Beware Universal dollars- Bad experience

[Kay1]

Just a word to the wise. I thought the Universal money was like Disney dollars and could be use like cash - in fact, that's what I was told when it was given to me. When using Disney dollars, you can pay with a five ( or whatever )and receive change what for you don't spend.
Yesterday at Universal, we bought a piece of fudge for $3.49 and tried to pay for it with a " Universal Fiver " that has Popeye on it. The CM told my son to find something else to buy because " I'm not giving you change for this." I asked what he could buy for a dollar-fifty and she pointed to the bins behind us and said to put some candy in a bag. We really didn't want it but we put some gummies in a bag. When we gave it to her , she weighed it and said, Well, now you owe me twenty-one cents.
I said, No thanks, I don't want to break a five for candy we didn't really want, then told my son to put a few gummies back. The CM said, No, He can't do that, and proceeded to take the bag and removed a couple of gummies and threw them in her trash can.
I asked if this was really a Universal policy and said in my opinion it seemed a bit unfair since I was told the Universal money could be used as cash. Her reply to me was " That's life."
Just an FYI.

 

[lisajl]

Nice customer service!

 

[Tigger Woods]

There's no excuse for being treated like that. I was treated the same way at Disney World this past December. TWICE! The cast members at the stroller rental and at the American Experience were extremely rude and obnoxious. I guess it can happen at any theme park.

 

[wendypooh]

I agree with tigger......... did you complain to a manager???? Boy, I would've. It's too bad....... people like that should be fired on the spot...... especially treating a little boy like that!

 

[damo]

Definitely worth a complaint to central service!!! That's just awful.

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

that was definately rude! Another word of caution is if you use Universal Dollars and let's say...Something comes to $5.50 and you only have a $5 bill and a $5 Universal bill...the REAL $5 bill counts for the first $5 and you can't receive change for the Universal dollar. This means that you'd get NO change.

My mom did a survey a while back and got $20 free Universal dollars and I've used them and found ways to avoid this (keep lots of change and all). But once my mom went to buy popcorn and didn't realize this rule and paid the $10 and received no change. My mom was really grumpy already that day and got VERY VERY mad. I explained what they did and why she got no change. She happened to have some change and asked the lady at the counter if she could fix this so she didn't lose so much much. LUCKILY the lady was very kind and understood and did this for my mom with no questions asked. Very polite. Universal should get more people like this lady and fire the other one. I can't believe someone could be so rude!!

 

[wendypooh]

Fly....... I need a "teens" perspective, as far as the RP and the parks are concerned........ I read your other post on the topic and enjoyed it. We are going to US/IOA and the RP, next month. My sons are 17 and 15. They want to eat at the hard rock.... what is your opinion, and advice on things for them to do when the park closes. Thanks!!

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

Originally posted by wendypooh
Fly....... I need a "teens" perspective, as far as the RP and the parks are concerned........ I read your other post on the topic and enjoyed it. We are going to US/IOA and the RP, next month. My sons are 17 and 15. They want to eat at the hard rock.... what is your opinion, and advice on things for them to do when the park closes. Thanks!!

At the Hard Rock Cafe? Just making sure I'm understanding you right...

and also things to do after the park closes?

I'll post this on a new thread here so I'm not too much off topic or you can always e-mail or PM me

OK what I will probably do is just make a general teen perspective thread and hopefully answering your questions as well as others not mentioned. I'll post as soon as possible

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Geez. I know there's a time to be tough/firm and a time to back off, but she must not have known that. I'm sometimes tough (especially with express or line jumpers), but if it's getting to reach that point, I'll call for assistance. As for her, she could've just explained how the universal scrip works and have been friendlier about it. A "here, let me take care of that" works better than the "no, you can't do that".

 

[Kay1]

Since that candy store is so close to guest services I did fill out a complaint. When I told the sweet CM my story he was amazed and said, " Just when I thought I'd heard everything thing! That was so wrong."
The thought of her actually throwing out the twenty-one cents worth of candy instead of saying, Here you go, honey, or something like that was so bizarre to me the Guest Service fellow, we had to laugh about it. The nasty way she said, " That's life " was not so funny.

 

[dsnycrzy]

I never heard of these. Where do you get them (besides the survey thing)? Web Site or park.

And being a manager of a well known store, I would have asked for her manager on the spot and reported her right then and there. On my way out, knowing she'd be in trouble (written up or fired), I'd be tempted to say "that's life" as In walk out of the store.

 

[wendypooh]

I'm glad you told someone about it, but it doesn't sound like he did much. It is a shame.