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The first you will learn of the 1 drink minimum mandatory charge at the Sin City Comedy club in Planet Hollywood is when you get in line to enter the theater. There is a sign posted right near the door that there is a one drink minimum for each person.
We asked our greeter who had showed us our place in line and were met with our first comedy of the evening.
“Are we required to buy a drink to see the show? We saw nothing of that in the Groupon or on the ticket.” The answer was a head shaking no while a smiling VOICE mouthing, “yes,” ambiguity worth using as material in one of the comedy acts.
The waitress was more firm on the answer. We had to buy a ticket drink or be asked to leave the theater. For those who did not drink, water was available. She also claimed it was clearly spelled out on the Groupon purchase. But that was an error or a bold faced lie.
This will not be part of the Groupon coupon which you may have bought for $15, and it won’t be explained to you when you redeem the coupon or printed on the ticket you receive. It adds about 50% to the purchase.
For $4 you can get a small plastic water with a Sin City label. Imagine the small waters they sell on the strip bridges for a buck. That is the least you can spend. Beer is $7 or $8. So that same sort of Bud Light the casino gives you for free when you gamble adds a whopping 50% to the price of seeing the show.
I think the show itself is just grand. The mainliner the night I went was John Bizarre who I’ve seen often in Vegas and he was superb in every way. There was a good juggler. And the pretty girls doing a very soft erotic dance between numbers add an alluring ambiance.
The theater is very comfortable as well. It is not like the old theater I remember from last year. It is no difficult to locate in the casino. There is no maze of stairways to ascend and no series of lines to wait in. We waiting in one line and then were seated.
But the bait and switch marketing is just another dishonorable attempt to squeeze a few more dollars out of each patron. It is bad enough when such fees are in fine print like resort fees to trick those consumers who do not have a law degree, but when the only fine print is first experienced when it is pops up on a sign propped up in front of the entrance; it is just another example of disingenuous marketing.
On my second visit the decision to force drinks on customers was said to be that of the owner of the bar. I could not get a last name, just John.
I am assuming it is this guy, John Padon
In a case of curious timing, 'Sin City Comedy' bolts for Planet Hollywood - The Kats Report - Las Vegas Sun News
On that visit I talked to Gilbert before I turned my Groupon into a ticket and he had an entirely different story. He said the drinks were optional, like popcorn in a movie theater.
Well, I never saw a sign at the movies that announced a one popcorn minimum.
I reported the threat of the waitress on the other visit to have us ejected.
“That will never happen.” he said.
And I think that he took care of me because on my second there were just two polite requests to see if I wanted a drink, which I did not, and no high pressure.
One thing also to keep in mind is toward the middle of the show both times the prices dropped. They called it a “Happy Hour” special and during this time Blue Moon was just $5.
But I suggest you ask a lot of questions on the way in and if pressured take names, write them down and inform Groupon. Dropping the name Gilbert might help too.
It is rather disconcerting to go out for a night of entertainment and feel like you are going to buy a used car. There are other comedy venues where you won’t have this experience. LA Comedy is one. Big Al’s is another.
I also suggest that you print two Groupon coupons and keep one in your pocket after you have redeemed for a ticket. On my second visit they let me keep my printout. Then there is no question what the deal said. And when Groupon asks for feedback, tell them you resent being bullied into buying an overpriced drink.
We asked our greeter who had showed us our place in line and were met with our first comedy of the evening.
“Are we required to buy a drink to see the show? We saw nothing of that in the Groupon or on the ticket.” The answer was a head shaking no while a smiling VOICE mouthing, “yes,” ambiguity worth using as material in one of the comedy acts.
The waitress was more firm on the answer. We had to buy a ticket drink or be asked to leave the theater. For those who did not drink, water was available. She also claimed it was clearly spelled out on the Groupon purchase. But that was an error or a bold faced lie.
This will not be part of the Groupon coupon which you may have bought for $15, and it won’t be explained to you when you redeem the coupon or printed on the ticket you receive. It adds about 50% to the purchase.
For $4 you can get a small plastic water with a Sin City label. Imagine the small waters they sell on the strip bridges for a buck. That is the least you can spend. Beer is $7 or $8. So that same sort of Bud Light the casino gives you for free when you gamble adds a whopping 50% to the price of seeing the show.
I think the show itself is just grand. The mainliner the night I went was John Bizarre who I’ve seen often in Vegas and he was superb in every way. There was a good juggler. And the pretty girls doing a very soft erotic dance between numbers add an alluring ambiance.
The theater is very comfortable as well. It is not like the old theater I remember from last year. It is no difficult to locate in the casino. There is no maze of stairways to ascend and no series of lines to wait in. We waiting in one line and then were seated.
But the bait and switch marketing is just another dishonorable attempt to squeeze a few more dollars out of each patron. It is bad enough when such fees are in fine print like resort fees to trick those consumers who do not have a law degree, but when the only fine print is first experienced when it is pops up on a sign propped up in front of the entrance; it is just another example of disingenuous marketing.
On my second visit the decision to force drinks on customers was said to be that of the owner of the bar. I could not get a last name, just John.
I am assuming it is this guy, John Padon
In a case of curious timing, 'Sin City Comedy' bolts for Planet Hollywood - The Kats Report - Las Vegas Sun News
On that visit I talked to Gilbert before I turned my Groupon into a ticket and he had an entirely different story. He said the drinks were optional, like popcorn in a movie theater.
Well, I never saw a sign at the movies that announced a one popcorn minimum.
I reported the threat of the waitress on the other visit to have us ejected.
“That will never happen.” he said.
And I think that he took care of me because on my second there were just two polite requests to see if I wanted a drink, which I did not, and no high pressure.
One thing also to keep in mind is toward the middle of the show both times the prices dropped. They called it a “Happy Hour” special and during this time Blue Moon was just $5.
But I suggest you ask a lot of questions on the way in and if pressured take names, write them down and inform Groupon. Dropping the name Gilbert might help too.
It is rather disconcerting to go out for a night of entertainment and feel like you are going to buy a used car. There are other comedy venues where you won’t have this experience. LA Comedy is one. Big Al’s is another.
I also suggest that you print two Groupon coupons and keep one in your pocket after you have redeemed for a ticket. On my second visit they let me keep my printout. Then there is no question what the deal said. And when Groupon asks for feedback, tell them you resent being bullied into buying an overpriced drink.
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