The Trip Adviser website (as above) lists a number of reviews from visitors and there is a very common trend... poor customer service. I am interested to see other peoples opinions of how the park performs in this area.
I must admit, when I visited last year I was very unimpressed with most of the staff I encountered. The person running the Snake in the Grass was enthusiastic on the day but almost nobody else uttered a word or raised a smile. Particularly poor were the group of "jack the lads" running the go karts.
I think a huge amount of work needs to be put into this area, having worked in numerous customer service roles in the past, my expectations are quite high but many of the people I encountered barely provided the most basic of service. What is your experience?
My experience is that general staff are ok, but the ride ops....... just a bit meh really. But that trend will continue for as long as they keep hiring grumpy teenagers as ride ops!
I visited West Midland Safari Park on Wednesday, and I was surprised at just how friendly ALL of their staff were, and it really does make the day so much better.
Maybe someone could send them a private messag on FB, pointing this out. They may be thankful for it, and hopefully it could spark an improvement?
-- Edited by Martyn on Friday 3rd of June 2011 09:01:41 AM
Mmmm, tend to agree that its whats you get when you employ *certain types* of teenager, and unfortunately they quite often do.
I thought it might have changed this year as after initial interviews people were required to return for second interviews. Hundreds of people applied, so you'd think the ones they select would be pretty good.
I remember last year waiting in the Rattlesnake queue the ride op walked along the platform to shout accross to the dodgems op something about lunch and upon realising the train was almost back to the station shouted "brakes" and ran to the controls! Now, if i didn't know too much about the ride (i.e. the brakes are shut - the ride op opens them....) i would be a tad worried about getting on! I can't see anyone at Alton Towers doing this as you queue for Air!?
-- Edited by andyb on Saturday 4th of June 2011 08:03:15 PM
It sounds a shame. Staff do seem to be the problem and I too have encountered the poor loading on TOTC. The rides ops seem almost scared to shout up the line if there is a 2 people on their own to fill up gaps - something which the likes of AT do all the time.
last year i got an ******* that thought he was a badman on the thunderstruck, me and the missud were at the front of the que, and as you know there is the inner metal gate, and the wooden one, well as the ride op came over to open them i opened the wooden one for him to be told"shut the gate" i was like "your now gonna open it".... "shut the gate" so we got on the ride, and he goes have you got a problem? if you have go report me... so i did, his name was lewis and he was a ****, the manager bloke said he would diciplin him but you never know what happens
last year i got an ******* that thought he was a badman on the thunderstruck, me and the missud were at the front of the que, and as you know there is the inner metal gate, and the wooden one, well as the ride op came over to open them i opened the wooden one for him to be told"shut the gate"
No member of the public should be opening any locked gate period, they are locked for a reason, wether your at the front of the Q or the only person in the Q, even if the ride is not moving all gates remain closed unless opened by the operator. :)
^ Yes true, but its not exactly doing any harm if he is already heading towards said gate, also there is no need for the attitude from the the ride op either...
^ Yes true, but its not exactly doing any harm if he is already heading towards said gate, also there is no need for the attitude from the the ride op either...
True about attitude :) not doing any harm, no but it is setting a bad example to anyone near who then thinks it is ok to enter any locked gate, and yes it does happen on moving rides where parents are not keeping an eye on their children.from a saftey point of view All gates stay locked without any expections :)
I do agree with Datman that people should wait for the operator to open the gate. It just makes things easier for all parties involved. Admittedly as has been pointed out the operator could have been more polite about it but at the end of the day it is his responsibility for the safety of the guests on that ride.
Away from that particular point I must say that the last time I visited the park I did not experience any member of staff who did not act below my expectations. One incident when a scabby, horrible woman complained about a hot-dog bun being stale was very rude at the staff at Porkies Pantry. She acted in a filthy manner swearing unnecessarily at the staff, who were more than happy to re-do here hot-dog for her. They both responded in a very professional and polite manner so I commend them for it.
If there is a problem with some members of staff at the moment then I would hope that guests do bring up the issues with guest services so that they can be ironed out. You could have the best park in the world with the best rides on the planet but having rude members of staff can ruin anyone's day.
