Bachelorette Parties

From start to finish, my experience with VIP Chicago Parties was a disaster. All the “event coordinator” Emily wanted to do was have me pay for multiple packages or sell me a bunch of different “upgrades.” Eventually, I decided to go with a specific package called the “Taste of Chicago – Two Days of Fun.” I was ready to book, but I wanted to see whether we could change some of the bars so that we could visit more nightclubs. It seemed like a simple request considering that the company has a variety of different buses departing from the same bar. All we would have to do is jump on a different bus. Despite my repeated requests for a call back, it is only after I call for the third or fourth time that I finally get to talk in person to Emily. She indicates that not only is she not sure if we could go to different bars, but that the company was no longer working with the first bar on our itinerary. She tries to claim that the first stop was only part of the VIP pre-party, but it was clear on the itinerary that this was an actual stop on this itinerary because unlike the advertised "free" VIP party, we were supposed to get a (1) free Large Chicago Style Pizza for every 4 girls, and (2) free shots for the group. After I point out that her new itinerary would provide fewer bar stops (including one less free entry and round of free shots), she indicates that she will send me an e-mail with more information. Her email then indicates that the company is no longer offering this package and she states that we can pay basically the same price for a different package, still called "Taste of Chicago - Two Days of Fun" that includes significantly less, including missing the entire second day which was supposed to provide brunch, one bellini per person, and 2 dancers who would seat us, serve us and perform two songs. I responded that the company's response was not satisfactory, that being asked to pay significantly more for the same services felt like a bait and switch situation and asked that the company either honor the package advertised on the website or provide a substantially similar package for the same price. The CEO got involved at that stage. And things went from terrible to even more terrible. She claimed that the package had not been offered since October (which means that its had been advertised on their website for eight months even though it allegedly was no longer being offered and also contradicted her employee's claim that I had just missed it by a day or two). She then claimed that I was attempting to bully her into giving us a package that they don't have (my request was that the company either honor package organized and advertised by the company itself or provide a comparable package for a similar price). She then claimed that I was looking on the wrong website (which I accessed through her employee's e-mail link) and that only the packages on her 'Bachelorette" website were valid. Then she claimed that she was going to sue me for libel, slander and harassment (which, as an attorney, I was well aware were ridiculous threats). I would encourage people not to work with this company. Further, I would be interested in hearing if anyone else has had similar bait and switch experiences with this company. I would be interested to see if the package that I was looking at had actually been booked or if you had tried to book this package and received a similar response from the company. Further, I would be interested if there have been similar problems with groupons for their affiliated company Corporate Tailgate and Boar Rentals. False advertising and bait and switch tactics are illegal in Chicago. Please contact me at jennjin01@yahoo.com.