Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Self served drinks

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Posted by Kyle Watkins (Member # 986) on 04-20-2004, 09:39 PM:

Does any theater do this or know of any. Kinda curious how well this will work out. If so i have a few questions. I cant see someone buying a small and kept coming out for a refill.Do a lot of people try and bring there own cup in. How much time does it saves at the conc stand. im sure this will have its good and bad points to it, just want to see waht others think of it.

Kyle

Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 04-20-2004, 10:03 PM:

I wrote this idea into a business plan. In addition to using a lower priced brand of soft drink (RC Cola), self served drinks, along with free refills on the large size only - you are looking at a better per cap (with a lower cost of goods). The whole idea of a free refill is ingenious - because 90% of customers who buy the larger size for the idea of the refill - never get a one....

Posted by Jeremy Fuentes (Member # 2135) on 04-20-2004, 10:11 PM:

Century theaters does this. I dont know if they do it at every location, but they do here in Corpus Christi. I dont know how well it works for them. Maybe someone on FT works for Century, they would have more info. Personally, I think it would cause a mess when it comes to people grabbing the wrong lid, and then leaving it on the counter or the floor, or filling a drink, and the changing their mind about the size, and leaving a dirty cup on the counter. Just too much of a clean-up hassle if you ask me.

Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 04-20-2004, 10:16 PM:

Jack Loeks Theatres does this at a number of their locations. Photos of Celebration Cinema - Grand Rapids and Celebration Cinema - Lansing. Here, you get an empty cup when you pay at the snack bar and then walk to the fountains.

Century uses cafeteria/drive-in-style stands at their new and remodeled sites. Here, you pick a cup and fill it yourself or tell someone what you want and they do it for you. You pay at the end of the walk-through snack bar.

In both instances, as expected, there is a certain level of maintenance that needs to be done to keep things clean. Not much different that your local quickie-mart.

Posted by Kyle McEachern (Member # 2250) on 04-20-2004, 10:37 PM:

At the Century that I worked at that used the self-serve procedure, they also had a pair of soda towers behind the counter - this allowed for people to fill their own sodas if they chose, but could also order one from a concessions worker. This made it so that neither was ever really overworked, because if people saw a line at the self-serve they'd go to the employee-run station, and if there were too many people in the employee line, they'd go make one for themselves (At the instruction of the concession employee, generally). The maintenance isn't bad, as long as you're paying attention. Every hour or so it's good to just clean up any extra straws/wrappers/lids and make sure everything is still stocked, and then clean up any spills as they happen (Though there generally aren't more than at any other theatre). It works out well, though I'm not sure how 100% self-serve would do.

Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 04-20-2004, 11:07 PM:

We do one free refill on our large popcorn... that's it.

About 50% of them come back for a refill at our drive-in... less than that at our indoor. However, we sell large popcorns at least 5-1 over mediums... and 15-1 over smalls.

We don't do refills on soft drinks. That policy eliminates any abuse issues altogether.

In our case, the local market isn't big on refills anyway, so there's not much pressure around here to give our product away.

Posted by John Hegel (Member # 628) on 04-21-2004, 01:00 AM:

Jack,

When the customers come back for the refill of popcorn, do they also tend to buy another item with it, or just the free refill?

Posted by Daniel Fuentz (Member # 1684) on 04-21-2004, 03:26 AM:

In this market, the Signature theater has a self-serve drink station in the cafeteria-style snack bar, and they don't offer refills. The Edwards across town has all drink stations behind the snack bar, and they do offer refills on large drinks. You'd think it was the other way around!

Posted by Mark Hajducki (Member # 1732) on 04-21-2004, 04:04 AM:

Some of the local cinemas use/used self service for drinks/popcorn.

The Clerk St Odeon (New Victoria) had self service drinks and sweet popcorn with counter service for drinks/hotdogs/natchos and salted popcorn. All payment was done at a seperate counter just before the main entrances to the screens.

The UCG (Fountainpark) has self service drinks and self selection popcorn (as in prefilled containers under heat lamps). Payment was done at the hot food stand in the center. (This was badly designed so that customers had to double back on themselves to pay and wait while hot food was served.

Some problems that were/are encountered by these systems are:
-Theft (Easy at UGC since the cash desk was not in the direct route from the service area to the screens.) Some form of marking paid for goods would be usefull.
-Wastage (Customers abandoning half poured drinks)
-Stupid customers (If the Pepsi looks like water then the syrup has run out [don't buy it!])
-Hygene (I have never liked the idea of small children [and most adults] being able to scoop their own popcorn from the large containers [although the fact that UGC was closed down for having a rat infestation put me off its food even more])

Provided all the payment is done at the exit to the concessions area (by staff not having to pour drinks etc.) then the self service system works well and can speed up service considrabally.

Posted by Peter Kerchinsky (Member # 1098) on 04-21-2004, 05:09 AM:

Landmark Theatres here in Seattle offer free refills on both large drinks and large popcorn. Drinks are 44 oz. (whew) and the large corn is the 130 ounce bag. Not sure if this helps per caps as I'm just in the booth and have nothing to do with management.
I think self serve on drinks is a stinko idea as it can be abused.
AMC Theatres here have self serve on butter, or what they call butter, and I also think that's stinko. What if I like my corn buttered in the middle, then on top. You have to ask the employee to only fill the bag to half, add butter, then bring it back to top it off, then add more butter?
That's nuts to me. Too damn time consuming!
Are we (theatre people) getting lazy or what?
Have the snack bar people serve the corn the way the customer asks. It's just that simple.
Damn the 7-11s full speed ahead.

Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 04-21-2004, 07:56 AM:

Self-serve drinks can be a great time saver, or cost you more time depending on the circumstances. I would be more concerned about kids playing with the soda tower, trying this drink and that, mixing this with the other thing, etc. Also, there's a bunch of indicisive people out there who change their mind just because they can. They'll take a taste of every flavor (but not before filling the WHOLE cup) and then dump it down the drain to try the next. [Roll Eyes]

We offer refills on any size popcorn or any size drink for $1.00 and it seems to be quite popular. When customers come back to refill either (or both) 1 out of 4 usually buy something else.

But any time you have self-serve anything, soda, butter, straws, lids, napkins... people will make a mess, or take enough paper products for the whole auditorium and jam it in your cupholders. [Mad]

quote: Peter Kerchinsky
AMC Theatres here have self serve on butter, or what they call butter, and I also think that's stinko. What if I like my corn buttered in the middle, then on top. You have to ask the employee to only fill the bag to half, add butter, then bring it back to top it off, then add more butter?

I actually like the self-serve butter idea. All you really need is a "drizzle" on top and it drips down. Any more than that, and it's leaking through those cheap bags. (Doesn't ANYONE use buckets anymore?) But even as "automated" as the condiments counter is at the local AMC, four people go through it and it's a mess. Personally, I'd get irritated with people who'd ask me not only to layer the butter, but to "Put a little popcorn, then some butter and a dash of salt, then put in more popcorn and shake it, then put a layer on top of that, cover that layer with butter, spin around three times, clap your hands, add more butter..." and then they ask for another bag to share it. *sigh*

=TMP=

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 04-21-2004, 01:08 PM:

We use buckets.

Bags = cheaper, quieter.

Buckets = look better, fill faster, people like them.

Winner: Buckets

Posted by Jeremy Fuentes (Member # 2135) on 04-21-2004, 01:12 PM:

We use buckets too. I think we are going off subject here, and I just cant see that happening here on Film-Tech. [Big Grin]

Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 04-21-2004, 01:35 PM:

quote: John Hegel
Jack,

When the customers come back for the refill of popcorn, do they also tend to buy another item with it, or just the free refill?

I suppose there's some of that, but the percentages of additional purchases is very high. It's probably more so at the drive-in, where we're creating a second "pre-show" of sorts. The screen's dark, people are relieving themselves of the 32 ounce pops they bought before the first show, and a lot of them stock back up before heading out for the second show.

Re: other posts here...

We use buckets, too. The "butter" doesn't "drizzle down" as much as you might want to believe. To get topping down to the bottom third, you'd have to ladle a cup or two over the top. That's my major issue with the AMC model of pre-filled popcorn & self-serve butter. Buckets are easy to handle from the bottom lip. You can give the popcorn a good shake with one hand as you put on the topping. That can't be done with a bag that's already full. About the only positives I can come up with for bags are that they're cheaper & take up less space in your dumpster.

Posted by Peter Kerchinsky (Member # 1098) on 04-21-2004, 04:04 PM:

I believe we dumped the buckets because of the cost difference with bags. Also Jack has a good point about buckets taking up lots more room in dumpsters. I also see lots of customers leaving the theatre with partially eaten bags of corn, can't do that with a bucket.
Also I heard years ago some theater chain got sued because a customer tripped on one of those 130 ounce buckets and cracked ribs on a seat standard while walking through the aisle.
Now I know we're getting off the topic, but what else is new!

Posted by Kyle Watkins (Member # 986) on 04-21-2004, 05:10 PM:

How does the ice work for these self served. Do you have to fill them up. That can be a real pain in the ass. Or do they come with there own ice maker. Im just comparing it to what i see at fast food places. I never see any one ever fill those, of course im not there 24/7.

Thomas is correct about the mess with self served. Ever were i go is a mess, and most the tiem they are out of lids, straws, etc.

As for the self served butter......What a joke that is dam this dont woke half the time, dam peole put so much butter on, thne come back for a differt bag. it is not worth it.

Off the topic. How much, price wise, cost to make, is the with a lage "bag" of popcorn and a large "bucket".

Kyle

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 04-21-2004, 06:54 PM:

A large bag probably costs about a nickel. A large bucket costs anywhere from 25¢ to 45¢ depending on the size. Your cost of ingredients is pretty low in comparison.

EDIT: We actually pay 27¢ for our biggest size bucket, a 130 oz. Our most popular size is 85 oz, we pay 24¢ for that. By comparison an 85oz bag costs us 9¢, but to me the customer satisfaction, ease of service, and non-leakage of butter is worth the extra 15¢.

[ 04-25-2004, 01:14 PM: Message edited by: Mike Blakesley ]

Posted by Brad Allen (Member # 470) on 04-21-2004, 07:29 PM:

I personally know two owners that do the self serve drink routine. They both think it's great.
Speeds flow thru concession line greatly.

No problems at all with abuse.
Both say it has saved them considerably in labor costs, as one less person is needed than before.

Kyle, customers get their own ice as well.

Popcorn bags are a pain, and I doubt they are much cheaper in the long run. Takes longer to fill (slows concesion line) because you can't just scoop the container, and people tend to spill them more.

Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 04-21-2004, 07:52 PM:

The larger machines like the ones in the Celebration photos have ice makers above the fountains. The ice maker part is hidden behind the wall above the fountain.

Posted by Benjamin J. Kepner (Member # 1241) on 04-21-2004, 09:11 PM:

I personally work at Jack Loeks theaters and yes, we do utilize self serve drink stations. We switched to them over a year ago I believe and they actually work quite well. We do run into instances where customers can be quite sloppy and leave large messes, but that is generally with the self serve butter flavoring oil rather than the soda. We do keep a staff member dedicated to keeping the lobby (and the self serve station) clean throughout the weekends when we are busier, and during the week it generally can just be touched up by whoever is passing by.

We also switched to bag from buckets less than 6 months ago (we had them a while back and were actually able to switch back to buckets for a couple more years) and as far as I understand on most sizes of the containers the actual cost difference is pennies to nickels if there even is a difference.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 04-22-2004, 01:26 AM:

You must have either been getting seriously ripped off on your bags, or else you have very crappy buckets. I'll get some exact prices (what we pay, anyway) and edit into my above post tomorrow. Large chains may get'em for a lot less than we do, come to think of it.

Posted by Brad Allen (Member # 470) on 04-22-2004, 03:43 PM:

In my world, I pay .23 cents ea for an 85oz bucket, same size bag would cost .08cents.

Now for a 32oz bag, it would be .07 cents.
32oz cup is .08 cents.
So the bigger containers is where the price dif increase's.

Posted by Rob Butler (Member # 2274) on 04-24-2004, 04:29 PM:

With the self serv soda towers, they all just have a hopper on top that you dump the ice into (this is only on the ones which have an ice chute instead of the "scoop and fill"). The automated ice makers just sit on top of the hopper and keep it full.

As far as self serv butter, you get less complaints about there being too much or too little, but people often put too much on and it leaks through the bottom of the bag, and sometimes we've actually had kids that dump in a pint or so and pour it all over the theater floor.

Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 04-25-2004, 12:47 PM:

Butter should be SOLD in individually sealed cups much like some brands of nacho cheese. That way, if they want to make it leak through the bag and onto the floor, it will cost them. [Smile]

I know, wishful thinking.

One theater tried charging $0.25 for extra butter, but that just got complaints. The "extra" was never enough for the quarter, and people would get mad when they said "extra extra extra butter!" and they'd charge them $0.75. [Roll Eyes]

=TMP=

Posted by Gary Crawford (Member # 2038) on 04-28-2004, 02:14 PM:

With our customers self-serve would be a disaster. A flood of soda and ice all over the floor, and in an area not big enough to add soda towers to the counter.

We pop our popcorn fresh and pre-load it into large and small buckets and display them under heat lamps. Butter if they want it, extra butter (and "extra" is a good amount) is a quarter more. Sodas are filled as ordered.

We're a small single-screen and so far we haven't had a problem with "too many" customers in line at the concession stand. One worker during weeknights, two on Fridays and Saturdays and it seems to work fine.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 04-28-2004, 04:20 PM:

our Pepsi machine has the sensor-arms so the staff can start an Ex-Large cup flowing, then go fill the popcorn or collect the money or whatever and the flow stops when the drink is full.

The hard part is training them not to stand there and watch the drink filling up.

Posted by Brad Allen (Member # 470) on 05-05-2004, 05:30 PM:

Mike, how did you convince Pepsi to put that type arm in?
I tried in the past, and didn't get very far.

Posted by Scott D. Neff (Member # 185) on 05-05-2004, 06:05 PM:

BRAD: In my dealing with Coke and Pepsi you usually need to prove you can do the volume to support the added expense to the machine. OR just have a nice Pepsi/Coke rep. [Razz]

As far as self serve drinks go, at a few Cinema West Theaters we did full self serve and only self serve. People generally didn't make too much of a mess, nor did kids spend too much time mixing and matching drinks.

The biggest problem with this type of setup is with customers walking off with a Large Cup because they want to share their drinks. Explaining to people that they can't have the big cup because it's part of the inventory doesn't go over well. Especially when your alternative to their 32oz cup is a teensy 12oz cup.