Misleading

[SChaser783]

Am I the only one that finds 13th Door's radio advertisement misleading? "Denver's Scariest number one rated haunted house"??? Just wondering...

[Luv2BScared]

I think every season we all see and hear ads stating that a haunt is "Denver's #1 house". Of course, that's advertising in general....would you really pay $5000 for a 30 second radio ad that runs a total of 16 times, and usually in the off peak hours that says, "Come on out to Joe Schmoe's haunt!! Rated 12th scariest house in Denver!!"
Heck no you wouldn't! Advertising is like theater, movies, books, magic......suspension of disbelief. All smoke and mirrors.

[Big Perm]

Oh hell, this is one topic that I just can't keep my grubby hands off of and I'm going to call them out on it...

I get the whole advertising thing: entice the customer, hype the product, get the proverbial "asses" in the seat. I get that but there are plenty of other ways to attract people without blatantly lying or falsifying. To me, that's unethical, a predicament that I'm becoming all too familiar with with certain players in the game.

I find it particularly ballsy to come out and say "Denver's Scariest number one rated haunted house" when your peaked out at 17 out of 21 in a previous year. There are much better ways to advertise your attraction that blatantly lying on both fronts. Although maybe it's just me, the spray painted flames weren't really number 1 quality or all that scary to me last year (making NO implications this year). They had some really good actors and concepts last year but set design was a little unfinished.

[Luv2BScared]

I agree with you Perm. Advertising in general is just sugar-coated lies. But if anyone advertising anything actually told the blatant truth, we as consumers would hold on to our wallets for dear life! Unfortunately, it is up to the consumer to research the product or service they are considering purchasing and make an educated decision. Advertisers are not going to suddenly become ethical and have a sense of decency and morals and simply state the truth. It's up to us to discern what's truth and what's not.

[Big Perm]

Too true, I really can't argue with that. In my own Utopian world people would be better instead of just trying to sound better. Reality though, people are going to pick an attraction based on what they read or hear and call that their research. Just the facts in the world we live in and not much I can do but complain and hope I hit a nerve with some people to prove me wrong.

[boston]

anyone heard of this "mythical" 13 floor haunted house? real? or legend? whats the deal?

[Hellraiser15]

dude are you serious? Any real haunt fan knows thats just a legend and its reffered to in the HD faq's.

[Luv2BScared]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (hellraiser15 @ Oct 14 2007, 02:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=2642)</div>dude are you serious? Any real haunt fan knows thats just a legend and its reffered to in the HD faq's.[/b]

Weren't you one of the people who asked if this was real at the beginning of the season? hehehehe

[Hellraiser15]

no no no. I asked why we had a reader review section for it because i knew it was fake.

[boston]

well, i haven't read the faqs. and thanks for kind of defending me Luv2bscared!

[Hellraiser15]

yeah i know i can be a @$$hole sometimes

[Luv2BScared]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (hellraiser15 @ Oct 14 2007, 02:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=2648)</div>no no no. I asked why we had a reader review section for it because i knew it was fake.[/b]

No, wasn't this your question???:

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (hellraiser15 @ Sep 30 2007, 12:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=2177)</div>I thought that this haunt didnt exist. isnt this the one that people say give you your money bank and no one makes it through? Any Info you can give me Jason or hd people[/b]


It was you, but it's cool! Just give Boston a break...he's faded enough heat from me already today!! http://www.octoberlounge.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

[boston]

seriously! i have! and i am really sorry about all that crap.

[Luv2BScared]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (boston @ Oct 14 2007, 02:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=2659)</div>well, i haven't read the faqs. and thanks for kind of defending me Luv2bscared![/b]

You're welcome Boston...the facts, it's all about the facts!! http://www.octoberlounge.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif

[Hellraiser15]

gah i know. I was confused for why we had that. thats why i said, "Isnt this fake"!

[Luv2BScared]

But you weren't sure then were you? hehehehe.....Just razzing ya, don't get uptight! http://www.octoberlounge.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

[Shade]

Back to Tye's original question, I still think it's much more misleading that they call their haunt "The 13th Door," which is so blatantly meant to make people think it's the mythical 13th floor haunt they've heard rumors about for years.

Is it a brilliant business decision? Sure, insofar as it affects your bottom line. You'll get more customers and a lot of free mileage from the urban legend by misrepresenting your haunt this way, and you can even pretend like you didn't mean to do it.

But when you're delivering a substandard haunted house, as has been the case every year since The 13th Door opened, and people leave feeling ripped off, then how can you honestly feel good about yourself when you're dropping that deposit at the bank?

"Wow, look at me! I came up with a clever name for my haunt and now I've swindled the money of gullible teenagers, but it's okay, because they would just spend it on other worthless crap anyway! And if anyone tries to say it's dishonest of me to use this name, I'll just say, 'Oh, ha-ha, it's not the 13th Floor, it's the 13th DOOR! Ha-ha! They must have confused it with that urban legend! We didn't say anywhere that it was the 13th Floor. It's DOOR! We're faultless! Ha-ha! Those silly kids!'"

Brilliant, fine. But unethical, absolutely. They'll get their come-uppance someday, and I hope I'll be somewhere nearby, observing from the sidelines and laughing my a** off. Seriously, the day that company stops producing haunted houses, I will throw the biggest party ever and you're all invited.

[Luv2BScared]

I think any company haunt or not that blatantly markets fabrications, has no problem with how they feel unfortunately. The way they figure it, the money in their wallet feels just fine to them. http://www.octoberlounge.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif

[Hellraiser15]

speaking of the mythical 13th floor, I actually had a guy in my spanish class tell me he was going to that one that gives you your money back. He told me it was the thirteenth door and an argument ensued.

[Blueeyes1785]

Oh silly advertising. 13th door has never been 'good' in my opinion. And i have had MANY, many, many a people ask me about the 13th floor and 13th door, and wondering if they are the same thing.

I'm tired of explaining it.

Also it's sad they call themselves the #1 rated haunted house... just sad

[Hellraiser15]

i know. its getting sad. I really cant talk though because i have never been to the 13th door

[SChaser783]

I've just started perpetuating the story, muhaha!

[That one guy]

I'd like to know who rated them #1. Since it is advertised don't they have to be able to provide some proof that they were rated #1? I hope it is better that Joe Schmoe said "You guys are the #1 Haunted House!!"

[Shade]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (That one guy @ Oct 18 2007, 01:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=2883)</div>I'd like to know who rated them #1. Since it is advertised don't they have to be able to provide some proof that they were rated #1? I hope it is better that Joe Schmoe said "You guys are the #1 Haunted House!!"[/b]
I doubt there's even a Joe Schmoe.

Technically, yes, they have to be able to prove their advertised claim. But someone would actually have to sue them for false advertising, and I think they're counting on that in order to dodge that bullet.

[Shade]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shade @ Oct 14 2007, 11:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=2692)</div>Seriously, the day that company stops producing haunted houses, I will throw the biggest party ever and you're all invited.[/b]
Rereading this post of mine, I decided I sounded like even more of an a**hole than usual. I really don't wish anyone bad luck in business. Maybe it's just that I wish that their haunts were as incredible as their Sci-Fi conventions. If you want to see these people at their very best, go to StarFest. They definitely know how to cater to the Trekkies.