Visitors to Met museum in NYC sue over "deceptive" admission fee

[Hum]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Visiting the venerable Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City can be a transformative experience for any art lover. And best of all, it's free.

But a lawsuit filed on Tuesday against the museum complains that most museum-goers have no idea that the "recommended" $25 entrance fee is nothing more than a suggestion.

The plaintiffs include a member of the museum, along with two Czech tourists who purchased single-day admissions. They argue the museum employs misleading signs and other techniques to dupe its 6 million annual visitors into believing they must pay to gain access.

The museum's rent-free lease with the city mandates that it open its doors to the public for free on multiple days a week, although it is permitted to ask for a voluntary fee. But the lawsuit says the museum deliberately deceives its visitors into believing that the charge is mandatory.

Signs above the admissions desk that list the entrance fees feature the word "recommended" in small type below the word "admissions" in larger, bold type. The lawsuit also pointed out that visitors are funneled in lines to the admissions desks, where cashiers await to collect the fee.

"MMA has misled, and regularly misleads, members of the general public to believe, on all days of the week during times when the MMA is open, that they are required to pay the Admission Fees in order to enter Museum Exhibition Halls," the lawsuit claimed.

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[+devHead Subscriber²]

I don't know about now, since I haven't lived in NYC in about 8 years, but years ago when the 'recommended' admission was like $13, I remember seeing a smaller sign that read "Pay what you wish; you must pay something." It's too bad it isn't like the Smithsonian, which is really free - there's no place anywhere to pay because James Smithson made it that way before his death.

[Hum]

I think about every place in NYC is a pirate.

[techbeck]

It's $25 bucks. Get over it people. That money helps keep places like this open and available to the public.

[Astra.Xtreme]

It's $25 bucks. Get over it people. That money helps keep places like this open and available to the public.

You missed this part:

"The museum's rent-free lease with the city mandates that it open its doors to the public for free on multiple days a week, although it is permitted to ask for a voluntary fee."

[techbeck]

You missed this part:

"The museum's rent-free lease with the city mandates that it open its doors to the public for free on multiple days a week, although it is permitted to ask for a voluntary fee."

I got the point, just think it is stupid to sue over $25. Just money taken away from the museum and then it for sure won't be free. People are just to sue happy.

If you go to someplace and enjoy the experience, or been there multiple times or with several people, then don't be a cheap ass and shell out $25.

[Astra.Xtreme]

I got the point, just think it is stupid to sue over $25. Just money taken away from the museum and then it for sure won't be free. People are just to sue happy.

If you go to someplace and enjoy the experience, or been there multiple times or with several people, then don't be a cheap ass and shell out $25.

Nobody cares about the price. The problem is that the museum is deceiving people into thinking they're required to pay.

They have that strict deal with the city, so if they are coaxing people into thinking otherwise, then that's a problem.

[techbeck]

Nobody cares about the price. The problem is that the museum is deceiving people into thinking they're required to pay.

They have that strict deal with the city, so if they are coaxing people into thinking otherwise, then that's a problem.

I know that. Was just giving my opinion/thoughts.

[Growled Member]

I got the point, just think it is stupid to sue over $25.

I guess for some people it's the principle of the matter. I wonder how many millions purchase admission that didn't need to? Maybe some couldn't afford it.

[Hum]

Signs should clearly say, Free admission, Donations welcome

[spenser.d]

Signs should clearly say, Free admission, Donations welcome

I disagree. People should learn to read or do a bit of research. Its pretty clear from their website that you don't have to pay.

[jerzdawg]

Pulled right from the website:

Admission

Fee includes same-day admission to the Main Building and The Cloisters museum and gardens. There is no extra charge for entrance to exhibitions.

Recommended Adults $25 Seniors (65 and older) $17 Students $12* Members (Join Now) Free Children under 12 (accompanied by an adult) Free

To help cover the costs of exhibitions, we ask that you please pay the full recommended amount.

Seems very simple to understand that you are not required to pay for admission, they are even saying please...

[Hum]

^ Except at the doors.

[majortom1981]

Pulled right from the website:

Admission

Fee includes same-day admission to the Main Building and The Cloisters museum and gardens. There is no extra charge for entrance to exhibitions.

Recommended Adults $25 Seniors (65 and older) $17 Students $12* Members (Join Now) Free Children under 12 (accompanied by an adult) Free

To help cover the costs of exhibitions, we ask that you please pay the full recommended amount.

Seems very simple to understand that you are not required to pay for admission, they are even saying please...

What they do is say you don't have to pay but not let you in if you did not pay. That's what the lawsuit is about.

[jerzdawg]

What they do is say you don't have to pay but not let you in if you did not pay. That's what the lawsuit is about.

Umm.. did you actually read the article. It clearly says that they were mislead, not that they didnt let them in (considering right in the article it says "two Czech tourists who purchased single-day admissions")

[Growled Member]

Pulled right from the website:

Admission

Fee includes same-day admission to the Main Building and The Cloisters museum and gardens. There is no extra charge for entrance to exhibitions.

Recommended Adults $25 Seniors (65 and older) $17 Students $12* Members (Join Now) Free Children under 12 (accompanied by an adult) Free

To help cover the costs of exhibitions, we ask that you please pay the full recommended amount.

Seems very simple to understand that you are not required to pay for admission, they are even saying please...

That still seems a bit misleading to me.

[xendrome]

That still seems a bit misleading to me.

Yea it is, it is written as an "Admission Fee" which it should clearly be a "Donation", it is implying that there is a fee no matter what, but the recommended fee is $25.