Has anyone been to the diamond lounge's since they started charging $ ?

[amberde]

Hi to all my East Coast peeps! Has anyone been to any of the Diamond Lounge's at any of the CET properties since they started charging the 1000 RC? Just wondering what you though about it. thanks

Amber

[lovetheslots]

Not much change, some new hot foods and "free" shrimp cocktails brought by the waiter or bartender. Morale is down and crowds are down a lot. Bartenders said they heard a lot of complaints and tips are way down. Servers think or know that layoffs will be coming and will be worse than last end of summer, if they make it that long.

I can't help but wonder if this was the plan because I don't think this huge drop is just because of the so called abusers.

Note that I visited with the 2 free entrance coupons they sent me with the letter regarding the changes. I will not go back and have been questioning my entire AC committment based on this change. Already cancelled an upcoming trip. It's nice to know I am not alone in this with the smaller crowds.

I was at Caesars and cannot see how this will even opperate with the new 7 Star Lounge since most of those players will go there, leaving even less for the "Diamond Lounge*" *for those with 25K and above.

[Barb S]

Have totally switched our heavier play to The Borgata even before this change because they were offering us more summer comped rooms and slot downloads. Since the change, we have no intention of either of us staying Diamond anymore. Only ate in the Diamond lounge its last free Sunday and with no line. Food was the same except some shrimp cocktail and we get enough of that along with much better food at The Borgata buffet or Amphora lounge. Will eventually use the coupons and the rest of husband's Diamond comp if and when The Borgata has a very long buffet line. Am expecting their Amphora line to be ridiculous most of the summer with the Diamond exodus from Harrahs. The dls were empty mid week off season when free so I expect they may actually start closing some of them completely. CET has more or less ended their Atlantic City Diamond incentives for us and many other couples.

[amberde]

That is really sad to hear. You would think in this day and age that all play, no matter how much, would be appreciated. Especially people who OBVIOUSLY spend more, hence the Diamond status. Oh well, I have alot of casinos here in Southern California and alot of them are resorts so I am no longer putting all my eggs in one basket (visiting only CET properties). It does make me sad, but if this is what I have to do, I will do it with a smile on my face and a new direction in my GPS! Good luck to all my East Coasters.

Amber

[VideoReel]

I agree 10000% about switching to Borgata. I personally like the slot floor and the staff are very nice and attentive. It is totally the opposite at CET in Atlantic City. You would think in this economy and the situation that Atlantic City is in that CET would shape up, take a page from Station Casino's play book (We Luv Locals) campaign trying to retain your customer base. I know it is all marketing at the station casinos, but it certainly feels nice when every one smiles, thanks you for visiting and say that they appreciate your business. I mean how much does it cost to ask your employee to smile and say hello and thank you to your customers?? I know we are in the east coast but such small gesture goes a long way.

[MizSlotQueen]

I had a different experience! Was at Harrah's DL last weekend. Morale down? Not among the staff I spoke to. I mentioned that I had heard tips were down, that got a guffaw, as I guess the people who frequent the DL are notorious for not tipping, or barely tipping. Hostess told me the atmosphere is much better with less crowding. Wait staff I asked said it seemed busy enough to them.

I really, really liked being able to eat in the DL for once. Most of the time I had to pass it up because lines were so long I couldn't stand to wait. (40+ minute wait was typical) The environment was nicer, IMO, since there was not overwhelming elbow-to-elbow crowd. I'd say the dining room was about 75% full at 4:30 PM; it likely picked up a bit later.

The food didn't seem any different to me. It was mediocre in the few visits I made prior, and still seems mediocre. But, I don't eat there to enjoy gourmet fare. I'm not fussy. I like the convenience. I liked the pasta they used to serve better than the turkey being served on the carving station. They had grilled steaks, didn't appeal to me but other diners were grabbing them up with gusto. The salads and pizza are the same, the sandwiches and sandwich fixings appear the same. I did see shrimp cocktail on offer, I didn't take it. The desserts are the same -- and probably the highest quality item they put out, since they are same as at the buffet.

Most of the staff I met throughout Harrah's, Bally's and Showboat were very friendly. When I asked for directions to the taxi stand the security guard at Showboat got on the elevator and took me all the way rather than just give me directions. (And not because it was dangerous, it was daylight, he was being friendly.) The same thing happened in Bally's Wild Wild West when I asked where the cashier cage was, the slot attendant I asked walked me there -- and it was all the way across the casino, not a short walk. I didn't see any difference between the staff there and those at Borgata. I didn't meet any grouches at any location.

I think the server staff at Borgata's Amphora are above average. They greet guests like old friends, and if you have been there once before you are a friend. They really enjoy their jobs, it is apparent. I found the servers in the DL and elsewhere to be OK, but not as Disney-friendly as Amphora.

I feel like I am defending CET, and don't mean to be a drag. But, at the same time, I think many look at CET with a jaundiced eye and see what they want to see. :-/ I seem to be the only member of this forum who is glad for the DL change. At least now I can use the perk of having access to a DL, whereas before I pretty much had to pass it up because of the crowds. The food is so pedestrian that I find it funny that having to pay 1000 points access to the lounge is enough to make people stop visiting the CET casinos. Or, maybe I haven't been there when they put out the really good stuff? I was paying two to four times as many points to get a meal at the food court when I couldn't get into the DL because of the long lines.

[MizSlotQueen]

Also, I'm not local. Maybe it is the locals who are feeling hurt most. I fly in from Boston. I fly all over to visit Total Rewards casinos, so that aspect gives CET great value for me. If I only had AC to choose from, and only one casino to be loyal to, I might choose Borgata, too. Borgata is not as good as Foxwoods/MGM, though, if you ask me. If I had to be loyal to only one, I'd commit to Connecticut. But, Foxwoods looks at your recent play to decide if you get lounge access, so that might not fly with the Borgata crowd.

[twinslotaddicts]

I would LOVE to go to Foxwoods someday, it's on my list of TO DO's! I believe the problem people have isn't the 1000 RC's, it's CET changing the policy in the middle of the year. IMO that is the true irritation people are having with this policy. I am not there on the East Coast so like I have said before, it has no effect on me right now, we will see what the future has in store. LOL . So, thanks for all your input, I really appreciate it. Have a great 4th weekend and happy gambling.

Angela

[MizSlotQueen]

The unexpected change in policy is the kicker, I know. But, I am surprised that so many people think it was an intentional slight to customers. Of course, I know many people have a history of being fed up with CET no matter what, so this was just one more last straw.

No company on the planet makes a decision solely to alienate customers. There was obviously a compelling reason that caused CET in AC to make the change, and they must have expected a backlash. With the economy tanking in AC as in everywhere else the bottom line is leaner and leaner. Providing free food and booze is not an inexpensive line item.

I know people dislike the change, but I've thought about it and can't think of any time that would not have made some people angry. Waiting for a year or 18 months must not have been an option. Player accounts start over January 1, and the status lasts to March of the following year. Had they made the change at the end of the year people would be angry over having invested a year in gaining tier points to find they lost the DL freebie, and first of the year has the same drawback as people would feel they were losing part of their prior year perks.

As a Diamond player I had the DL privilege, but before this change I rarely got to see the inside of the DL because of the overwhelming demand. I'd rather pay 1000 -- less than a burger at the food court -- and be able to access the DL, than have a perk I was not able to use.

[Barb S]

We were there the last free day but after the *enhancement* had started. Only difference was the waitress brought some thawed shrimp cocktail and there was a dry looking pork roast for carving. Oh and it was empty even though still free and on a Sunday! I have tried to figure out why CET has risked alienating their core AC customers, mostly couples who have played their AC properties exclusively for years and have come to the conclusion that the people who made the decision just wanted to spend way less on food and drink this summer. Comped room offers are also starting to dwindle for everyone. Really see no way of them offering much to anyone after the summer season to bring in revenue. It started last winter when Diamond lounges were being closed in December so I am predicting most of them will be closed midweek all next winter. And if you have to use a restroom at Caesars during the off season, good luck because most of them have been closed as well! I had a couple of close calls myself.

[MizSlotQueen]

We were there the last free day but after the *enhancement* had started. Only difference was the waitress brought some thawed shrimp cocktail and there was a dry looking pork roast for carving. Oh and it was empty even though still free and on a Sunday! I have tried to figure out why CET has risked alienating their core AC customers, mostly couples who have played their AC properties exclusively for years and have come to the conclusion that the people who made the decision just wanted to spend way less on food and drink this summer. Comped room offers are also starting to dwindle for everyone. Really see no way of them offering much to anyone after the summer season to bring in revenue. It started last winter when Diamond lounges were being closed in December so I am predicting most of them will be closed midweek all next winter. And if you have to use a restroom at Caesars during the off season, good luck because most of them have been closed as well! I had a couple of close calls myself.

I think you are right -- they needed to cut costs. I doubt they "wanted" to alienate customers, but I can't believe they didn't know people would be mad about charging. All of the casinos are losing money. This is a bad economy with no light at the end of the tunnel showing yet. Maybe CET in AC should have conveyed that the decisions were due to the economy, but maybe they don't want to advertise hard times. The outcome of not explaining the financial reality is that many customers are feeling the AC CET management is cutting corners for spite.

[VideoReel]

I totally understand about cutting cost but I think if they took a more honest approach people might receive it better and might be more understanding of the situation given the current economic situation. I am not saying to bluntly blurb it out, but that is what the marketing department is for. Not try to figure out how to price people out of going to AC for the summer time by charging $400 a night in a classic room at Bally's. I stayed there once on comp and I promptly left after I saw what the room as like. When I want to plan a quick weekend casino trip, I found that going to Las Vegas usually comes out cheaper for me than going to AC from NYC. Which is sad because it cost more to go to my local casino for the weekend than fly across country to Las Vegas to play.

[lovetheslots]

I understand how you feel, but my entire problem is that they made a sweeping change instead of dealing with a problem. Talking to employees and my host, they said they had people who came literaly everyday and ate and drank for free once getting Diamond. That I understand, so DEAL with that problem.

What they did was hurt some higher ADT customers who, like myself only visit a few times. I get most of the offers for giveaways 7 Star players get and know I have a higher ADT than those that come 45- 50 weekends a year and average 2000-2500 points a weekend. But since I am RFB or LFB each visit, I never have any comp points, so I could not even visit the DL IF I wanted to. Yes I can eat for free in most of their restaurants, drink myself silly at the Toga bar and never pay a penny, but not being able to enter the DL just gets me. Makes no sense if you look at it objectivly. I have been told that free passes will start coming out for higher ADT customers in future mailers, so it does seem like they have heard the complaints.

But again, in the end, I do think they made this decision and did not expect all the negative feedback. So now they are trying to fix the problem and still stop the abuse, which is all anyone can ask of them, since they are still in business to make money.

[MizSlotQueen]

... But since I am RFB or LFB each visit, I never have any comp points, so I could not even visit the DL IF I wanted to. Yes I can eat for free in most of their restaurants, drink myself silly at the Toga bar and never pay a penny, but not being able to enter the DL just gets me. ...

I never use RFB or LFB so I had not thought about not having points. My comp points are currently over 90,000. The only thing I use them for are buying food, and I am not usually visiting the expensive places. This year, because I need to offset huge wins on my taxes, I am paying cash at many restaurants to add to my proof of travel expenses so my use of points is very limited. And, of course, I usually have a few coupons for meals.

Perhaps those who are RFB or LFB could appeal to hosts, or to the management of the Diamond Lounges in AC, and ask about having the DL fee comped.

Circumstances alter cases, and it makes no sense for a player who has enough play to be RFB/LFB to be excluded from DL. This might be something that had not occurred to them when changing the policy. I think the idea was to offset the expense of providing food and beverages by cutting off those players who earn Diamond and then "coast" along for up to two years with limited play. Of that group I know several, and they typically have several family members playing on their card so earning Diamond is no big deal. I agree that an active player should not be penalized for this.