[quote=""Bote""]Thing is, I imagine there's some degree of flexibility, when you look at parks Picsolve deal with and the price difference between them.[/quote]
That's to do with the differing markets, though. As great as Drayton is, and as fast as they're catching up, Alton are still miles ahead and these (ridiculous) prices reflect that. I should imagine the most likely (certainly the most common) pricing structure would be for PicSolve to set a price (with some/minimal input from the park), and for the park to then get a percentage cut of the profits. Either that, or the park will get a flat 'royalty' type-thing for allowing PicSolve to do business on their rides/property. Or perhaps both.
Either way, I'd agree with Dave, PicSolve will have the weight when it comes to setting a price.
2011: Discussion
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Islander
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AdrenalineAlex
Thing is, there must be a tonne of companies who would be dying for the chance to supply the photos for the theme parks for the money they make. To take some photo's and print them isn't going to cost much including the manufacturing of a bit of plastic for key rings. If it's PicSolve raising their prices they should find another supplier, which I'm sure they could with ease. With the increase, this just makes me want to walk past the photo display area and take a photo of a photo with my camera free of charge...
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Islander
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^Good luck with that - PicSolve peeps aren't always the most attentive of theme park staff, but they're generally rather hot on stopping people snapping the pictures.
Thing about PicSolve raising the prices is that, if Towers does run it on a percentage commission basis, it just means more money for them, so they've no reason to find a new contractor. Besides, unless I'm mistaken (I'm not too certain of facts here), isn't PicSolve a spin-off from Alton Towers anyway? I'm sure I've heard that before. If so, the links between the two companies won't break easily (add to that the fact that the link is Merlin-wide, not just restricted to Towers).
PicSolve certainly seem to have the monopoly in the UK, and I don't see that changing any time soon.
Thing about PicSolve raising the prices is that, if Towers does run it on a percentage commission basis, it just means more money for them, so they've no reason to find a new contractor. Besides, unless I'm mistaken (I'm not too certain of facts here), isn't PicSolve a spin-off from Alton Towers anyway? I'm sure I've heard that before. If so, the links between the two companies won't break easily (add to that the fact that the link is Merlin-wide, not just restricted to Towers).
PicSolve certainly seem to have the monopoly in the UK, and I don't see that changing any time soon.
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AdrenalineAlex
[quote=""Islander""]^Good luck with that - PicSolve peeps aren't always the most attentive of theme park staff, but they're generally rather hot on stopping people snapping the pictures.
Thing about PicSolve raising the prices is that, if Towers does run it on a percentage commission basis, it just means more money for them, so they've no reason to find a new contractor. Besides, unless I'm mistaken (I'm not too certain of facts here), isn't PicSolve a spin-off from Alton Towers anyway? I'm sure I've heard that before. If so, the links between the two companies won't break easily (add to that the fact that the link is Merlin-wide, not just restricted to Towers).
PicSolve certainly seem to have the monopoly in the UK, and I don't see that changing any time soon.[/quote]
I didn't say I was going to, makes me intrigued to do so though
But it's like the problem with music being charged at 99p a single, just encourages illegal downloading. Yes, it will mean more money for them IF customers keep buying ride photo's, and something tells me there will be a reduction in sales. You have to consider the price elasticity of the product. It's a nice souvenir, however, not everyone is going to want to fork out £10 for a ride photo and at least £20 for a ticket to get in (if they used the 1/2 price coupon). So, if sales surge - if you pardon the pun - then they'll be required to reduce prices to increase sales again. If PicSolve is part of Merlin then they can just reduce them again no bother, but if they're not afflicted and PicSolve aren't willing to change prices/lower them to increase Merlin's profit margins on photos then they could go with another supplier who's cheaper.
Thing about PicSolve raising the prices is that, if Towers does run it on a percentage commission basis, it just means more money for them, so they've no reason to find a new contractor. Besides, unless I'm mistaken (I'm not too certain of facts here), isn't PicSolve a spin-off from Alton Towers anyway? I'm sure I've heard that before. If so, the links between the two companies won't break easily (add to that the fact that the link is Merlin-wide, not just restricted to Towers).
PicSolve certainly seem to have the monopoly in the UK, and I don't see that changing any time soon.[/quote]
I didn't say I was going to, makes me intrigued to do so though
But it's like the problem with music being charged at 99p a single, just encourages illegal downloading. Yes, it will mean more money for them IF customers keep buying ride photo's, and something tells me there will be a reduction in sales. You have to consider the price elasticity of the product. It's a nice souvenir, however, not everyone is going to want to fork out £10 for a ride photo and at least £20 for a ticket to get in (if they used the 1/2 price coupon). So, if sales surge - if you pardon the pun - then they'll be required to reduce prices to increase sales again. If PicSolve is part of Merlin then they can just reduce them again no bother, but if they're not afflicted and PicSolve aren't willing to change prices/lower them to increase Merlin's profit margins on photos then they could go with another supplier who's cheaper.-
Magrathea
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The problem is, it's not just a case of "going to another supplier". Picsolve own all the camera equipment and the printers and the screens and everything, and I doubt that amount of equipment comes cheap, especially set-ups for services like sending photos to Towers Trading. So much equipment which has been in place years would have to be completely torn up, and have new equipment put in their places, AND Alton would lose affiliation with a company they've been closely involved with for years.
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Rob L
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I do think £10 is a lot for a single photo but they seem to be going the way of theme parks over in the States where a single photo is a complete rip off but you can buy 2 photos for not much more making it better value. For example at Kings Dominion you can get 2 photos, 2 key rings and 2 wallet sized photos for $20 which is great value but the price of a single photo (which I'm afraid I can't remember) is not appealing at all.
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AstroDan
I would hardly say two for $20 is great value.
Most of the European parks, with exception to Disney, are around €6 for a photo.
Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk
Most of the European parks, with exception to Disney, are around €6 for a photo.
Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk
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CoasterCrazyChris
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[quote=""AstroDan""]I would hardly say two for $20 is great value.
Most of the European parks, with exception to Disney, are around €6 for a photo.
Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk[/quote]
Neither is five for £20, in my opinion.
Most of the European parks, with exception to Disney, are around €6 for a photo.
Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk[/quote]
Neither is five for £20, in my opinion.
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venny911
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So now I have to pay £10 for a single on-ride photo, then another 50p for the priviledge of not carrying it round and being damaged for the rest of the day, and that's on top of my £40 entry and £6 car parking?
...it's good to see that Alton Towers are sensitive to recession-hit Britain.
...it's good to see that Alton Towers are sensitive to recession-hit Britain.
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AstroDan
[quote=""CoasterCrazyChris""][quote=""AstroDan""]I would hardly say two for $20 is great value.
Most of the European parks, with exception to Disney, are around €6 for a photo.
Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk[/quote]
Neither is five for £20, in my opinion.
[/quote]
To be fair, at least 5 for £20 offers value comparable or cheaper than most other parks.
£10 for 1 is just grossly out of touch.
Most of the European parks, with exception to Disney, are around €6 for a photo.
Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk[/quote]
Neither is five for £20, in my opinion.
[/quote]To be fair, at least 5 for £20 offers value comparable or cheaper than most other parks.
£10 for 1 is just grossly out of touch.
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Dormiens-Dave
Okay just spoken to someone from the resort, they have said that the £10 charge was a trial by picsolve and the price will be returning to its previous level soon.
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Joel
Trial or not, contemplating (and thus trialling) the price to be £10 for a photo is still disgusting to be honest.
I hope they don't consider ever rising them again and that the trial has been detrimental to sales.
That said, enjoyable as a ride experience is, I wouldn't even pay £8 for a ride photo. Thankfully the £20 for 5 ride photos pass still makes it somewhat bearable at around £4 a photo.
I hope they don't consider ever rising them again and that the trial has been detrimental to sales.
That said, enjoyable as a ride experience is, I wouldn't even pay £8 for a ride photo. Thankfully the £20 for 5 ride photos pass still makes it somewhat bearable at around £4 a photo.
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Sam
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I'm still at a loss as to why anyone would ever buy an on-ride photo, especially anyone on TTF. I don't think I've ever seen a photo, however good, of myself and thought "Wow, that's worth a fiver!". You do know you could buy two pints for that, or a meal, or a book or DVD...?
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djtruefitt
I have to say I have never bought a ride photo, my mum and dad bought a few when I was younger as there are some of me on the haunted house, log flume, rapids, etc. But I think its different when your a child and with the rest of your family in it.
Most of the time I walk straight past the photo shops because I have no plans to spend £8/£10 on a photo and I dont really care what I look like. The only time ill look is if im with new people who havnt been on the ride before.
Most of the time I walk straight past the photo shops because I have no plans to spend £8/£10 on a photo and I dont really care what I look like. The only time ill look is if im with new people who havnt been on the ride before.
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Benzin
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[quote=""Sam""]I'm still at a loss as to why anyone would ever buy an on-ride photo, especially anyone on TTF. I don't think I've ever seen a photo, however good, of myself and thought "Wow, that's worth a fiver!". You do know you could buy two pints for that, or a meal, or a book or DVD...?[/quote]
Maybe because I want to have some memories of my trips?
Going to Towers for my birthday I'm certainly buying a Photopass, and since I often only go to parks in a group of two, who's gonna take a picture of me on the ride aside from the ride photo?
Indeed, my first point IS the main reason why anyone buys on ride photos... For the memories, for the bragging, for general amusement (poses/costumes) and a few other reasons...
Maybe because I want to have some memories of my trips?
Going to Towers for my birthday I'm certainly buying a Photopass, and since I often only go to parks in a group of two, who's gonna take a picture of me on the ride aside from the ride photo?
Indeed, my first point IS the main reason why anyone buys on ride photos... For the memories, for the bragging, for general amusement (poses/costumes) and a few other reasons...
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Don't_Look_Down
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£8 was pushing it a bit, but the ORP is just grossly overpriced now. Especially when you consider that the quality is pretty inferior.
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mrbrightside
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I think the Photopass is still pretty good value - especially if there's a group of you.
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Rob L
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[quote=""AstroDan""]I would hardly say two for $20 is great value.
Most of the European parks, with exception to Disney, are around €6 for a photo.
Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk[/quote]
$20 (or £12.20) is great value for two 6x8 photos, two photo key rings and two wallet sized photos! Especially when there are two of you that want photos!
Most of the European parks, with exception to Disney, are around €6 for a photo.
Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk[/quote]
$20 (or £12.20) is great value for two 6x8 photos, two photo key rings and two wallet sized photos! Especially when there are two of you that want photos!