Incident at the Vending Machines...

Yesterday, my school went to Cedar Point and I learned of something interesting. I have two separate accounts of this from people that wouldn't make it up, so I'm pretty sure it is credible.

At Mantis yesterday in the morning it was already hot, there was a group of people that broke into one of the water vending machines (don't ask me how) and they started hoarding bottles of water. Just then, one of the ride ops came over the speaker and said that their faces were on camera, security had been called and that anyone with a bottle of water would be arrested (obviously because no sane person would spend that much for some water). Then all the people started hurdling all the bottles of water at the trash cans and bolted. The park police swarmed the area, and I'm not sure if anyone was caught. After that, the workers came in and threw all of the bottles away anyway.

I think that this may be the first demonstration of rebellion amongst angry guests concerning outragious vending prices. I couldn't help but laugh when I heard about it because, quite frankly, I think that park had it coming to them. I'm not for vandalism or robbery, but the prices the park is charging for bottle of pop and water is robbery in itself.

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Snoopy Rocks! On Ice starts June 22--Do you think they'll let me drive the Zamboni machine?

I want to drive the Zamboni!

I think it would have been better if the ride-op called security and didn't say a thing over the speaker. That way the morons might have had a better chance of being caught. Do I agree with CP's soda prices - no, but that is not a reason for vandalizing the machines. Some people are just dumb and probably would have done it anyway even if the price was 35 cents.

-Matt
2001 Magnum Crew

There may have been a little hesitation back when it was 2.00 a pop, but since they raised it .50 and 1.00 it's as if they are testing the guests' tolerance. I think we're at the breaking point. They are minimizing profits by raising the price. If they kept the price down to 1.50 they would make a killing. I just don't see their logic...

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Snoopy Rocks! On Ice starts June 22--Do you think they'll let me drive the Zamboni machine?

I want to drive the Zamboni!

CP_Bound said:"but since they raised it .50 and 1.00 it's as if they are testing the guests' tolerance. I think we're at the breaking point"

..We are at the breaking point to do what? I find 3bucks for a pop/water offensive too, but I bypass. That's my way of hurting their sales. That doesnt make me want to break into a vending machine.

Today was the first time I saw people buying from the machines. Surprisingly, I only saw one person get a pop, and a lot of people getting water. I even saw a fairly long lines at one of those midway carts that sell bottled water. I told everyone I saw to not waste their money because there was free water at the concession stands. A coupple of people opted for that, but most ignored me and got the $3 water anyway. Their loss I guess.

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-Chris Woodard
"Thank you for replacing Mean Streak's square wheels with round ones."
VertiGo: VertiGone but not forgotten.

I wouldnt say that the "crowd" went for the water because of the prices. When you have a crowd of people you have what is called a "mob mentality". This is when people who are generally law abiding get caught in the feeding frenzy and anonymity of being in a group, getting something for free/committing other crimes.

Either someone had a vending key or someone left the machine open. I would find it unlikely that someone could break into a machine like that in a short amount of time.

It doesnt excuse the fact that they did it, or that the prices are too high. Like it was mentioned above, it it were .35 a bottle people would still run over and grab it in the melee.

I have yet to see many people using those machines. I used to use them, but I wont anymore.
*** This post was edited by Digital Daredevil 6/3/2002 12:17:38 PM ***

FireDragon, we (as in the guests) are at the breaking point of getting the shaft by being forced to pay 3 bucks for a pop. It could get ugly if this type of stuff escalates.

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Snoopy Rocks! On Ice starts June 22--Do you think they'll let me drive the Zamboni machine?

I want to drive the Zamboni!

Same thing happened at Holiday World today. People were running up and taking free pop!

Haha! :) LOL Joe E! :)

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-Matt
2001 Magnum Crew

I think some people at the park really aren't trying very hard to save money. If a family is on vacation and take their one and only trip of the year to CP, they expect to spend a lot of money. Some just figure, ah well, what the heck...I'm thirsty.

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*- CP Fan -*
Welcome to...Millennium Force...

I can't imagine $3 for a bottle of beverage. That's when I go in search of a water fountain.

I agree with just about everyone. Three bucks is really outragous. However, they might make more with these steep prices. Somehow I think if they charged 1.00 or 1.50 for a bottle, you would see a lot of people (even me) buying from the vending machines.

Oh, and personally I never did understand paying for water - let alone 3 bucks.

"That's when I go in search of a water fountain."

This just in: In order for Cedar Point to raise vending machine revenues, they have made all the water temperatures in the fountains lukewarm to make sure people are FORCED to buy the $3 bottled water.
*** This post was edited by Exquisite Dead Guy 6/2/2002 4:34:25 PM ***

Yeah, I think people are brain dead to spend any money on water. There is no way they are making more money with 3 dollar pops. They already get the drinks for free. You would think that they would decrease the price to maximize sales, therefore, maximizing profits.

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Snoopy Rocks! On Ice starts June 22--Do you think they'll let me drive the Zamboni machine?

I want to drive the Zamboni!

The CP police were very apparent the third week in May when we were there. When we were in line for MF, we turned to find 8 police and at least two suspects in handcuffs right by the water tower at the train station, they then loaded them into the police car and left the area, don't have a clue as to what the problem might have been. A few more times during the week we noticed the police with individuals at different locations. I'm not sure if these are because the current state of affairs in our country, or that incident in October by Soak City but what ever it is, I feel safer knowing that they are there.

What incident in October by Soak City? Why am I the last one to hear about these things?

Joe, you crack me up! :)

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2002- Raptor Hot Shots
Force Laps: 429
Wicked Twists: 66

When you have a crowd of people you have what is called a "mod mentality".

This is when people who are generally law abiding get caught in the feeding frenzy and grow afros, overuse the word "solid", and hang out with Peggy Lipton.

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Duane Cahill

Wondering what percentage of GTTP'ers will admit to being old enough to know what I'm talking about.

Dead Guy, I belive there was a stabbing in one of the Soak City bathrooms thus the increased security.

I can't figure out why people buy the bottled water. I was in the park today and had at least 6 free waters from the food stands. The water is fine, it's filtered water that comes from the soda fountains and tastes good, plus they give you ice. Why buy Aquafina?

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It's very hard to drink all day...
Unless you start first thing in the morning.