West Cost Amusements: Last year when we attended the Oliver Fair on Friday night (which we do every year and our children can’t wait for it they are so excited), they has several rides not available. The Ferris Wheel was there, but not running, The Children’s Dragon Roller Coaster was not running. And there was at least 1-2 other rides more for older children/adults that were not running.

This year when we got there were only 2 rides for small children running (a car ride, and an up and down dragon thing). Bulgy The Whale was not running and this year there was no Ferris Wheel, and no bouncy fun-house with a slide thing they usually have. I complained to management at West Coast Amusements who were less than gracious, they then seemed to get the Dragon Roller Coaster for the kiddies going, but it took several hours. Not long after they did get it going, something on it caught fire and the poor operator was in a total panic trying to get the kids off fast. By this time, I was mad.

We bought a large book of tickets and there was nothing for the smaller kids to ride. I at the very least wanted the 4 tickets for the ride which we paid for that was cut short because it was on fire! The woman at the office was incredibly rude about it and claimed there was no refunds under any circumstances. She seemed put out that she even owed me the 4 tickets for the 2 second ride that broke. When we got there the Superman Type ride (the one where you’re on your belly) wasn’t operating, but it seems after 3 hours they did manage to get that one going. As well, the ride where they pull you up the tower and drop you in a free fall worked when we got there, but stopped working sometime during the night.

Many people were complaining at the booth that there were only 2 rides for the little ones to ride (mostly) and they couldn’t get a refund. And even the adult rides seemed to go in and out of order. The staff was rude and belligerent and the prices were so far from reasonable. Where was the Ferris wheel from last year (that the little ones like)? Where was the big bouncy structure with the big slide the little ones like? This company is a total scam. They charge you for tickets, knowing 1/3 of the rides aren’t operational, and then are extremely rude and belligerent when you dare to complain. The fact that the rides seem to go in and out of business confirms they must have some mechanical difficulties. They were in the Oliver Parking Lot almost a full week before the fair went on! One would think they could have been working on getting everything up and in order in time for the opening. There must be better companies to hire than this one. They really are bad business people and rude and crude to boot. The first time I went to complain there wasn’t even anyone in the office at all. I had to check out the behind the scenes area to find someone to talk to.

At the ticket booth there were several other families with small children trying to unload their books of tickets to other people in line when they realized there just wasn’t enough for the small ones to do and the people in the booth refused refunds. All around in general this was absolutely shoddy service and even worse a terrible attitude.

Susan Knox
Osoyoos BC