Do you mail/write to a themepark or coaster builder?

[Dark Vampire]

Have you ever mailed or writed a themepark or coaster build and asked if you can have a folder, poster or anything else? What did they send you then and did you get?

 

I mailed a few times to parks I was going to visit and asked for a folder of the park. I now a other guy he had a keychain of Mirabilandia after he send a mail, together with a folder.

[Spookbaby]

I don't know about writing to parks but...

 

I know that my friends have had good luck just simply walking into their local AAA and being like "Can I have that Disney poster?"

 

And they were just like "Sure."

 

It's awesome too. It's a holographic Expedition Everest poster.

[TheBannedKid]

Back when Goliath at SFMM was built I sent an email to Giovanola to see if I could get the blueprints. I added that the ride inspired me to one day become a designer. I received the full prints a few days after.

[PkiJake]

Huss, sent me stickers, pens, and a key chain with thier product info. Is Giovanola still operating? If not what caused then to go out of buisness?

 

-Jake

[HAJiME]

It's incredable how friendly some of the companies seem to be. I know people who wrote to Vekoma and got tones of really neat stuff! A friend of mine once decided to phone up a few companies, and Vekoma where the friendliest wanting to tell us everything about Kumali.

 

What sort of things have people actually wrote in order to get such cool stuff?

[Homer]

When I first heard of Six Flags giving out posters of park maps, I instantly mailed Six Flags over Georgia for a copy of their map. In a few days, bam, free poster map.

[matteocrepaldi]

I wrote to SFGAd for a park map and one of my friends is in contact with Vekoma. They even sent him a Christmas card and a 2007 calendar!

[christianscoasters]

I have written to WOF two times.

 

The first time, they gave me four pictures of Mamba under construction and one of it finished. They were all really good photos.

 

The second time they gave me a big picture of Thunderhawk.

 

Little Question. Are park map posters full sized posters that you would find in the swively thingys at Wal-Mart?

[jarmor]

Six flags maps are

[imbordisux]

I've spoken with a bunch of manufacturers, I used to sell electronic components, and wanted to sell them resistors and stuff for the brakes and controls (most of them redirected me to other companies that built such equipment for them).

 

Chad at "The Gravity Group" was incredibly friendly, we phoned and e-mailed each other a few times. We spoke a lot about The Voyage and what he expected out of El Toro. One of the nicest guys I've ever spoken with, actually.

 

Walter Bolliger was also very nice, though I only sent him one e-mail. I told him what huge fans my wife and I are, and how we actually painted our living room to match Nitro (blue walls, fuschia ceiling, yellow accents, grey carpeting, and, yes, I will post photos one day). He wrote a really nice, personalized e-mail saying how much he enjoys hearing from fans, and that he's personally never heard of someone doing what we did.

 

"Huss" and "Premiere" were also really nice. "Ride & Show" were also really nice, we spoke a lot, but unfortunately never got to do any business together (my company couldn't compete with the pricing they were getting).

 

On the flip-side, "Great Coasters International" were really nasty (or at least their secretary was), when I told her I enjoyed their work, she responded with a very condescending "that's nice". "S&S" was also very condescending in their attitude, like they didn't even care that people like their product. "Intamin" wasn't really nasty or anything, but they kept brushing me off, and neither "Chance" nor "Maurer-Sohne" would return any calls or letters.

[AT0527]

Yep, i wrote to B&M twice. The first time it was before they came out with their flying coaster, and they sent me brochures on all their coasters, and responded back to me with a letter with both their signatures. (autographs)

 

Second time, I wrote to them again after they came out with the flying coasters, and i asked them a whole bunch of questions. They sent me more brochures, including one for the flying coaster and answered all of my questions. Their brochures are really nice looking.

[christianscoasters]

It's really nice to know that these companies actually care instead of being nice because it's good for business. It feels like a lot of them just want money and that's what they are there for. But after seeing all yall's posts, especially AT0527, B&M must be really nice people no matter what. That's awesome.

[Loco]

^ Yea they are, I always thought they would never pay attention to people like us.

 

Yea, I saw AT0527's brochures and flyers that B&M sent him and they ARE nice!

[CK Media]

I'm gonna call Disney and ask to talk to Mickey.

[coasterfreak11]

I don't know about writing to parks but...

 

I know that my friends have had good luck just simply walking into their local AAA and being like "Can I have that Disney poster?"

 

And they were just like "Sure."

 

It's awesome too. It's a holographic Expedition Everest poster.

 

Who would ever do that??? That just seems.....weird? Just kidding John! I'm jealous of that poster!!!

[mightypotato]

I wrote to Cedar Fair asking about their business policies and coaster building decision making. They were extremely helpful to me, sending me their annual report and about 35 articles that were related to my questions. I also got a contact with their Investor Relations person for any follow ups I might have. It really shocked me to see a company so forthcoming with information so readily.

[robbalvey]

On the flip-side, "Great Coasters International" were really nasty (or at least their secretary was), when I told her I enjoyed their work, she responded with a very condescending "that's nice". "S&S" was also very condescending in their attitude, like they didn't even care that people like their product. "Intamin" wasn't really nasty or anything, but they kept brushing me off, and neither "Chance" nor "Maurer-Sohne" would return any calls or letters.

I find it incredibly unfair to call a company "nasty" or think they are "brusing you off" because they don't have the time to talk to you.

 

Here's a heads up.....

 

THEY ARE BUSY!!!!

 

Seriously, I can relate. I am working 16 hours a day, 7 days a week, and if I got a call from a video game or Transformers enthusaist, I wouldn't be able to give them the time a day.

 

My response would be "Do you want me to get this game done so you can play it, or would you rather have a philisophical discussion about Optimus Prime?"

 

Give these companies a break. They are very busy trying to make roller coasters for YOU. Give them at least that respect.

 

--Robb "While some of them might be nice on the other end of the phone, overall you are probably bothering them...." Alvey

[Scaparri]

^Yeah, exactly. Considering a great deal of these companies have a request next to their phone numbers that all calls be business only, you can't really blame them for not being the most polite people you've ever encountered.

 

Its like when my roommates try to talk to me while I do my homework. I appreciate it, but I have more important things I need to do.

[thefitness]

So your saying it's not a good idea to write major companies and/or professionals?Or just to understand ,and not get mad when they can't respond?(which I completely understand)

 

My view on it is,If it's a relevant and professionally writen letter then why not?I'm sure they have to enjoy possitive responses from their consumer.

[Swoosh]

Case by case scenario. If you have a working relationship with the park, then it is all right to ask things on a more periodic time schedule then if you did not have a working relationship.

 

Know when to hold 'em, and know when to fold 'em.

[robbalvey]

So your saying it's not a good idea to write major companies and/or professionals?Or just to understand ,and not get mad when they can't respond?(which I completely understand)

 

My view on it is,If it's a relevant and professionally writen letter then why not?I'm sure they have to enjoy possitive responses from their consumer.

It depends on what you're asking for.

 

But if it's just a general inquiry, I would write or email, not call. That puts people on the spot.

 

And write a VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT professional letter.

 

People might actually take you seriously! And yeah, don't be annoyed if they don't respond....or don't respond right away.

 

That's my advice.

 

--Robb

[Carnage]

Seriously, I can relate. I am working 16 hours a day, 7 days a week, and if I got a call from a video game or Transformers enthusaist, I wouldn't be able to give them the time a day.

 

My response would be "Do you want me to get this game done so you can play it, or would you rather have a philisophical discussion about Optimus Prime?"

 

The answer would probably be "philisophical discussion about Optimus Prime".

[mightypotato]

In my experience with Cedar Fair, I figure its because I said I was a university student doing research for an international tourism course. I believe that if I had just been e-mailing for no actual reason they wouldn't have responded at all. I guess if you have an actual and valid reason for contacting them, they won't mind. Now about that philosophical debate about Optimus Prime...

[phazan]

I know this isn't coaster related, but I wrote a few dirt bike companies a few years back asking for stickers and posters. I wrote to Yamaha, Fox, and Answer Racing...I got a catalog from Yamaha, a letter saying "No, you must understand companies can't make money by giving away free things" from Fox, and then after like three weeks of being denied, I got an envalope from Answer Racing with like 20 stickers inside! It was cool. I think I know who I will be choosing to buy new gear from...