To think a partial refund should be offered under these circumstances?

[agiftfromwinklesea]

I booked tickets for an event. They weren’t cheap and being totally honest here I did so because it’s literally taking place next to my house and a bouncy castle was involved. I knew DS(3) would be desperate to go on so booked it.

Of course the weather is now … interesting and the bouncy castle is cancelled. A chirpy email says not to worry, there are lots of other things to do but honestly none of them will interest DS much.

AIBU to think partially refunding would be fair in this situation?

I think if you buy tickets to an outdoor event in mid September then you do it at your own risk. It's common sense.

Also although the bouncy castle might have been a main event for you, I suspect it wasn't for the organisers

No you can’t ask for a refund 🙈 it is what it is!

I don’ think a refund is appropriate - there’s no guarantee that they would have got their money back on the bouncy castle hire if the cancellation was so close to the event. And I don’t think it costs that much to hire anyway so would you really get that much back ?

You’ll just have to suck it up.

My son paid for a fireworks event once, just after they’d entered some children fell from the bouncy castle, so ambulance/police etc called. Obviously, the event was cancelled immediately but no one got their money back.

It's just life.

But it's not their fault. The weather is out of their control.

Of course, but it isn’t for charity, it’s for profit. It’s like when a power cut closes a restaurant, not their fault but equally you wouldn’t pay for your meal. I get it isn’t the same thing which is why I’ve agreed to suck it up but equally it isn’t quite ‘oh poor things, not their fault.’ At £40 for us both to go it isn’t cheap!

It’s a bouncy castle 🤦🏻‍♀️ good god move on OP 🤣 if you say you spent £40 on tickets just for the bouncy castle then that’s on you. You’re being quite dramatic …. I have kids , they love bouncy castles but as much as that’s a pain, they’d get over it if one couldn’t be there.

I don’t think I’m the one being dramatic to be honest.

Just go. Stop massively overthinking.

I’m not posting about whether we should go or not. I don’t think many others have gone either. But I can lose the money, it’s more about what is reasonable to ask for. If it was a couple of pounds fair enough but £40 😭

But we shall suck it up!

£40 for something where the main attraction for you was the bouncy castle seems excessive. Was it a gold-plated bouncy castle or something?

A yellow weather warning isn't anything to worry about really, we get those loads and it's rarely anything that can't be managed with appropriate footwear and a water-resistant coat. Get your kids out there and have fun.

I get it isn’t the same thing which is why I’ve agreed to suck it up but equally it isn’t quite ‘oh poor things, not their fault.’ At £40 for us both to go it isn’t cheap!

Well it's not their fault is it?

Unless you think they can control the weather?

Plus if it goes ahead, they'll still have exactly the same overheads but they'll make significantly less money on food and drink if there's a poor turnout.

What would you think is a fair refund? 50p? The price was always relatively expensive by your description of the event- but you paid and accepted that price. The bouncy caslte is a marginal cost and split between everyone would mean about 50p I’m guessing per head , or even less if a lot of people went. The event itself will have more than the 4 activities that they had to pay for - for example toilets, first aid etc so I bet the cost and refund would be minimal.

But yes If it makes you feel better you could ask them for the small refund back?

but when you go to a restaurant the meal is what you are going for. Not a small part of it aimed at children. It’s the whole reason for being there.

Indeed which is why I said it isn’t quite the same, but the point is that it isn’t a borne out of the goodness of their hearts thing.

Desperate to know what the event is! Special and specific, in a field (with a lake?), live music but the bouncy castle is the biggest attraction. I’m thinking some kind of Ninja Warrior festival!

£20 for a child?!?

Why the hesitation? Just ask. They can always say no. I used to deal with ticketing for local events and people ask for refunds all the time. It's only cheeky if they ask after the event and come up with a bogus reason.

If the event title/description is something like Bouncy Castle Day you have a very good case for a full refund.

OP I also think you’re getting confused about value and cost. The value you placed on these tickets was £40 as long as the bouncy castle was there. I’m guessing without the bouncy castle the value to you of these tickets is nil. However there is actual cost to the event provider in regard to the activities- and the lack of bouncy castle is a minimal cost with all the other costs they have accrued to run the event. So even if they offered a refund it would be very small - whereas you are placing greater value on it because you wanted the bouncy castle there and would expect a greater refund.

YABU. It’s like going to a theme park and some rides not being on or breaking down. Customers don’t get their money back if they’re shut / broken. You bought a ticket just for a bouncy castle? Go to soft play for that, it’s a lot cheaper and indoors.

The weather in the UK is so unreliable that you can't even plan a family barbecue in advance in case the weather turns. I don't know how organisers cope with it all tbh but, presuming the event went ahead and some hardy souls turned up, I wouldn't think a refund is on the cards. Now, if they call the whole thing off then, yes, go for it, presuming they have insurance to cover cancellation, you can only ask.

£20 per person just for your child to play on a bouncy castle sounds ridiculous anyway!

I agree with this. No way am I walking round in the rain. It kicks my asthma off for one thing.

But I do think YABU to think you should get a partial refund. Things just don't work like that. I can understand your frustration and disappointment though.

I'd ask about some refund, politely. They can say no. But they might want the good will. I don't think it's unreasonable to ask. I think it would be unreasonable to throw a huge strop if they say no, though!

I suppose it depends on whether the organiser's advertised a type of music event/festival and threw in a few side attractions for any DC that also attended.

If the 4 "things" including bouncy castle were advertised as the main attractions and one of those was now being retracted then yes, I think you should ask for a partial refund.