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Original poster

Two tier pricing system for summer holidays days out

74 replies

Fullofglee · 09/08/2021 08:45

Anyone notice this? I was looking for something to do with my 8 year old for her birthday and look at a local farm they have a term price and summer price. 3 tickets for one adult and two dc is £43! Same for lighrwater Valley two different price charging more for the summer. Aibu for thinking these companies are greedy. I know its been covid but a simple day out the farm becomes very expensive when you factor petrol and food aswell. Thing is we went to an indoor amusement park last week for £36 for a family of four and it was unlimited rides so it's not everywhere. Looking at the life centre it would only cost 25 pounds for the 3 of us with parking included.

OP posts:
Original poster
Fullofglee · 09/08/2021 09:23

BarbaraofSeville

To be honest alot of places are still restricting their numbers so it hasn't been an issue. We went to the indoor amusement in Harrogate it was brilliant unlimited rides, queues weren't big, kids got to go on everything it was a good day out and reasonably priced and affordable worked out 8 pounds each.

OP posts:
SW1amp · 09/08/2021 09:24

Pretty much everywhere is currently on restricted admission, so they can't get as many people through the gates with pre-booking as they can if they sell tickets on the day

Farms have set costs, they animals still need to be fed and looked after, so they need to get a certain amount per day to keep going.

If they can sell out their daily allocation of tickets at the prices they are charting, you can't honestly expect them to discount things just in case a larger family wants a cheaper day out??

Original poster
Fullofglee · 09/08/2021 09:27

We went to Edinburgh zoo this time last year which didn't cost us much for a family of 4 was about 50-60 pounds depending of if you gift aid or not it will cost more. Yet to go to a small farm is £43 completely crazy in the grand scheme of things.

OP posts:
msby · 09/08/2021 09:28

I live near a zoo. Outside of school holidays/peak times prices are lower but this often means no animal displays, a reduced level of feed talks, no road trains, reduced food options, no soft play and shorter opening hours. You may pay less in November but you get less too.

FlorenceWintle · 09/08/2021 09:29

The people you need to be annoyed at are the ones paying those prices. If they didn’t go, the attraction would be forced to lower the cost to get people through the door. As it is, they’ll charge the most people are willing to pay.

BarbaraofSeville · 09/08/2021 09:32

So what exactly is your issue OP? That some things cost more than the amount you want to pay?

If I said I'd like a Range Rover but I think they should set the price the same as for a Fiesta or I wanted to go to a 5 AI hotel in the Caribbean but I only want to pay for 3 in Benidorm then I should expect to be laughed at.

Businesses set their prices at the level that they think will be profitable, but people will pay them and not all businesses can or need to make these low enough for them to look affordable to a family who wants to go to multiple attractions over the summer holidays.

That's life. You do what you can afford and do cheaper things to fill the gaps.

SW1amp · 09/08/2021 09:32

@FlorenceWintle

The people you need to be annoyed at are the ones paying those prices. If they didn’t go, the attraction would be forced to lower the cost to get people through the door. As it is, they’ll charge the most people are willing to pay.
Or they would be forced to close

I highly doubt the owners of the average petting farm are rolling in cash, especially after the last year where they had the same overheads but zero income

carefreecameras · 09/08/2021 09:47

It's always been like this. You get a discount if you go off peak.

HolidayDilemma23 · 09/08/2021 09:49

Peak and off peak pricing has always been a thing?

coldwarenigma · 09/08/2021 09:49

At least these days prices are on the websites, when DC were small we often had to pull up at venue, see how much it was then decide on whether we could afford it , the kids remember the disappointment of not being able to go in, I did think at the time ,educational attractions should pitch pricing so low income families could afford it rather like many have prices for adults, child, seniors, students etc

carefreecameras · 09/08/2021 09:52

@FlorenceWintle

The people you need to be annoyed at are the ones paying those prices. If they didn’t go, the attraction would be forced to lower the cost to get people through the door. As it is, they’ll charge the most people are willing to pay.
Errr... no, they'd just close. Do you have any notion how close most hospitality venues are to going under? Especially places with animals. Their costs remain the same whether they are open or not, and they will have built up huge debts during lockdown. I despair sometimes.
starrynight87 · 09/08/2021 09:55

That price is insane, to wander round a farm.

anniegun · 09/08/2021 10:00

Every business has the right to offer discount prices at times when they need to attract more customers so it makes sense for family attractions to lower prices outside school holidays
These businesses have lost a lot of money over the last 18months

Original poster
Fullofglee · 09/08/2021 10:00

starrynight87 I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this would be even more if dh was with us.

coldwarenigma
I agree I many occasions where my parents couldn't afford attractions but even before covid prices of admissions have really escalated because they added some playground equipment which is free if you go to the park.

OP posts:
Thesearmsofmine · 09/08/2021 10:02

It’s a discount to get people in when they are quieter. I home ed my dc so visit places during term time and in the holidays, in the holidays there are usually extra activities on, crafts, hands on activities etc. Just a quick look shows me that the place you said about visiting has a maze and activities every 30 minutes over the summer.

Howshouldibehave · 09/08/2021 10:03

I have older children and some days out have always had peak/non-peak prices! Some have always been exorbitant prices but people still pay them. This is nothing new.

Original poster
Fullofglee · 09/08/2021 10:03

EmilyEmmabob
Was it totally roarsome?

OP posts:
TheGenealogist · 09/08/2021 10:06

@Fullofglee

Even family tickets have gone. I mean almost £50 quid for go to the farm is extortionate. Thing is if they start over pricing things people won't go.
So in that case they'll know they've pitched pricing too high and will reduce accordingly.
Biker47 · 09/08/2021 10:06

People always say "they hike the prices up..." failing to see that another and equally valid way to look at is, "they drop the prices when the demand is low".

BarbaraofSeville · 09/08/2021 10:14

@starrynight87

That price is insane, to wander round a farm.
Well it entirely depends on the farm. In many cases it would be a complete rip off, in which case, you'd expect word to get around, people would review it etc, as seen with the Marble Arch mound, or regular UK 'Lapland' experiences where every year you seem to hear about one being a totally terrible rip off.

But some farms are probably well worth the money, or at least are popular and well thought of enough for people to keep paying.

For example Cannon Hall Farm which I believe has been on the TV and gets good reviews on Trip Advisor even though it's £10 pp for 2s and over although there are offers on the website to make it cheaper.

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 09/08/2021 10:15

Yes it's expensive.. And many people can't afford and many attractions just aren't worth the money, I've been to a couple where I found this.

But these attractions are businesses...

They don't care if family x can't afford when they're letting their limited numbers in.... They also want well off people who find 150£ ticket as loose change as these families are much more likely to spend on extras.
Id try and think of much cheaper fun days out... We were at beach at weekend... Free and fun apart from the ice creams 😁

UserStillatLarge · 09/08/2021 10:17

I think this is also indicative of the way expectations have changed over the years. When I was a child we'd only do 1 or possibly 2 paid for attractions over the summer holiday (zoo, cinema, theme park, activity parks etc). Over recent years it seems that more and more parents expect to be able to do these things every week. I actually think it's a positive that some things have now been reframed as occasional "treats" rather than things you would do routinely. Children should be able to make their own fun rather than expecting paid for activities all the time. It was interesting to see the number of people that suddenly "discovered" what was in their local area over lockdown, for example.

alltheemptyfields · 09/08/2021 10:20

It's not more expensive during peak season

it is LESS expensive in low season with lower demand to try to attract people...

People tend to complain they can't go weekly or daily to activities. Sorry, but too bad? It it's a monthly treat, then that's what it is. All the places are packed, some are selling far too many tickets already. I'd happily pay more and have less crowds.

Original poster
Fullofglee · 09/08/2021 10:22

Who said I go to attractions every week?

OP posts:
itsgettingwierd · 09/08/2021 10:23

The reason being is actually overheads.

They employ seasonal staff in the summer months to cope with the increased numbers of people.

This year they are still having to employ seasonal staff and actually footfall is still lower as many places are still operating smaller numbers for customer safety.

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