"Experience The World's Highest Scam!"


SCAM IN THE SKIES

TOURISTS BEWARE...

NOBODY FROM CN TOWER OFFICIALLY APOLOGIZED SO FAR  :(


 


CN TOWER in Toronto  is one of the major Canadian tourist attractions
http://www.cntower.ca

Here is the story how we were screwed in CN TOWER :
On August 28, 1998 my wife, 8 y.o. daughter and I made a reservation for restaurant called "360" at the CN TOWER for 10:15PM through the reservation desk in our Hotel. The reservation was made in our presence.
I asked specifically "Are there any admission fees or any charges we shall know about?"
The answer was: "No, everything is included in the price of meal". I was very particular in my questions and even asked for the dress code, expecting fashionable place.   /btw - there is no dress code - people were in shorts there/

Since the reservation was made for the late evening (the only time available) we had a dinner in another restaurant and planned to have a very light supper and desserts in the tower's restaurant.

We came a little bit earlier but were immediately seated.  (8583 table 403/1, guest number 1339525).
The waiter came and proposed some refreshments first. Since there were absolutely no drinks in the menu (see) we were not sure what to order and he told us that he will bring the COMPLIMENTARY drink "Top Top". /For my taste "Top Top" was just a plain and simple fruit-flavored punch with a lot of ice/

When later I started to make an order (appetizers and desserts) he suddenly stated that we MUST order the MAIN course . I told him that we did not know that and already had a big dinner and simply unable to have another main course.
I asked if it will be O.K. if I will order the main course for myself and appetizers and desserts for my wife and daughter (the cost of my order was about the cost of pure minimum main course, we just did not want to eat the main dish again).
He answered that EVERYBODY MUST order the main course and we must LEAVE if we will not order it!!!
The last sentence was pronounced very loudly and many other guests around overheard it!
I was embarrassed before my family and we all were embarrassed publicly!
Sure enough he expected that I will quickly order the main course to avoid further embarrassment.
He had wide joyous smile on his face.
Suddenly I found myself in the situation when I am not complying with the "house rules" which I was not told upfront!
Such situations can happened in the low level establishments and generally called "scam", "rip-off", "catch number 22", etc.

I asked the waiter to call the manager.  It was miserable and humiliating... Before the manager came I made a call from my mobile phone to the reservation of this sky eatery (416) 362-5411. I asked them again, right from my table, "Are there any rules which we should know?"
"No" was the answer.
I told to the manager that we are ready to make an order (for the same price) but we don't want to order main course since we already had a dinner and were UNAWARE of this rule.
The manager (named Layal) showed me the small print in the menu:
"Elevation is complimentary with your main order." /there is nothing more even on their web site/
I asked how should I know about this small print \by the way - very tricky text by itself\ if I did not see the menu during the reservation.
He did not answer and just repeated that we must leave RIGHT NOW if we will not order the main course!!!

So, our evening was already ruined, we felt cheated and insulted and chosen to leave.
It was impossible to explain to our daughter why we are running from such a nice place and even leaving the drinks...

Suddenly the waiter came again with the bill for $18.95

I asked why you are charging us for the COMPLIMENTARY drink ?

His answer was simply UNBELIEVABLE:
We are not charging you for the drink! Drink is still complimentary! We are charging for the goblets which are yours!
(The "goblets" were made from cheap plastic and had some resemblance with the tower).
I told that I do not need any goblets which I did not order.
I paid the bill /no tip/, spelled privately the word "UPFRONT" to the waiter and we left the restaurant.

I was trying to keep everything very quiet, there was no "scene" but evacuation was "glamorous", nevertheless.
There was a flash.   "...dad, one lady just took a picture of us..." Some guests around had a complimentary entertainment.

ATTENTION !
If you are planning to operate a successful filthy bar serving drunken sailors somewhere in Haiti - you must learn the following two basic simple tricks from CN Tower restaurant as a first classical secrets of trade:

        SURPRISE   your customer with :
  •    Obligatory Main Course rule after "complimentary elevation".

    •  
  •    $$ Charge for crappy plastic "goblet" after luring him to drink "complimentary" swill.
remember that SURPRISE is a keyword, but keep your gun under the counter, because unlike the family man on vacation in Toronto, drunken sailor can kick your f@#% ass... 
I strongly believe that CN Tower must use the new slogan.

                          "Experience the Highest Scam in the World!"

 

ATTENTION  Real Bargain Hunters in Toronto !!!

CN Tower Special Savings Discount Complimentary Coupon

Just follow the above easy steps and you will receive complimentary elevation, complimentary drink, complimentary glimpse of the fine dinning in the skies, 100% savings on unconsumed meal and priceless experience..

valid for the family of three with the printed copy of this page*
*complimentary joke
Please feel free to send your comments to:
badtower@usa.net

Alexander S.

Few more opinions and replies:       you can go directly to:  FUNNIEST TWO
                                                                                             or   SCAM CONTINUES

Christopher Morrell:
"It was renamed "The 360" about two years ago.  Food is all expensive gourmet type.  Portions are small.  A dinner for two including wine and desert and tip cost my girlfriend about $100 last spring."
Raymond Wu :
"Ugh, most people were having cocktails for one thing, and they were getting ripped off besides. The food, looked pretty standard, nothing to get excited about. They wanted like $5 for a crappy plastic "CN Tower" shaped cup, which I finally caved in and bought my little cousin. Oh well :) "
Henry McGrattan :
"Wow!  I went down the road to the CN Tower and ate in the revolving restaurant.  I ordered a fancy little open faced French-named sandwich and I swear they gave me an Egg McMuffin.  Except not so fresh.  The price was astronomical and the service was arrogant...  I expect tourist traps to rely on their location and not worry about the quality of their food."
Vince O'Meara :
"Great to see the Web used to voice your experiences (good or bad).  This is free speech at its best. I live in Toronto and am embarassed at the treatment you received. Please don't judge the whole city based on a poorly run tourist trap."
Steven Davey* :
"As NOW Magazine's current restaurant critic (Theo Gatros quoted in the CN Tower's promo is long gone) I could have warned you that 360 is a tourist clip joint. NO ONE who lives here would ever go there... to eat the over-priced slop they serve up there... In fact, in our about-to-be-published book.. the CN Tower and 360 restaurant are listed in our Don't Go There! category... It's unfortunate that you had to start at literally the top to hit rock bottom."
Jacquelyn Waller-Vintar
Editor-in-Chief, WHERE Toronto*:
(Unfortunately it was not done... A.S.)
What a miserable experience you and your family had!
A letter like yours distresses me on a number of levels, and it distresses everyone at the magazine too. We have checked out your page on the geocities site, printed it out, and the director of advertising and marketing at WHERE Toronto is making an appointment to bring it to the attention of management at the CN Tower.
I'll keep you posted on our progress.
Joe St. Lucas
Darn, guess I won't be driving up there from san diego tonight for dinner. I can be insulted by going to dick's last resort, so there's no reason to go further.
Al Marchant
What can I tell ya? That's Toronto. One of the other people tells you not to think the whole city is like that. Bunk! Sure the whole city is like that. There are people who get next to nothing for a pay check here and believe me they are way over paid. SO, I feel kinda bad that your kid had to put up with the kind of crap we as adults are really getting good at... Yeah Toronto is full of jerks but if you look real hard and your a good guy, some times you find out a little secret. Take care and Bon Appetite
"bilbo":
Some people will only learn when they are faced with public ridicule and held up to leagal scruitany.  Sue there asses off for pain and suffering and emotional duress.  I guarantee that once the suit is filed there will NEVER be another case like yours.  They will bend
over backwards to give full disclosure and then have you sign a form inicating you understand the terms before entering the building.
Tony Pittarese:
You were much more gratious than I would have been.  I wouldn't have paid a penny.  Your only "mistake" was in being embarassed by what you did.  This would have been a great time to turn the tables and you take the "morally indignant" tone.
XXX   Male Sex Slave:                 (WOW!!!)
The scammer is you buddy. What you want to get a free ride? I guess you have never been to a fancy restaraunt? ... I can see a crude white trash monster like you demanding the meal for free, because the price was never mentioned. What a dork. At 10pm you are taking your children to a restaraunt when adults are expecting an eviroment free of them. Stay home - eat there! Do everyone a big favor. Please!
Another Male Sex Slave posting: "I want to gain experience cleaning house in the nude. Seeking a strict woman who wants their house cleaned, on a weekly basis.You will demand more than house cleaning, and will severely spank me on any sign of hesitation or disobediance"
I have generally nothing against sexual minorities, but Cleaning Male Sex Slave Pervert
accusing you in unfamiliarity with fancy restaurants is too much fun :)
CN Tower must be proud of its loyal clientele  - A.S.
Basilio Amaro:
Not posted entirely to avoid international incident in "Canadian Bacon" fashion.
So my question is why don't you people in Toronto put an end to the blight that is 360? Cripes, how many people from out of town have to bash the place after getting ripped-off before you get off of your collective fat asses? This poor guy was humiliated and mistreated in front of his little kid. What does he get from the good people of your town?
"oh. oh my... it's a bad place... sorry about that..."
Can somebody who has a set of balls in that town, simply go over there an yank their license? If you don't have the balls you can alway cross the border and rent some.
It's my opinion that you snivelers in Toronto SUCK! And yes we do judge you by the restaurants behavior....BECAUSE YOU ALLOW IT TO CONTINUE TO  BEHAVE THAT WAY!
Yeah. I'm ugly AND an American. So what.
Pray to God I never go to Toronto. I'd end up in jail but it'd be a night to remember in 360.
You people in Canada at least owe this guy a beer. Pay up. If you do, I take back everything I said and will apologize in writing to everyone that isn't associated with 360. If you don't, tuck this under your pillow and read it each night before you go to bed to remind  yourself of your impotence.
I will pay $200 to see face-to-face discussion about fancy restaurants and kids, between Mr. Amaro (San Francisco) and above, self described "Male Sex Slave" (Toronto).
It will be pleasant "severe spanking" experience for Torontian (even without cleaning) and no problems with the law for Mr. Amaro - A.S.
ivy_mike:
...this place went well beyond the usual tourist ripoff routine.... he just wants to inform others of the nature of this joint.  I'm glad he did.  Where's the problem?
Thomas Rohricht:
Interesting web page ... quite an eye-opener. It sounds like the staff are well trained to feed this scam by strong-arming and embarrassing the customers. Now I understand why no locals I know have ever gone up there for a meal.
Julie Holm
I hope the person planning their trip to Toronto will avoid the CN Tower eatery.
SCAM APPARENTLY CONTINUOUS !!!
"turtle" (10.06.98)
i call this place and ask about reservations to the dine there in 2 weeks and was asking some question on there policy and what they had on the menue.  i came to the part of i had hear you had to order a main menue and not just a small type meal for my daughters . i said they eat like humming birds and probley would not want to order from the full main menue. the person that i was talking to said that i would have to hold for a minute.  i held
on the telephone long distance from Louisiana to canada for 10 minutes and no one can back to me. the person i was talking to was told that i was calling from Louisiana . i took this as don't ask about the policy or your hung out to dry on the phone.
Gregory Nelson
I think what he has done is the best thing. This crappy restaurant now has a Web page slamming it for a good long time. That will cost them far more in bad publicity than the CDN $18 they got out of this poor guy.
Mr. P. Clark:
My Girl friend and I also had a bad experience at the CN Tower in Toronto. The wine glasses on the table were larger than the ones they bring back with the ordered wine. I also found the waiters extremely rude and unprofessional.  The food was nasty tasting and of very little quantity. One expects more for their $30.00 per plate (Investment!!!) I live in Ontario and have a number of visitors from the Europe and the USA. I will never recommend this restaurant to any-one. They are cashing in on the "Tall Building" and are ripping people off.
Chrys Pelegris, Toronto /Feb 4, 1999/
Well despite whether you believe him or not, I've heard ENOUGH horror stories over the years to stay the hell away from the CN Tower restaurant.
And they should have a sign stipulating the "rules" regarding entering the premises, and whats required.. hell I couldn't eat a full course meal at 10:30pm!
J.C. /Feb 21, 1999/
I live in the vicinity of toronto, I have never visited the tower, i heard many uncoplimentary comments about the food and treatment one gets there. My cousin visited there with my daughter she had a salad full of chipped glass which was not apparent until blood run from her mouth. Only fools go up that tower-- there are other restaurants fairly high above groung level with the same view of the city if thats your desire. Besides the Toronto City has become very very expensive to eat,to go to shows ,art galeries, theaters, --- go for a walk do not patronise scam city.
Your article confirms all of this.
Dennis Benoit, Toronto /Feb 22, 1999/  \provided photo\
To the Unhappy Customer of CN Tower,
As a Toronto resident I am not proud when I hear of visitors to our city being treated so poorly as your experience at 360°, the revolving restaurant at "The world's tallest self-supporting structure", the CN Tower.
But mile-high or revolving restaurants attract tourists like moths to a porchlight, and by definition they behave more like bug wallet zappers in almost any city you can name. ...
While this does not excuse the practice, the restaurant that affords the most magnificent view takes advantage of its position by following through with poor value at the bar or dinner table. Revolving restaurants are stock in trade for every standup comic. The locals almost always stay away; I have never been to 360° in Toronto, mostly because yours is not the first horror story I've heard come out of there. ...
Read up-to-date reviews from the local press, and ask the locals where they would go for a memorable dinner - they will never send you to a revolving restaurant. (Unless you are behaving like Basilio Amaro, the proudly self-described "Ugly American"  in this response string, who has nothing nice to say about our fair town; in his case I would not hesitate to recommend the CN Tower with aglowing description of the service and fare at 360°, then tip off the cops as to the inevitable fireworks that would follow. Maybe a night in a nice, clean Toronto jail cell for causing a public disruption would help him improve his truly loathsome attitude). In the meantime, my vote is to stay away until people such as the swindlers at 360° offer true value instead of out-of-date reviews as vindication of their practices.
A good start would be to complain to the building's owners about the bad reputation these restaurants give them. You can write to TrizecHahn at the address which follows.
TrizecHahn Corporation
BCE Place, 181 Bay Street, Suite 3900, Box 800, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2T3
Telephone: (416) 361-7200.. (800) 891-7017, Fax: (416) 364-1503
E-mail: info@trizechahn.com; Web site: www.trizechahn.com
Investor & Media Contact: Tabb Davis Vice President, Investor Relations and
Corporate Communications
What this restaurant want you to hear (from website):

Reviews & Awards
In the past few months, we've been given quite a bit of attention.
                         Winner of Best Overall Restaurant, Best Ambience, and Most Romantic Meal,
                         Where Toronto Magazine Reader's Poll, November, 1997
                         Honourable Mention, Best Dessert Shop, Where Toronto Magazine Reader's Poll, November 1997.
                         One of four Canadian winners of the 1997 DiRoNA Award of Excellence
                         1997 Silver Medal in the category of Toronto Continental Cuisine, Consumer's Choice Award Institute
                         Winner of the 1996 Award of Excellence, Royal Doulton Canada Ltd.
                         Winner for Best Ambiance, Where Toronto Magazine Reader's poll, November 1996
                         Finalist for Restaurant Most Recommended to Friends, Where Toronto
                                                                                (*see above reply from Where Toronto Magazine)
                         Magazine Reader's poll, November 1996
                         Finalist for Best Food, Where Toronto Magazine Reader's poll, November 1996
                        Toronto Sun Readers' Choice Award, Favourite Restaurant with a View,  October 1997
                         Award of Excellence honouring one of the most outstanding restaurant wine
                         lists in the world, Wine Spectator November 1996
           There's more. Lots more.
           So why not stop by and discover what it is that makes dining at 360 so memorable.
           Here's What They're Saying About Us:
                         "It's difficult to take our eyes away from the view to peruse the menu;
                         when we do, it's harder still to choose."
                         Sarah Waxman, Financial Post
                         "...it's Brad Long's expertly crafted, cautiously innovative repertoire that
                         really elevates the place."
                         Theo Geatros, NOW Magazine       (*see above reply from NOW Magazine)
                        "...a startling and beautiful room ... renovated and reopened in April in
                         glorious taste ..."
                         Joanne Kates, Globe & Mail
                         "(Sheryl) Brooks' talent puts her among the elite of our new generation
                         of pastry chefs."
                         Toronto Life Magazine


I have one question for these "critics" from Financial Post, Toronto Life, Globe & Mail, etc., etc.:

--  Would you like to be suddenly forced to order for your family the main course at 11 PM when you want to eat something else from "autiously innovative repertoire" (even for the same price) or you prefer to be kicked out from "startling and beautiful room"????

...ah, sorry... you are not a mortal unsuspecting tourist in some vulnerable situation which will be fully exploited with arrogance and cheap tricks by the "Winner for Best Ambiance".



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