This is topic No outside food or drink rules in forum Ground Level at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.


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Posted by Kelsey Crozier (Member # 1489) on 03-05-2004, 10:47 PM:
 
I'm sure this has been talked about before but what are some of your policies on the subject?

At my theatre I have the ushers stop pretty much everything except bottled water. We also have a no large bags/backpacks policy too. If someone does try to bring in outside food or drink in I politely explain the policy and offer to hold it until after the show or have them finish in the lobby before entering the cinemas.

What are some of your policies like?
 

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Posted by R. Andrew Diercks (Member # 1725) on 03-06-2004, 03:12 AM:
 
Mine is pretty much identical to yours and I suspect it holds true for many others.
 

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Posted by Kyle Watkins (Member # 986) on 03-06-2004, 10:42 AM:
 
I dont like the idea of let them leave food there. A while back some one got food poising once. There was a big investigation, they thought it was someone form the theater. Lucky other people form the restrant got it to. So that saved our ass.

Kyle
 

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Posted by R. Andrew Diercks (Member # 1725) on 03-06-2004, 11:09 AM:
 
Do you throw it away? I would think you'll piss off customers even more, if they can't have something back that they paid for. Sometimes they tell me to toss it and I comply.
 

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Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 03-06-2004, 11:10 AM:
 
We work pretty hard at enforcing our "no outside" rule, though we get a certain amount of flak because the "big guys" don't enforce theirs.

We try not to keep customer stuff around the lobby either, though it's hard to make that a "hard and fast" rule. We have our policy posted on the entrance door, and again at the ticket podium.

People are generally pretty good about the policy, UNLESS you catch them in the auditorium and ask them to get rid of whatever it is. They tend to think they're home free if they get past the ushers, and they're more likely to be obnoxious if you challenge them at that point. Then, you start getting the "well, you don't serve (fill in here), so I HAD to bring in my own!
 

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Posted by Kyle McEachern (Member # 2250) on 03-06-2004, 12:08 PM:
 
When I worked for Century, I initially thought there was a 'No outside food/drink' policy, since the last chain I had worked at was similar to the earlier posts (Not allowed in, but we'd hold it for them), but then found that it's not even a matter of it not being enforced, there's simply not a policy (According to what I was told)...as long as it's not distracting to other people, you could bring in a large pizza and a 2-liter bottle of soda and nobody would stop you. But then again, there are a lot more resources available to clean theatres than at places like the first chain I worked at (3-4 screens).
 

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Posted by Brad Allen (Member # 470) on 03-06-2004, 12:13 PM:
 
Jack, care to share your policy wording?

Thanks!
 

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Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 03-06-2004, 12:49 PM:
 
Why is bottled water an exception? Don't most theatres sell this as well?
 

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Posted by Kyle Watkins (Member # 986) on 03-06-2004, 12:57 PM:
 
We did the same with water until we starting selling it.

Kyle
 

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Posted by Matthew Stevens (Member # 2167) on 03-06-2004, 02:44 PM:
 
Our theater doesn't allow bottled water. We get too many alcoholics who think because we sell wine and beer, that they can bring in vodka in the water bottle.
 

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Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 03-06-2004, 03:05 PM:
 
Each individual situation is a judgement call.

I remember an entire management staff getting let go because they kicked out an elderly lady with diabetic candy in 1997 when Titanic opened. Her son happened to be the editor of a local paper (a rather large local paper)- in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Needless to say, the whole ordeal played out on the front page. I believe it was a Silver Cinemas location (a now defunct theatre).

I always remember this when my ushers are getting into with a customer about "outside food or drink".
 

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Posted by Kelsey Crozier (Member # 1489) on 03-06-2004, 04:06 PM:
 
Although we do sell bottled water we always let people in with outside brands or home bottled stuff. I can't really think of a good reason that we do this other than we have had a complaint go to head office and it is hard to argue that you can't bring in tap water. I would like to think that when most people tell me that it is just tap water from home they are telling the truth, but I doubt it. We used to have a fountain by the usher post and we would ask that customers pour out their water and refill it there just to be sure that it was water and to avoid the old "I got food poisoning at your theatre."
 

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Posted by Brian Michael Weidemann (Member # 2243) on 03-06-2004, 04:16 PM:
 
Our theatre has a policy on this; or two of them, rather.

The first policy is: No Outside Food or Drinks, Period!

The second is: Whatever you do, make the customers happy and don't piss them off.

It's quite difficult to enforce policies at odds with one another like this. Several months back, a patron had written an angry letter to corporate to the effect of ... how dare they not let me in with the $5.00 coffee I just bought across the plaza from the more popular purveyor of overpriced coffee! What, you expect me to pay to buy your own "prison coffee" that isn't suitable for blah, blah, blah ...

This customer then received passes and free this and free that, while our manangement received reprimands for enforcing their own policy.

Fortunately, I'm locked in the IMAX "attic" all day, so I don't get to make these "judgment calls" on policy.
 

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Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 03-06-2004, 04:27 PM:
 
California law states that you, the theatre, must provide water at the customer's request. This is a restaurant law and we have a restaurant licence. We have a drinking fountain and we have pitchers of water at the end of the concession counter. I don't care if people bring in their own water.

This hasn't hurt our bottled water sales any, we still go through 12 cases a week.

I did, however, just kick out two guys from The Passion of the Christ for drinking a 40oz bottle of beer during the 1:15 PM show on a sunny afternoon. It felt good. My ushers report a great increase in beer consumption for The Passion of the Christ.
 

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Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 03-06-2004, 08:13 PM:
 
In the City of Toronto it is an offense under the health code for any business that sells food (popcorn is a food) to permit for any reason the bringing in of any food or drink that was not purchased on the premises
If a theatre is caught they usually only get one warning before there food service ie snack bar gets closed for 30days
 

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Posted by Stewart Anderson (Member # 1809) on 03-06-2004, 08:36 PM:
 
At Jordan Commons in Sandy, Utah (my previous employer) they allow almost any food or drink into the theaters because they own many restaurants surrounding them. This being the case they feel that it's not necessary to enforce that rule. And they know that their movie patrons greatly appreciate this.
 

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Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 03-06-2004, 10:13 PM:
 
Holy smokes, Stewart! You appear to be so very young to have a big chain of successful steakhouses! Congrats! I wish you continued success!

>>> Phil
 

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Posted by Barry Floyd (Member # 385) on 03-06-2004, 10:40 PM:
 
I'll post this picture that Evans took when he came to visit in October.


At our theatre we handle the "Outside Food & Beverage" situation this way. You bring your own food to my theatre, you have 3 choices.

1.) Pay $4.00 for an "Outside Food & Beverage Permit" (Yellow permit tag hangs from rear-view mirror)

2.) Dispose of your "food & beverage items" in the trash cans located on either side of the boxoffice building.

3.) Leave...

If we catch them with their own food once their inside the theatre (with NO permit)... we ask the entire carload of patrons to leave.

I caught hell for this for about two weeks... and from then on.. it's just standard operating procedure.
 

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Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 03-06-2004, 10:53 PM:
 
Hey, this thread, seems a lot like this thread.
 

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Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 03-06-2004, 10:54 PM:
 
Barry, I'm totally amazed at your policy at a drive-in.

I used to go to many shows at drive in's with pizza and beer.

Oh, BTW: with a/some "honey" too.

>>> Phil
 

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Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 03-06-2004, 10:56 PM:
 
You're not amazed Phil, you're just a cheap ass.
 

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Posted by Barry Floyd (Member # 385) on 03-06-2004, 11:23 PM:
 
I thought we had discussed this somewhere before! I still stick by our policy.

From what information I have available, I am only 1 of 3 drive-ins in the country that sell such a "permit". The "Bengie's" in Baltimore and the "Triway"... somewhere in Indiana.

It works for us. "Most" people just say, "It's ONLY $4.00... and besides... we still get to see 2 movies for six bucks!"

The "drive-in" is a totally different type of entertainment. When people go to the local indoor theatre, the theatre is usually just one of the several locations they may go on that particular evening. (i.e.: Go to the mall, go to ??? for dinner, then go catch the 9:15 show of whatever at the multiplex).

Usually... when Mom and Dad load up the kids for the weekend trip to the drive-in.... it's ALL they do on a Saturday night. Gates open at 6:30 /-, dinner at the theatre, two - 1 1 /2hr. - 2 hr. movies, then the 20-25 minute drive home.... it's 11:30 p.m. at the earliest.

Our Kitchen menu at the theatre offers more variety than any of the local restaurants in Watertown COMBINED. So... the ol' "You don't serve that here", usually won't work at our place.

We sum it up by telling most folks. "Instead of banning outside food and beverages LIKE THE INDOOR THEATRES DO, we let you bring as much food as you want.... you just pay $4.00 for the priviledge. Once we remind them how mean the indoor guys are... they hand over their $4.00
 

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Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 03-06-2004, 11:40 PM:
 
So Daryl, what's your point? I'm cheap! I admit it! But I'm happy!

While I can certainly see that policy for a Walk-in, I still can't buy it for a drive-in.

Next thing ya know, the drive-in police will tell me I can't have sex in the privacy of my own car...even in the last row!

quote:

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you just pay $4.00 for the priviledge

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Privilege? Holy Toledo, Barry! Perhaps you should consider your paying customers and treat them as a source of your income and not be so aloof.

>>> Phil
 

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Posted by Erick Akers (Member # 875) on 03-07-2004, 12:41 AM:
 
Just curious Barry,

How do you enforce your policy without overstepping the boundries of the law?

Sure you could ask someone to depart your D.I., but you run a public service business and when a patron has paid for service they are entitled to receive the services they paid for, or a refund (their choice not yours), so that leaves criminal trespass out of the question.

What if a truck driver; like our friend Tim, were to pay a visit to your establishment? As an OTR truck driver, his Rig becomes his legal home, or how about a retired couple in their RV?

All out of legal bounds as far as a search is concerned.

One more question, how many of your patrons that buy a food permit and never make a purchase from your snack bar?

I'm not to sure of Bengie's policy today, but they used to be flexible on their food permit purchase; that is, if you made a purchase from the snack shack your food permit was refunded.

Just food for thought.

One more question,What is your policy if you catch someone having a little ?

1. Do you ask them to leave?

2. Call the police? ( ing in a public place is a misdemeanor)

3. Videotape them with a night vision camera?

[ 03-07-2004, 02:45 AM: Message edited by: Erick Akers ]
 

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Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 03-07-2004, 12:54 AM:
 
Erick, I vote for the camera!

>>> Phil
 

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Posted by Erick Akers (Member # 875) on 03-07-2004, 02:53 AM:
 
Me Too Phil!
 

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Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 03-07-2004, 09:11 AM:
 
Is the $4 charge per car or per person? It seems perfectly reasonable if it's per carload, but high if it's per person. Hopefully the food that you serve at your drive-in is better quality than what people could get elsewhere, anyway.

What about groups that arrive in multiple cars? Do they need to buy multiple permits even if the food is actually transported in only one car?
 

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Posted by Barry Floyd (Member # 385) on 03-07-2004, 09:17 AM:
 
Hang on guys... you are talking like as if "I'm" doing something wrong here? What I'm doing is providing a means to support my family.... nothing aloof at all. Don't think for a minute we come across as "Food Nazi's"... it's not that way at all. We don't walk car-to-car and shine flashlights into folks private moments of their movie watching. And yes there's plenty of going on... most don't even bother to try to conceal it from view.

quote:

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Sure you could ask someone to depart your D.I., but you run a public service business and when a patron has paid for service they are entitled to receive the services they paid for, or a refund (their choice not yours), so that leaves criminal trespass out of the question.

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Conditions of our policies clearly states if they do not dispose of their food or buy an "Outside Food & Beverage Permit", we reserve the right to refuse to sell you a ticket. I'm sorry.... but if you cannot respect the same policies that everyone else on the lot does... in my opinion thet are not "Entitled" to jack .

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I'm not to sure of Bengie's policy today, but they used to be flexible on their food permit purchase; that is, if you made a purchase from the snack shack your food permit was refunded.

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Privilege? Holy Toledo, Barry! Perhaps you should consider your paying customers and treat them as a source of your income and not be so aloof.

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Jack, care to share your policy wording?

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NO OUTSIDE FOOD OR DRINK

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How do you enforce your policy without overstepping the boundries of the law?

Sure you could ask someone to depart your D.I., but you run a public service business and when a patron has paid for service they are entitled to receive the services they paid for, or a refund (their choice not yours), so that leaves criminal trespass out of the question.

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I'm REALLY glad you brought this up, Erick. After more than 17 years of "ejecting without refunds", more than a few with the assistance of law enforcement personnel, I had a newly-hired sheriff deputy and a junior County prosecutor test me on this very issue last year. After they found out I was serious about letting the case go to a full jury trial, a senior prosecutor got ahold of it and dropped it flat, and I now have the paperwork to show any other misinformed deputy.

Think about this for a moment. If you go to a sporting event and misbehave, do you think you'll get your money back as Security is showing you the door? Probably not. If you go to a nightclub that requires a cover charge at the door and get kicked out for being an ass before the band starts, do you get your money back? Not likely. Your payment bought you a license to be on the property. You are no longer trespassing. You have an expectation that you'll receive the service that you paid admission for, but you do not get carte blance to create your own personal rule set.

Yes, you may have been sold the expectation of "service". However, you have to be careful about how you apply the word "public", and the rights you might believe that transfers away from the business operator. As a private businessman, operating on private property, I have the right to set the rules of behavior that I expect of all people who pay for admission to my business, in some cases, even if I dont post all of those rules on a sign. If I can show that I apply my rules evenly to the crowd as a whole (not counting exceptions for things like ADA), I'm pretty safe if I eject someone without a refund.

As a member of the public, I think you can probably make an argument for a refund, if a broken rule is unsigned and only a matter of your opinion against mine. I'll generally err on the side of legal safety and offer you a refund if you change your behavior or leave quietly. However, if a patron violates a posted policy (like Barry's "no outside food" sign), or something that's clearly a matter of common sense, like a law (drug use, underage drinking, sneaking in without payment, etc.) or if I have to call law enforcement to help me out, I can eject them without refund on the premise that they caused an unreasonable or illegal disruption to my business that I would not generally allow all other customers to engage in.

In my case, I normally eject the entire carload without refund. This causes a little more strife if a patron argues that he paid or was not directly involved in the problem at hand. The other side however, is that those patrons almost always knew, or reasonably should have known that something was going on in the car that was not within the law or the business's policies. By remaining silent as the car is passed through the boxoffice admission process, those patrons become "accessories". Their inactions support their ejection, along with the person(s) directly involved.

For your part, you can take me to small claims court, if you feel you have a more persuasive argument for a refund than I'll be able to present. However, If I want you off the property, I can legally expect that you will be gone. We'll deal with the fallout later.

The only people that are offended by policies like these are the ones directly involved, or those who choose to accompany them. It's pretty hard to argue your case when I can show that you were the only person among a couple thousand others who stepped out of line and got tossed for it. Personally, I think Barry's in pretty safe territory here.

While not likely to be applied as drastically, a chain can empower(I hate that word) a local manager by providing written instructions for handling outside food and customer behavioral issues. The risk involves an employee's interpretation of those instructions going beyond corporate intent.
 

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Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 03-07-2004, 03:19 PM:
 
We have "NO OUTSIDE FOOD OR DRINKS - RESTROOMS FOR PAYING CUSTOMERS ONLY" on each one of our 16 doors leading into the building and it never fails where someone is walking in with drinks or asks, "I don't have a ticket, but can I use the bathroom really quick?" Plain and simple: They're all stupid who probably had a spoiled upbringing and think the rules don't apply to them. I'm sorry, but if you don't have a ticket, you're not a customer and are shit to me. If you DO have a ticket, then you're entitled to the amount of respect and service equal to the purchase price of your ticket. You disrespect the rules, you lose that respect.

My favorite line to a customer who argued their food situation, "Which one of those sixteen signs do you think doesn't apply to you?"

=TMP=
 

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Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 03-07-2004, 08:57 PM:
 
I can see both sides of the drive-in no outside food policy. There's a drive-in not too far from me, when in Hamilton, that does well with a voucher policy. They also have a menu larger that any other establishment of any kind I have ever seen, all at a reasonable price.

Myself, I usually draw the line at stopping the pizza delivery guy when you shows up at the gate on his way to deliver a pizza to someone parked on the field. Other than that, like Jack, we're usually busy enough that forcing people to either hand over some cash or wait in line at our packed concession stand would just piss them off and end up loosing us money in the long run.

Nonetheless, those who do have a voucher policy are in no means overstepping their rights IMHO.

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I'm sorry, but if you don't have a ticket, you're not a customer and are shit to me.

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I can't believe I actually just read that. Especially when it concerns a company that deals directly with the public. That has got to be one of the best ways to turn away potential or even regular customers, especially mothers.

Do you not sell someone an advance ticket if they walk in with a drink in their hand because it's against the rules to have outside food or drinks in the building?
 

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Posted by Erick Akers (Member # 875) on 03-08-2004, 06:26 AM:
 
Hi guys,
I didn't mean to piss anyone off, I just wanted to pose a question to have an idea on how a situation would be handled.

Barry,

I may have been mistaken about Bengie's, In the early 80's we made several trips acros the U.S. visiting as many D.I.'s as we could before the demise of many of them. I do remember my mom being reembursed after making a purchase from a snack bar.

I thought it was Bengies, but it could have been The Sundown or The Comanche ! As stated above the food permit was a very rare practice, and the first one we ever saw was at the Comanche in Wyoming.

I'm on your side Barry, remember? I still want to chat with ya about building a D.I.

My original question still stands:

How many of your patrons that buy a food permit, end up making a purchase at the Snack Bar?

and one other:

Do you sell condoms behind the counter?
Safe sex begins with us, and we all need to do our part!!!

Jack,

I'm not offended at all by this policy! If the patron, peacefully acknoledged breaking the rules after being asked to leave were to ask for a refund I would most likely comply.

Also, If they asked to purchase a permit in liew of being tossed out, I would also comply.

Thomas,

Join me in a Cyber Toke and Mellow OUT Man!!!

Not everone had a priviledged spoiled upbringing. Some of them just don't have the money.

My family has been quite literally one step from the curb on a few occaisions.

I will admit to smuggling munchies into a theater, for me it was a question of economic hardship.

Please don't don't judge people as SHIT just because they arn't a customer, without knowing their background.

In retrospect, you just called almost everyone here with the exception of members that visit your establishment.

At least Phil admits that he's cheap!

Phil,

You can't bring in a lunch box without purchasing a permit from the D.I., but you can stay, and eat a box lunch without one. How about that?

For the record, I almost always made it a point of purchasing at least one item from the snack bar even when I was sneeking in goods.

Erick
 

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Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 03-08-2004, 12:48 PM:
 

quote:

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That has got to be one of the best ways to turn away potential or even regular customers, especially mothers.

Do you not sell someone an advance ticket if they walk in with a drink in their hand because it's against the rules to have outside food or drinks in the building?

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If they're coming in to use the facilities set aside for PAYING customers, (as it clearly states SIXTEEN TIMES on the doors) then they've just disrespected ME and the establishment, and I don't care to cater to people who show me no respect. Why did they choose the theater? There's THREE restaurants on either side of us. Plain and simple: They don't have a ticket, they're not buying concessions, what are they there for? To browse our movies by walking in to each auditorium?

And nine times out of ten, I catch them trying to sneak into a movie (YES, as Daryl said, MOTHERS with CHILDREN) after they leave the bathroom. And they DARE to give me a dirty look when I tell them "The exit is this way." It's just easier to turn them away.

And our box office is outside. They can buy all the tickets they want and have a picnic for all I care. But they ain't getting past the door stand with the picnic basket.

I simply don't understand this proverbial "ass kissing" to every warm body that walks past the doors because they "might be a potential customer." Sorry, but I don't WANT them to be a customer if they're going to act like spoiled, arrogant, rude, dare I say "people." We let them in with their bag of peanuts and not only do they not buy any of our food, but dump the shells on the floor and piss all over the bathroom. Bingo: We just spent more payroll cleaning up their shit than what that person brought in to the till.

As for the "low income" people, this is understandable. I've been down that road and am still trying to hitchike my way back. I've snuck food into the movies, too, but at least I am subtle about it. I don't carry in a SuperSized Burger King cup and set it down on the door post while looking for my ticket stub that I KNEW I would need 3 feet later. That's like a slap in the face.

I'd rather spend my energy making the experience more enjoyable for the respectable customers than ruining my nerves dealing with the assholes. The door swings both ways, ecxept the emergency exits...

=TMP=

P.S. Someone mention something about a toke?
 

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Posted by R. Andrew Diercks (Member # 1725) on 03-09-2004, 09:36 PM:
 
If people are that low income, the ticket is too much. If they can squeeze out the ticket price, who says they absolutley require refreshments while watching a film. Maybe all the junk food and cigarettes contribute to the income situation. I am being half sarcastic but I watch movies all the time without food and drink. Sounds like a poor excuse to me.

Thomas: You sound a bit bitter. I hope this is just in frustration of how dumb people can be after the fact. When you explain your policies I can't believe you would treat them that way. If so, you don't expect to gain any new customers I hope. Remember every person you royally piss off tells at least 10 others.
 

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Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 03-10-2004, 10:17 AM:
 
Daryl:
Good point about the delivery pizza. We had that happen for the first time last year. I was so shocked by it that I let the guy make his delivery. After thinking about it for awhile though, I decided that crossed the line... something like the few times that people who bring their pizzas or microwave popcorn in and want us to heat it up for them.

You get all kinds!

Erick:
No offense taken here. It's a good subject and one that I'm comfortable with. Coincidentally, so are Barry and the Bengies' owner. We happen to disagree on one of the details that make up the personality of our drive-ins. However, that's normal with outdoor theatres. You'll rarely find two that look or operate alike... especially if they're independents (which most of them are nowadays).

Thomas:
Try not to take everything so personally. You're dealing with the PUBLIC, which guarantees the odds that you'll run into just about every personality there is at one time or another. Let them be buttheads. In the end, you're still there & they're gone.

R. Andrew:
You probably should decide carefully when to "get into someone's face". However, sitting back and smiling at everyone, just to get them to spend their money at your place can create it's own problems.

Probably everyone has heard an unhappy patron announce "I'm going to tell all my friends about you". First of all, most people aren't going to lead their lives based on the experiences of their "friends". If you have the show they want to see, they'll probably stop by. Secondly, if all has failed & we're just trading insults, I've generally responded to these people that if their friends are anything like they are, they'll be doing me a favor by helping keep them from my place. Most of the time, that sets up a mental conflict where they don't know if they're doing something good for me or not
 

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Posted by Gary Crawford (Member # 2038) on 03-10-2004, 11:25 AM:
 
We've been fortunate as far as smuggled food and goodies. Here at Bradley Beach NJ there is a restaurant every twenty feet on Main St. A lot of our regulars do a "dinner and a movie" night out so we all get some business here.

People who come in with cups of coffee are usually permitted (we don't sell coffee, there are two convenience stores within fifty feet). A few might sneak in with a can of soda or even a beer. One regular seems to smuggle in a small bottle of rum but he does buy soda from us to dilute it!

We stop people with things like ice cream cones / popsicles and ask them to finish them outside and we seldom have problems with that.

When we do the pick up after the show we'll find a couple of outside water bottles, maybe a couple soda cans, but our regulars don't seem to abuse it.

Back in the days of DIs around here a lot of things were brought in. Coolers were a regular thing and many folks had tailgate parties. I never remember any enforcement of "no outside food/drink" rules, plus the concession food was pretty bad and too expensive.

I'm not sure how I'd handle a pizza delivery coming in for a patron. Maybe after cracking up at the shear balls of someone doing that I just might "confiscate" the pizza, for quality control purposes of course.
 

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Posted by Barry Floyd (Member # 385) on 03-11-2004, 11:21 PM:
 
No offense taken here either.

I had a lady corner me last fall in front of the concession building and just started ranting on and on about the fact we charged for a food permit and we did not have $5.00 carload pricing!! I just nodded my head, said "uh-huh, I see..." etc. When I then explained to her why we did have these policies, she just kept telling me I was wrong. I replied, "I not changing the policy" ... she started to proceed to cuss me out.

You can disagree with me all you want. If you don't like my policies... your more than welcome to drive 80 miles to the next closest drive-in.

But DO NOT for one minute, think your going to start cussing me out in front of my other patrons and my employees and think your gonna remain on the property!!!

She was told to leave... and I never saw her again.
 

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Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 03-12-2004, 01:04 AM:
 
We don't get much of that anymore... but once in a while, someone comes out from under a rock and can't seem to understand why you don't put out two first-run pictures for $5 a car.

It's getting harder to keep from laughing at these goofs.
 

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Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 03-12-2004, 01:13 AM:
 
We do Tuesday and Thursday night carload nights for $7 a car (one regular admission). The only time I'll sit in the box office on a Wednesday night is if I don't have enough staff that I trust with the cash (more so that I can't trust they can make change correctly).

Wednesday night is the worst since everyone complains that Tuesday is cheap and Thursday is cheap so Wednesday must be cheap. Well if you knew that, why didn't you come on Tuesday or Wednesday.

We usually charge an extra dollar on admission for four features too. "You want eight dollars! Two whole dollars a movie! Are you nuts?".... "Why yes, I put up with idiots like you."

Anyway, it's getting pretty hard to keep a straight face while saying "GOOD" when they say they're going to go to one of the indoors in town instead, and then mumbling, "we own those too jackass".
 

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Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 03-12-2004, 11:23 AM:
 
Yeah, I guess I'm being a bit bitter. (okay, a LOT bitter) but that's what happens when I'm asked to watch door for just half an hour while the underagers go on break. But still, these people think that just because I have a uniform that gives them the right to treat me like crap. And you can see it coming, too. The ones walking up with that stupid grin on their face and you just KNOW they've been thinking of something dumb (to them, funny) to ask just to piss you off.

Or the look of "Watch this..." when they're with a group of people who are trying to blatantly carry in sodas.

Of course, I would never treat people the way I said I would while working for someone else, but if I had my own theater, I'd make sure my "customers" are in check. If they see that they can get away with a little, they'll try a little more next time. You let them in with a cup of soda, next time you'll be letting them in with a bag of chips, then a pizza... Or the people who throw a fit because you won't give them TEN courtesy cups. They just don't understand that they're not the only ones in the world because they've been told that they are their whole lives. Probably an only child.

And if someone swears at me or calls me a name, I just walk away from them. I refuse to deal with unreasonable people. Now the problem which I was trying to help them with has become solely their problem. Bye!

=TMP=
 

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Posted by R. Andrew Diercks (Member # 1725) on 03-13-2004, 12:49 AM:
 
Thomas: I totally agree with not letting customers abuse you or your policies but I prefer to kill them with kindness. It makes them look more silly and unreasonable in a crowd and they ultimatley get more angry, but only at themselves. I get just as angry after the fact. If they begin calling me names I thank them and apologize for my inconveniencing them. It's hilarious how pissed they get, and those around them laugh at them, not you. When swearing occurs, I do the same..conversation over! The most I say is please leave or I will have police ask you to do so.

The things I wish I could say to customers would get me fired
 

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