MATTHEW BURNETTE

Staff Writer

A fun night at the Coffee County Fair was dampened by an alleged refusal to honor a seemingly valid ride coupon provided by Modern Midways, the company that furnishes the amusement rides at the Fair.

Fair attendee Alaina Murray says she had acquired a coupon for a “buy one get one” offer on wristbands that would make the total price $30. Her and her party were allegedly given the okay to go ahead and buy their wristbands at 4:45 p.m. with the coupon, despite it saying it was from 5 p.m. to closing.

When Murray used the kiosk to purchase her wristbands, the price given was $37 for cash or $42 with a card. She then approached an attendant with Modern Midways who allegedly told her the offer was not valid.

“I talked with the guy with Modern Midways about the price and he said that he couldn’t do anything about the prices in the machines,” explained Murray. “I showed him my coupon, and he said that they must have printed an old coupon and they could not honor that price.”

Murray ended up choosing the $37 option but ended up paying an additional $3 because the machines do not offer change, a total of $10 over what she anticipated spending.

The Modern Midways attendant, according to Murray, allegedly made the assumption that the coupon was no good based on the price that was printed because that is “not a price they would offer.”

The Times acquired a copy of one of the coupons, which were available at local businesses and schools, and upon inspection learned that the offer printed on the coupon does in fact say that it is valid for a buy one get one deal to receive two unlimited wristbands for $30.

It also reads that the coupon is valid for only Sept. 9, the night that Murray attended the Fair, and has no barcode or mm/dd/yyyy expiration date listed on the ticket.

The coupon says that it must be presented at the Midway Box Office for the deal. However, according to the Coffee County Fair Book, which also has an excerpt about the Sept. 9 offer, lists $30 as the online price for a wristband with in-person purchasing being $35.

In a response to an email from the Times, the Coffee County Fair Board said, “Each ticket booth has an attend(ant) there to help or patrons may come to the Fair office and we will put them in touch with the Carnival Manager.”

Modern Midways President Robert Briggs explained to the Times that the issue with Murray was that she purchased her wristbands earlier than 5 p.m.

“When they got there before 5 o’clock, it was the old price because it’s in the system,” he said, also noting that the prices are programmed in “way before” the Fair starts. “The normal price is $35. We had exactly 14 people overpay by $5, and I think maybe six of them came and got a refund.”

“Can you imagine what a bargain that is, $15 to ride all of those rides all night? That’s incredible,” he added, explaining that they offer the discount in Manchester because money is “a little tight.”

Briggs also commended the Coffee County Fair Board for the work they put into the Fair.

“They’re all volunteers and they’re trying to keep a tradition alive there and bring a quality show.

Briggs reiterated that there was no scam on their end.

“There’s a couple isolated people that bought it before the kiosk could reflect the price,” he said. “That’s all it is.”

“The only thing we’re guilty of is letting people in early.”