Here's the situation ...
We were in California January 17-24 for our first ever DLR vacation. I've been planning and saving for it for months. We knew we wanted to spend most of our vacation at DLR, but decided that this was our chance to also go to the San Diego Zoo and see chameleons.
My DS is and has been into chameleons for years and years. Most animal school projects have been about chameleons - we've made chameleons out of clay, plaster of paris, construction paper and pipe cleaners. This kid is chameleon crazy. Chameleons have also been the main characters of many a bedtime story - both made up verbally and read from "real" books.
We have been to many zoos all over the country and none of them have had chameleons. So, when I was planning our January 2011 vacation to California, I looked up the San Diego Zoo and, lo and behold, their website said they had chameleons! Yippee! We took the day off from DLR (a sacrifice in itself!), made the drive, shelled out the $160 entry and went to the zoo.
First stop: reptile house to see the chameleons. Walked around and around, hmmm, no chameleons. Let's ask someone. Okay, did that. Was told ... they are back behind "this area". Okay, looked and did not see any chameleons. Asked another employee and she said, no, back in the "caves" (and pointed in a general direction). Okay, we'll check that out. Well, on the way to the "caves", we got sidetracked and watched the end of a show with sea lions and dogs. It was cute, but it would have been nice to have a show schedule on the map so we could have see all of it. Oh, well, no biggie. Got sidetracked again - there was no line for the tram (evidently there is usually a line), so we took the tram across the park (which was the highlight of the day - LOVE the tram). At this point, I really wasn't too concerned, I KNEW they had chameleons, we had plenty of time, and we would find them.
If you've been to the San Diego Zoo, you know how big the place is. If you are at the back end of the zoo (where the tram lands), you might as well work your way down and see lots of other animals - most of which we have seen before, other than the koala. This is exactly what we did, keeping in mind that we needed to get back to those caves in the reptile area. We saw probably 1/2 of the zoo and ended up back in reptileland. Walked through all of the caves; no chameleons. Asked another employee - "Hmmm, chameleons, seems to me they were moved to the petting zoo". OK, well this is getting to be a pain, but didn't let on my feeling with DS because he was too excited to see his favorite animal of all time - the chameleon. OFF to the petting zoo we go! Along the way, we see an more-official looking employee and decided to ask this person. Hmmm, chameleons? No, I'm sorry, I work with the birds, but hey, wait a minute, my good friend works with the reptiles, let me call her. Wonderful! Now we're getting somewhere!
When she couldn't get ahold of her friend that works with the reptiles, she called her AT HOME to ask about the chameleons. This was certainly above and beyond and we GREATLY appreciated it. Hmmm, bad news, no chameleons.
WHAT??????? As grateful as we were that she made the call, I was LIVID that we were sent on wild goose chases earlier on ... and then they didn't even have them???? What?? They were on the website and we made the trip, took the time and spent the money primarily for this reason!!! Though I was livid inside, I did all I could to contain it and not let on so much with my son, knowing he was devastated.
DS was on the verge of tears when I left him with my DH and other DS to visit the Customer Service area, where upon my arrival, I let them know of our great disappointed (I'm pretty sure my voice quivered) and filled out a complaint form, along with my contact information and email address. This was 2 weeks ago. They gave me their card and said that if I had anything else to say, I could contact them again.
I have yet to hear anything from them and they still have chameleons on their website!! Good golly, wouldn't you think by now they would have at least taken them off the website??
I fully expected that I would have an email from them when I got home from vacation - stating their apologies and offering to somehow make some kind of amends. Perhaps a partial refund, heck, even a stuffed chameleon for my son would be "something".
When I was in the Customer Service area, the manager came out of his office and asked how long we were going to be in the area (just that day, we had plans for DLR again the next day). I have a feeling he was going to offer 2nd day reduced/or free tickets for the zoo. No thanks. We didn't see the whole zoo, but by the time we found out there were no chameleons, we had lost that zoo-loving feeling and it was over, even if there was more time left.
So, how mad or disappointed would you be??
If I don't hear from them in the next couple of days, I will be sending an email. Maybe they don't take things seriously unless people complain more than just the day they were there?
Thanks for letting me vent. That's part of the healing process right there.