Should I be annoyed with the Georgia Aquarium???
Sep 6th, 2006, 03:27 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,862
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Should I be annoyed with the Georgia Aquarium???
This summer, I bought tickets online so that my mother, my partner and I could visit the new Georgia Aquarium. It came to $65.
On the day of our scheduled visit, we drove the hour and 15 minutes to Atlanta from my cabin in the mountains. (We live full time in Florida.) After eating lunch out, on the way back to the car, I stepped in a hole and fell. The hole in question was well-camouflaged in the grass, clearly left over from where a post had been removed along with its cement. Anyway, it was a pretty serious fall, and we thought I might have broken a bone. Paramedics came and put on a temporary cast, and we drove back up to the hospital near our cabin where I spent the rest of the afternoon. Obviously, no Georgia Aquarium.
Long story short: The Georgia Aquarium will not issue a refund, although I've explained the situation and provided paramedic report numbers, etc. They say that it is their policy that they do not issue refunds. This is, in fact, stated on their website. They did, however, say they would send tickets that are good for any time. These never arrived.
Quite honestly, I have no real desire to go to the Georgia Aquarium. Money is really not the issue, as I will not miss any meals for want of the $65. However, I do think it's a rigid, nasty way to treat the public, and I can think of other organizations to which I'd rather donate the $65. Am I wrong to be miffed?
On the day of our scheduled visit, we drove the hour and 15 minutes to Atlanta from my cabin in the mountains. (We live full time in Florida.) After eating lunch out, on the way back to the car, I stepped in a hole and fell. The hole in question was well-camouflaged in the grass, clearly left over from where a post had been removed along with its cement. Anyway, it was a pretty serious fall, and we thought I might have broken a bone. Paramedics came and put on a temporary cast, and we drove back up to the hospital near our cabin where I spent the rest of the afternoon. Obviously, no Georgia Aquarium.
Long story short: The Georgia Aquarium will not issue a refund, although I've explained the situation and provided paramedic report numbers, etc. They say that it is their policy that they do not issue refunds. This is, in fact, stated on their website. They did, however, say they would send tickets that are good for any time. These never arrived.
Quite honestly, I have no real desire to go to the Georgia Aquarium. Money is really not the issue, as I will not miss any meals for want of the $65. However, I do think it's a rigid, nasty way to treat the public, and I can think of other organizations to which I'd rather donate the $65. Am I wrong to be miffed?
Sep 6th, 2006, 03:39 PM
#2
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 37,416
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's not the aquarium's fault you stepped in an hole. If they have a no refund policy that's what it is. Can you imagine what a nightmare it would be for them to have refunds with a zillion people with a zillion reasons for not being able to come the day their tickets are good for. Now where they DID go wrong was to offer you "good anytime" tickets and not send them. Whether or not you want to follow up on that of course is your decision.
There are often people who post here angry at a company that will have a clear NO REFUND policy posted on their website or what ever, and for some reason feel that they are ENTITLED to a refund..that they are the "special one" that the company should change policy for. I'm NOT accusing YOU of being like that, just using an example. People seem to forget that the Constitution guarantees us the right to PERSUE happiness, it does NOT guarantee that we'll get it.
There are often people who post here angry at a company that will have a clear NO REFUND policy posted on their website or what ever, and for some reason feel that they are ENTITLED to a refund..that they are the "special one" that the company should change policy for. I'm NOT accusing YOU of being like that, just using an example. People seem to forget that the Constitution guarantees us the right to PERSUE happiness, it does NOT guarantee that we'll get it.
Sep 6th, 2006, 03:39 PM
#3
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,703
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If this did not occur on the Georgia Aquaruim property, I don't see that you have much recourse, although you could speak to the manager and move up the chain until you (may) get satisfaction.
If it was the restaurant property, I'd be asking THEM to cough up the $65. Some people would sue for more (However I'm not an advocate of sueing and have declined to do so when the opportunity was clearly there).
If it was the restaurant property, I'd be asking THEM to cough up the $65. Some people would sue for more (However I'm not an advocate of sueing and have declined to do so when the opportunity was clearly there).
Sep 6th, 2006, 03:44 PM
#4
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,968
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As you say, their no-refund policy is very clearly stated on their website, right under the ticket price info.
It sounds like someone there tried to do to find a good solution by offering you replacement tickets - their follow-through certainly was lacking though.
It sounds like someone there tried to do to find a good solution by offering you replacement tickets - their follow-through certainly was lacking though.
Sep 6th, 2006, 03:46 PM
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,862
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
crefloors--I don't think that a zillion people have documented accidents that took place just before their scheduled visit.
I don't think I'm entitled to anything. I was asking if you thought they were being a little rigid about their policy, considering the unfortunate circumstances. It's not like I overslept...
OSB--No, it was city property. With medical expenses, the whole incident cost me around $300. I thought about writing the city of Atlanta a letter, asking THEM to provide a refund for the whole thing. But I haven't.
I don't think I'm entitled to anything. I was asking if you thought they were being a little rigid about their policy, considering the unfortunate circumstances. It's not like I overslept...
OSB--No, it was city property. With medical expenses, the whole incident cost me around $300. I thought about writing the city of Atlanta a letter, asking THEM to provide a refund for the whole thing. But I haven't.
Sep 6th, 2006, 03:57 PM
#6
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,986
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cimbrone - I believe that crefloor's point is that no, not everyone who misses their trip there has a fall just prior to their arrival, but others get the stomach flu, have a delayed flight, have their grandmother die, their dog get hit by a car, their company send them out of town last minute, their car break down . . .
Have you decided that they should only bend their policy for people who have severe falls on the day they are supposed to go there? If not, then someone has to decide where to draw the line. They've chosen to draw it on not bending the rulse at all - just as fair a place for that line to reside as any. Wherever the line is drawn, there will be someone just on the other side of it who thinks it's unfair.
All that said, why are you asking us whether you should be annoyed with them? Clearly you are annoyed with them. I seriously doubt anyone can say anything to remove that feeling of annoyance. It's an emotion, and you're justified in having any emotion under the sun. It's acting on those emotions that requires more rational thought in how to proceed, and it appears you've chosen not to fight them anymore, so what else can anyone say?
Have you decided that they should only bend their policy for people who have severe falls on the day they are supposed to go there? If not, then someone has to decide where to draw the line. They've chosen to draw it on not bending the rulse at all - just as fair a place for that line to reside as any. Wherever the line is drawn, there will be someone just on the other side of it who thinks it's unfair.
All that said, why are you asking us whether you should be annoyed with them? Clearly you are annoyed with them. I seriously doubt anyone can say anything to remove that feeling of annoyance. It's an emotion, and you're justified in having any emotion under the sun. It's acting on those emotions that requires more rational thought in how to proceed, and it appears you've chosen not to fight them anymore, so what else can anyone say?
Sep 6th, 2006, 04:07 PM
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
I realize this isn't the question you've just asked, but you've reminded me why I often avoid prebuying tickets for things like that. There are too many reasons it might not work out, and unless I get some big discount for ordering online, I've never understood the value of doing so.
Sadly I have to agree that if a place has a no refunds policy, it is much easier to stick with their policy than to assess each individual case to see if they feel it is different. And let's face it, even here people often suggest making up a story to get a refund -- just the other day someone suggested waiting until the day of a return flight and stating that you have the flu so that you can change the date of a return on a non-changeable flight. I'm not saying YOU are dishonest, but how is the Aquarium to know who is telling the truth and who just wants a refund?
Sadly I have to agree that if a place has a no refunds policy, it is much easier to stick with their policy than to assess each individual case to see if they feel it is different. And let's face it, even here people often suggest making up a story to get a refund -- just the other day someone suggested waiting until the day of a return flight and stating that you have the flu so that you can change the date of a return on a non-changeable flight. I'm not saying YOU are dishonest, but how is the Aquarium to know who is telling the truth and who just wants a refund?
Sep 6th, 2006, 04:16 PM
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,862
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I had thought that the documentation I provided put me into a different category than someone who just provides a reason. But, as I said, I see the one poster's point. If someone's dog died, he'd have an even more horrible situation on my hands but no inclination to provide the proof that would get him the refund. Would that really be fair?
I'm really not into prepaid things either. The irony is that I only arranged all of this for mom and partner. I would have preferred hiking that day!! As it turns out, it would have been much safer.
I'm really not into prepaid things either. The irony is that I only arranged all of this for mom and partner. I would have preferred hiking that day!! As it turns out, it would have been much safer.
Sep 6th, 2006, 04:55 PM
#12
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think that if it says "No refunds" that's what it means. I'm surprised they offered free tickets - and would never have expected them. (Maybe that's why you didn;t get them - the person you dealt with may not have been authorized to give them).
If you fell on the property of the City of Atlanta I would sue them for your expenses, your time and your pain and suffering.
I used to be of the "suing isn;t nice" school until I ended up in a situation that was so egregious - and the attitude of the company responsible so incredibly rude, high-handed and intimidating (they actually accused me of lying, despite irrefutable proof - and warned me of the consequences of perjury) - that I was eventually forced to sue.
Now - I don't want to be a whiner - but I think that responsible authorities need to be held responsible - and if the only way to do it is to sue them - go for it.
If you fell on the property of the City of Atlanta I would sue them for your expenses, your time and your pain and suffering.
I used to be of the "suing isn;t nice" school until I ended up in a situation that was so egregious - and the attitude of the company responsible so incredibly rude, high-handed and intimidating (they actually accused me of lying, despite irrefutable proof - and warned me of the consequences of perjury) - that I was eventually forced to sue.
Now - I don't want to be a whiner - but I think that responsible authorities need to be held responsible - and if the only way to do it is to sue them - go for it.
Jun 29th, 2011, 02:19 PM
#13
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
On 6/05 we purchased tickets online, the site stated our purchase was complete and would receive an email with confirmation #. One hr. later... no email, three hrs. later... still no email. Called my bank and there was a charge pending for $196.00. We went to Georgia Aquarium more than two hours away to find out that we were not on their computer. I purchased tickets after being assured by the manager that we would be refunded after the charges post to the bank account. After many calls and faxes, no one still has an answer. I have found out I am not the only one this has happend to.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
309pbg
United States
29
Jan 7th, 2009 08:27 AM
Heavens
United States
42
Jun 28th, 2006 09:04 AM
