Great Western Coffee Shop

Something I find strange is the Leaflet and posters for "The Night Riviera Sleeper" which state

285 miles in forty winks

I find it a bit strange as Penzance is over 300 miles from London By the SHORTEST rail route, indeed there would appear to be NO station 285 miles from London on the Sleeper Route.

In fact, leaflets saying 305 miles in forty winks would have greater impact on the general public.

However it is 285 miles from Penzance to London BY ROAD!!!!!

Like I like to say, FGW just don't do their homework.

Oh give 'em a break, Smokey - I bet you would be the first to complain if they were to charge you for a 300 mile journey to get between points that are only 285 miles apart  ;D

Its a fair enough point but maybe the advertising team thought that sounded the best.

If you're that bovered why don't you complain under the Trade Descriptions Act.

I'm only pointing out that IF somebody had done 5 minutes research, a better leaflet could have been produced.
There is a psychological advantage in stating over 300 miles, than Under 300, thats good business.

However I will give FGW a break, I used the Night Sleeper from Pad last November, was warmly welcomed on board by the sleeper host, who went through the bits and pieces in the cabin so I could get the best from my journey.
The best advice was to have a beer or 2 as a night cap, grand idea.

Didn't sleep all that well but the Host did warn me that Sleepers take a little getting used to.

Was awakened to a lovely cup of tea as we left Plymouth, was sad to leave a lovely warm train at a freezing cold Icy Bodmin Parkway, which I found is out in the sticks.

What they prob mean is:

Don't drive to Penance, go the "x" miles you would have gone by car, on the sleeper. The fact that it is longer on the rails is irrelevant.

See, I have actually THOUGHT about it!

(If MotorRail still existed, this theory would be stronger)

Coming from someone whose uni course contains something called "understanding customers"

There is little to no advantage in changeing that.

People crave short/cheap things. This is why you find everything priced at .99 instead of to a full pound.

Take for example a Bottle of cider. It will appeal to a customer more if it is ^2.99 instead of ^3 as it makes mind of the person buying it think they're only paying ^2 insted of ^3. So they think it's cheap, and snap it up whilst they can. The same applies here. Stateing its 285 miles instead of 305 miles will make the persons mind believe it's around ~250, instead of over 300.

Leaving the current statement as it is has far more benefits than changeing it.

Who really cares?

Smokey

You need to reverse the logic, I agree about the bottle of cider, but in this case stating 305 miles as opposed to 285 makes the Passenger think they are getting better Value for Money MORE DISTANCE TRAVELLED FOR THE SAME AMOUNT

You don't see special offers 25% LESS for the same price!

You'd think that....

But thats not how it works in practice.

They'll go "oh joy, its over 300 miles" and take another means of transport.

Compared to the current


"oh great, its under 300 miles" and take the train.

the quicker the journy sounds, the more people are going to use it.

(i wouldnt bother trying to challenge this comment, as i've done it for the past 2 years, and know EXACTLY what i'm talking about ;))

but ...
... they'd have known that Bodmin was quite likely to be "out in the sticks": the name 'Bodmin' suggests it might be something to do with the Moor?

 :) :D ;D

I knew Bodmin Parkway was 3 1/2 miles from the town centre, having done some home work, only thing is Bodmin is a lot smaller that I expected.