> The rationale is that a place (or a piece of merchandise) that's
>cheap can't be all that worthwhile.
Does anyone have a reference for this concept? I've heard it used/quoted
many times but so far, every time I have questioned it, I have not been
provided a reference. I would like to see the research that backs this up,
especially if any of this research has been done in a museum context.
Thank you.
Elizabeth Moore
Dr. Elizabeth A. Moore, Curator
Virginia Museum of Natural History
1001 Douglas Avenue
Martinsville, VA 24112
[log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: Ross Weeks <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, October 20, 2000 12:18 PM
Subject: Re: Eliminating admissions fees
>You mean there's a world where there's truly a free lunch, no questions
>asked? I have a record of raising admission fees to what the market will
>bear. The rationale is that a place (or a piece of merchandise) that's
>cheap can't be all that worthwhile. As museums, we confront consumer
>psychology, and attract those who won't eat the free hot dogs offered at
>your local used car lot during Midnight Madness sales. By law many
>government museums are not allowed to charge a fee, but they DO clearly
>encourage dropping folding money into a transparent donation box, right
>there where they pick up their tour brochure.
>I don't think it intimidates a cheapskate or impecunious visitor to walk
>right past that box. We do deal with lots of cheapskates and see them
drive
>off in their Jaguars.
>
>Ross Weeks Jr.
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Cori Wegener" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Friday, October 20, 2000 11:27 AM
>Subject: Re: Eliminating admissions fees
>
>
>> I think a suggested donation is fine so long as it is TRULY suggested.
>> However, when the visitor must go through the same process as for normal
>> admission, ie. come face-to-face with a "ticket person" of some sort, or
>> being required to get a badge to wear around the "free" museum, then the
>> visitor feels compelled to pay and there is really no difference in
>access.
>> Those visitors who cannot afford to pay will not want to be faced with
the
>> dilemma of having to admit they cannot afford the "suggested donation"
and
>> will not want to come in. This completely defeats the purpose of
>> eliminating the fee. Donation boxes placed strategically around exits
are
>> much less intimidating and people are allowed to put in what they can
>truly
>> afford.
>>
>> Cori Wegener
>
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