MET's "suggested donation" vs mandatory

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/metropolitan-museum-art-offers-groupon-deal-admission-lawsuits-argue-customers-allowed-free-article-1.1466302

Looks like the Met continues to be the true masters in the art of deception.
The famed museum launched a Groupon deal offering discounted admission fees — but the prices are slashed from the “recommended” rates.
A company spokesperson said the online deal, posted earlier this month, already boasted 2,000 buyers by Tuesday — when officials with the museum argued their case to dismiss a pair of lawsuits charging the art house with defrauding the public.

The latest litigation, filed in March by three disgruntled museumgoers from the Czech Republic, says the Metropolitan Museum of Art lures the public into paying into the suggested admission rates by making the prices appear mandatory.
The lawsuit was filed in Manhattan Supreme Court four months after another suit sought a court order to stop the museum from “defrauding” the public.

This being the most relevant part of the article for me:
Lawyers for the plaintiffs argued an 1893 state law and the museum’s lease with the city — which provides free space in a city-owned building — that requires the Met to forego admission fees during most of the week.


Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/metropolitan-museum-art-offers-groupon-deal-admission-lawsuits-argue-customers-allowed-free-article-1.1466302#ixzz2fuofytC2

Message edited 9/25/2013 1:10:31 PM.

Re: MOMA's "suggested donation" vs mandatory

So shady to have a Groupon for it.

Re: MOMA's "suggested donation" vs mandatory

I remember my HS art teacher would bring us on class trips and tell us only to give a nickel. He said we were artists, and didn't need to be taken advantage of. I continued my nickel donation all through art college as well. It is quite shady the way the prices are listed. If my teacher hadn't told me, I'm sure the Met would have me for hundreds of dollars by now.

Re: MOMA's "suggested donation" vs mandatory

This article is about the Met, not MoMA.
MoMA is the Museum of Modern Art, and they have a flat fee, not a suggested donation.

But yes, it is shady of the Metropolitan Museum of Art have a Groupon for a suggested donation.

I hate when my friends pay $5 or less just because they can (and then go out after and spend $20-$50 on alcohol). I usually pay $10 or $20 depending on how long I will be there, but I think it is an amazing place, so I do want to support it. If I live din Manhattan, would probably become a member.

My friends claim that they get so much money from corporate donations & philanthropists that they don't really need our $25, which is probably true.

That bit about the lease requiring free admission is interesting, but probably not something they can sustain these days (not that the current economy negates the current economy the terms, just saying it might be impractical.)

Message edited 9/25/2013 1:14:59 PM.

Re: MET's "suggested donation" vs mandatory

Re: MOMA's "suggested donation" vs mandatory

The Museum of Natural History, which is also suggested donation, also had a Groupon last year I think it was!

MET's

the museums was always part of why i loved living in nyc. i was young and broke as hell. i would donate what i could afford and be able to have culture/art. when i could afford to donate more, i did!

shame that they are making it seem mandatory!

Re: MET's "suggested donation" vs mandatory

Especially when children under 12 and members are listed specifically as "free", its really deceptive.

Re: MET's "suggested donation" vs mandatory

There was this crazy homeless guy that used to stand outside the Art Institute in Chicago and yell "For one dolla, I will tell you how to get into the museum fo' free!" and then people would give him a dollar and he would tell them it was suggested donation, lol.

My theory is, when I was in graduate school, if I was going to research or for professional purposes, I wouldn't pay the whole thing, but when DH and I would go on the weekend, we would pay full price.

Now we just get AAM memberships and we get into most museums with our AAM cards. Its $90 for a professional membership, but its access to most museums. Worth it if you go often!