Is this extortionate or am I going mad?!

[TeachBee]

I booked a day out for my two children at popular outdoor venue that we'd never been to before. Online tickets were £22 each plus £4 booking fee. I saw that they offered an annual membership for £60 each so figured I'd get that as it saves money down the line.

After purchasing the passes, I was told that each time I book (even with the passes - what?!) there would be a £4 booking fee. This wasn't just for online bookings - it was all of them, including in person, on the day bookings. I can understand a small fee for online bookings but to charge for in person, and £4, is extortionate in my view.

On top of this, which wasn't made explicit at all before booking, there is a parking fee of £10.50 per visit.

So, if we use the passes x5 times, that's an extra £72.50 we'll have to pay in addition to the cost of the passes.

FYI, this is a place on the East Mids/North Yorks area so not as expensive as other places.

AIBU or is the company?!

I was aware of the cost for booking online. To avoid this, I was planning on going and seeing what sessions they have on the day and booking there and then.

I did reach out to the company and they confirmed that I should NOT be charged for in person booking that are the same day (in person bookings for the future are still charged). The two different employees I had asked both told me differently, which is where the confusion was.

Booking fees are one of the most outrageous scams going. Of course the admin people don't work for nothing; their wages are all built in to the stated price that you pay, however that price is arrived at.

If I buy a tin of beans from Tesco, they don't give me a price for the beans and then whack on an unavoidable 'buying fee' for the privilege of being allowed to actually buy the beans.

I don't expect their store staff, delivery drivers, management, admin or anybody else to work for nothing, either; these costs are all baked in to the price that they charge me for the beans - this is a very basic principle of running a business.

It's become a norm in many places, but I cannot for the life of me understand how the concept of a 'booking fee' was ever 'justified' in the first place. Even if it were originally reasonable - which it wasn't, as the price is meant to be the price - it's all automated now.

Booking fees are as illogical as enforced/expected tips in restaurants and other places: how about you run your own business, instead of expecting customers to do it for you, and state an actual price that covers all of your costs and required profits?

What next? Will they end up charging you an additional booking fee to pay for them to process the first booking fee?! It makes about as much sense!

It seems to me that the op bought a season ticket whilst being unaware if the T&Cs and without properly checking them.

The overall cost of one trip is £88, plus £4 booking, plus £10.50 parking. The op has paid £240 for as many trips as she likes but each trip will be £14.50 due to a booking fee and parking.

If the op and her DC like GoApe and it is a good day out for them, I can't really see the issue with that and it's a saving over the standard price if they go 3/4 times and if more the saving is cumulative.

Personally, I'd want a booked slot because my time is worth £4 and the parking doesn't phase me because I live in the SE close to London and have to pay £2 to pop into my Sainsburys local.

If the op is not happy with the deal, can you get a refund @TeachBee.

If you are only buying annual passes to go an extra couple of times to get moneys worth it seems a lot but if you are getting them with the intention of going 5 more times then it’s worth it. You will save £100 by buying the annual passes. Yeh it’s rubbish parking is payable and not included but you are still saving.

It tells you in black and white about the fee, you ‘thought’ wrong so I voted YABU. The information is there to read

Yes this would infuriate me. Ticket prices are ridiculous atm. 16 quid for an hours bouncing at a trampoline park near us. Can blow 50 quid in 1 hour with 2 kids, parking and drinks.
I would ask for a refund tbh, are you within your 14 day cooling off period?

You clearly haven't read my most recent posts to say that I was informed incorrectly by the employees I spoke too - the information online does mean that on the day bookings aren't chargeable. Maybe you're the unreasonable one afterall 😉

Are booking fees still allowed?

law changed a few months back. I notice cinemas quickly changed practice…..

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/fake-reviews-and-sneaky-hidden-fees-banned-once-and-for-all#:~:text=All%20mandatory%20fees%2C%20such%20as,than%20they%20originally%20bargained%20for.

I did read that post before commenting. You got told the employees were wrong and there is no booking charge in person so I think YABU still because you are here complaining about a fee that was labelled on the website as clearly quoted above in the post, you’ve found a way to not pay the fee so where is your issue with it?
I don’t think I’m unreasonable for pointing that out or asking a question

I have acknowledged the fact that what I thought initially is correct, and I can pay at the door, on the day, for free. I haven't 'found a way not to pay it' - it's just the case that I was incorrectly informed by the two employees who misled me to believe I would be charged in person. That's why I made the post. I was never annoyed about the online fee, that is clearly stated. I was annoyed that I purchased on the basis that I could avoid this, but was then told it wasn't the case. I was also annoyed by the parking charges that were nowhere on the activity page I'd looked at, so I wasn't aware.

However, it's sorted and I appreciate everyone for taking the time to read and comment, and especially those who were understanding and allowed a space for me to vent.

When you offer one basic service, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect the staff to have been trained properly to be able to give you a correct price for it - whether in person, over the phone or online.

I'm not saying that it is the case here at all, but a lot of dodgy companies will deliberately get their staff to mislead people as to the actual price, in the hope that plenty of them won't be in a position to do the detective work to obtain the best/correct price - and only if they are rumbled, they are instructed to issue an apology and blame something or other to deflect their true intentions.

It's often planned this way in full knowledge that it will be the most vulnerable people who get ripped off.

Again, I am not at all suggesting that this is Go Ape's intention - but, if I were them, as somebody running an honest, legitimate business, I would do everything in my power to avoid in any way potentially coming across in a similar way to the dodgy/scammy companies.

This would naturally include giving a fairly stated price, with no hidden extras (which I would argue a 'booking fee' by its very nature and design is), and ensuring that my staff knew the correct prices - as in the full amount that people have to pay in order to obtain the service - so that they could communicate this very basic information honestly to all customers.

Glad this has been resolved OP. I am off to go ape today and was also appalled by the booking fee - advertised price is £22, but £4 booking fee makes it £26 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄 I live too far away to risk driving without a booking, but did think the annual pass looked to be very good value!

I think the parking is a separate issue, as go ape don’t own the car park. They should make this clear on their website and signpost you to where you can find out parking costs at the very least.

Also Merlin do charge parking at some attractions to pass holders depending on which level of pass you have. I had a toddler pass for Legoland and had to pay parking each time albeit at a reduced rate (which when I first went was not advertised or available online, you had to go and ask at the hut!) Charging anyone for parking at places like that does my nut. I’m spending over £100 to bring my family ffs, let me park for free!!

Thanks! I do think it's good value if you don't have all the other added costs. I've now purchased a parking pass at Sherwood Pines (another £74! 🙄) so at least when I go now, it's a 'free' day out as I'll book on Go Ape while I'm there.

Hope you have a great day! When we went, the staff were very friendly and my 2 kiddos did enjoy the activity.

Reading the gov website fees can still be applied, but have to be very clear at the start of the transaction and not tagged on at checkout.

And all mandatory fees must be included in the headline price. I would hope that go ape would review their pricing model……..