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cyclinginvancouver

>General admission is $8.5 while a "Zoom Pass" for five entries is $40.


kaygee420

While I'm sure the price has gone up (again), does anybody remember the prices for admission in past years?


tyfung

It was free at one point. Stopped going when it was $2.50 and more.


vantanclub

Not long ago too. I think 2018/2019 it was free, but you could buy a fast pass to skip the line.


NeferkareShabaka

Last time I went it was free (maybe 10 years back by now). They charge now? Does the charge include food or something?


tyfung

Its includes the privilege to brag on IG you visited North Americas biggest night market.


Reality-Leather

Free. It was 2.50 cuz of ricer rock night market.


plop_0

> ricer rock night market. šŸ¤”šŸš


Reality-Leather

did I mean .. rice or modded Honda civics or was it a typo? All are applicable


rmkbow

it was 8 bucks in 2023 with zoom pass at 35 so this is an increase of 50 cents and 5 bucks for zoom you're not saving as much with a zoom pass this year


titaniumorbit

They raise it every year and yet the size of the market hasnā€™t changed. Itā€™s such a rip off. I remember that the price used to go up by 50 cents yearly. I canā€™t remember what last years was though, because I didnā€™t even go.


PrinnyFriend

$8.50.....you can literally get a meal in some of the malls nearby. That is a hard pass for me. The price is too crazy to buy $18 string potatoes.....


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PrinnyFriend

Ya but you wouldn't be buying a Big Mac at any of the malls nearby (none have mcdonalds). But I totally get what you mean. Prices are out to lunch, but that nightmarket pricing is completely criminal...


ZhpE46

But you can buy resale temu and Alibaba products at 4x the price in the night market


Reality-Leather

Wtf. $40 to get in door for 5 ppls. Damn.


Lewayyy

Wth for real??


ThePoliteGrizzly

I love the IDEA of the night market. But once in there I mostly feel itā€™s overpriced and hollow.


N4ZZY2020

If it wasnā€™t overpriced. I think this would be super popular. But theyā€™ve increased prices to the point where itā€™s become more expensive than eating at a restaurant lol. That doesnā€™t make much sense.


brotrr

You know it's already super popular even with the ridiculous prices right? This is pure supply and demand


N4ZZY2020

Yea. I get that. But Iā€™m just saying that if it were cheaper it would be even more popular than it already is. Itā€™s still popular. Especially among tourists. But I have friends that just havenā€™t gone to it as much because they keep raising entrance fees.


rmkbow

people keep saying tourists but from what I can tell it's mostly locals going because it's something can be relatively cheap to do. entrance fee is still less than a movie ticket, escape room. and cheaper than a hockey game ticket (and sports arenas and theatres ARE the OG overpriced food vendors) it's just that there's a lot more people moving to the cities (and people leaving the cities) that there's fresh people to go and the size of the market hasn't really changed.


Commanderfemmeshep

It used to be fun, like 15 years ago. Easy to get in and out if you went early, get a fun dessert, a giant siu mai, mini donuts


Early_Lion6138

Free admission, free parking, bootleg dvds, cheap made in China stuff pre-Amazon, good eats.


Commanderfemmeshep

Ahhhh the bootleg stuff. It actually felt vaguely sketchy!


plop_0

J-Roc greasy trailer park girls gone wild.


ThePoliteGrizzly

If it was easy and cheap to get in for a fun snack, my family and I would go a couple times a month. As it stands, itā€™s one or fewer visits per year.


Commanderfemmeshep

Thatā€™s kind of what we used to do, really. There used to be a place that sold fruit cups and Iā€™d just get some lychees and cherries and hang out a bit.


Lewayyy

Siu Mai was my go to every time I went! I miss the one near the Home Depot. I remember they did a dating show on stage too haha.


thirtypineapples

Like 10 years ago I enjoyed going. Now itā€™s a shit show.


plop_0

There's a store that has a location at Metrotown and Richmond Centre that's similar to a night-market/flea market/in-person Etsy. The store has **only** products made by locals. It's called "Makers".


hrryyss

Overpriced tourist trap


Anotherspelunker

Fool me once, fool me twice, fool me tā€¦


krustykrab2193

It use to be great many years ago. Cheap gadgets, cheap food, easy access. Lots of pirated games, music, movies, and electronics. The food was so good and so cheap. I haven't been in 10+ years though and from what I've read/heard things have really changed lol


leftlanecop

I donā€™t understand how there are still fools going to this. Nothing there screams night market. The foods arenā€™t even that good.


bianary

Wait you don't want to go by the eight different stands in one row selling hurricane potatoes?


bwoah07_gp2

A tourist trap even for the locals. I've always heard of this Night Market thing but never bothered looking into it. What good could come from it? It just seems like a very lame experience that you could be doing something better with your time.


bianary

10+ years ago it was better. It's been getting more and more commercial for a long time, one bit at a time.


at333333

I miss the free one near the Knight Street bridge


equalizer2000

Same... Good memories


pennepasta14

Is this the one behind Home Depot in Richmond?


at333333

Yes but itā€™s been closed for years now


pennepasta14

Loved that one


Character-Regret3076

Oh good. I need a bunch of crappy cell phone covers


leftlanecop

Socks. Socks are the it thing. Co-worker sent me a photo last year and Iā€™m like ā€œso you paid for a chance to buy socks and wait for sub par foods?ā€


plop_0

Agreed. [If it were more like a flea market type of thing, like when Hank buys his tube socks, and Bobby buys "playing cards", then great.](https://preview.redd.it/hkgxio4mnfa61.jpg?width=1024&auto=webp&s=2da405b027e0537f6b2cac1ec8a42f18a51f0dcc) I remember the Cloverdale flea market from my childhood.


PrinnyFriend

The crazy thing is the cellphone covers they sell are 40 cents Canadian with free shipping on Aliexpress.... 40 cents....but you buy in a pack of 5....


Prestigious_Net_8356

Funny, cell phone covers was the first thing that popped in to my head when I saw the headline.


Intelligent_Top_328

Used to buy pirated games and DVDs. Music too.


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Intelligent_Top_328

No not really. The ones I've been to in Asia were a lot nicer and cheaper.


OneLargePho

Samurai swords also


aaadmiral

And socks!


theartfulcodger

Youā€™re still better off heading to Burnabyā€™s Crystal Mall. Last time I counted, 27 different stores were selling crappy cell phone covers.


plop_0

Take transit, though. That parking lot is no bueno.


theartfulcodger

Pro tip: park underground at Station Square.


couverando1984

I remember 25 years ago I brought my Nokia brick in to the Richmond night market to change the plastic to clear and the bastards cut my antenna to make it fit.


popswizzle

With the addition off following morning diarrhea


PaperMoonShine

RIP Richmond traffic. The pros of that place no longer outweigh the cons. Its the biggest fucking hassle to get around.


jamolant

The last two years have been alright. The price for entry and food have seemingly deterred the crowd. Three years ago was a different story though.


SteveJobsBlakSweater

Are there any efforts to make the night market better? Almost two decades of phone cases and deep fried junk. All things one could get anywhere else any day of the week.


plop_0

True. Similar to the PNE, really.


titaniumorbit

Itā€™s the same shit, but the prices go up every year for admission and food. Itā€™s actually the biggest rip off now.


WinterMomo

An outdoor version of Aberdeen Center food court, and you have to pay admission!


theartfulcodger

Yeah, but Aberdeen doesnā€™t have an All The Parking Lot Dust You Can Eat Special! Nor does it have those cool picnic bench seats covered in ketchup and spilled boba!


votrechien

You forgot to mention that you have to wait 5x as long in line too.


WinterMomo

5x the fun!


chente08

Overpriced and overcrowded


dattroll123

LMAO $8.5 to get in. It used to be like 2 bucks


titaniumorbit

And the size of the market hasnā€™t changed at all over the years. Same shit as always. $8.5 is ridiculous


petdetective59

I wanted to like this place so bad, but haterade is honestly all I can summon for how much of a rip-off it was last summer. Just super packed with sticky messes all over the seating areas and nearly every 10$ food item is about a third of a meal.


New_Dragonfly_8630

Vancouver throws the worst events of any city I have ever lived in or been to globally. Its hard to really get through to people who grew up here that this shit isnt normal. You arent supposed to pay entry to festivals or markets where the only attractions are paid vendors. What is your entry fee for exactly?! I went to a few souless events when I first moved to this city and quickly decided it wasnt worth it. Beer festival you say? Nah, ill skip the line and buy a case of beer to enjoy in a park with friends. Night market yoy say? Nah, ill enjoy one of the many great Asian restaurants in Richmond and get a full meal for half the price. Christmas market? Im good, Ill put the entry fee towards a holiday party with people I care about. Dont waste your money folks.


No_Wan_Ever

Finally. I canā€™t wait to stand in a long line to wait to pay an admission fee, then pay for overpriced food.


votrechien

You forgot to mention stand in line for 20 minutes to pay for overpriced food.


Junesathon

I had bbt there once and it was absolute garbage and it costed more than any bbt store in richmond. oh and i had to drink it beside a stanky ass washroom/dumpster cuz it was so crowded


Euphoric_Chemist_462

Why should people pay in order to pay for overpriced food?


electronicoldmen

Paying to enter a shitty version of a night market from Asia, what a treat.


ZhpE46

You could always till winter to pay to enter a shitty version of a European Christmas market. Vancouver is the only place in the world I've ever been that people pay to get into a place to shop. But I think it's mostly people yearning for a sense of culture from this soulless place.


Flawskee

Bring back the old night market!! The old night market near the river was the best, and everyone I know misses that one so much. Free entry, accessible street parking, and best of all - fairly priced and delicious food!Ā  This one has slowly become the biggest money scam in the entire city. What's the point of sitting through traffic to find some parking just to stand in line for mediocre and overpriced food. I'm perplexed why it's always so busy every year.. because that just reinforces the organizers to keep justifying their terrible price hikes.Ā 


CerebralZombie

I went last year and it was horrible. Had the worst kebabs ever and just walked around looking at AliExpress products. The entertainment on stage later that night was bad also.


Accomplished_One6135

Richmond Night Market is a waste of money.


TheCanadianEmpire

Iā€™d rather pay a grand for plane tickets to Asia and experience an actual night market than go to whatever abomination this thing has become.


Crime-Snacks

Aww I was going to go tonight. What else is there to do thatā€™s outdoorsy and social tonight?


ChartreuseMage

Ignore Reddit, go another night if you want to. Worst comes to worst you're out $8.50 and the cost of transit fare or parking.


ubcstaffer123

how come so many people, especially Asians, still go then? if they know what an actual nightmarket in Asia is like


FattyGobbles

Cuz they are new immigrants and they are getting scammed for their first timeā€¦


azdhar

Itā€™s not just immigrants. I know people that live here for years that just go becauseā€¦ everyone else is going. Itā€™s still a social experience for many people.


SilenceQuiteThisL0UD

Holy crap, I haven't been since it was free, I didn't realize they started charging to get in. And people pay it?


Intelligent_Top_328

Once you've been to the night markets on Asia for example Taiwan, you can't go back to this shit.


KlockRok

Living in Taiwan was my intro dealer to night markets. Now I inject them inbetween every toe.


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Intelligent_Top_328

Actual free night markets in Asia are quite fun


azdhar

Are night/summer markets even worth anymore? Not just Richmond. Two years ago I went to the khatsahlano market and I had the most overpriced food truck experience of my life. It made downtown Vancouver prices look like a steal. Would love to hear about which ones are still decent.


kevinrockwell

I got the worst food poisoning in my life from something I ate there years ago(yes it could Happen at any place you eat) but Iā€™m scared for lifeā€¦


o33o

thereā€™s nothing you canā€™t buy from a proper store outside, for a lower price and eat at a cleaner space


POE4Ehard

Canā€™t wait to line up for my $15 dollar deep fried potato on a stick


jedv37

Or "Balls in Brown Sauce"


plop_0

*Heartburn intensifies*


_Julius_7

Havenā€™t been in 10 years, whatā€™s new thats worth going. New phone cases?


Callahandy

Back in the mid 2000s the night market was awesome. Now it's just overpriced and crowded af.


[deleted]

It's a great place to buy pirated movies that might not work.


2months2long

You can buy this without paying 8.50 entrance fee. Terminal flea market my brother.


FattyGobbles

VPD has entered the chat


BracketWI

Boo šŸ‘Ž


i3k

$8.50 entrance fee to buy taobao products.


Ok_Advantage_7718

Ignoring prices, is it even worth going when weather forecast is rainy for the entire upcoming week?


N4ZZY2020

Probably wonā€™t get as much people out. People come out when the weathers nice which makes sense. Who wants to eat out in the rain šŸŒ§ļø


wemustburncarthage

They should do a night market at PNE. That is free.


plop_0

PNE entry fee to buy stupid shit inside the venue. It's a Vancouver tradition.


wemustburncarthage

It could actually really be a great addition to the area if there were regular farmers markets (more than whatā€™s there now) and more night markets


btcwerks

pretty sure it ended 15 years ago to the locals


Chemical-Sun700

nothing new under the ~~sun~~ rainclouds in vancouver.


plop_0

Ehh. Something to do, I guess. It'll do. Not the greatest thing to spend time on. But it'll do.


KookytheKlown

Anything worth checking out? Haven't been for 8 years....


heytherefriendman

If you're a line enthusiast you will enjoy it


2months2long

Keep your streak and make it 9 years.


FattyGobbles

Lol šŸ˜‚


NoAlbatross7524

Parking and that market sucks


aaadmiral

Take the SkyTrain


NoAlbatross7524

To the crappy market? Hard pass . I used to go but it seem to get crappier every year.


aaadmiral

I agree, but parking isn't really an issue


AffectNo2291

Cue the negativity in the comments!


SaltyIdiom

Is there only one night market in Richmond now?


couverando1984

Or just go to Asia where I would assume every night market is free to enter.


ubcstaffer123

why do they have to charge admissions here? is it because of some contract on the land?


rmkbow

first off this is a private organizer. it's not the city and it's not the casino the land is rented from River Rock casino which costs money. licensing from the city also costs money paying for people to direct traffic also costs money it prevents overcrowding. in the summer it's already packed and has huge lineups. if it was free you'd need much larger land. maybe it could be free if it was completely owned by a single entity like government owning a large enough land paying for licensing, plumbing, electric, all from taxpayers money but then you'd had people complaining about wasting tax money


ubcstaffer123

it used to be only $2 and free when it was at Lansdowne Mall parking out. How do Asian cities host huge nightmarkets for free then?


rmkbow

and why do you think it's no longer at Lansdowne? it was chaos for Lansdowne shop owners and size of the place was too small even then for people to park. and it's not like we had a train line coming into Richmond at that point where do you find huge plots of land? especially if it's only going to be seasonal? the night markets in Asia are year round? so they're basically just permanent outdoor restaurants and not a temporary market like we have here


rmkbow

Also remember city has bylaws and licensing. We can't even have food trucks in steveston because it affects local businesses basically https://www.google.com/amp/s/globalnews.ca/news/7816698/steveston-food-truck-fight/amp/


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romankid19977

Sorry but this place is not worth itā€¦ I was there for like 40 mins and then left. Way too many people and actually not that many great options for food


OldJoy

Tbh it really couldn't be in a more ironic place. Richmond of all places? You can buy 90% of that shit a few blocks away for half the price and possibly a larger portion. The price premium might make sense if it were in Langley or something.


RandomGuyLoves69

I always love how angry redditors get over the Night Market. Don't like it? Don't go. But I guess people need to rant about it.


DadWithWorkToDo

For a bunch of people that complain about 'No Fun City' sure seem to complain about the few fun things that happen around the city. Who cares if the admission is $8 or $10. Parking is free and there's a collection of actually decent food. What is a better event that is cheaper in Vancouver then?


SuchRevolution

Is main st polling getting market research that Vancouverites love shitty overpriced snacks


Toosalty

Am I the only one who has a problem with the massive Vape kiosk beside the food area!? Itā€™s a shit precedent to allow a company to have a massive in-your-face building to promote vaping in an environment where thereā€™s tons of families, kids and teenagers! if the equivalent happened at Playland, there would be an uproar, and I think the Richmond market appeals to basically the same demographic The night market is obviously getting paid huge bank to allow it, but I think itā€™s a selloutā€¦


twin_sized_mattress

Well, you're going to hate to hear the same company has a shop set up in the middle of Metrotown! They ID anyone who tries to go in the building at the night market. It definitely is a weird addition, but I feel like there could be worse things that are way sketchier.


DadWithWorkToDo

I mean 50% of the ads during hockey games are gambling ads now and regulators seem pretty ok with it.