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Get Jesse: Vegas hotel gambles with text ads

by JESSE JONES / KING 5 News

Bio | Email | Follow: @getjesse

KING5.com

Posted on November 30, 2009 at 11:00 PM

Updated Monday, Nov 30 at 11:26 PM

Last August, Michael Gardner spent a weekend with friends in Las Vegas.

They had a great game plan - hit the strip, gaze at Hoover Dam and take in the Freemont Street experience.

But first, they had to check in at the world famous Luxor Hotel.

"During registration, I was asked for my cell phone number and it was in such a way I thought they were just trying to get a contact number," said Gardner.

It seems as soon as the hotel had Gardner's number, they began texting him several times a day with ads.

"I use a pay-as-you-go plan, and so I've got a restricted number of text messages I can get and things. So I thought, 'Why are they doing this?'" said Gardner.

Figuring this was a losing proposition, Gardner went straight to the manager at the Luxor.

"He said, 'Well, we'll go right ahead and get your number taken off the list. We'll contact our marketing department,'" said Gardner.

I guess what happens in Vegas doesn't necessarily stay there because, four months later, Gardner's phone buzzed again.

"They're sending me another ad in a text message. What are they doing?" said Gardner.

The Luxor was texting him again with another special deal, advertising a 48-hour sale.

"It was just irritating," said Gardner.

So, Gardner contacted us and we got in touch with the people from the Luxor. We're told texting guests is a common practice in Vegas but, apparently, someone dropped the ball.

The hotel promised again that the messaging will stop.

Las Vegas is a great place to gamble, but Gardner says the Luxor's numbers game has to stop.

"That's kind of neat, but at the same time, they didn't say to me, you know, 'Would you like to receive these?'" said Gardner.

The lesson is this: Whenever someone asks for your phone number, find out why. You may be hearing from them more than you'd like.
 

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