$3.50 Pop bait & switch

[Stretch]

This thread reminds me of a saying about a mountain and a molehill. Can?t remember how it goes.

[Foxhound]

Hmmmm, tailgate area you say? Is this one of these all-Canadian deals where people are "allowed" to party before the game in an area adjacent to the stadium but only by buying  beer at government sanctioned nosebleed prices?



If so I mean why bother?

[bomb squad]

You are correct.  It is ambiguous.  One can easily make the assumption because of proximal placement of words.

Again, how would all the drinkers feel if they got to the tailgate and the $5 beer cans were really $8 (or whatever the full price is)?

The ad is entirely about pre-game specials and ends with the gate-open time of the tailgate area, which is certainly "pre-game".  One can be forgiven for inferring that said tailgate, which is open pre-game, would have all the aforementioned specials.

I'm not saying they are breaking the law or even going against the letter of what they are saying.  But they are going against the spirit of a reasonable interpretation of the message.

I'm a multi-year fan who saw these $3.50 ads for a few years who thought this meant I could get $3.50 pops at the tailgate.  I finally decided to really give it a try, going even earlier on purpose to enjoy what the WFC was promoting.  I found out my interpretation of the promotion was wrong.  I'm not looking to make trouble, or even really care that much about the discount.  But I do feel like it smacks of bait and switch.  Again: think about if this was the beer cans!!

And making it hard to find the pop even inside the stadium is also a bit shifty and doesn't help any "you just read it wrong" excuse.  How many people go to the "house brand" concessions in-stadium with a 10-minute line and ask for the $3.50 pop only to be told it isn't there, maybe down the concourse at the next one.  Again, I did that twice last game: waited in line in-stadium to be told it wasn't there: after also waiting in 2 lines at the tailgate!  That person either buys the bottled pop for $2 extra (multiplied by their number of kids), or doesn't buy any drink at all.  They might feel let down.  Certainly their kid is not happy the quest for a drink is taking 40 minutes extra after a 2km walk to the stadium on a hot day!  They don't care much when dad is explaining marketing and "bait & switch" theories.

The possible solutions are very easy:

1. Have a $3.50 fountain-drink kiosk in the tailgate.
and/or
2. Update the ad to make it clear which pre-game specials don't apply to the tailgate.
and/or
3. Explicitly list which concessions @IGF have the $3.50 special.

I've seen them do #3 when they have other game specials, like a specialty food item (like the Yard Dog or last season's schnitzel).  They listed exactly what the section # is.  That is a great idea.  It shouldn't be too much to ask they do it for all other specials, too.  Don't you think?

Are you sure that they (the bolded) are in fact $5 before 6:30? I think it's likely, but perhaps somebody can confirm that?. I also don't think there was any intent to deceive. I get all your other points though. They need to do better. My experience with this was finding where to get the hot dogs. No signs, ushers didn't know, etc.(I know now). I had to find out from other patrons. A little frustrating.

[1chad]

Yes, from my understanding it counts at all concessions on food items (not beverages).  In the week 1 game I got the 10% STH discount on the Shawarma at the 100-level location.  (I didn't try the PS2 game: I bought one at their Pembina store pre-game.)

Which location did you go to?  Maybe the 200-level Khans don't have the gear yet, and that would certainly be another thing we need to make the WFC aware of.  I'd be peeved if, knowing 100-level Khan takes it, I get to the checkout at 200-level Khan and am told they don't take it.  But if this was just a PS glitch, which it may have been (like bwiser's 10/12 beer experience), we should confirm with someone before complaining.  PS glitches can be common.  Can someone confirm the STH discount worked at a 200-level Khan in week 1?

I got the Shawarma at the East side upper deck on Friday, and they took my card.

[TecnoGenius]

Are you sure that they (the bolded) are in fact $5 before 6:30? I think it's likely, but perhaps somebody can confirm that?. I also don't think there was any intent to deceive. I get all your other points though. They need to do better. My experience with this was finding where to get the hot dogs. No signs, ushers didn't know, etc.(I know now). I had to find out from other patrons. A little frustrating.

You're right on all.  I'm sure it's an oversight, not an intentional bait & switch.  It's probably hard to get a fountain drink machine to work out in the tailgate area.  But then again, I'm pretty sure I saw fridges, so they did have AC power.  Fountain can't be any heavier than a fridge.

I was going save The Eternal Quest For $3.50 Dogs Of Heat for week 3     If someone found a $3.50 dog in the tailgate, please confirm here.  I saw them cooking...  If they are full price in the tailgate, well, that's as bad as the pop problem.

Like you said, even in-stadium these things are hard to find.  They need to list which concessions have the deals, and they should put up a banner above those concessions to indicate the pre-game specials are there.  Or just put up a Princess Auto sign or something, anything we can use to spot them without waiting in line or squinting at the tiny-print menu screen which probably doesn't even list the specials anyhow.

If people report here that no one has ever found a $5 beer in the tailgate (as you indicated, even before 6:30), then as per that image graphic I linked to this is extremely deceptive advertising.  You can't say big bold "tailgate" and show special prices and then say "oops, no, only in the concourse at 4 select kiosks and only 6:30-7:30".

Reminds me of an old SCTV joke: Moe Green was showing the SCTV FCC license but covering it up with his hands (because it was fake) and he said the license was viewable by the public any time between 1:00 and 1:05 on Thursdays.

Strange how so far absolutely no one here on the forum ever goes to the tail gate?  I guess we're mostly all old farts?

In the end, maybe the solution is to sit near PJ and partake of his dip & pie? 

[TecnoGenius]

I got the Shawarma at the East side upper deck on Friday, and they took my card.

That's great to hear, thanks for confirming.  So ya, the answer to what was asked before is any missing STH discount scanners must have just been a PS game glitch.  Glad to see WFC solving these problems quickly.  Every food item kiosk @IGF should have the STH discount now, as promised.

As a side note: the STH discount together with the $1 chicken shawarma price increase for 2023 means that the shawarma is a bit cheaper for us STH this season!  Winning.  As far as stadium food goes, taking into account all the inflation, that's a very good deal, and for very good food.  Got 3 turnips last game!   

[TecnoGenius]

Hmmmm, tailgate area you say? Is this one of these all-Canadian deals where people are "allowed" to party before the game in an area adjacent to the stadium but only by buying  beer at government sanctioned nosebleed prices?

You nailed it.  Yup, govt control and bylaws, and legal liability as well as UofM red tape, mean that it has to be an enclosed, controlled thing.  With the (apparently mythical) deals though, the prices aren't (supposed to be) too bad.  The Americans do tailgates soooo much better than we do.

Everyone should stop there at least once a season, it's worth checking out.  Lots of stuff for kids to do (off to one end so adults can dodge them), and always a couple of old Bomber players signing autographs.  DT and DB were doing their CJOB show from there too this time.  I'll reveal the Secret Of The Tailgate(tm), but only for us uber-fans' ears: There are 3 "gates" to get into the tailgate, the 2 outer gates have huge lines, but the middle gate is always empty!  Walk a little farther, save 15 minutes of line.

[gobombersgo]

Yes, from my understanding it counts at all concessions on food items (not beverages).  In the week 1 game I got the 10% STH discount on the Shawarma at the 100-level location.  (I didn't try the PS2 game: I bought one at their Pembina store pre-game.)

Which location did you go to?  Maybe the 200-level Khans don't have the gear yet, and that would certainly be another thing we need to make the WFC aware of.  I'd be peeved if, knowing 100-level Khan takes it, I get to the checkout at 200-level Khan and am told they don't take it.  But if this was just a PS glitch, which it may have been (like bwiser's 10/12 beer experience), we should confirm with someone before complaining.  PS glitches can be common.  Can someone confirm the STH discount worked at a 200-level Khan in week 1?

During the preseason game I went to the  east side 200 level Shawarma and they didn't know anything about the card. I went again last game but forgot to ask. (Would have been nice if staff ask customers if we have a discount card similar to Red River Coop etc asking)

[TecnoGenius]

During the preseason game I went to the  east side 200 level Shawarma and they didn't know anything about the card. I went again last game but forgot to ask. (Would have been nice if staff ask customers if we have a discount card similar to Red River Coop etc asking)

Yes, the concession people should be trained to look for the lanyard and remind the customers.  Or like you said, just have an always-ask policy.  Heck, many casual non-STH fans probably don't know about the discount and this makes great advertising for STs!!  Might sell a few more fans on STs.  I get it that the concession people are already busy/flustered enough, and they seem to only get modest training, and staff turnover is high, so implementation might be tough.

Until then, it's up to us to remember (except for the very first time, I'm like 6/6 now!).  I'm glad we were at least able to solve the mystery of the pre-season non-discounted shawarma at 200-level together, and have a happy ending!

[bluengold204]

Good lord that is a lot of ranting for $3.50 pop. 

[Sec223]

Why do people need to express their concerns on social media ? Contact the Bomber office first.

[Foxhound]

Good lord that is a lot of ranting for $3.50 pop.

Well I'm sure people can just say "No!" to pop and all the other concession items being sold at outrageous prices but the issue here is false advertising. Would the Blue Bombers actually like it better if people just said "No!", i.e a quiet boycott? Would the Blue Bombers rather not annoy their fans?

Why do people need to express their concerns on social media ? Contact the Bomber office first.

Huh?! Discussion forums have been dying due to lack of participation/posting in the last 10-12 years and you're complaining about members posting about Blue Bomber related topics on this forum? Would you rather participation on this forum dwindled to negligible levels as it has on so many other forums?



And incidentally this forum is the single best place to catch the attention of Bomber management.

[DM83]

Techno, send me your address and I will send you a gift card for$ 3.50.

But  techno, get this, in the Pinnacle Lounge bathroom for men there were no paper towels near the middle of half-time.  It was a very disgusting situation.  I has to get in line for a couple of coors for $9.00 each.

If money is such an object, stay home.  It's cheaper.  I look at these crazy prices as a night out.  In the CFL that's about 8 games a year when the weather is not a concern.  Spend the overpriced merchandise, and live a little.

Your website, er sorry fan forum, appreciates this very small problem. But one post should suffice.

Thanks, send me yoyr addy and I will send you some pop.

[TecnoGenius]

Sigh.  Some people just don't get it.  I said at the beginning this has nothing to do with money.  I bet I spend as much or more per game on food, candy, pop and merch than most here.  Yes, I may not have the most expensive ST tier, but I support the club as much as anyone with all the "extras", so don't impugn me.  I don't care about or want the $2 savings (times the 4 pops we bought pre-game) on what was already bought, I never said I wanted it, I want the source problem rectified for future games for all fans.  This isn't about me.

A comparison to paper towels is a straw man.  If the WFC specifically and prominently advertised "Ample Paper Towels In All Bathrooms" week after week, and then had no paper towels at all when the gates opened, THEN that would be a fair comparison.

I'm sure WFC is very keen to avoid even the perception of a bait & switch.  Their whole model is good will, game-day experience promotion and fan satisfaction.  For every 1 who complains, there are 99 that quietly note the problem in their heads; out of that 99, how many lower their perception of WFC?  10? 20?  By identifying and fixing the problem early, everyone will win.

As for "contacting the office", a) I don't know where to email, so it's faster for me to just type it here, where I'm typing a ton every day anyhow, b) like Foxhound (and many mods over the years) have said, WFC management pays attention to things here, and thus I knew it would have equal effect.  If you meant I should try to keep this on the down-lo so as to not embarrass the club, well I guess maybe, but really it's just the same couple-dozen uber-fans that will ever read this, so it's not like it's the front page of the Free Press.

I also wanted to get other attendees' takes on the general issue.  Since I didn't buy or check beer/dog prices, I needed to crowdsource the info, and identify any other teething problems WFC might be having, like the STH scan cards in PS.  Like Foxhound said, this is a place to (paraphrasing) shoot the poop, and this seems like as good a topic as any.  As I've said so many times, if you don't like the topic, don't read it.  I've never once come into a thread I didn't care about and say "this conversation is stupid, stop talking about it."

[TecnoGenius]

Good lord that is a lot of ranting for $3.50 pop. 

I saw no ranting in this whole thread.  Just a lot of well-reasoned, calm discussion of people trying to solve a problem.  And not about a pop, but about a misleading promotion being run for over a year now, and the extreme difficulty fans have with purchasing the promotional items (even when inside IGF!).