Went to the toy and train fair at QE school in dorset this morning and once i got there i found that i had to pay for my children :thumbsdown:. I dont mind paying to get in but when children are so young like mine 4 and 7 i think this is really wrong. They wont be buying anything and tobe fair dont really pay much attention to what is going on. what are people`s thoughts on this.
Duncan
I can see both sides here, but to be fair (fare ;D ) it's not unusual for children to be charged, although usually at a reduced rate, for entry to commercial events. And a toy and train fare is basically a commercial event; about selling things and making money rather than displaying modelling or other altruistic obectives.
Children are still potential customers after all, and will reduce the number of full fee paying adults allowed in, as most halls and the like will have a maximum number (fire and safety regs and so on) that can be accommodated. And if they are unlikely to be interested and will not be purchasing (at what is basically a shop) then perhaps it might be better not to take them along.
H.
I can understand that. And im sure hall hire is not cheap but still you dont see shops charging adults to take there children in, if they did im sure people would turn away like i nearly did. I have been to many fairs with my kids and never been charged so thats what i was amazed at when told to pay for them.
That fair was supposed to be open 'till 4pm, got there at 13.20 to find they'd decided to close @ 13.00, should charge them for wasting my time! off to the angry thread!
A selling fare is not really the same as a shop and they have to pay for the hall hire, insurances, advertising, etc., which would be substantially more (on a pro rate basis for the period) than the rent and rates on a shop. Shops might not charge for admission but you certainly pay for the rent and rates in their prices and you're less able to haggle over prices like you can with stall holders at a fare.
I certainly wouldn't have been amazed at being asked to pay for kids to enter such a commercial event. Perhaps you've been lucky in the past and that has spoilt you somewhat.
H.
Quote from: Duncan83 on December 04, 2011, 01:34:59 PM
Went to the toy and train fair at QE school in dorset this morning and once i got there i found that i had to pay for my children :thumbsdown:. I dont mind paying to get in but when children are so young like mine 4 and 7 i think this is really wrong. They wont be buying anything and tobe fair dont really pay much attention to what is going on. what are people`s thoughts on this.
Duncan
I am by no means saying your kids are , but maybe they charge for kids because they do not want unruley children there to contend with. I know that some businesses here are that way.
Mike
I would have thought that 5's and under would be free. :-\
What did it say on the advert about admission prices?
Quote from: Tank on December 04, 2011, 03:17:11 PM
I would have thought that 5's and under would be free. :-\
That is what I usually find and a token gesture for children over five.
John.
I missed the Gateshead fair again!!
Agree on under 5`s go free and my kids are not unruley thats for sure but I can see your point on that one. And in railway modeller its only says about adults paying nothing about children paying unlike other adds. But still got some good buys so happy with that ;)
You're probably not going to like this, but you did ask . . .
Quote from: Duncan83 on December 04, 2011, 01:34:59 PM
what are people`s thoughts on this.
. . . so,
Generally speaking a lot of people with kids these days
expect concessions and special treatment simply because they have made a
lifestyle choice by having children - free/cheap entry, separate parking spaces for their ridiculously-oversized vehicles, special facilities, priority treatment, etc. Not everyone is like this but quite a few are, expecting everyone else to fall over themselves to accommodate their offspring.
Well I'm sorry, for those of us who simply chose not to have them it really gets on your nerves when parents think they have the god-given right to special treatment over and above the rest of us. Those who have children should accept that they will cost them money, involve inconvenience, and generally require a lot of changes to their lifestyle. They shouldn't expect/demand that shops, events, and other members of the public jump through hoops to please their beloved little darlings (or annoying little sh*ts depending on your point of view).
Having said that I am not accusing you in any way of being a demanding type :) The above is purely my personal point of view, and quite likely it won't sit well with those on here who have children, but then if we all thought the same life would be boring eh? ;)
Glad you found some bargains, last couple I've been to there was nothing worth having :-\
Paul
Quote from: Sprintex on December 04, 2011, 10:43:29 PM
You're probably not going to like this, but you did ask . . .
Quote from: Duncan83 on December 04, 2011, 01:34:59 PM
what are people`s thoughts on this.
. . . so,
Generally speaking a lot of people with kids these days expect concessions and special treatment simply because they have made a lifestyle choice by having children - free/cheap entry, separate parking spaces for their ridiculously-oversized vehicles, special facilities, priority treatment, etc. Not everyone is like this but quite a few are, expecting everyone else to fall over themselves to accommodate their offspring.
Well I'm sorry, for those of us who simply chose not to have them it really gets on your nerves when parents think they have the god-given right to special treatment over and above the rest of us. Those who have children should accept that they will cost them money, involve inconvenience, and generally require a lot of changes to their lifestyle. They shouldn't expect/demand that shops, events, and other members of the public jump through hoops to please their beloved little darlings (or annoying little sh*ts depending on your point of view).
Having said that I am not accusing you in any way of being a demanding type :) The above is purely my personal point of view, and quite likely it won't sit well with those on here who have children, but then if we all thought the same life would be boring eh? ;)
Glad you found some bargains, last couple I've been to there was nothing worth having :-\
Paul
Hi paul ! I agree to a point, most parents demand discounts and then drag their screaming children around the site, barking sarky comments at anyone who get's in their way... Sounds harsh, but i work in tourism and i see this everyday ! However this does ruin it for the good parents who try really hard to make a great day out for their well behaved kids. I don't have kids and when my sisters come round with their kids I can't wait to hand them back even though they are fairly well behaved, so I think it's a tough call... Kids should pay over 5 years old in my opinion, anyone who demands a discount - should be CHARGED DOUBLE !
Crikey we were all kids once, there has been a report made on this thread so before things get totally out of hand we are locking it.
Sprintex you really are out of order with your comments. I simply posted this as i feel it is harsh to charge £1 for entry i dont mind paying 50p or somthing thats fine i have no trouble with that. The other comments you have made should be made on another forum and not this one.
Yes we make choices to have children and im very proud of them same as many other about the children on this forum. Yes we get car parking spaces but i choice not to park in them so people with much younger kids can take the space. But im sure your one of those people that park in them but we wont go there. Oh and i dont expect concessions thank you and i dont have a large car.
Quote from: Duncan83 on December 05, 2011, 09:18:40 AM
Sprintex you really are out of order with your comments.
It a personal view/observation and to be quite honest there is some merit and validity in it. However, it's generally not about the behaviour of the kids but the outrageous behaviour of the parents. No-one is suggesting that it applies to you, but there does seem to be quite a few that do make excessive demands and expect concessions for their off-spring (usually at the expense and detriment of other members of society) whether it be allocated parking spaces, discounted entry fees, priority queuing, special facilities and so on.
I can understand that you might feel it harsh to pay a £1 for entry, but I guess that there are a lot of other people who wouldn't think that a £1 a kid is that much of an imposition. The answer is, of couse, that you can choose either not to take them or not to go in even if you were unaware of the charge before travelling.
Still at the end of the day the few quid you paid for them was probably off-set by the bargains you managed to pick-up. And perhaps they either enjoyed it or will now know not to want to go next time ;)
H.
I'm sorry you took it that way Duncan, I wasn't out for an argument or to cause deliberate offence, but you DID ask for people's thoughts on the subject so you should expect that at least some of the replies won't necessarily be what you want to hear ;)
I also stated that I made no assumption that you were one of the unreasonable types I was describing, but it is these people you should blame for generally giving parents a bad name - as usual it is the overtly-visible minority that give the reasonable majority a bad reputation, bit like rude and smelly old men at a model railway exhibition ;D
Difference of opinion mate simple as that, we all have our own views on every subject and I respect the fact you disagree with mine above as you are entitled to do :)
Happy modelling all the same!
Paul
No thats fine Paul I understand your views. Just a pain when you work so hard as a couple to make ends meat.
I did pick up some nice bits so happy with that, and i agree with the rude smelly old men bit crumbs, was going through some metcalf kits and a bloke pushed in front of me and flipped all the kits forward when i said i was looking at them he looked at me like i was an idiot >:(.
Thanks once again Duncan
I have an 18 month old boy, and lots of places we've visited have been free for under 5's, and it has been this way for a lot of places since I was little. I can understand that not all events/venues can do this. I've never demanded parking spaces, I don't have an oversized car (Vauxhall Corsa), and I never bother anyone for any treatment. In fact, as soon as the little one gets tired and whinges, we're off! :D That is extremely rare though.
Quote from: Sprintex on December 04, 2011, 10:43:29 PM
Well I'm sorry, for those of us who simply chose not to have them it really gets on your nerves when parents think they have the god-given right to special treatment over and above the rest of us. Those who have children should accept that they will cost them money, involve inconvenience, and generally require a lot of changes to their lifestyle. They shouldn't expect/demand that shops, events, and other members of the public jump through hoops to please their beloved little darlings (or annoying little sh*ts depending on your point of view).
I planned to have kids, and hope to have a couple more. I know only too well about the few parents who cause trouble, and they are the ones we all tend to remember! :) I try not to bother anyone. In fact, a recent trip to Warwickshire Castle is a good example. We were walking round the grounds with the pushchair and managed to get Freddie up the steps to the Great Hall, Chapel and bedrooms on our own. We then went to one of the towers where unfortunately one family had left their pushchair in the way of the walkway - fire hazard! We simply turned around knowing it would be a pain and walked down the steps back to the gardens, where a woman in Tudor dress ran out and said to us that we could enter, but would need to leave the pushchair outside, unlike the other family. ::) Myself and my wife both agreed that we'd leave it for ten years and come back when the kids could climb the stairs themselves! :D We still had a great time, and as far as I know we didn't hinder anyone else - even parking in the normal parking bays!
Well done for keeping your cool hats on this topic everyone. It's hard to read things sometimes without taking it the wrong way. :thumbsup:
Quote from: Sprintex on December 05, 2011, 09:40:20 AM
bit like rude and smelly old men at a model railway exhibition ;D
Paul
There's no need to have a go and Cloughie and me >:( :smiley-laughing: :smiley-laughing:
I have no problem with anyone of any age or stereotype at fairs, as long as they are there to shop, and realise that others are there to shop as well. I went to the Mansfield fair yesterday, and came up against the usual problem of "chatterers", who always find the busiest corner of the stalls, rather than go to the tea bar - or better, to the car park - to chat. Also those who drag along their family who have no interest because a) it's the wife who indulges her husband, b) it's the kids who are too short to see anything anyway, and who stand in front of the stall, blocking access for anyone else. Still, I eventually found some Southern kit, so not a wasted morning, just a bit slow and frustrating being unable to get close to the stalls.
Ah the chatterers!! They also have a knack of being able to block an entire supermarket aisle, or the narrowest part of any pavement, without any awareness of those aound them trying to squeeze past ::)
Paul
Quote from: Sprintex on December 05, 2011, 01:12:34 PM
Ah the chatterers!! They also have a knack of being able to block an entire supermarket aisle, or the narrowest part of any pavement, without any awareness of those aound them trying to squeeze past ::)
Paul
I don't want to drift off post, but please don't get me started on chatterers - I feel a rant/book coming on >:(
The advert for the Wimborne toy fair has gone from the UKModelshops Directory so I cant check it. I will say that if an advert doesn't say there is a discount for children, then don't expect one. Don't forget that the admission for adults at some toy fairs can be much higher than the £1.50 that I think the Wimborne toy fair charged.