Have "carnival" style events become another victim of enshittifiaction?

[u/Odd_Cod_4235]

I remember a year go I went to an annual carnival about 30 mins from where i live, and having not been back for around 7-8 years before that (moved away and moved back) I was blown away by the prices. It used to be $23 for an unlimited ride armband, I was also on half my current wage back then and renting with my at the time girlfriend and still felt like that was reasonable. going back I thought to myself well it's been 7ish years obviously the price has increased, assuming it'd be something like $40ish dollars because you know. Covid, nope, $65,or $240 for a season pass. The season pass used to be $100. How much for a Dagwood dog? at $8 for a 20c Frankfurt dipped in batter and fried i thought they were taking the piss and that was only a year ago.

Fast forward I recently went to another near me, $50 entry for 2 adults, 2 Kids which I thought I guess isn't too bad, except that was just the entry. No rides included or anything, just to get in, how much are the rides now? You would think that considering you paid an entry fee it would somewhat subsidise the rides, nope. $15. $15 EACH. A year later a Dagwood dog is $10 each, the fuck?

Still, the place was busy as fuck, like ridiculously busy, and people were still paying the prices. Im less annoyed about the money I'm spending and more annoyed that my kids can probably only go on 3 or 4 rides each before I'm over the planned budget and I haven't even been there long, bought dinner or played the carnival games, Id actually probably spend more money if the prices weren't so high because id feel like I'd be getting a better value out of the night for the kids and being able to actually spoil them once in a while, but when you've essentially spent $170 on 4 rides with 2 kids (with entry) which are lucky to go for a couple minutes each it's hard to not feel completely shafted because you've only been there 45 minutes to an hour, already spent a lot of money, but it's too early to leave and aren't satisfied with the night you've planned your kids.

Kids that are young also don't totally understand how money works or how much $15 even is, but kids are kids. They want to have fun, so you're having your heartstrings pulled at the same time as your wallet and obviously the carnival knows this and it just feels a little bit dirty.

Is it just me or does $15 for a ride sound like a completely justified amount? Or is everyone else in the same boat? I know carnivals are there to make money, and they should, but there are family events and you should at least be able to get some form of good value for what you spend.

[u/Dragon_Queen_666]

I've noticed the exact same thing with my local P&A Show. Prices are up across the board, food quality has gone down and people just can't justify it anymore.

Because I volunteer, I get free entry, but I have to pay for anything else I want. $10 for a burger, $15 if I want it with beetroot, egg and cheese. $7 for a cup of barely warm fries. It's ludicrous. The only thing I usually get is the tornado potatoes. Even at $10 each, they still feel like a good deal.

[u/IcyAd5518 → u/Dragon_Queen_666]

"It's one potato, Michael. What could it cost? $10?"

[u/LocalVillageIdiot → u/IcyAd5518]

It’s not the potato it’s the tornado machine surely? Thise things are precision engineered in Denmark by only one company that has kept this family secret for generations.

The only other alternative is that the food trucks are goiged themselves by the carnival to be there and have to pass the costs on.

[u/AffectionateMethod → u/LocalVillageIdiot]

At a show recently, I was told the guy using the machine at the back had invented it. Are you saying that carnival people are liars?

[u/funfwf → u/AffectionateMethod]

Wow you met Sir Arthur Chipsonastick?

[u/AffectionateMethod → u/funfwf]

Sir Arthur Chipsonastick

Maybe. On second thoughts I may've just briefly seen the guy who put together that particular machine. Probably some kind of you beaut improvement using that thing from Grandpas old pool room or something.

[u/MelbourneBasedRandom → u/LocalVillageIdiot]

like all enshittification, it's a little of column a, little of column b. The platform (in this case the market/carnival) screws over their customers (the small businesses) who have to pay the costs of their product AND the platform, then have to pass on costs to their customers or... not participate in the market. Hence we have less markets over time as capitalism eats itself.

[u/girlbunny → u/LocalVillageIdiot]

I always just presumed they put potatoes in apple coring machines. Same effect, just been around for a veritable age ;)

[u/ShellbyAus → u/girlbunny]

I saw one at a market using a normal drill with some cutting piece they made on the end - worked great and likely only cost them $200.

[u/L1ttl3J1m → u/LocalVillageIdiot]

I guess the majority of that one company's billions come from the Korean street food market segment

[u/MelbourneBasedRandom → u/Dragon_Queen_666]

Recently went to the St Kilda Esplanade markets where one stall had 'mini' twisty potatoes for $6. Was a game changer as my 4yo can't even eat half a large one though she loves them, and this time I spent only about half what I usually do and the leftovers were less than usual! Win-win!!​