....let me elaborate.One of my flatmates is a JSG (Japanese speaking guide), and went to Mt Cook today with a group of 28 from Osaka......anyway, being the kind of guy i am ...i offered to pick her up after work (12 hr day)....but on the way to get her ,i called into the supermarket for some milk and bread etc etc....ended up also getting a bag of short bread cookies...which i started to nibble on , on the way to the city.......WELL!!....this brand has reduced the size of the biscuts by at least 40% and still charge $3.50 for the bag......those of you over 40, go and buy a packet of mellowpuffs and tell me what you think ...same thing....40% smaller, and 40% more expensive than this time last year......anyway...........picked her up...asked about the day...
On the way to Mt Cook this morning she sold 26 of her pax on the ski plane flight ($375!! per person) for 40mins....highway robbery, and no commission for her....anyway to cut it short, the operater couldnt fly all 28, or however many there were....so she tried to book the last 2 on the last trip of the day....only too be told they have to have a minimum of 4 pax....she had just given them almost $10,000 worth of business!!........Im aware of a/c operating costs , overheads etc, but come on........and these people wonder why the numbers are down.(tourists)
$375 FOR 40 MINS IN A BLOODY OLD 185....give me a break.....yes i know it lands on the glacier....lovely....but $375, ......but then i suppose , they dont have to do it....although these girls are expected to SELL, SELL....fine if your going to pick up 10%...... but she gets nothing.
Its a combination of greedy off shore agents, and equally greedy operators in this counrty....and these kids(guides) are stuck in the middle.....so if its not cookies, its ski planes, either way , if its not the guests we lure to this country....its you and i that are getting ripped off.
Sorry to go on.
