New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
This article could haven easily been titled, “How to Lose 100s of Customers in 1 day,” or “How Not To Run A Facebook Page.”
The Tipsy Seagull in Fall River recently announced some new rules/policies on their Facebook page. Here is what The Tipsy Seagull posted:
Besides the rules, one of the first things that will jump out at you is the 182 comments in three days. What is almost as bad as the new policies is that NONE of the 182 comments are from the Tipsy Seagull. With 182 mostly negative comments, they didn’t respond to any of the criticism for THREE days and counting. A clear no-no in the business customer service world.
The rule that received the most criticism was the “no hats of any kind” rule. The Tipsy Seagull is a floating outdoor bar that has most of their patrons sitting in direct sunlight. Bald patrons will be the most upset about this rule and so will those that purchased a Tipsy Seagull hat for $18 that they sell on their online store.
Not sure if it’s new or a modification to the existing rule, but the second rule that will upset the college crowd is “25+ age restriction after 7 pm Monday-Thursday.” This means they will be turning away most college students, and under 25 year-old police officers, military, firemen, EMS or anyone else that is under the age of 25. Can you imagine serving three tours in Iraq, or fighting crime in Fall River all day, only to be told that you are not old enough to enjoy a drink or meal at their bar?
Third, is the “no baggy shorts” rule. This is the most broad rule you can come up with. Webster dictionary defines baggy as loose, puffed out, or hanging like a bag. Besides spandex, are there shorts that aren’t loose?
Here is a nice gallery off images of patrons and musicians wearing hats on the Tipsy Seagull’s website.
I’ve never been to Tipsy Seagull, but establishments seem to post these rules when they’re attracting the wrong crowd & looking to have a legal reason when they need to tell those people they’re not welcome. Is that why they made the rules? Considering 97% of its Facebook fans didn’t comment, I’m not sure why you’d instantly declare it a bad business decision.
Miles, have you visited their Facebook page lately? Lots of negative feedback, like 50 to 1 negative to positive. Most Facebook posts only reach a small fraction of their actual fans. So, just because 97% didn’t comment simple means the majority haven’t even seen the post. I did a good article here about the subject: http://www.newbedfordguide.com/facebooks-promoted-posts/2012/06/19
There is very little support for the policy at least on Facebook. Also, don’t you find it funny that so many pages and most of their photos on their website have people wearing hats? That they sell hats? If you are going to ban hats, you may want to stop selling hats and not have your website full with so many photos of patrons wearing hats.
Not allowing entry to people under 25 can have some serious backlash. The first police officer or military man they turn away for not being mature enough to drink at their establishment could cause some friction. Especially, if they’ve been drinking there for years and no told they are not welcome.
Finally, not allowing “baggy shorts” is WAY TOO broad of a rule.
I love this article!! So true. The owner is a D bag. I am 25 and went with my boyfriend and his friend. They were wearing hats so he asked them to take them off, mean while others were wearing hats. We left, last time I checked our money is just as good as anyone else’s. The owner picks and chooses who the rules apply to. The drinks are watered down and over priced anyway.
Also, I wonder what kind of age discrimination lawsuit would happen if a bar had a new policy that said “No old people. If you are over 55 you can’t come in.”
bar’s are the one business that have every right to discriminate for any reason other than race, sex, religion or sex. so unless the hat is a yamaka (pardon the spelling if not accurate).
a bar is not just a place to by a budweiser, you can go to a package store for that. a bar is selling the entire experience so they have every right to help manage and prune that experience for the betterment of their product.
*editors note; it’s the internet so i’m not spell/grammar checking the previous though.
The Tipsy Seagull updated their hat policy. From their Facebook page:
Tipsy Seagull Hat Policy
I want to thank all of you for your colorful comments on our recently adopted Hat Policy. Our intent was not to create angst amongst our Seagull customers but just the opposite. The seagull wishes to provide a fun, safe environment where people above age 25 feel comfortable to relax and enjoy the ambience in Fall Riviera. A number of people brought up the issue of skin cancer & melanomas. These are very valid concerns. Therefore we have revised our policy:
During Day light Hours
Ball Caps with curved brims are welcome
Cowboy hats are welcome
Mexican sombreros are welcome
Sun Hats & Tilly Hats are Ok
ALL HATS MUST BE WORN AS INTENDED
NO STRAIGHT BRIMMED HATS
NO HATS AFTER DARK
Under no circumstances will Baggy shorts below your knees and not below your buttocks will be allowed even with a doctors note or if you forgot your belt at home
Hope this clarifies everything! The Seagull wishes all of you a great summer!
Those are some racist shenanigans.
I could care less about this place, because I’ve never heard of it until now, but how in the world is it racist? There’s no mention of anything but hats. Declaring “racism” reminds me of this:
So, who’s the racist Danielle?
I don’t think that the Tipsy has any problem with attracting customers. Many nights there is a waiting line to get in. They do not discriminate against people under 25, just get there before 7 pm on Monday through Thursdays. People over 25 who like to have an enjoyable evening welcom the fact that no “gang bangers” or young people who drink themselves to a stupor. The bar also closes at 11:00 PM to keep the last call door busters away. The establishment could easily open later to bring in more revenue but choose not to so they can have a respectible place. It is extremely rare that they have any trouble whatsoever there. It is always crowded when the weather is good. If you don’t like the rules….don’t go!
The real Tipsy Seagull is in Abaco Bahamas…this place is just a knock-off for the mob to launder money. At least you can still wear a Sombrero, tight ass cycling shorts and a tank top even if you’re a fat old slob…sounds like a great place to go get sunstroke and food poisoning…another win for Massachusetts ffs !