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Author Topic: rant on stupid customers Justin Hamaker Film God Posts: 2253 From: Lakeport, CA USA Registered: Jan 2004 posted 07-09-2008 08:09 PM                        Galen Seniors and not nearly as sweet and trust worth as you think. Over the years, I have probably had more seniors trying to catch a "free" movie than I have children and adults. I think many of them play on the fact that people naturally trust them and/or have sympathy for them. In fact, the theatre that I'm now managing saw a noticeable upward trend in senior tickets once I took over and started using an usher on a regular basis. What really galls me is the seniors will get on your case if they don't get their discount. They often will not stop at the snack bar. And then they will try to see more than one movie on the same ticket. Obviously the ones who sneak into other movies are a very small percentage, but it happens often enough that I'm never surprised.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 07-09-2008 08:37 PM                        In defense of seniors, they grew up in a time when there was only one screen in a building and they bought a ticket "to get in" and that was it. In the olden days, you bought a ticket and could stay through as many showings as you wanted. Not that there aren't cheapskate seniors, hoo boy we've got a few around here. WAY back in the 70s and 80s, our theatre charged just $1 for people over 65. Our price for seniors is still very good ($3.75) but I still get crap from people now and then about the great deal they "used to get."  |  IP: Logged Justin Hamaker Film God Posts: 2253 From: Lakeport, CA USA Registered: Jan 2004 posted 07-09-2008 09:04 PM                        When people go on about how a movie used to cost a quarter and popcorn was a nickel (or whatever figure they give), I'm always tempted to ask them what the minimum wage was back then. The reality is that for many years, the price of a general admission ticket has been about equal to about 1 hours work for a minimum wage worker. Even in cities with ticket prices around $12.00, I think the price is about equal to the local minimum wage.  |  IP: Logged Robert Crabtree Film Handler Posts: 91 From: Largo, FL Registered: May 2008 posted 07-10-2008 03:38 PM                     While some older folks are pure sunshine and rainbows, we have enough around here that I wouldn't put anything past them. One woman REPEATEDLY pounces on people for forgetting one thing or another (offering a larger drink, etc.), and demands passes. Also tries to invent reasons to sue us while her mortified husband stands beside her and tells us "She's fine". Another guy has all the charm of a rabid wolverine, with a face suggesting that he has been sucking on the same nasty lemon since 1967, and he's just that cheap too. The joys of living on the "Silver Coast" of Florida!  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 07-10-2008 04:47 PM                        There was a good joke about senior citizen moviegoers in the Readers Digest a while back. Old man buying movie ticket: "You know, I haven't been in a movie theatre since I was a young boy." Ticket seller: "Well, sir, you're really going to enjoy the show -- we have sound now!"  |  IP: Logged Dustin Mitchell Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1865 From: Mondovi, WI, USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 07-11-2008 04:28 AM                     I heard a story second hand about a senior buying a ticket for a movie during our 'super bargain' matinee. The tickets are $5.75 during the first set, senior price is normally $6. The gnetlemen requested a ticket and the cashier asked for $5.75. He said 'I'm a senior", she told him all tickets were $5.75 for the super matinee. He kept on insisting he was a senior and should get a discount. Apparantly being old entitles to a discount on a discount.  |  IP: Logged Justin Hamaker Film God Posts: 2253 From: Lakeport, CA USA Registered: Jan 2004 posted 07-11-2008 01:22 PM                        I get seniors from time to time who are upset that they don't get a discount on the matinee price - or more specifically that they pay the same price as everyone else. I've started explaining that our regular price is $8.00. Seniors and children always get a discount of $2.00, but during the matinees we give everyone the discount. It actually seems to help with some of the complaints. As a side note, we admit children 2 and under for free if they are sitting on a lap. About a year ago I started telling parents with a 2 year-old that the child will need a ticket once they turn 3 and that seems to have helped eliminate many of the grouching over having to pay for a 3 year-old.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 07-11-2008 02:08 PM                        We started charging for 2-year-olds a few years ago. (Previously we'd started at 3.) A few people griped, but once we point out that the main reason they're at the show is to entertian the 2-year-old, they're fine.  |  IP: Logged Robert Crabtree Film Handler Posts: 91 From: Largo, FL Registered: May 2008 posted 08-04-2008 10:33 PM                     Have everyone else's customers been behaving themselves for the past month, or is everyone missing out on the crazy I'm seeing around here? My place has become the preferred theatre for one very *interesting* gray panther. When she's at the box office, at the concession stand, or just sees ME, she starts talking about all of the people she would like to see dead, such as her roommate, gays, politicians, etc. She is of the firm belief that Sunday? Is a GREAT day to pray for people to die. When she came across me, she took a break from wishing everyone dead, and simply started kvetching about the quality of movies today, and how she misses flicks like El Cid and Gone With the Wind. Maybe I appreciate a fine descent into dementia too much, but I think she's pure sunshine and rainbows  |  IP: Logged Bruce McGee Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1776 From: Asheville, NC USA... Nowhere in Particular. Registered: Aug 1999 posted 08-17-2008 02:12 PM                     Last week, I was repairing something in the consession stand when a customer came up and announced loudly that it was COLD in his theatre, and would someone come and check it out? I told him I would be there within 5 minutes, as I had to wash my hands, etc. I went back to his theatre, and didnt notice an extreme coolness, so I went to the thermostats and checked one, and then the other. As I turned around after checking the 2nd 'stat, I found myself face to face with the customer, who instantly wanted to know what I had done to fix the problem. Since both thermostats were set at the correct temperatures, I quietly told the customer that I had checked out the situation, and things would be OK in a few minutes. While explaining, I noticed that the A/C fan turned off. The customer continued his rant, wanting to know why I didnt turn the heat on? I gently asked the customer to enjoy his film and please sit down. He sat down, but loudly commented on how COLD it was in the theatre for the others to hear. After the film let out, he said nothing as he came through the lobby and left. I had a comment from someone else that the guy griped thru most of the 2nd half of the film, after I left the thermostats. When we did our walk-throughs, nobody commented on the cold temps of the auditorium, and we had no other problems the rest of the day, and all last week. Some people.  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 청주시, 경북도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 08-17-2008 04:31 PM                     Redminds me of the time a coworker had 2 women simultaneously come up to him and one said that the theater was too cold and the other said the same theater was too warm. He looked at both of them and gave them a look that more or less said "What can I do?" The one who was too cold decided to find a jacket and the other decided to take off her sweater or something similar.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-17-2008 10:55 PM                        Hot/cold is an unsolveable problem. In the summer we'll have people who come out sweating, and others will come out shivering. Usually the shiverers are teenage girls who exaggerate almost everything. ("EVERYONE is here tonight. This is the best movie EVER. It's FREEZING in there.") They would be warmer if they wouldn't wear such skimpy clothes. Not that I am complaining.  |  IP: Logged Justin Hamaker Film God Posts: 2253 From: Lakeport, CA USA Registered: Jan 2004 posted 08-18-2008 12:00 AM                        I think the problem with customers being too cold in the summer or too hot in the winter is that they show up to the movie dressed as they would for being outside. You're probably going to be cold if you're dressed for 100° temperatures while you're sitting in an auditorium maintained at 72°. Just like in the winter you'll be too warm if you wear wear warm clothes that you can't shed.  |  IP: Logged Edwin Schwing Expert Film Handler Posts: 116 From: Las Vegas NV Registered: May 2002 posted 08-19-2008 05:30 AM                     Is there a thread for worst employee ever? E  |  IP: Logged John Wilson Film God Posts: 5438 From: Sydney, Australia. Registered: Dec 1999 posted 08-19-2008 06:47 AM                     quote: Chris Slycord the other decided to take off her sweater or something similar.  |  IP: Logged

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