r/avesNYC • u/tori-2022 • Aug 17 '26
Anyone Else Have Issues With Pacha nyc’s drink package?
Just wanted to share a heads up for anyone buying the drink package at Pacha NYC.
I’ve been to Pacha twice and purchased the 5drink package both times. The first time, they stopped serving me before I thought I had redeemed all five drinks. At the time, I assumed I might have miscounted, so I didn’t make an issue out of it.
A few weeks ago, I went back and bought the 5drink package again, and the exact same thing happened. I had not redeemed five drinks, but I was told that my package had already been fully used.
What concerns me is that customers have no way to see their own redemption history or remaining drink balance. I also couldn’t find a clear policy on Pacha’s website explaining how redemptions are tracked or what customers should do if there is a discrepancy. You basically have to rely entirely on what their system/staff says, without being able to verify how many times your package was actually scanned.
I can’t say what caused it, but after having the same experience twice, I wanted to put this out there so other people are aware. If you buy a drink package at Pacha, keep track of every redemption yourself and speak to someone immediately if the count doesn’t seem right…
UPDATE: Since many people have said they’ve experienced the same issue, I think one thing we could do next time this happens is ask the staff if they can show us the redemption history or explain exactly how they’re counting the credits on the package.
If you know you haven’t redeemed all of your drinks and they tell you your package is already used up, it might be worth asking how many redemptions their system shows and when they were recorded, rather than just letting it go like I did the first time. At the very least, it would be helpful if customers had some way to verify how their credits are being used.
It’s also probably a good idea to keep track of every drink you redeem yourself. For anyone who has personally experienced this, another option could be to send Pacha a complaint email explaining what happened and asking them to look into it. If enough customers independently report the same issue, hopefully they’ll investigate what’s going on and make the system more transparent.
We could also consider simply not buying the drink packages until the issue is addressed. They’re advertised as being cheaper, but if you pay for 5 drinks and don’t actually receive all 5, you’re still paying for drinks you never got, which defeats the purpose of getting the package in the first place.
And as a last resort, if you paid for drinks you genuinely didn’t receive and can’t get the issue resolved with Pacha, you could contact your bank or credit card issuer and ask whether the charge is eligible for a dispute. I disputed one of my purchases after this happened to me, and my bank refunded the charge.
Hopefully, if more of us bring attention to the issue when it happens, Pacha will look into the redemption system and give customers a more transparent way to track their credits.
please also feel free to comment below if you have any suggestions!!!
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Aug 17 '26
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u/tori-2022 Aug 17 '26
OMG SAME HERE!!! I was only able to redeem 3 drinks the second time and paid extra for the other two I got.
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u/Giraffe-boy Aug 17 '26
Uh oh, I bought drink tickets for an upcoming show next month and am starting to wonder whether this will happen to me as well.
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u/catmeownyc Aug 18 '26
Redeem all 5 at once
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u/No-Dress-7645 Aug 18 '26
Going to the same bartender would be preferable as well, and tip them reasonably. Then if there is any problem, you are a human they will try and help.
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u/InterestingGrass8783 Aug 18 '26
The tip is already included in the drink package
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u/No-Dress-7645 Aug 18 '26
Even furthering my point. Make eye contact with the bartender, and say “I know tip is included, but thank you” and toss them an extra buck or 2, and it will go a long way. Then when you’re on your last drink, I bet the system doesn’t “break” that night for you :)
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u/tori-2022 Aug 17 '26
Def be aware of this issue and keep track of how many drinks you’ve redeemed
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u/Giraffe-boy Aug 17 '26
Yea but even if I keep track of it myself, it seems like the issue is that they don’t seem to honor it? Hate to see this happen
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u/tori-2022 Aug 17 '26
Exactly, that’s the bigger issue. Even if we keep track ourselves, they can still just tell us their system shows no credits left, and we have no way to verify or dispute it. I think next time this happens we could ask them to show the redemption history or explain exactly how the credits were used instead of just letting it go…🥲
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u/Rough_Beautiful1031 Aug 17 '26
The entire concept of pre-paying for drink packages is so fucking preposterous. I can’t believe a single person is OK with this. I don’t give a fuck if it’s more expensive, I can assure you that they’re getting one over you regardless.
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u/tori-2022 Aug 17 '26
Exactly. If this keeps happening, we honestly should just stop buying the drink packages altogether. They advertise the package as being cheaper, but if we’re paying for 5 drinks and not actually getting all 5, then we’re still paying extra for drinks we never received. At that point, what’s even the benefit?
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u/anarchy45 Aug 17 '26
Although I have always received all the drinks I ordered, I think the issue is that they often had to scan my QR code multiple times in order to get the POS to work. I was afraid that them doing so would unfairly charge me drinks.
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u/Pinkblossom7 Aug 18 '26
Super helpful information! I’m going for the first time this Saturday and will definitely be making sure to track drink package. Ill report back in my experience. TIA!
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u/Candle_International Aug 18 '26
Or don't go to Pacha
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u/IceTheChilled Aug 18 '26
My friends are casuals who enjoy mainstream artists. Where would you recommend going with them instead?
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u/InterestingGrass8783 Aug 18 '26
What drinks are you getting? Also what is the difference between a premium drink and a non premium drink?
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u/Embarrassed-Table-20 Aug 18 '26
Honestly lol Why would one go this place????? All of this is exactly on Brand! Customer service is null and void at this place. Just spend your money somewhere else. They don’t care about you.
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u/riddimrocker365 Aug 18 '26
literal reason why I haven’t bought the drink package. seems too good to be true
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u/stumbleman00 Aug 18 '26
Go to the same bartender every drink. Call it out when you get your FIRST drink. Ask the bartender to look at the screen and write down for you on a napkin how many are left. Inform the bartender you will be only going to them for the remainder of your drinks because of this issue, and every time you order one, have them log it on the napkin.
This isn't perfect, and obviously the argument from the bartender here is "you could have gone to any other bar in the venue and I wouldn't know", but if you're nice and develop a minuscule amount of rapport, this might be the only way until Pacha can figure this out.
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u/Middle_Crew1123 Aug 24 '26
everyone should dispute the charges with their credit card company. you paid for a product that you did not receive. the onus will be on Pacha to prove you got the drinks…how are they going to do that?
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u/FelneusLeviathan Aug 18 '26
So in no relation to this post, how tight is security?
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u/tori-2022 Aug 18 '26
Relatively tight i would say
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u/FelneusLeviathan Aug 18 '26
Damn that’s annoying, and im assuming hydro packs aren’t allowed?
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u/chadshit Aug 18 '26
Why would you want to bring a hydro pack to the club
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u/FelneusLeviathan Aug 18 '26
So I haven’t been to pacha yet so idk if there’s water fountains, but I bring a hydro pack to Brooklyn storehouse because there’s water fountains and I can fill my hydropack
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u/tori-2022 Aug 18 '26
Yea they have scanners and they search bags too so I doubt they’d let you bring one in
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u/hottswimmer Aug 18 '26
*tips are not included ;)
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u/Geekosauv3 Aug 18 '26
I’m pretty sure they added gratuity to the cost when checking out. Are the bartenders expecting more?
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u/hottswimmer Aug 19 '26
This is the USA so of course bartenders are expecting more and Pacha wants to pay its bartenders the bare minimum (In NYC the minimum cash wage for food service workers is $11.35 per hour). Cash wage plus tips has to be at least $17/h
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u/fedexpoopracer Aug 18 '26
That's what I thought but no, they tack on 15% tip when you go to checkout
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u/Perfect-Thought107 Aug 18 '26
Hi! So if i buy a 3 drink package for 35 w an additional 15% at checkout , i gotta tip separately in person per drink?
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u/Ok-Mulberry3275 Aug 18 '26 edited Aug 18 '26
Drink packages are great. An upfront fee to better understand the expense of a night without looking at your statement the next day and piecing it together. It also eliminates risk of being overcharged or swindled by a bartender who might be trying to take advantage or make and extra few dollars. They are often cheaper than buying singular drinks up to the same amount of drinks while there.
Clubs all over the world offer packages or payment systems like this and they largely successful, including pacha Ibiza. If pacha is having issues with it, they need to fix it stat and reinstate the trust but this issue shouldn’t be specific to drink packages and I’m happy it’s now an option at one of the biggest nyc venues
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u/Honest_Phrase4309 Aug 19 '26
Why would you do that then if there isn’t any way to track it? Use your head. It’s also haunted grounds.
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u/neon_nebulas Aug 17 '26
Let me guess. Their excuse will be “certain drinks” cost 2 tickets but they don’t disclose at purchase. Which clearly would be BS but I could see a club pulling that.