Knotts Berry Farm ... AWESOME Guest Relations experience!

Last year, May 2013, our family was able to make one last trip before the little one was sent off to USAF basic training.

KBF was the last park on our "to do" list. Well, the little one wasn't used to the much warmer Southern California weather.

After only a short time in the park at KBF she began to exhibit the early signs of heat exhaustion. She did visit the first aid station at KBF, however her condition continued to get worse.

We all had to leave the pleasant park atmosphere for a local ER room with the A/C cranked enough to freeze zombies from hell.

My original email sent to KBF included the info we had of tickets and hospital stays included as separate attachments. This didn't work at all, and the replies I got back tended to piss me off a little bit.

I'm a little glad that I have worked with a company that had MAJOR sorts of filters on email. I took a step back, and realized that maybe the attachments had been deleted for security purposes and resent the information actually embedded inside the email.

Ledoux, Sheri, of Guest Relations, "Great! This is exactly what I needed. Yes, it was never included in the first email. I will now go ahead and set up 3 comps tickets " THIS YEAR for our family.

Well, the little one was asked back to active service before the end of the weekend this year, so she could not use her ticket and spend the day with us. However, the other two in our family enjoyed a great day at Knott's, and did the most excellent famous chicken dinner, and bought more then one great T-shirt!

"I have no speed limit" .... awesome for a T-shirt!

Maybe a trip report later if this post generates enough ... buzz...

Good on Knotts! I really should've visited here instead of SFMM...

wait, what?

Somehow your not so wee little one (apparently at least 18) got overheated, exercising a lack of adult judgement, and you somehow expected Knott's to do something for you?

In fact, you wrote "This didn't work at all, and the replies I got back tended to piss me off a little bit."

What reply did you expect? I mean, crap happens. How is this the park's fault? Why should the park do anything ?

You know, I was a little confused by this story, too. Not only did I have to put in my mind that the little one is really an adult, but I also wondered why the park would (or should) be liable for this. I heard that California is or was having record heat, in the 100's every day, and I can see where that can take its toll on a park guest. But I would never dream of presenting the park with my receipts or proof of hospital time. Were they expecting you to do so?

Anyway, if you got what you were hoping for, then I guess it was AWESOME.

And I hope it's cooler wherever your little one is going for basic training...

The moral of the story is Knott's is awesome. And to that, I say yes. It is.

RCMAC said:

You know, I was a little confused by this story, too...

Anyway, if you got what you were hoping for, then I guess it was AWESOME...

Hah, I obviously did not realize my attempt at entertainment and humor in my text would be a wonderful flop!

Sometimes, in life, things go south that are really not anyones fault.

I did not EXPECT KBF to give us comp tickets. I did not feel we DESERVED comp tickets.

The reality is that we spent money for entertainment we did not get. I do not in any way feel guilty for lack of moral turpitude by simply explaining the situation and requesting the comp tickets.

My post was meant to present that I felt KBF went above and beyond what they were legally obligated to. I thought this was AWESOME; we had a fun time and KBF sold us some food and souvenirs. I figured some on this forum would like to know that we thought the outcome was positive for both of us regarding our communications with KBF Guest Relations.

Sprig said:
[I did not EXPECT KBF to give us comp tickets. I did not feel we DESERVED comp tickets.

The reality is that we spent money for entertainment we did not get.

So you thought that you should mention this to the park, though you didn't expect to get comp tickets, and you did not feel you deserved comp tickets, but yet you were upset because you didn't get the entertainment that you paid for. Even though the park delivered exactly what they were supposed to, an operating park on a warm sunny Southern California day.

Then at some point their response to your letters pissed you off (go figure), and then they eventually made a peace offering to you.

Still trying to figure our how this does anything but reflect poorly on you (and I'm really having to be judicious in my choice of words).

CreditWh0re said:
... but yet you were upset because you didn't get the entertainment that you paid for.

And you are acting like a TROLL. I never said I had any emotion to the event. The fact is that we paid for a service that we were unable to enjoy that was no fault of KBF. I mentioned above that I knew that KBF had no legal requirement to make any effort at all to make our family HAPPY!

Then at some point their response to your letters pissed you off (go figure), and then they eventually made a peace offering to you.

You have a reading/comprehension/trolling problem going on in your life; I do hope you can get help.

The initial replies back seemed like she was treating me like some sort of local scammer trying to get something for nothing. If a reasonable person saw the actual emails from my side, and they had their dollars involved, I would expect them to be a little irked also.

And it all came from a breakdown in communication due to the interwebs, email, and computer security that is required in 2014.

Still trying to figure our how this does anything but reflect poorly on you...

That is your reading/comprehension/trolling problem again. This has NOTHING to do with me and my family ( you can re-read the Title line if you need to remember), but how AWESOME KBF was for stepping it up a notch and making the taller part of my family have a GREAT DAY even though they did Knott have to!

My last reply to this individual. Any other comments or questions from others are welcome.

Sprig said:
The initial replies back seemed like she was treating me like some sort of local scammer trying to get something for nothing.

Well, maybe my comprehension skills are as lacking as you say. What's the argument against the fact they thought you were "some sort of local scammer"? The fact that you weren't local?

Oh, I just caught the fact that this happened in May of 2013. I guess recent weather doesn't apply...

Sorry, but since CreditWh0re (who, incidentally, is not known around here as a troll, and as far as we can tell needs no professional help) is not permitted to participate, allow me.

I guess I agree that KBF went well above and beyond the call of duty. Over the years I've been aquainted with several people who have worked in park operations and public relations, and I myself spent a life long career in customer service, both in management and non-management positions. We know the best way to quiet a complaining customer is to offer an adjustment or a freebie or two, and in the long run it's a drop in the bucket. Especially considering that good will makes good, recounted stories. And I know in your heart that was your attempt here, to let us see how the park responded to your request for compensation.

To be fair, your story really did smack of someone who was trying to work it and I wondered, inititially, why you bothered to tell it. CreditWh0re makes a valid observation when he sees that you sent an email, got no satisfaction, ("pissed off" were your words, not ours- were you pissed off at the email filters or the parks response?, it's hard to tell) then went so far as to imbed your email with the details so that the park could clearly see your pain and suffering. Once again, you've made it plain that the park is fantastic, but in the meantime have left at least two of us with the impression that you are less than so.

As far as your attempt at an entertaining and humorous story? I guess I just didn't get it. Referring to members of your family as little ones and tall ones when they're clearly all adults was lost on me. Sorry. Don't quit your day job.

^ I have to agree with RCMAC and CreditWhOre. What I take away from Sprig's initial and subsequent posts does not indicate any shortcomings on KBF's part.

RCMAC said: I guess I agree that KBF went well above and beyond the call of duty.

Agreed!

RCMAC said: , Referring to members of your family as little ones and tall ones when they're clearly all adults was lost on me. Sorry. Don't quit your day job.

Are not the words young and old to describe age?

Sorry for the fact I'm almost twice as tall as her... seems little to me.

Should I have used the term "short" instead of "little"?

Sprig, I think the issue in question is why you would even bring the issue to the attention of KBF. Whether you expected anything or not is not the issue. You didn't get the experience you wanted because your daughter didn't take proper care of herself. Why you would even go to the park in the first place, quite simply, defies explanation. It would be one thing if KBF withheld water from its guests, but that's not the case. I had a friend at SFOT get a little dehydrated once, and the thought of contacting the park at all never crossed anyone's mind.

I'm not trying to be a jerk, but I can't imagine why you would ever contact the park about anything except to thank them for giving your daughter the medical attention. Asking them for some sort of compensation is simply baffling to me.

Sprig said:

I did not EXPECT KBF to give us comp tickets. I did not feel we DESERVED comp tickets.

Then why bother them with the story?

And why would their initial reply piss you off?

Sounds to me like precise choice of words on your part - you didn't EXPECT nor DESERVE anything and you acknowledge that, but you sure were going to play your hand and see if you MIGHT GET something.

Lord Gonchar said:... but you sure were going to play your hand and see if you MIGHT GET something.

But, our family paid and played our hand first hand several months in advance by purchasing tickets without knowing the future. And we essentially got nothing for the dollars we sent to KBF several months in advance. Maybe we could at least get interest on the money/time/rate we transferred to them (much like a reverse home mortgage)?

Still don't have batteries for that crystal ball.

KBF got our money, and we did NOT get a day their park. And for no real fault of anyone, and as I have stated over and over, NO FAULT of KNOTTS, our family in 2013 did not get receive the day of entertainment that for the money we paid.

I really still don't get all the max negative vibe here. I explained ONE hiccuup with the current email security that left ME feeling like I was some sort of gansta' scammer and I included the quote from KBF GR member confirming the disconnect in communication.

Knott's Guest Relations was very good to my family, and I had a HAPPY EXPERIENCE with them and the park.

if i suck at forum posting, ... well guess I just suck ...

but KBF still rocks in my little ... short ... stubby ...

just AWESOME world!

This whole topic makes my head hurt.

Yeah...what is happening? lol

Sprig said:

...as I have stated over and over, NO FAULT of KNOTTS, our family in 2013 did not get receive the day of entertainment that for the money we paid.

Ok.

I really still don't get all the max negative vibe here.

You don't understand why people might think it's just a tad skeezy to hit up the park when you have stated over and over that it was NO FAULT of KNOTTS?

Really? Really really? Really really for real?

Lord Gonchar said:

Really? Really really? Really really for real?

Why Knott?

We paid real money out of our bank accounts to purchase the tickets MONTHS in advance without batteries for the Crystal ball.

Oh I see. Like the time we spent money months in advance for our Walt Disney World vacation and two out of five days it poured buckets of rain? Or the time I purchased an on line ticket to Kings Island for my partner and within a half hour of entering the park he threw his back out and was unable to ride any rides? Or the time a freak snowstorm in Branson Mo. caused Silver Dollar City to operate nothing but the train ride all day? No batteries in my crystal ball, either.

Dammit. Seems I should've asked for a refund.