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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Nursery place comes with free annual farm pass

95 replies

HelloKittyGirl · 27/02/2022 22:04

I’m seeing this more and more. Blah Blah Farm Nursery comes with a free annual family pass to Blah Blah Farm.

Am I the only one who finds this a bit odd?

Are people supposed to want the nursery place or the pass? They’re totally different things. Why link them?

Presumably it’s supposed to be an incentive to choose that nursery? Surely that’s not a good factor to base your decisions on though? Does it really influence people do you think?

What if you want the nursery place but not the pass? Can you have a discount? I imagine not. What if your DC are so sick of Blah Blah Farm after a whole week of wraparound hours at its nursery that they don’t want to be dragged back there at weekends too?

OP posts:

Hankunamatata · 27/02/2022 22:08

We go to and outdoor farm and playcentre that have theornown nursery and daycare facilities. Why wouldn't they offer bonus to attract parents. Also seen a nursery have set up recently in a softplay/trampoline centre as normally doesnt open until 3pm plus toddler mornings died off during covid. It's another source of income

FourEyesGood · 27/02/2022 22:10

It’s marketing. There’s not much of an obvious link between, say, Kellogg’s cereals and BOGOF tickets to theme parks, but that seems to work as an incentive to buy. What’s difficult to understand here?

Original poster

HelloKittyGirl · 27/02/2022 22:15

@FourEyesGood choosing where to educate your child doesn’t really compare with choosing a theme park to visit. Allowing yourself to be influenced by a freebie thrown in here seems frivolous.

OP posts:

Heronwatcher · 27/02/2022 22:23

It’s not frivolous, it represents a saving if you would have brought the pass anyway. Where I live the kids love all the animals and activities too so it gives them the chance to visit briefly with their parents as well (or after nursery pickup) without the extortionate entry fee.

luxxlisbon · 27/02/2022 22:32

“ Allowing yourself to be influenced by a freebie thrown in here seems frivolous.”

Good for you that cost doesn’t come into the equation when choosing childcare, not everyone has that luxury.

RudeBoss · 27/02/2022 22:37

Your post is a bit odd. If you don't want the free pass, don't take your kids to the farm.

And if you don't want to send them to that nursery then find another one.

Original poster

HelloKittyGirl · 27/02/2022 22:41

@luxxlisbon actually it does into the equation for me and I’d rather a cheaper nursery place which doesn’t come with an extra I don’t particularly want.

OP posts:

luxxlisbon · 27/02/2022 22:47

[quote HelloKittyGirl]@luxxlisbon actually it does into the equation for me and I’d rather a cheaper nursery place which doesn’t come with an extra I don’t particularly want.[/quote]
So why is it frivolous then? Just because you aren’t interested doesn’t mean no one else is or that there is anything wrong with someone picking a nursery because it includes a free pass which gives them free activities on the weekends.
If you don’t want it or don’t like the total price then choose another nursery.
In many areas the childcare market is competitive and there is nothing wrong with a USP.

MiddleParking · 27/02/2022 22:54

Picking a nursery isn’t really ‘choosing where to educate your child’ in the way that picking a school is. I definitely feel like a customer of my daughter’s nursery and as such am happy to be incentivised by marketing etc.

LIZS · 27/02/2022 22:58

You can compare prices to see what the "free" pass is costing. I think it is rare for preschoolers or infant age to get bored of visiting animals and farms. If it does not suit, go elsewhere.

Cyw2018 · 27/02/2022 23:01

It's marketing, it draws your attention to that nursery, so that you can then consider it on its merits and choose it if you want to. It's hardly a new technique.

Dishwashersaurous · 27/02/2022 23:02

Never ever seen this....

JustKeepSwimmingJust · 27/02/2022 23:06

If it’s the same business/family then it won’t be costing them anything. Very few families would pay for an annual pass to where the nursery is. They might however now go at the weekend and buy coffees there

BluebellsGreenbells · 27/02/2022 23:07

Do the children use the farm during the day?

I think it’s a great idea, so many children don’t get these experiences - even on their door steps. It it gets them fresh air, exercise and a chance to spend time with friends and family, I don’t see the downside.

It’s possible the farm approached the nursery to gain customers so isn’t costing the nursery any money to be recuperated from parents. The farm benifits from visitors spending in the cafe or animal feed.

Original poster

HelloKittyGirl · 27/02/2022 23:08

@MiddleParking

Even if it takes your child all the way up to reception? The term ‘free’ is misleading here as the cost of the ticket bumps up the fees, effectively forcing people to make an additional purchase they may not want or do justice to.

I’d think it very off indeed if an independent school did something like this.

OP posts:

Pumpfive · 27/02/2022 23:15

I disagree that the cost of fees goes up, it may do of course, but liklihood is that the fees would remain the same regardless. I would just see it as a perk but would only use the nursery if I liked it etc... the free pass is just a bonus. It's a win win really as parent can take child and farm gets potentially more money from families buying coffee/ cake in their cafe.

Oinkypig · 27/02/2022 23:25

How much is the annual pass? It’s one of those things that the nursery and attraction have worked out offering costs little. The price won’t be bumping up nursery fees much? At all? It’s an incentive, the attraction will be hoping people come and spend money in the gift shop or cafe (where the profit is). If the nursery is exactly more
Per year than the attraction you have point, otherwise it just is some local business's that are aimed at children trying to work together to make some money so those services stay open.

MiddleParking · 27/02/2022 23:29

I think you’re misunderstanding how these things work tbh. The nursery won’t be adding the cost of a full price attraction season ticket to each child’s fees. They probably get them free or heavily discounted from the farm park. There’s absolutely no forcing involved, it’s literally a non issue.

Cbtb · 27/02/2022 23:37

Our nursery did that. It’s on the farm - part of picking that nursery was because you wanted a rural farm based education. Same company ran farm and preschool. Don’t think it cost them that much as we then had to buy passes for the grown ups to take the kid on the weekends. She didn’t get bored and we still have passes now she is at school.

ExhaustedMumma · 27/02/2022 23:44

Farm passes sound good and useful.
Our DDs nursery has just been taken over by a new group. They announced a rise in fees of between 7-10%. Then they handed out gift boxes that included a sticky lemon backpack for the kids (they cost around £40 to buy!!) expensive child and adult water bottles, book, and coffee cup. It was a very nice gift but I would have preferred lower fees!

SkankingMopoke · 28/02/2022 01:00

My DCs went to a nursery attached to an open farm. We didn't get a free pass, but instead got a discount on fees (5% IIRC) if you were annual pass holders. It was definitely a money saver to buy the pass, and the general nursery prices were in line with other settings in the area.
The pairing was great. The DCs went to the farm every day even if only briefly. They got to see lambing close up at times when there were few other visitors, visit the softplay, stroke the rabbits etc etc. They were still happy to visit on other days, as they wouldn't do all the activities with nursery eg tractor rides or the summer foam parties (these were ace!), and they never tired of softplay.

JustLyra · 28/02/2022 04:20

The cost of the place likely doesn't go up.

The only place I know that does something similar basically sees it as a way of tempting people who wouldn't normally pay entry come in and spend money on other stuff (coffees, lunch etc). People go places when they are convenient and free - a lot visits will be gained from the 'oh well, we might as well go for lunch while we're picking up Mary' or 'Bob has been raving on about the lambs all weekend, lets just pop up since it's free'.

It's just a money earner for the farm. It doesn't actually cost nursery parents anything.

Unpopular37 · 28/02/2022 07:25

You seem to be tring yourself in knots over a non-issue. I doubt they are offering farm passes as an incentive to choose their nursery (I mean, if one makes life choices based on 'extras' then one deserves what bone gets), it's more a brucie bonus than price negotiating or bribing option.
Far more things in the world to get worked up about!

meditrina · 28/02/2022 07:31

It's the farm park that's drumming up business, not the nursery thinking it'll bring in clients.

So they want to bring in new footfall and are using the nursery to reach parents (who will hopefully go along, and then tell their friends who will go as payers). Nursery says 'yes' because the attraction will pay them money to advertise though them, and the activity is likely to appeal to their clients.

00100001 · 28/02/2022 07:31

[quote HelloKittyGirl]@FourEyesGood choosing where to educate your child doesn’t really compare with choosing a theme park to visit. Allowing yourself to be influenced by a freebie thrown in here seems frivolous.[/quote]
🙄

Bit if you were torn between this nursery and another, it might sway you to the farm one.

It's a marketing tool.

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