Some families had a bone to pick with Ribfest

Naperville's Ribfest turned out to be more expensive than some families were expecting because of confusion over coupons.

The miscommunication angered some festgoers but organizers say they tried to clear up the issue as quickly as they could.

In an effort to provide a discount to families, organizers from the Naperville Exchange Club offered a coupon on the fest's Web site for "$10 unlimited carnival rides for the whole family" that was good from noon to 4 p.m. Thursday and Sunday.

But when Caryn Koranda of Aurora showed up Thursday afternoon she was surprised when she was charged $10 per person for unlimited rides, not per family. With children in tow and the adult admission already paid, it was too late to turn back.

"When you have little children you can't turn around and tell them no when you're already there," Koranda said.

Ribfest Chairman Don Emery said the $10 coupons - a $25 value - were well intentioned. By indicating it was for the "whole family" organizers were trying to convey the message that even adults could get unlimited rides for $10. They never intended for the coupon to mean $10 bought rides for the whole family, especially if people tried to bring families of 20 or 30 people.

"It was a miscommunication on our part on Thursday and we tried quickly and hard to correct it ... but that was one of the mistakes we made" Emery said.

Later in the day Thursday, the coupon was edited with more specific wording, although the Web site was down periodically throughout the weekend. The carnival hours also were extended to accommodate families.

Food discounts also caused problems. The Ribfest Web site offered a coupon for $3 off half-slab rib dinners.

But Naperville resident Jeff Rustemeyer, who experienced the carnival confusion as well, said the rib vendor would not allow him to keep the coupon for other family members. As a result, his children opted for $1 hot dogs but had to stand in long lines to get them.

"I think what they're trying to do is great, trying to make it more reasonable at off times for families (by offering coupons)," he said. "But they executed it very poorly."

Like the carnival discount, the food coupons were only meant to apply to one person but Emery said when organizers realized that would mean some people would have to print a dozen coupons they tried to get the message to vendors to let visitors reuse their coupons.

After three hours at the festival Thursday, the Rustemeyer family spent about $110 and Jeff said while he'd like to support the cause - the festival raises money for charities that fight child abuse - the costs and crowds were enough to deter him from returning.

Emery said his feedback and others will all be given serious consideration.

"Every year we try to do a little better, try to make adjustments," he said. "We listen to all the feedback and try not to make the same mistakes again."

Overall though, he was pleased with Ribfest 2008 and expects to have final attendance and money figures within the next few days.

"We're delighted, if you look at the way the park ran, people came out all four days and seemed to have a good time," Emery said. "The weather was fantastic and all in all we feel good about the net results."