Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Wheelchair Pricing

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Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 07-18-2003, 11:03 PM:

Here in Salt Lake, Utah, there are a few theaters that have special wheelchair pricing. One theater actually allows the person in a wheelchair and one guest in for no charge at all, while two others allow the person in the wheelchair in for free if they are with a paying guest.

At first I was just sure that they knew I was God, but then I realized that maybe, just maybe, it was the chair.

Is this something that I am experiencing locally or do other theaters around the country, chains perhaps, have policies to deal with this? That anyone knows of anyway...

Dave

Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 07-18-2003, 11:52 PM:

Our policy is that anyone in a wheechair and their 'attendant', for lack of a better word, in at no charge. Can't say that I agree with it, but it isn't my call to make.. [Smile]

Posted by Dino Panagiotopoulos (Member # 1579) on 07-19-2003, 12:04 AM:

At me theater I think (dont quote me) we used to offer that same free ticket deal. Now a guest in a wheelchair and one person are offered the lowest ticket price ($6.00).

Posted by Nicholas Roznovsky (Member # 861) on 07-19-2003, 12:39 AM:

Interesting... We currently, and always have, charged full admission for patrons in wheelchairs, as well as any accompaning patrons. To my knowledge, all of the other theaters in our markets have done the same.

Although I recognize the hardships patrons in wheelchairs can face and certainly think exhibitors should due their utmost to follow ADA regulations and make their presentations top quality for all guests, I don't understand letting in patrons with wheelchairs and their guests for free. They are viewing the same product and receiving the same services as everyone else. Maybe I'm just a hard-ass.

Do these theaters only not charge for those in wheelchairs, or do they also have a similar policy for those in walkers, mentally handicapped, etc...?

Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 07-19-2003, 12:43 AM:

People in wheelchairs should be treated just like any other customer.Their attendant should purchase a ticket as well. The film distributer is entitled to his percentage of every ticket for every person who see's the film.

Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 07-19-2003, 12:51 AM:

Technically speaking, I'm not aware of any provision in the studios' master licenses that would allow for this. When they send those letters demanding per-caps, they pretty much mean everybody.

First run houses that let anyone in free during these initial weeks could possibly find themselves paying the percentages for these people out of their own pockets.

Posted by Jim Alexander (Member # 226) on 07-19-2003, 04:05 PM:

I agree, people in wheel chairs only want to feel and be treated like everyone else. Having said that, we do things a little backward. We charge the wheel chair individual and allow the attendant in for free... In the end there is the same "discount" given, but the wheel chair patron thinks they are treated no different than everyone else....

Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 07-19-2003, 06:39 PM:

It is very strange indeed. I myself cannot go to a theater without my wheelchair, as I can only walk a few hundred feet during any given day.

The theaters in questions give the freebie to wheelchair patrons, but not to those in walkers or on crutches or the like.

I don't understand why it is done. It certainly seems odd. I personally hate when I am treated like a cripple, like when people keep trying to push me. OK, just because the things has handles, doesn't mean I want a push. Just because I have love handles doesn't mean I want every hot looking babe to grab me... Oh wait, maybe that does.

When I do go and they give me the ticked at no charge, they mark me and my guest down on a pass sheet. So there is some accountability. I have wondered if they were paying my way for me, and why would they do that? I always end up buying enough at the snack bar to cover what the ticket price would have been, and usually more.

I don't mind too much per say that I actually get in no charge. Heck, I get that anyway if I just make a phone call. But it certainly seems very odd.

The theater in question is actually very nice, with very good presentation most of the time. Perhaps they do it to grease the wheels (no pun intended) with the handicapped crowd to keep them from making a fuss about the fact that there is no automatic door opener, which could be problematic for some who are unable to actually open the door.

Hard to say.

Thanks for the input.

Dave

Posted by Darren Crimmins (Member # 1116) on 07-20-2003, 12:28 AM:

As far as mentally handicapped, I figure that corporate personel are probably getting in for free anyway. [evil]

Posted by Tom Wienholt (Member # 1510) on 07-20-2003, 01:42 AM:

With all the money that is spent to make theatres handicapped accesible, i think that all customers in wheel chairs should be charged the regular admission price. There is no reason to let these people in for free. It makes no sense. Its almost as stupid as a senior discount. Why should a senior citizen be admitted at a lower price then an adult. Seniors rarely even buy anything from the concession stand anyway. I'm tired of people getting discounts and handouts for no reason.

Posted by R. Andrew Diercks (Member # 1725) on 07-20-2003, 11:13 AM:

Carmike theatres have the policy of letting wheel chairs in free. I say, we have wheel chair spaces and are very handicap accessable. Are they not receiving the same entertainment as anyone else? The worst is one customer we have is very young, smart and gets around like a pro. He refuses any help with carrying concession and/or auditorium doors. He doesn't want to be treated differently. (We open doors and carry things for many however). He complains every time that he can't get in free! So we should treat him differently?! We do however let mentally challenged in for the child price. Many group homes frequent our theatre and this is a very good political move. Plus it could be argued that they aren't receiving the same entertainment value as most as they perhaps have capacities of children. They are fun to serve though, always happy and intent on knowing our names.

Posted by John Scott (Member # 520) on 07-20-2003, 12:34 PM:

At a previous theatre I managed, members of my staff had access to a wheelchair on their personal time and used to brag how they'd go to the Carmike theatre down the road with the chair to sneak in for free.

At the theatre's I've worked at we've always charged people in wheelchairs the same as any other guest, and I've never heard any concerns from our disabled guests over that policy.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 07-20-2003, 01:40 PM:

We charge the regular price for wheelchair users too.

I cannot IMAGINE charging the "child" price for a mentally challenged adult. If I was a caregiver and taking that person to the show with me, I would consider that to be demeaning, insulting and presumptuous. Maybe if the caregiver ASKED for a discount due to the limited capacity of his charge, then we would consider it, but to just "assume" that a person has the mentality of a child and therefore should get in for the child's price, well that to me is amazingly rude.

EDIT: Having re-thought this a bit, I would say that in a "group home" situation it might be a more tolerable thing.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 07-20-2003, 01:53 PM:

What Mike said. I've never heard of a "anyone in a wheelchair gets in free" policy. I can't see the justification for it, and it seems unfair to the film distributors. It also seems like it opens up possibilities for abuse. Same for giving "mentally challenged" people a child price. What constitutes a "mentally challenged" person, anyway? If the group home wants a discount for bringing several people to the theatre at once, that's fine...call it a "group discount" or something, just like what one might do for a school or any other group that wants to come to the theatre.

Posted by R. Andrew Diercks (Member # 1725) on 07-20-2003, 06:23 PM:

I will rephrase to make you all happy! I grant them the matinee/senior/child/discount/the lowest we can go price on evening shows as well. Also it is mostly due to a fixed income as they are in a group home, they have set limits for entertainment spending. As a former employee in a group home, I have compassion for their situation. We don't call it the child price. They are treated with a discount just like seniors who like to think they are on a fixed income. If you cannot distinguish a mentally challenged person that is getting help with money at the counter and cannot order for themselves, perhaps the ticket person is challenged. I think it is justified to assume that they have a diminished capacity in that instance. If that is not politically correct, at least it's the right thing to do!

Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 07-20-2003, 09:10 PM:

My fiance knew my asking this question would bring up a lot of angered feelings. Just the other day I was knocked over in a theater (where I paid full price) while going to the ticket taker. He actually bumped me from the side and knocked me over in my chair!

He then looked at me and said "hey buddy look out where you drive that thing!"

I then stood up (as I can still do that) and the absolute fear on his face allowed his brain to retranslate his previous statement into "Hey man, Sorry about that".

Throughout history, there has always been anger and hate towards one group or another, it is in our nature to hate and to destroy. Quite often, the anger comes from stereotypes that are quite often misunderstood.

I myself NEVER allowed any discount for ANYONE, of any age or mental or physical lacking. I still stand by that, as a business operator. However, I will not EVER discount another business that wants to give freebies to whatever group they want to give them to. That is thier right to do so.

If the studios don't want them to, they would stop them from doing so. It would become apparent to them at some point that it was happening. They could pull that right at any time if they felt thier money was bieng stolen from them.

I myself do not like to be treated differently. I do however also try not to be a total dick either. There are some in chairs that are total dicks about bieng independant, and some that are total dicks about wanting everyone to wait on them hand and foot.

The majority of chair drivers are not in the habit of wanting to stick out more than they already do. I myself know that when people see me able to stand up out of my car and then have to wobble over to the trunk to get my chair, then gleefully roll around, must be thinking that I am some kind of freak or wacko. Trust me, I love rolling around in the chair, because it is pain free to do so.

I never ask anyone to open doors unless they are accompanying me and I know the door to be problematic. I also never ask for anyone to assist me. I insist on putting and pulling my chair out of the trunk even when I have a guest that insists on doing it for me.

However I do not want to be treated like a freak, as many people do. You get stared at, but thats ok, I am a total hottie!!! And the chair is cool to look at when I start doing tricks! But when people knock you over because they are trying to show off to thier date or whatever, that's pretty crappy. And it comes from the misconception that those in chairs want to be put on some kind of social pedestal. It is mostly far from the truth.

I am sure that Carmike and other theaters that have instituted a free admission charge to wheelchair bound patrons have done so for reasons that either come from the feeling that they don't want to have the few that cause problems always causing problems, or perhaps guilt for those that have to be in them, or even perhaps eminating from some kind of consent decree resulting from some kind of ADA lawsuit, which are filed very frivously and quite often hurt even the ones in the chairs as well as the regular patrons.

My thoughts are pretty solid on this, but you try and get any theater chain owner to publicy make a statement on this issue, and it will never happen. They don't want to make news for treating wheel bound patrons like crap for not letting them in free, and they don't want the policy to be abused by those that shouldn't be getting the benefit, if it was made more publicly known.

I was made known of the benefit by one of my surgeons, who also suggested I start working out for the paralympic wheelchair basketball team. I tried the wheelchair basketball, and while I can shoot and stuff, I still have trouble remembering to control the chair and the ball at the same time. Ever see a chair rider go slamming into a ref or another chair, or better yet, the wall?

So my thoughts are this; They shouldn't get the freebie. I don't mind too much getting it, because I don't actually pay to see movies, and haven't since 1991 (ok I did pay to see ID4, but that was for my crew of 55 on a group rate on opening day). And when I do get the freebie due to the chair, I always purchase enough concession, just in case the theater is having to cover what the studio would have gotten from me (taking into account food costs and the such).

So say what you will, most wheelchair people would probably take advantage of every good or free thing thrown thier way. Most people in the chair didn't get thier from birth, or by choice, and have had to make very difficult adjustments, and don't mind the freebies or whatever, just so long as it is not announced on the PA system when they do it. Also remember that MOST would not complain if the goodies weren't there, and would never demand them.

It is always the few in every crowd that makes the rest look bad. It takes a long number of years to get past those few and see the whole for what it is. Eventually all persons will be treated and measured the same as the rest, but that world is a long way off my friends. Until then, take things with a grain of salt, a pound of understanding, and a mile of yearning for a better world.

Dave

Posted by R. Andrew Diercks (Member # 1725) on 07-21-2003, 01:01 PM:

What kind of asshole would push over a wheel chair...especially to impress a girl. If anything the girls I know would go to the other man's aid and withhold sex for a long time. Sort of like the guy that loses a fight will get laid way before the guy that kicks the crap out of someone merciless.

On another token of discounts. Perhaps worthy of a thread, maybe not common enough. Post 9/11 I had several Police and Fireman request discounts. I couldn't believe this, especially since I am in Iowa and none of them are even close to involved. One cop was very rude about this and I asked for his chiefs name which he wouldn't give. Most departments have a no-gratuities policy now. It has only happened 4 times or so, but my reply will be that I pay taxes.

Posted by Tony Ratcliff (Member # 1196) on 07-21-2003, 02:27 PM:

There are two group homes that bring their mentally challenged patients to my theatre about once a month. Most are older adults.
I let them in at our $2 group rate.
The patients are only given $5 each to spend at the theatre.
The directors of the homes initially called a few years ago and asked if there was a way to allow the patients to get admission and concessions all on $5, so we have accomodated.
Most of them appear to not have a good grasp on the concept of money and cost. We have to help them figure out what all they can get with their $5.
Everyone has a good time and I feel good seeing them have a good time.

Tony

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 07-21-2003, 02:46 PM:

I would assume that when negotiating a "deal" with a group home, nursing home, school class, etc., they would be willing to come at a normally "slow time" for the theatre. So the theatre fills seats in what would otherwise be a nearly empty auditorium, and the residents get to enjoy a movie at a discount.

Tony: If their ticket is at the group rate of $2, and they spend the other $3 on concessions, you have an enviable per-cap! As others have said, they are good customers in more ways than one.

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 07-21-2003, 09:56 PM:

Movie theaters are probably the most famous examples of discriminatory pricing around. Why NOT continue the policy with wheelchairs?

No, "discriminatory" isn't used in the bad sense here. It means to "differentiate", not "prejudice".

Adults, kids, seniors, students, etc. all have their own price. Prices for each group can also change throughout the day. (Matinee vs. Evening) It's done to maximize the number of customers that come through the door.

Virtuall every seat in the house is the same as the others. (Unless there is a balcony, etc.) Every customer in the house sees the same presentation. Why shouldn't everybody pay the same price? Well, if kids had to pay the same price as adults fewer parents would bring kids to the movies. If Monday afternoons were the same price as Friday night, why would anybody wait until after opening weekend? The theater would be empty on Mondays. Price discrimination allows people to get the most bang for their buck and it allows the theater to get the most possible bodies in seats.

(Hey! Wheelchair people bring their OWN seats, don't they? [Big Grin]

)

For every discounted ticket sold, there is almost always a full-price companion ticket sold. (Except for seniors, maybe.) You wouldn't have sold ANY tickets if they were all full-price. It's better to have only $11 if the customer won't pay $14.

I don't see wheelchair pricing as anything different. There is often a companion ticket sold with the wheelchair ticket. It's a lot like the kids/adults gambit. Besides, people who pay less for their ticket are more likely to play video games or buy popcorn! On top of that, it generates goodwill. Everybody wins!

If I was at the window and a wheelchair person came up I'd give them a discount if I could. If there wasn't a button on the screen for it I'd at least punch them up as a "senior" ticket. I wouldn't feel the least bit guilty about it.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 07-21-2003, 10:50 PM:

This is all very interesting to me. I have never heard of a free admission policy for wheelchair bound patrons, nor have I ever met one of these "angry at the world" wheelchair patrons. Everyone I know and have ever met in a wheelchair have been very friendly and just overall quality people trying to get through life just like everyone else, just having to struggle a bit more. The only time I have ever had an unpleasant experience was when the theater did not provide any sort of decent seating for the fellow, which I fully agree is a crock. Fortunately theaters are doing a better job in designing theaters for handicapped seating nowadays.

Posted by Rachel Gilardi (Member # 1016) on 07-21-2003, 11:34 PM:

Every theater I have worked at previously charged both mentally challenged and physically challenged a special rate which was actually the senior rate. Anyone with them was charged full price. Maybe people in wheel chairs get a lower (NOT FREE!) rate because they cannot choose any place in the theater to sit like the normal crowd, and a lot of times the wheelchair section is not the best seat in the house...that seems to make sense to me. As far as free that just doesn't seem right.

I do not know the policy at the theater I am currently working at, I don't think they do any discounts.

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 07-23-2003, 06:02 PM:

A seat is a seat. Everyone must pay!

Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 07-26-2003, 02:38 AM:

I asked about the wheelchair policy at the local Carmike and was told it was because of a lawsuit several years ago against Carmike because many of their theaters were not wheelchair-friendly. (I assume this one was one of those locations, since there's evidence of seats having been removed to accomodate wheelchairs).

As part of the settlement of the lawsuit, Carmike now allows a wheelchair patron and one guest in for free, one show per day. Group homes and care facilities are excluded from this policy. (There aren't 20 wheelchair spaces in ANY auditorium!)

Heard it straight from a manager.

=TMP=

Posted by Richard C. Wolfe (Member # 431) on 07-26-2003, 03:25 PM:

I don't understand the reasoning for this free admission. A reduced admission is fine, but I don't really see a reason for that either unless the person has a sight or hearing problem. Isn't the product being consumed the same as other patrons? Do they receive free meals at restaurants, free gas at the gas station? Free electric and heating fuel for their homes? And as far as entertainment goes, do they get free cable at home, free admission to live theatre and concerts, or free admission to the ball park?

Group homes and care facilities we give our lowest ticket price which is $2.00, and we give them special private morning showings at 10 am. That way they can have the theatre to themselves and not cause any disturbances for other patrons, as they often need special care. They really appreciate that and take advantage of it often. It makes us all happy.

Posted by Paul Turner (Member # 832) on 07-28-2003, 01:56 PM:

Conforming to ADA added 30% to my construction costs. At least one out of every ten "wheeled customers" feels the need to park in the aisle which means someone has to go in and explain why it's a no-no and try not to humiliate the person in front of the crowd. These two things alone make it hard to justify a discount. However, applying a little "There but for the grace of God ..." allows me to make sure every wheelchair customer feels welcomed and appreciated. We try to be as community oriented as possible, which means ANY party that wants a discount is welcome to talk to me about it.

Posted by Don Bruechert (Member # 1538) on 07-29-2003, 08:59 AM:

We charge full price to everyone as far as I know, but we do have our wheelchair positions (the official ones anyway) set up so we have removed aisle seats in the back row, and their attendants can sit in the seat right next to them - they can feel just like any other customer except they are sitting in a more comfortable chair (in some cases) in a "protected" area.

We have been known to have wheelchair people in some of our other ground level auditoriums - they just sit in the back aisle, or the side aisle. I'm sure we won't have any problem allowing that to continue either until the fire inspector pays a visit during one of the rare moments it is happening.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 07-29-2003, 11:02 AM:

quote:
...they just sit in the back aisle, or the side aisle. I'm sure we won't have any problem allowing that to continue either until the fire inspector pays a visit during one of the rare moments it is happening.

Or until there is an actual fire or other emergency. [Roll Eyes]

Please don't block exits or exit aisles!

Posted by Carl Martin (Member # 1146) on 07-29-2003, 04:12 PM:

quote:
...they just sit in the back aisle, or the side aisle. I'm sure we won't have any problem allowing that to continue either until the fire inspector pays a visit during one of the rare moments it is happening.

oh that's right, this is the wheelchair thread. never mind. [Wink]

Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 08-01-2003, 01:25 AM:

Thomas,
That manager was wrong. There was no lawsuit against us which caused that decision. There were no stipulations under which the heirarchy created and implemented said policy. It was more reactionary than a mandate.

Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 08-01-2003, 09:50 PM:

Hmm... Someone needs to set that manager straight then. Giving out misinformation like that could hurt a company's image.

=TMP=