Comp Psychology

[AmericanAirlines]

Rather than having players jump through hoops for a comp, they should just lower the rake.

It's like those silly $100 rebates on PC's and what not... just lower the damn price and don't make me do more BS to get the money back.

Sincerely,
AA

[Howard Burroughs]

Hi AA,

You make an interesting point about they should lower the rake.

You also said...."Rather than having players jump through hoops for a comp, they should just lower the rake"

I don't know about other towns but where I live there are only a small handfull of rooms tha make you jump through a hoop. At well over a dozen rooms, comps are there for the taking, with zero hassle.

I even had a poker room manager order takeout from another restaurant for my wife & I, and pay or it out of his own pocket (because he is a nice guy).

Even the places that want you to jump through a hoop are not that bad once you know the system.

Best

Howard

[AmericanAirlines]

Hi Howard,
I can recall everyone lining up at one time at the Mirage because they only gave so many comps out.

So there was this stampede. Seemed rather inelegant for a place of that stature.

Swipe cards sounds just as good to me, long as I can convert it back to chips.

I guess my main point was, "screw comps, grocery store coupons, and swipe cards... lower the price by the amount I get back PLUS the amount that was wasted on administering these other things."

Sometimes the marketing stuff is so BS.

I basically feel the same way about corp. sponsorships. "Don't give Tiger Woods or Race Car Driver's that money... lower the cost of the product or increase my salary!"

So it's just a general belief with me.

Sincerely,
AA

[Argyll]

I agree with Al on the comps. My question is personal, are you the same Al Schoonmaker that used to be a salesman in the Disk Drive industry? inquiring minds want to know

[mrbaseball]

I have never been offered one. I have also never asked for one. Going up to the floorman or whomever and asking for a comp is something I would never do. But if offered I would gladly take it.

I am interested because I am going to Las Vegas in a few weeks and I wouldn't mind a free lunch [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] I typically play at the Mirage and Bellagio in the 4-8 to 8-16 range. In many hours in the past no one has ever even hinted to me that there is the possibility of a comp.

[Ed Miller]

Going up to the floorman or whomever and asking for a comp is something I would never do.

I probably have the same personality you do... I find it difficult to ask for things that aren't offered to me. And I used to kind of feel that way about comps... but you have to change the way you view it. You should view getting a comp as just participating in a promotion offered by a business, not as asking for any kind of personal favor.

That said, if you don't ask, you'll never get a comp. Just suck it up and say, "May I have a comp, please?"

[SittingBull]

--
like asking a woman that U are attracted to for a date. U might be afraid or humiliated by a rejection,BUT if U do not ask,U will NEVER be able to hold her in your arms [img]/forums/images/icons/frown.gif[/img]
And in my book,that's FAR worse than being humiliated. [img]/forums/images/icons/confused.gif[/img]
So if U never ask,U will NOT receive. [img]/forums/images/icons/frown.gif[/img]
I,myself,ENJOY asking questions,in general,ESPECIALLY for "COMPS".
If the answer is "NO",I'm still PROUD of myself for trying. [img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img]
Happy pokering,
SittingBull [img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img]

[SittingBull]

is VERY liberal. [img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img] So if the playing conditions are about the same at BOTH casinos,shoot for a GOOD meal at Binion [img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img]
SittingBull

[Howard Burroughs]

Hello oh sitting one,


Here's my two cents on some odds and ends from this thread.


1) Thanks Ray for giving your wise viewpoint as always.


2) Poker rooms for the most part don't go out of their way to let you know about comps. In fact most rooms will not tell you anything about them unless you ask (just as other posters have said).


3) I have been in rooms many times however, when card room managers have walked over to a table and said, "Everybody, don't forget to get a comp before you leave".


Too bad the guy who did that the most is now retired.


As I've said before, if you get to be a regular in some of the rooms, they usually give them to you without you even having to ask (that's been my experience anyway,ymmv).



Most small rooms, (when the last game breaks on graveyard) always offer EVERYONE cashing out a comp without you having to ask.


Those are just some examples of times when comps are offered without you asking.


It's also been my experience that once you are known as a regular in at least some of the rooms, you can get a comp without even playing that day. I remember once when a game broke, they told me to take an extra comp for my wife (who was not even there), I told them I don't know if we should do that. They said, "don't worry she plays in here all the time, take it!".


4) Some rooms you only have 24 hours to use the comp. Some rooms they are open ended when you can use them. Those are the best!


5) Regarding Ray's juice comment. I think it's a shame that floor people do that Ray. At the small limits I play, I have not had to deal with that (though I did see it at a major tourie once). I rarely juice the floor. The few times I have done it was more of "Thank You" money for them doing a great job in a small room. This was mostly after very big wins. Not smart maybe, but it feels good sometimes.


FWIW. The last time I tried to give the floor money (a while back), I was told that they were not allowed to accept tips from customers. I kind of like that rule (Excalibur btw).


6) The place where you have to go stand in line:

A pro friend of mine likes to refer to this as, "Where's the spot where we go stand in line and beg for a comp?"

He does not waste his time with that hassle.

I see his point. But I feel I know how to beat them at their own game (so to speak) so their strange system actually works out to my benefit.


7) One thing that happened to me the first time I ever asked about a comp many years ago (The Sahara)........I asked the floor man about how it all works. He told me to play for 4 hours then to just ask him for a buffet comp and he will then give it to me.

Four hours later I go to the floor and find out he has gone home for the day. They had no idea how long I have been playing and proceeded to give me a hard time about it. I got my comp but it was not a nice experience.


8) Mr Baseball: When you get to Vegas feel free to give me a call (I'm in the book) and I will be happy to give you a few tips on compology then I can go into now.


9) No, I'm not obsessed with comps. But if you hang around card rooms long enough, you pick up a thing or two :-)

Many days my wife cooks at home and I don't even take a comp.


Hope I have been of some help & thanks everyone for their input.


Best

Howard

[Al Schoonmaker]

Sorry about the delay in answering. I never sold disk drives, but most of the salesman in Control Data took my Computer Based Training course called, "Selling: The psychological approach."

Regards,

Al