tuscl

Rip-Off Clubs

Club_Goer_Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Friday, March 21, 2014 8:55 AM
A couple got ripped off for $1,200 in Las Vegas club. See: [view link] In my club-going experience, I've ​learned to recognize rip-off clubs. Generally, I think of them as tourist trap clubs. Those are likely to be found in downtown areas. They do much of their business from "one-timers" and don't even attempt to attract regular customers. I was just commenting to another TUSCL member that Glitter Gulch in Las Vegas is likely in the best position to take advantage of customers in this fashion. There are many hotels and casinos within walking distance. It's right on Fremont St., which in itself is a tourist attraction. This club is able to thrive just on the foot traffic in front of its location.. It sounds as if they were held captive until they agreed to pay. I wonder if they could have just refused to pay. The bouncer was in on the scam, so they may have been physically intimated. (I have a PM into the member to ask other details.) I wonder if enough police reports filed by gypped patrons would get the club investigated. Any thoughts?

10 comments

  • JackKash
    •
    10 years ago
    A club (especially in Vegas)is a predatory environment designed to separate one from their money and so your guard or at least awareness must be up. Now I have never experienced something this blatant but have been talked into things (after a few hours of drinking) I later regretted but chastised myself for being taken (admitting I'm a big boy and should have known better). These experiences though, have encouraged me to be wary and try to control he situations rather than let them control me (I succeed sometimes, F'n PL) and actually has added to my enjoyment. Here though, I would have been wary from the get go, told the dancers to stop and flat refused to pay (really, $300 for a table dance). I would have then just walked out at that point. Club_Goer gets it right that this is place is the perfect trap. The couple doesn't sound like regular PLs like the rest of us, but newbies wandering Vegas and perhaps on a whim, decided to try something a bit decadent for them. The sharks smelled blood in the water as soon as they walked in. I'm glad though that she found TUSCL to vent and write a review, not that we needed the warning.
  • shadowcat
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    10 years ago
    I just shake my head every time I hear one of these stories. Were they sober and understood at the time or after sobering up, they are pissed that they spent that much money and now blame the club and want revenge. I cannot understand how anybody that is sober would sign for those kind of charges. I would have stood my ground and called the police.
  • Club_Goer_Seattle
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    10 years ago
    Jack and Shadow, Thanks for the reinforcement. I just read the review again, and she doesn't say whether or not they had been drinking before or during their time there. But she is aware that alcohol can be a factor. Note her comment: "They prey on tourists, the intoxicated and the uninformed." I don't believe I have ever posted a review previously as a discussion item, but this one was certainly warranted.
  • Papi_Chulo
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    10 years ago
    Per the review: “… My husband and I were on vacation last week and went into GG to have a few drinks and watch/tip some dancers after having a blast walking around Fremont Street …” One would think there was a certain amount of alcohol involved that would cloud one’s judgment. Even a newbie should have some idea that *one* dance is not $300. What I’ve seen happen other times w.r.t. newbies is a dancer starts to dance and does not stop nor ask the PL after each song if they want another one – thus they will dance for 15 or 20 minutes and then hit up the PL with a few songs (and a few over-counts) at the end. I doubt it if it’s that clear cut that the dancers danced for the equivalent of one song (3 minutes or so) and then they were being charged $300 – the OPs probably feel gypped and they probably were; but not to the tune of one song for $300 – IMO – but anything *is* possible.
  • jackslash
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    10 years ago
    I feel for this couple, but they were too easily intimidated. They should have refused to pay and walked out. If the bouncer stopped them, they should have called 911. I would never have paid.
  • popondemand
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    10 years ago
    I have had this happen to me in vegas. It was my 24th bday and I was walking around the downtown strip by treasure island. A cab driver approached me and offered me a free ride and said he'd take me to a good spot. I went along because I didn't know of any good clubs and hadn't done my research. The driver dropped me off at this shit club on the road behind treasure island (about a half mile away on the right to circus circus). I walked in, there were about 6 dancers, no patrons. 2 girls come up to me and ask me for a dance (i wasn't even settled yet). I said ok to 1 of the girls and we went back. I'm back there with one girl and another comes back too to join in. It had been maybe 20 seconds and I ask, "how much is 1 dance?" They say they dont do dances and i have rented the dance booth for $300 by walking back there. I got up quickly and said, absolutely not. I threw down a couple $20's for the short minute i was back there so the girls wouldn't be pissed and start a scene which I could tell was about to happen. So I'm &40 in the hole and realize this club is a scam. I went up and bought a soda and then sat at the front row for about 45 minutes, being the only patron, not spending any money. The owner or manager realized I wasn't spending any $, and asked me to leave. The enjoyment of watching the 6 girls they had working dance (all looking very pissed because they knew I wasn't going to spend anything) made up for the bullshit. When i walked outside there was another cab driver waiting to pick me up... I go to the cab and the (different) driver lets me know that the previous cab driver gets paid by the club to take tourists here, and its something all cab drivers do. So... Never trust cab drivers in vegas... well at least most of them. The second driver took me to a local club and gave me a free pass so I didn't pay anything... he just wanted a tip. The local club (i forget the name) was all good.
  • Essdub
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    10 years ago
    I think the Glitter Gulch probably has to rank close to top of the worst strips club anywhere, I have a hard time imagining how they would even remain in business if not for the location. I agree with the stand your ground sentiment and calling the cops if need be, particularly if you aren't driving. I've heard of more than one dancer getting ripped off because the customer didn't have money for all the dances he got, and even in that circumstance I don't think management has any right to do anything other than making them leave and banning them from the club.
  • lopaw
    •
    10 years ago
    That's too bad. I have been to the GGG several times but as a seasoned PL I know what I'm doing - many couples strolling along Fremont suddenly deciding to live on the wild side for an hour or so do not. Instead of calling the cops I would just put it down as a very expensive life lesson.
  • SlickSpic
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    10 years ago
    You never call the cops.
  • SketchinGuy
    •
    10 years ago
    popondemand - It wasn't Talk of the Town, was it? That's never happened to me, but I walked in there once just to see what it was like. Yecchh, what a shithole.
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