Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: rant on stupid customers

my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

»	Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE » Operations » Ground Level » rant on stupid customers (Page 46)

This topic comprises 75 pages: 1 2 3 ... 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 ... 73 74 75

Author

Topic: rant on stupid customers

Patrick Dunn
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 120
From: newark, DE, United states
Registered: Aug 2005

posted 06-03-2008 04:15 PM

Although we don't advertise it, we let people bring in food and drinks in (as long as they don't have any glass). But it is funny since people who don't know this will try to sneak stuff in and it is funny to see them with candy hanging out of their clothes. A little kid with microwavable popcorn under his coat. It just makes me mad when they leave all of their trash on the floor and I'm cleaning up stuff that we don't even sell.

| IP: Logged

Justin Hamaker
Film God

Posts: 2253
From: Lakeport, CA USA
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 06-03-2008 07:41 PM

The thing that always amazes me are the people who are able to smuggle in whole pizzas or other large and bulky items. Either our ushers are completely dense (which I won't rule out) or there are some very creative customers.

The one that really bothers me are the people who bring sunflower seeds and can't be bothered to spit the shells in a cup or bag. Cleaning up those wet shells is a major pain in the ass. The next most annoying is the people who chew and leave their spit container in the cup holder when they leave. It's better than on the floor, but it's still gross.

| IP: Logged

Patrick Dunn
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 120
From: newark, DE, United states
Registered: Aug 2005

posted 06-03-2008 07:59 PM

The customers are using their mind tricks.

Customer carrying in pizza
Usher: You can't take a pizza into the theater.
Customer: (waves hand through air) I can take a pizza into the theater.
Usher: You can take a pizza into the theater.
Customer: Move along
Usher: Move along.

| IP: Logged

Jeremy Weigel
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1062
From: Edmond, OK, USA
Registered: Mar 2007

posted 06-03-2008 08:36 PM

quote: Justin Hamaker
The next most annoying is the people who chew and leave their spit container in the cup holder when they leave. It's better than on the floor, but it's still gross.

For a while we had someone that would come in at least once a week and would spit on the seat cushion next to them. [Mad]

Never did catch this asshole.

As far people sneaking in items like pizzas, they are more than likely bringing them in through the side exits. We had some teenagers a few years ago that ordered pizza from the Little Caesars here in our shopping center and tried to have it delivered to them at one of our side exits (damn cell phones). Fortunately they picked an exit that is right next to the front entry doors and other customers reported it.

| IP: Logged

Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 06-03-2008 09:11 PM

quote: Mike Blakesley
OK but where do you draw the line? You know how people are -- give an inch, they'll take a mile. You either have to be down-the-line strict or relaxed on everybody. Otherwise you run the risk of getting sued, beat up or worse.

Also, there is a big difference between a baby's formula and a bottle of water.

Actually...the difference is small if at all. I am not familiar with the laws/codes in Montana but around these parts, a business that caters to public gatherings is required to have both water (for drinking) and toilets. Theatres fall into this category. Like formula for a baby, water is considered one of those essentials for life and can fall into a public safety sort of thing.

Odds are, you have a water fountain in your theatre to satisfy such a code (probably at least two...one at handicap level)...what would the difference be in the patron filling an empty bottle with your water?

What if the water is required for medical reasons? Think it silly? Many a diabetic will have a candy bar or some other source of sugar around...right next to their insulin just incase they hit a vein and need to get sugar in fast...Woe be the person that checks a purse or such for that...your lawyers wouldn't want touch it with a 10-foot pole...you wouldn't want to get involved with someone's medical condition.

I know I wouldn't want to be in the position of keeping someone from it. Then again, I despise bottled water, for the most part. I think it is absolutely silly people buy it the way they do when much of it is just tap.

Steve

| IP: Logged

Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

posted 06-03-2008 09:29 PM

What I was getting at is, bottled water is pretty generic -- one can substitute for another and people can still get their thirst quenched -- but there are so many different kinds of baby goodies, not to mention mom's own milk, that no public accommodation could ever hope to carry one or two items that would satisfy the majority. Hence it's "more OK" for people to bring in a baby bottle than a water bottle.

Although if I was king, I would enact a "no baby bottles OR BABIES in theatres" law.

| IP: Logged

Michael Dolan
Film Handler

Posts: 77
From: Deerfield Beach, fl.
Registered: May 2008

posted 06-03-2008 09:38 PM

quote: Mike Blakesley
Although if I was king, I would enact a "no baby bottles OR BABIES in theatres" law.

Where do you draw the line now with babies? at what age? When my wife and I had our daughter we starting trying to see movies when she was 2 1/2 of coarse if she did get loud or start talking I immediatley took her out so that the comfort of the rest of the audience wasn't disturbed. But I have been able to make it through a couple of movies without a peep out of her.

If you were king Mike then would I have even got a chance to see these movies?

Now don't get me wrong at all if someone is going to bring in a screaming kid and expect to stay the whole time with the kid screaming I'd kick them out. But if there just trying to catch a movie and the kids behaving what is the problem with that?

| IP: Logged

Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 06-03-2008 09:42 PM

Water is not quite as generic as you would think...then again, that would depend on the person. An arguement could be made that the difference between Tap water and low-end bottled water being pretty much the same. At least the tap water probably has local and state government controls as to its quality and just what is in it. Much of the bottled water industry seems to be about what type of class the water is (spring, purified...etc). If I have purified water because I don't want the contaminates that are in your water (either bottled or tap)...then how can you deny me my purified water? It is a higher grade than what you offer and I need water to survive? Oddly enough, I would think that on a legal basis, you would either have to allow their own water or point to the governmentally certified water coming out of the fountain.

Again...I find the 95% of the water industry to be just silly but there is no denying that water is essential. It is vary rare that I have "enjoyed" water out of a bottle and really only enjoyed a couple of bottled waters and they all came out of a glass bottle. I tend to like "purified" waters best or tap water...oddly enough. I grew up on the chlorinated-flourinated stuff. So much for "my precious bodily fluids" or "purity of essence."

Steve

| IP: Logged

Michael Dolan
Film Handler

Posts: 77
From: Deerfield Beach, fl.
Registered: May 2008

posted 06-03-2008 09:46 PM

I guess I should have just started a New topic with this? Seems like it is a very touchy subject [Confused]

| IP: Logged

Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 06-03-2008 09:59 PM

Thats okay...I know it doesn't bother me too much...I think you will find that with Mike and other theatre (business) owners...they want to control their business as they see fit. And if they have a policy on something, then that is their policy.

For me, you posed an interesting situation as water is a bit of a legislated thing (or at least I found the mental exercise interesting). Coming in with say, Mountain-Dew, since the theatre was a "Coke" company wouldn't get you very far as the business need not cater to your preferences anymore than McDonalds need not serve a BK Fish sandwich or even allow you to eat your BK Fish in the McDonalds after you bought a Big Mac to go along with your BK Fish. But water...the business has to provide that and there is a very long history of it being free of charge too (in a fountain).

I'm definately not looking to pick a fight with Mike or any other exhibitor/manager on bringing in bottled water...I don't carry the stuff around with me anyway. I'm just pointing out that water may indeed be a special case substance due to its very nature.

Steve

| IP: Logged

Justin Hamaker
Film God

Posts: 2253
From: Lakeport, CA USA
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 06-03-2008 10:03 PM

I don't know how others handle this, but we allow bottled water - although we don't post it. Other items are not allowed, but we will make an exception if someone specifically tells us they have specific requirements due to medical conditions.

I agree with the idea that you have to have a firm rule and draw the line or you're having to make exceptions for everyone. I think water is a reasonable exception - and we don't discriminate between bottled or tap water in a cup.

What really annoys me is the people who give you a big old guilt trip when you ask them to finish their milk shake out side. "I just paid $4.00 for this. Can't you make an exception this one time. Besides, you guys don't even sell milk shakes".

But I have found that most of the time when I say "You'll need to finish your drink (or whatever) before you come inside" people are less objectionable. I'm not telling them to throw it away, I'm just telling them to finish before the come in the theatre.

| IP: Logged

Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

posted 06-03-2008 11:07 PM

quote: Michael Dolan
Where do you draw the line now with babies? at what age? When my wife and I had our daughter we starting trying to see movies when she was 2 1/2 of coarse if she did get loud or start talking I immediatley took her out so that the comfort of the rest of the audience wasn't disturbed. But I have been able to make it through a couple of movies without a peep out of her.

If you were king Mike then would I have even got a chance to see these movies?

Obviously we can't exclude kids and babies, but if I had my perfect situation, my rule of thumb would be: G or PG movies that are meant for kids, age 3 and up only. Adult-oriented PGs and PG-13s: Nobody under age 7 allowed. R rated films: I would keep everybody under 10 out, even if they are escorted by an adult.

If you take your 2 year old to a show, and she cries, talks or otherwise misbehaves, you have wrecked the movie experience for everyone within 20 feet of you. EVEN IF you take the kid out. Just the act of taking her out disturbs people.

People who have kids think the world revolves around their kids. However, I think if you took a poll, you would find that the vast majority of people would prefer to go to the movies without the risk of their show being ruined by somebody's noisy baby.

| IP: Logged

Justin Hamaker
Film God

Posts: 2253
From: Lakeport, CA USA
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 06-03-2008 11:28 PM

I completely agree with you Mike. If you want to go to an adult movie, get a babysitter. Just because you buy a ticket doesn't give you the right to cause a distraction for everyone else. And lets not forget the actual person causing the distraction probably doesn't have a ticket to begin with.

If I was to build a new theatre, I would include crying rooms in each auditorium. But that's just a concession against people who are otherwise inconsiderate to being with.

Along the same lines, I hate those parents who get mad at you because they have to pay for their 3-4 year-old. They are watching the movie, and usually taking up a seat. If you don't charge for a 3 year-old, where do you draw the line? If 3 is to young to pay, you could argue that 4 is also too young. And if 4 is too young, you could argue that 5 is too young. You have to have a line somewhere. And in the case where the give the excuse that the child will just fall asleep anyway, I want to ask why they didn't get a babysitter.

| IP: Logged

Chris Slycord
Film God

Posts: 2986
From: 청주시, 경북도, South Korea
Registered: Mar 2007

posted 06-04-2008 12:14 AM

Along what Mike was talking about, it's especially distracting that if you tell the person that others complained about their child they get pissed at you for it. Yeah... it's my fault that someone comes out and complains about a baby making noise and points out where the noise is coming from.

quote: Justin Hamaker
Along the same lines, I hate those parents who get mad at you because they have to pay for their 3-4 year-old. They are watching the movie, and usually taking up a seat.

That's why I'd generally tell people when I was box "If the child takes up a seat you have to pay." And why at one cinema if there were sellout crowds they'd make an announcement in the auditorium (if there were kids) that any of the children 2 and under who didn't have a paid-for ticket must not have a seat of their own (since that cinema tended to sell every last seat on those big movies) or they would have to go back out and get one for that child.

| IP: Logged

Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 06-04-2008 06:22 AM

The Senator in Baltimore has a strict "nobody under 5" policy for all films as well as a "no babes in arms" policy. All tickets are priced the same too. If you take up a seat, you are paying the same price.

Steve

| IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 75 pages: 1 2 3 ... 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 ... 73 74 75

Printer-friendly view of this topic

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.