than my workplace or back garden.

Fortunately I get up at 330am so next fri when they release the next lot I'm in there!

[YinuCeatleAyru]

I disagree that nt members should be able to have first access to the tickets - if that happened there would never be any left for non members and the nt is not run solely for the benefit of its members, it is preserving these places for the nation so access needs to be equal.

what might be reasonable if it could be practically managed would be to say that (eg - I don't know the actual %) in normal times 35% of visitors on any given day are members so 35% of the 58 tickets can go to members (thats 20 tickets) and 65% can go to non-members but that would be technologically much more difficult to code and really unnecessary as members and non members alike are equally able to wait till midnight as the op did and get the tickets as they are released, so from.a statistical point of view the probability is that roughly the right proportion of members and non members will get tickets anyway.

each national trust property needs the entrance fees from non member visitors in order to make the books balance. it is going to be a very tough few years anyway. artificially weighting access to members only would massively reduce their already depleted income and cause many sites to close permanently.

[Aridane]

I'm an NT member and I don't really mind if non-members get tickets ahead of me but we've received no info from NT and at a heads up would have been nice.

Good point

[Dozer]

Not a great decision from NT with respect to keeping their members.

[janet1267]

As a PP said, the aim of the National Trust is to preserve heritage sites for everyone, not just members. I'm a member, but my membership gets me free entry, it doesn't guarantee priority entry above others wishing to visit their properties.

These are unprecedented circumstances. Everyone should have the opportunity to apply for tickets, not just members.

[Dozer]

Sure, that’s their aim, but most members buy membership for other reasons, and membership ain’t cheap!

(I’m not a member myself).

[JudyCoolibar]

@Goldenbear

I'm a member and have had zero emails fro NT.

Check whether they have your email address. I've had updates from them.

[JudyCoolibar]

@Dozer

Not a great decision from NT with respect to keeping their members.

As pointed out, they don't have a choice: under charity tax law they're not allowed to prioritise their members.

[TheGinGenie]

In my experience this always happens whenever there's an event with not many tickets. People are outraged that they didn't get one and attack the organisers without considering demand and supply meant it was unlikely. Lots seem to think there's a reason that means they're more entitled to it than others.

(FWIW I'm a NT member and carried on paying my membership because I think it's a cause worth supporting. We did get an email about places being ticketed too, as others have said.)

[CherryPavlova]

Members on the whole are older and richer. Many have their own gardens and live where they can walk and picnic anyway.
We’ve been members for years but only really use it for stops when travelling or the odd day visit when on holiday in the UK.

I would rather that people who don’t have ready access to green spaces had access at the moment.

[MrsTravers]

I think the NT might need to check out how their database works. I am clearly not the only one who didn't receive anything re reopening. They've definitely got my details, though, as they always email in good time when my and the two annual gift memberships I buy are due for renewal.

[Dozer]

Access “for all”, at a high price.