vpFREE2 Forums

another reason I'm not playing at the Palms anymore

#1

In a message dated 11/23/2007 4:37:23 PM Pacific Standard Time,
misscraps@aol.com writes:

We had a coupons for $25 in free food. In the past these could be used at
food court, Guardarnos, Little Buddah, coffee shop, or buffet. We were
heading for the buffet so presented them, but were told you couldn't
combine offers
- so $25 in coupons would still cost us about $4-5 in comps - which is the
same amount we paid for with the Hall of Fame discount. I didn't look at
the
coupon, thinking I could use it at food court. Turns out they have now
changed the coupon to Buffet Only. What good is a coupon that is
effectively the
same as the discount you are already getting?

···

---------------------------------------------------------------

What coupons are you talking about? The ones included with the monthly
mailer still say, "Gardunos, Cafe, Little Buddha, Alize, Bistro Buffet, Food
Court"

=================================

Then there are the gifts for swipes which are so cheap in general we give
them away to the next person in line. How many pirate logo scarfs do you
need?
Or Palms hats? Or nail clipper sets? Or tiny flashlights. We have never
ever won that extra money promised as the big prizes.

------------------------------------------------------------------

So why would you make a special trip to swipe? And if you're there anyway,
what's the big deal?

=================================

By the way, since the Palms has basically no real cashback (only free play
on mailers), all those points you accumulate have to be used for food (with
a
few rare exceptions). So why give food discount coupons at all? We have
about 200,000+ points for food (value about $500) - so we don't need more
food.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

OOOOH, 200,000 points! Wow, that's impressive! One nice dinner at Alize for
four people!

And your points can be used for ANYTHING inside the Palms, like all the gift
shops, rooms, the Playboy Club, and to buy Palms gift cards to give to
others. Not just for food.

===================================

Argh - the Palms marketing efforts make me annoyed!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

So don't play there. No one will miss you!

Brian

**************************************Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest
products.
(http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop00030000000001)

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

#2

- so $25 in coupons would still cost us about $4-5 in comps - which is the
same amount we paid for with the Hall of Fame discount. I didn't look at
the
coupon, thinking I could use it at food court. Turns out they have now
changed the coupon to Buffet Only. What good is a coupon that is
effectively the
same as the discount you are already getting?

I went through the same experience as my coupons also were usually applicable to the Food Court.? Once I learned that my $15 at the buffet was of no value to me, I purposely sought out two "paying" cash customers so they could benefit from the $15 for lunch.?

I figured, happily, that at least the Palms was beat for the $15 cash they would have received.?

Anteroz

···

________________________________________________________________________
Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! - http://mail.aol.com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

#3

<<What coupons are you talking about? The ones included with the monthly
mailer still say, "Gardunos, Cafe, Little Buddha, Alize, Bistro Buffet, Food
Court" >>

The ones at the higher levels may, but at the lower levels ($10 or $15 coupons) this month say buffet only.

<<By the way, since the Palms has basically no real cashback (only free play
on mailers), all those points you accumulate have to be used for food (with a
few rare exceptions).>>

The big exception is the Points for Presents. I forget when it started but it is giving way over a month of earning points for gift cards, and the Visa ones I count as cash equivalent.

MissCraps, I too don't like everything that the Palms does, and sometimes their promotion details drive me crazy. I have even threatened to quit playing there. But there are a lot of things I do like about the Palms, so I have learned to adjust my relationship with it. For example, when I receive a gift card promo, I decide whether I want that gift. If not, then I don't redeem the offer, particularly if it is a day I am not planning to play since I know that redeeming it will count as a "day" and lower my monthly average.

If it is a swipe, I am hoping to get something valuable (like bonus points or a cash amount), but I accept in advance the fact that I won't get something good everytime. It's a "gamble." And I think it has been established that swipes don't trigger a "day."

We live close the Palms, but we don't stop in for a questionable offer unless it is very convenient. I study all the offers and promotions carefully - and decide to do some but skip others. We don't play every week or even every month. But when there is a good promo going on, we have a good choice of games and we play a lot more. Which game we play depends on the promotion and its specific rules on which games are eligible.

We have a lot of points but we find many ways to use them. We take relatives and friends into the gift shop (or salon and spa) and treat them to gifts or services. We give away a lot of Palms gift cards to hosts (or other employees) in other properties where we play. We find we can give "bigger" gifts (in value) than if we were giving cash.

And we look at our large comp bank there as a sort of food "insurance" for our old age. There might come a time when we won't be able to play as much or even at all, but we wouldn't starve for a long time!

···

________________
Jean $�ott
The much-expanded new edition of my tax book,
including a new chapter on poker, is now available
to order at my Web site, http://queenofcomps.com/.

#4

<<What coupons are you talking about? The ones included with the monthly
mailer still say, "Gardunos, Cafe, Little Buddha, Alize, Bistro

Buffet, Food

Court" >>

The ones at the higher levels may, but at the lower levels ($10 or $15
coupons) this month say buffet only.

<<By the way, since the Palms has basically no real cashback (only

free play

on mailers), all those points you accumulate have to be used for

food (with

a
few rare exceptions).>>

The big exception is the Points for Presents. I forget when it

started but

it is giving way over a month of earning points for gift cards, and

the

Visa ones I count as cash equivalent.

MissCraps, I too don't like everything that the Palms does, and

sometimes

their promotion details drive me crazy. I have even threatened to

quit

playing there. But there are a lot of things I do like about the

Palms, so

I have learned to adjust my relationship with it. For example, when I
receive a gift card promo, I decide whether I want that gift. If

not, then

I don't redeem the offer, particularly if it is a day I am not

planning to

play since I know that redeeming it will count as a "day" and lower my
monthly average.

If it is a swipe, I am hoping to get something valuable (like

bonus points

or a cash amount), but I accept in advance the fact that I won't get
something good everytime. It's a "gamble." And I think it has been
established that swipes don't trigger a "day."

We live close the Palms, but we don't stop in for a questionable offer
unless it is very convenient. I study all the offers and promotions
carefully - and decide to do some but skip others. We don't play

every

week or even every month. But when there is a good promo going on,

we have

a good choice of games and we play a lot more. Which game we play

depends

on the promotion and its specific rules on which games are eligible.

We have a lot of points but we find many ways to use them. We take
relatives and friends into the gift shop (or salon and spa) and

treat them

to gifts or services. We give away a lot of Palms gift cards to

hosts (or

other employees) in other properties where we play. We find we can

give

"bigger" gifts (in value) than if we were giving cash.

And we look at our large comp bank there as a sort of food

"insurance" for

our old age. There might come a time when we won't be able to play

as much

or even at all, but we wouldn't starve for a long time!
________________
Jean $�ott
The much-expanded new edition of my tax book,
including a new chapter on poker, is now available
to order at my Web site, http://queenofcomps.com/.

Frankly I was shocked when my monthly Palms calendar said "Bistro
Buffet Only" on the food comps. I live just three miles from The
Palms and I know dozens of people who play there. There is one point
that everyone agrees on and that is the buffet is slop. The only
fresh food is the limited salad bar. The prime rib is the lowest
grade of meat available and is always beyond well done. All of the
deserts are industrial prepackaged and frozen. And the salt content
of virtually everything is ridiculously high. The Bistro Buffet
should be avoided at all costs, especially if you have hypertension
(high blood pressure). Once you have eaten the buffet at Rio and
Silverton, you can't bear the thought of going to The Palms buffet
even if they are giving it away. The big question is why George
Maloof can't see how many upscale players he has driven away by not
serving quality food at any of the restaurants on the casino level. I
enjoy going to The Palms but I will get in my car and go eat at In and
Out Burger before I eat in that buffet!
Lane

···

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "Jean Scott" <queenofcomps@...> wrote:

#5

>
> <<What coupons are you talking about? The ones included with the

monthly

> mailer still say, "Gardunos, Cafe, Little Buddha, Alize, Bistro
Buffet, Food
> Court" >>
>
> The ones at the higher levels may, but at the lower levels ($10 or

$15

> coupons) this month say buffet only.
>
> <<By the way, since the Palms has basically no real cashback (only
free play
> on mailers), all those points you accumulate have to be used for
food (with
> a
> few rare exceptions).>>
>
> The big exception is the Points for Presents. I forget when it
started but
> it is giving way over a month of earning points for gift cards, and
the
> Visa ones I count as cash equivalent.
>
> MissCraps, I too don't like everything that the Palms does, and
sometimes
> their promotion details drive me crazy. I have even threatened to
quit
> playing there. But there are a lot of things I do like about the
Palms, so
> I have learned to adjust my relationship with it. For example,

when I

> receive a gift card promo, I decide whether I want that gift. If
not, then
> I don't redeem the offer, particularly if it is a day I am not
planning to
> play since I know that redeeming it will count as a "day" and

lower my

> monthly average.
>
> If it is a swipe, I am hoping to get something valuable (like
bonus points
> or a cash amount), but I accept in advance the fact that I won't get
> something good everytime. It's a "gamble." And I think it has

been

> established that swipes don't trigger a "day."
>
> We live close the Palms, but we don't stop in for a questionable

offer

> unless it is very convenient. I study all the offers and promotions
> carefully - and decide to do some but skip others. We don't play
every
> week or even every month. But when there is a good promo going on,
we have
> a good choice of games and we play a lot more. Which game we play
depends
> on the promotion and its specific rules on which games are eligible.
>
> We have a lot of points but we find many ways to use them. We take
> relatives and friends into the gift shop (or salon and spa) and
treat them
> to gifts or services. We give away a lot of Palms gift cards to
hosts (or
> other employees) in other properties where we play. We find we can
give
> "bigger" gifts (in value) than if we were giving cash.
>
> And we look at our large comp bank there as a sort of food
"insurance" for
> our old age. There might come a time when we won't be able to play
as much
> or even at all, but we wouldn't starve for a long time!
> ________________
> Jean $�ott
> The much-expanded new edition of my tax book,
> including a new chapter on poker, is now available
> to order at my Web site, http://queenofcomps.com/.
>
Frankly I was shocked when my monthly Palms calendar said "Bistro
Buffet Only" on the food comps. I live just three miles from The
Palms and I know dozens of people who play there. There is one point
that everyone agrees on and that is the buffet is slop. The only
fresh food is the limited salad bar. The prime rib is the lowest
grade of meat available and is always beyond well done. All of the
deserts are industrial prepackaged and frozen. And the salt content
of virtually everything is ridiculously high. The Bistro Buffet
should be avoided at all costs, especially if you have hypertension
(high blood pressure). Once you have eaten the buffet at Rio and
Silverton, you can't bear the thought of going to The Palms buffet
even if they are giving it away. The big question is why George
Maloof can't see how many upscale players he has driven away by not
serving quality food at any of the restaurants on the casino level. I
enjoy going to The Palms but I will get in my car and go eat at In and
Out Burger before I eat in that buffet!
Lane

WAIT - THERE'S MORE !

···

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "metroman2020" <lane512@...> wrote:

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "Jean Scott" <queenofcomps@> wrote:

=====================

I have to say this once and for all. Before retiring in Las Vegas I
was a hotel acquisition consultant for pension funds and a publicly
traded Japanese firm. With my experience and knowledge I wrote up a
list of all the problems associated with the Bistro Buffet. The Palms
Food and Beverage director would not take my call! His secretary
directed me to Mary, "the buffet manager" who was quick to tell me she
had nothing to do with the food. She in turn directed me to Chef
Henry who did call me back in about an hour. We had an extended
conversation and he seemed genuinely interested in my analysis. He
was also surprised to learn of some food items that were being served
as he said they were "too expensive". One example was flank steak in
the Chinese section that was so tough you couldn't cut it with a chain
saw much less chew it! But he could not seem to grasp that the
quality of the food was poor at best. I also gave him my analysis of
the cafe and why it is always empty. The Orleans cafe is busy 24/7.
He said, "the cafe was packed last weekend." I said, "of course it
was, the MTV Awards Show was at the hotel. If there is an event in
The Pearl, then the cafe will get some traffic. Otherwise it is dead.
But then the dawning came in the conversation. Chef Henry was
formerly with Station Casinos which serves low grade food in all of
its company operated restaurants, even at Red Rock. I will say that
Chef Henry invited me to eat a comp'd meal at Bistro Buffet. He
wanted to sit there and have me analyze each dish for him. I had to
decline as I already take two blood pressure meds.

If The Palms served the same quality buffet as The Silverton, the line
would snake through the casino. And, they would not have to spend
tens of thousands of dollars every month on billboards, mailers, TV
ads and newspaper. George, just improve the quality of the food and
word of mouth will take care of the rest. That is much cheaper than
trying to be the McDonalds of Vegas buffets. Why is that so difficult
to understand?
Lane

#6

The big exception is the Points for Presents. I forget when it

started but

it is giving way over a month of earning points for gift cards, and

the

Visa ones I count as cash equivalent.

by the way if anyone is accumulating too many wal-mart cards...wal-mart
sells visa and other gift cards during the holiday season and you can
use wal-mart cards to purchase them...

#7

>
> The big exception is the Points for Presents. I forget when it
started but
> it is giving way over a month of earning points for gift cards,

and

the
> Visa ones I count as cash equivalent.
>
  
by the way if anyone is accumulating too many wal-mart cards...wal-

mart

sells visa and other gift cards during the holiday season and you

can

use wal-mart cards to purchase them...

The problem with the Palms is George has decided it's more important
to get face time with Hugh Hefner than improve the quality of the
restaurants. How could a buffet that went from the highest quality
and best selection to what it is today. The Chinese food selection
use to be excellent. The Middle Eastern food was one of my favorites
and was unique to the Palms. The salad bar was always fresh with
many choices. Instead of giving away massive discounts to the buffet
it would have been better to maintain the high standard of the food.
As it stands now the buffet is about equal to the one at the Circus
Circus. If you want my opinion even the other restaurants at the
Palms are nothing special. I have eaten at Nine several times. They
must pay the celebs that go there. It is no better than average. It
is easily beaten by most steakhouses on the Strip. The Palms is all
about Nightclubs and Fantasy Suites. Everything else takes a back
seat.

···

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "lv_nv_realtor" <irdd@...> wrote:

#8

I have eaten at Nine several times. They
must pay the celebs that go there. It is no better than average.

--Then why "several times?" Wouldn't once be enough if it wasn't good? Just
curious.

Scot

#9

Sorry, VP King, I have to disagree. Nine is certainly better than
average...a good wine list and interesting appetizers...steaks always
broiled to perfection. Good service as well.

Don the Dentist

···

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "VpKing77" <vpking77@...> wrote:

I have eaten at Nine several times. It is no better than average. It
is easily beaten by most steakhouses on the Strip.

#10

You must have had a bad experience or something, N9NE is by far the
best steakhouse I've ever been. I dine at N9NE and Nove quite often,
the food is great and the service impeccable.

I agree about the buffet situation, it is pretty bad. With the
emphasis on high end clubs and restaurants you would think the Palms
would want the buffet to be up to par.

···

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "VpKing77" <vpking77@...> wrote:

I have eaten at Nine several times. They
must pay the celebs that go there. It is no better than average. It
is easily beaten by most steakhouses on the Strip. The Palms is all
about Nightclubs and Fantasy Suites. Everything else takes a back
seat.