YOU CAN'T FIX STUPID

Spain’s toll roads are deserted. Those mismanaging them see their corporate responsibilities going to the wall. There is a considerable drop in traffic as a consequence of the recession. Then of course, having to be careful with their money, most drivers are choosing toll free alternatives. So what does Ferroviel do? They hike the prices for the tourist season. Duh! Why are so many quasi-commercial bodies, AENA being another one of them, clueless at marketing?

Ferrovial have nothing to do with the pricing of Toll Roads Mike, they built many if not all of them but they are operated by totally different companies.

That said the principal of what you said re pricing and marketing is correct, Spanish businesses (in the main) have not a clue !!

Barry

 Like owners of commercial centres.  A restaurant (for example) just about breaks even.  The owner of the commercial centre sees a couple of businesses close so, to make up the loss of income, puts up the rent on those who are just about making a go of it.  Result, the restaurant can't afford the new rent so closes down.  We have whole swathes of empty shop units which have closed because they can't afford the increased rents.  A fairly successful Italian restaurant recently closed for this very reason and opened up in the next village along where they can afford the rent.  Needless to say, the old restaurant stands empty alongside another one that closed for the same reason a few months ago.

Oh, and they don't put the tolls up in the tourist season.  If you ask them they'll tell you they put the tolls down out of season.  Really joined up thinking.

 The business mentality in Spain remains that in order to make more money, you must charge more money.

I bought a t-shirt the other week, and as I thought it was a bit expensive, I asked for a discount. The shop owner gave me a discount and said that during these times we all need to help each other out. This was the first time I've ever been given a discount in seven years of cheekily asking. Maybe some business owners are catching on to the fact that they need to do this to keep going, but I fear too many will crumble before they come around to this way of thinking.

It costs 70€ to get from Valencia to Barcelona and back on the toll roads which is rediculous. No wonder the road up there was so busy.

It isn't only Spain where this mentality exists, I can list a whole string of other countries where the same mentality is alive and kicking.

 Sooz

I don't doubt that, but I said Spain because we are talking about Spain.

Around Fuengirola it was the ex pat businesses that reacted to the recession quickest by being competitive and it became impossible to eat economicaly  at a locally owned cafe. Now. there are Spanish owned businesses who are also competing and we are happy to support them in their efforts!