Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Money

This is topic Money in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 06-09-2000, 01:43 PM:

I know this may be off subject for all you gear strippers out there

, but...

As a consumer and a cashier, I am interested in your opinion of the following.

I think money needs to change a little and this is what I propose.

1. Stop minting and distributing pennies. Tell the merchants quietly to round up or down to the nearest nickel.

2. Stop printing and distributing paper dollars. Mint lots of those Indian lady coins and distribute them.

3. Have ATMs give out more than $20 bills. Can we get some $50s or $10s with that? The ATMs in Vegas only give out $100s.

I am tired of pennies and I think $1 in paper wear out too fast. This is just my opinion. I am not advocating making the penny or paper dollar obsolete, just to have the treasury stop supporting them. What do you think?

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 06-09-2000, 02:21 PM:

Ian:

I'm sure that the US Mint would be very happy if people accepted the use of a dollar coin instead of paper dollars, since it would have a much longer circulation life and reduce costs to the government. Recall that at ShoWest, the Mint gave a presentation (and free souveniers) to theatre owners outlining all the advantages, and outlined their extensive PR campaign. I personally was impressed with the program, and really like the look and feel of the new dollar coin. Here is their "Golden Dollar" site:
http://www.usmint.gov/GoldenDollar/default.htm

As you know, other areas of the world (e.g., Canada and the UK) are way ahead of the USA on using coins for the basic currency.

Pennies have always been a pain, since inflation has made them virtually worthless. But the general public fears that merchants will always round prices UP, if the penny were eliminated. Being an "old timer", I'll still stoop to pick up a lost penny on the street --- many of the "younger generation" won't bother. Like most people, pennies just seem to accumulate around the house, and I have to make an effort to cash them in.

As far as ATMs, that's a bank decision. I've seen some ATMs that can give a mix of bills, but to cut manufacturing costs, some only can handle only one denomination, usually $20 bills. When I use an ATM that can handle a mix of bills, I withdraw an amount that requires the ATM to give me a mix.

The latest trend seems to be purchasing movie tickets via the Internet or from a walk-up ticket dispenser that takes credit cards. Prepaid "Movie-Goers" cards (like prepaid phone cards) may also catch on, especially as gift items. Check out the June 2000 edition of Film Journal International --- they have quite a few articles about on-line ticketing.

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com

Posted by Marty Hacker (Member # 485) on 06-09-2000, 02:29 PM:

Please dont waste precious bandwidth.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 06-09-2000, 02:44 PM:

We're only using a few kilobytes to discuss an important topic (MONEY!). Everyone knows the Internet is FREE, so it won't cost anything to send 40 Gigabytes of movie data to thousands of theatres. NOT!!!

Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 06-09-2000, 02:52 PM:

Dear Mr. Hacker

You runneth off at the mouth for someone who has been registered for 3 days. This forum is mostly Film-Tech but has included a few related theatre subjects. Cash and Cash handling are definatly theatre related. Each night after running 20 shows, I get to count out the nightly take in cash, so as you can see, it is a subject of interest. If you sir are lucky enough to be employed where you only deal with film, then count yourself lucky indeed.

The only way I could waste bandwidth here would be to run an ugly picture of you. It's lucky that I don't posess one.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 06-09-2000, 02:57 PM:

I think Marty meant it as a joke, since I had been discussing the real cost of sending data in another thread. He did use a

Posted by Marty Hacker (Member # 485) on 06-09-2000, 03:14 PM:

My succint statement was hardly "runneth." I'd say it was more of a mere stroll.
Thanks John for understanding since MR PRICE obviously has no sense of humor or tolerance for us undeducated ignorant newbees here at Film-Tech. To him I say....thank you...for shooling me into the world of proper Film-Tech Forum etiquette. to serously answer his ??? regarding coins.....please come to Mexico where coins are very predominant over paper money much in the way described by Mr Price's proposal. ALL of the manager and box office cashiers would rather do money accountability the good ol American way with good ol American currency.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 06-09-2000, 03:28 PM:

Don't piss off Ian. He is a big guy. HUGE, in fact. But he fights like a girl.

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 06-09-2000, 03:30 PM:

Mr. P. Said:
"Being an "old timer", I'll still stoop to pick up a lost penny on the street --- many of the "younger generation" won't bother. Like most people, pennies just seem to accumulate around the house, and I have to make an effort to cash them in."
***************************************

Those pennies people toss on the ground are paying for my computer! A good proportion of the money I've saved comes from pocket change!

Also, that penny you pick up off the ground MIGHT make the difference between being a millionaire and only having $999,999.99! Until you get that last cent you're NOT a millionaire!

Posted by Jim Bedford (Member # 4) on 06-09-2000, 04:33 PM:

Just got back from Urop and yep, just as John sez, they got some smart money; one and two £ coins in Britain (that's $1.50 and $3 coins) and the 10ff coin that the "French peeples" use is $1.38US. On the other hand, the Brits still use plenty of pence coins and the French have their centime which make the US penny seem to have some real value.

BTW, to bring it back to film issues, Luci and I saw all or parts of 32 of the 511 films shown in ten days at Cannes, and would like to report that the good stuff to crap ratio was about 1-4 or 1-5, about the same it is most of the year in most places. Even tho they have the best food in the world in France, never once did I hear "Do you want me to Super-Size that Monsieur." Thank god!

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 06-09-2000, 04:44 PM:

Ian,

After pulling over 10 years in management, I feel for you having to count pennies! There is no need for them anymore. In fact, I say we get rid of nickels and dimes too. Let's make it quarters or dollars. Everything is expensive enough today, does it really matter?

You might want to take a tip from UA and price your concessions so they end up AT quarter dollars after tax is included. That was GREAT!

As to paper money, I like it. I cannot stand jingling as I walk and would be quite angry if the dollar went to a coin. boooo, hisss

Posted by Tyler Skinner (Member # 229) on 06-09-2000, 05:30 PM:

>>After pulling over 10 years in management, I feel for you having to count pennies! <<

I like counting pennies about as much as I like licking the toilets of a public restroom... the latter would probably be cleaner, they are cleaned at least once a week...

tyler

Posted by Tom Ferreira (Member # 70) on 06-09-2000, 05:44 PM:

Our concession company graciously decided to price everything ending in the quarter dollar, thus making life easier for everyone. The only thing that had the odd cents was bulk candy, but I did away with that when I discovered the M&M's were getting dusty from lack of sales. Not using small coins frees up extra money in petty cash, and saves those back-breaking trips from the bank with canvas bags full of coins. All my ticket prices end in an even dollar, so that's a great help, and the game company supplied a change machine for the lobby. Whatever's easiest for the manager, that's what I say!

Posted by Colin Wiseley (Member # 247) on 06-09-2000, 05:49 PM:

Unfortunately I think pennies, nickels, and dimes are here to stay unless they convince everyone to make the price of everything an even number and all sales taxes a whole number. I don't see that happening any time soon.

------------------
Colin Wiseley
Lyric Theatre
Blacksburg, VA
www.thelyric.com

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 06-09-2000, 06:24 PM:

Hey, we currently round pennies, why not round to quarters?

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 06-09-2000, 06:33 PM:

We've got a 50c coin, a $1 coin, a $2 coin and soon there'll be a $5 coin also. They no longer make $1 and $2 notes. Our $5 bill has been plastic for a few years now, but even that is about to go the way of the dodo.

Our 1c and 2c coins have long been removed from the system and cents are rounded up and down. A bill of say $5.57 will become $5.55 and $5.58 will become $5.60. You win some, you lose some. Theoretically, it all evens out in the end.

We are about to undergo a major tax change with a 10% Goods and Services Tax (GST) to come into effect from July 1st this year. This will replace a 22% sales tax imposed on items now. There is much debate over its worth and most believe they will be worse off.

Cinema goers will have to now pay $12 plus tax of 10% so it's gonna cost $13.20 to see a flick. Of course, we only charge $7 so it'll only cost our customers $7.70. I wonder how much our patronage will increase?

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 06-09-2000, 07:26 PM:

Well those of us in the wild north have been useing coin for years
First was the Looney ($1.00) (it ahd a loon stamped on it)
then the twooooney (a silver with brass centered $2.00 coin)
I think they are great
can't get rid of the peeny because with 2 sales taxs
8% provincial sales tax
7%gst (gouged and screwed tax) (federal sales tax ) there is always odd amounts
get a coin counter

Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 06-09-2000, 10:49 PM:

The US tried to get rid of pennies, but there was a public outcry, and the plan was dumped. They also tried a $1 coin (a "Susan B.") but made it so close to a quarter, that it was hard to tell them apart. Also, many coin bins in cash registers didn't have a place to put them, so no one would use them. Another waste. I don't know what happened to the $2 bill; probably collectors got them all. I've been hearing about the $1 gold coin, but haven't seen one; collectors probably got many of them, too. So I finally asked for one at a bank- it looks cheap.

I feel that US money is not very well thought out. I was at a news stand in NYC awhile ago. The guy who was running the stand is blind. I gave him a $20 and told him the name of the magazine. He asked what denomination the bill was, and I said a $20. There was a barely perceptible pause, where he thought I might be lying. Bills should be different sizes so you can tell without seeing.

Lastly, you know how the US mint has changed the look of several bills? Well, apparently US money is in fairly heavy use in Russia. When the newer bills reached Russia, many Russians thought they were fake, and would not accept them.

Posted by Dwayne Caldwell (Member # 417) on 06-10-2000, 12:47 AM:

I think Chief Wiggam of The Simpsons was right in saying they keep pennies in circulation so the government can get a hold of your DNA.

------------------
The man with the magic hands.

Posted by Russ Kress (Member # 461) on 06-10-2000, 02:29 AM:

Um, as a theatre manager, I think the lowest paper denomination should be the $7.00 dollar bill!

Only got a ten? Here's a three dollar voucher for the concession stand! *grin*

Go easy on the managers who post here. They have problems with cash handling as well as technical issues. They really want to be good at projection or you would not have heard their voices here.

Let's keep the forum as the educational tool that I think it was intended to be.

As Momma always said, say something nice or say nothing at all. *GRIN*

If I might plagerize a time proven motto for Brad to use in this forum, it would be, "The only stupid question is the question that is never asked".

You guys are looked up to here. For every person who posts, there are ten who just read.

You've always wanted to get things done the right way...

Well, Here's your chance. The internet has placed you in the role of a "teacher".

Be one.

Russ (Yoda)

Posted by Tom Ferreira (Member # 70) on 06-10-2000, 06:51 AM:

Well said, Russ. I'm a manager, but I was a projectionist first. I pride myself on an excellent presentation(I'm using Film Guard now). Don't hate me because I manage-respect me because I care!

Posted by Chris Erwin (Member # 176) on 06-10-2000, 09:57 AM:

Ian,

After working moonlighting at a bank (was the cinema the moonlight or the bank?!) anyhow, most ATM's can handle 4 bill types,like say 5's,10's,20's,50's,but this requires more work by the bank (having to count each when you balance the machine),so most run 5's and 20's. Paperwork is easier.

--Chris

Posted by Richard C. Wolfe (Member # 431) on 06-10-2000, 10:20 AM:

We have kept our concession prices with tax at an even 25 cents for over twenty five years now, and our ticket prices to an even 50 cents. Therefore we use no dimes, nickels or pennies. In the box office we have used only half dollars for several years, and as of six weeks ago we now use only the new "gold" silver dollars....No paper dollars any longer. Tha public seems to like them. Those that don't get even with us by using them in the concession stand.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 06-10-2000, 12:28 PM:

I say, KEEP THE PENNY!. How can you have a numbering system or currency without it's smallest increment (e.g. 1)?

Screw the $1 coin. I prefer the dollar bill. I need the room in my pockets for the aforementioned pennies! Now if you wan't to bring back the Eisenhower Dollars then ok but none of this sissy nearlly a quarter size dollars. If you are going to make a novelty coin, then make it look like one (e.g. the Eisenhower Dollar, you knew it wasn't a quarter in your pocket!).

If there is one piece of currency in US that I wished had caught on was the $2 bill (Good O'l Thomas Jefferson). Canada didn't seem to be suffering too much having them.

FWIW, I also like the half-dollar coin.

Steve

------------------
"Old projectionists never die, they just changeover!"

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 06-10-2000, 01:22 PM:

Steve Canada disconinued the $1.00 bill almost 10 years ago and shortly after wards the $2.00 bill both are now coins the lonney and tooney respecavly.
Also the remaining bills are all Multicoloured for easy distingishing and have a spiral anti copy protection
Most copies go squirly on some of the line work

Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 06-10-2000, 01:23 PM:

In box we use half dollars also. When I first started working here 2 1/2 years ago everything in the concession stand was rounded to quarters too-very nice. Then the higher ups started raising prices a little bit at a time. Now everything is screwed up.

Hey, you guys count pennies? Everything here is still rounded to the nearest 5, so we don't get a lot of pennies. The ones we do get get thrown in a bag that is our cigarette fund .

Posted by Ken Layton (Member # 133) on 06-10-2000, 05:18 PM:

I don't like the new $1 coin. They tried that before with the SBA (Susan B. Asshole) and it didn't work then either.
I like having the good old dollar bill.