can't remember the name

[steve]

theres a haunt called urban legends that does a moneyback thing... I dont know anything abou them other than that Chad Savage did their site....

As far as I know Urban Legends was the first haunt in the nation to try the idea. I suggested doing it in 2000 when I ran that haunt after having a bad year in 1999. It worked great the first 2 years. We saw a ton of customers. Then the novelty wore off. I am no longer involved with them but I don't think they offered the money back thing the last 2 or 3 years.

I think Fear Factory offers the same promotion now or a variation on it. Several haunts offered similar gimmicks after they saw the success we had with it. One haunt themed around Willy Wonka and offered a "Find the golden ticket" get your money back. Another offered a find the wizard and get a chance to win $1000.00. And a few others did the find the secret room and get your money back.

It seems once you come up with a winning formula, the competition always tries to steal the idea from you the next year. I have experienced it several times over my haunting career. It just goes with the business I guess.

The only thing I can say about the idea is that it is just a gimmick. In a new area if promoted well it will probably do well for a couple years than it will fade off.

Good luck to anyone who tries it,

Howie

[undertaker]

I wonder how many customers are actually sucessful in getting their money back.

I can tell you that in 2000 we had just under 25,000 customers and if I remember correctly 2200 got their money back. In 2001 we saw a little over 19,000 and about 1800 got their money back. We had proof. When they found the room the monster inside wood take a Polaroid of the group holding a sign that said "We got our money back." Then they took it to the ticket window to get paid. We would then place their pic on a wall of fame near the entrance for everyone to see.

Howie

[Jim Warfield]

I just don't understand the whole concept?
If everything is just all about "Money"? Why don't the haunt customers just stay home and save the money they would be spending to get to and go to see the haunt?
I think it sends the wrong message to the general public, if they think about it.

With us it wasn't just about the money. We had one of the larger shows around and just like now I care about the presentation. So, even if they didn't get their money back, they still got a great show for the price.

Howie

[Xeverity]

Instead of money I would consider handing them a T-shirt with a phrase and logo on it. Or a poster even. I am getting some T-hirts direct from china cheap as chips.

[Haunted Castle]

Look at web site Jim, it's bragging rights, remember when you were 18 -25 we have about 10 colleges within 100 miles of Haunted House they stand in line for hours just to go through HH, of course every year while their in line they want to know about the Haunted House that gives your money back, so last year we told them we would have that deal next year, and we do. Would I attempt it no way, back in my college days would I have tried it, (In a heartbeat) again we don't know what the turn out will be but we like doing new things from casket races to hearse demo derbys and so on. No such thing as bad advertisement! take care Fred