Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Marcus No Sellout Guarantee

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Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 05-31-2010, 09:13 AM:

One of the two Marcus outlets here is advertising a "No Sellout Guarantee", but gives no details. Can any of the Marcus folks here say exactly what that is?

Posted by Edward Havens (Member # 4715) on 05-31-2010, 09:18 PM:

Regency has been making the same offer at their Agoura Hills location (formerly a Mann Theatre until last year). I think it's just a marketing gimmick to hook people in to dead locations.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 05-31-2010, 09:49 PM:

That sounds pretty sad. But I guess it could appeal to some. But since it is a guarantee, what happens if something, by chance, does sell out? Refund for everyone?

Posted by James Westbrook (Member # 3690) on 06-01-2010, 02:36 AM:

I recall when Hollywood Video had a guarantee that the new releases would be in stock. One of the guys who worked there, when they did rent out all of the copies of the new release, simply told the inquiring customer "We're out."
I understand Hollywood Video isn't doing too well lately...

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 06-01-2010, 07:15 AM:

Even though it's since closed, every time the local Hollywood Video was out of a guaranteed title, we were given a voucher to get it later for free.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 06-01-2010, 10:58 AM:

quote: Joe Redifer
what happens if something, by chance, does sell out?

They probably kick out the three ticket-holders in some dead six-week-old movie in auditorium #24, and put the overflow crowd from "Iron Man 2" in there. So the picture is tiny ... nobody will care!

Posted by Sam Graham (Member # 2889) on 06-01-2010, 12:55 PM:

I wonder if it's a poorly performing location that never does a good business for ANY movie, so they're trying to convince patrons to move over from the complex that has too much business.

Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 06-01-2010, 01:21 PM:

I think Sam has a good idea about this location.

This Marcus theatre (Marcus Crosswooda) is located about 3 miles south of a major shopping area. There is a RAVE 18-plex very close to the giant mall that does very very good business. The Marcus, although a very excellent facillity, is far enough away from the primary traffic patterns to have lost business to the RAVE. Another indicator is that number of restaurants near the Marcus that have closed.

The Marcus is located in an office/hotel type of area, while the RAVE is closer to the housing areas and heavier traffic.

The other Marcus facillity locally is NOT offering such a sellout guarantee. It is the only theatre in a growth area with very good traffic patterns.

Posted by Scott D. Neff (Member # 185) on 06-02-2010, 01:59 PM:

It does sound as though they're saying "Come to our slow theatre! If we happen to sell something out we'll be HAPPY to give you a pass to a future film."

Posted by Manny Montes (Member # 5639) on 07-05-2010, 04:58 AM:

exactly, what's the worst that could happen? They sell out? Thats great! then they give everyone a voucher to COME BACK AGAIN!

It's actually pretty brilliant, it should bring in people, and if you can really WOW them then they will stay. I've seen it happen, We are right next to a huge 24 plex, and I mean RIGHT next to, its one street over, yet we still sell out shows every weekend and are busy. Simply because people got fed up with the management at the 24plex and gave us a shot, once we got them in the door, our service and presentation got them Hooked and coming back. I think this is what that theater is trying to do, their problem is getting them in the door, but they are confident they can keep them once they are in the door.

Posted by Mark Hajducki (Member # 1732) on 07-05-2010, 02:34 PM:

One 'trick' they could be using is only offering the pass if there are no showings with seats available within a certain timeframe. This would be particularly useful if the cinema is busier in the afternoon than the evening.

If, for example, a time limit of 3 hours is used (usually enough to see the next show [especially if multiple prints are used]) and the 18:00 show is sold out customers get diverted to the 20:30 show then no passes are needed.

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 07-06-2010, 10:31 AM:

I don't think time limits are fair. If the 8 pm show is sold out, I'm not coming to the 10:30 if I have to be up early. A guarantee is a guarantee, not a guarantee only to be made good on within a certain time window.

Posted by Chad Souder (Member # 343) on 07-22-2010, 02:18 PM:

The time limit is 30 minutes, which I think is fair. Otherwise, like Mark guessed, you get a pass.

Posted by Manny Montes (Member # 5639) on 07-23-2010, 05:24 AM:

Also the voucher is only good for 6 days, so i'm sure they are betting that people won't use it within that timeframe. Either way, its a great way to bring people into your lobby, and sometimes that's the hardest thing to do.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 07-23-2010, 08:21 AM:

Isn't it at least borderline unethical to "guarantee" that there will be no sellouts, and then to respond only with a pass that is good for a limited time? It may get people into the lobby, but it may also lose some customers permanently.

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 07-23-2010, 09:57 AM:

I'm with Scott on that. Anytime we had vid stores that had "guaranteed in-stock" bits would give us a free rental to use anytime rather than one that needs to be used in a couple days.

Posted by Chad Souder (Member # 343) on 07-24-2010, 05:54 PM:

You are getting way to detailed about a compensation plan that will rarely be exercised. Marcus managers have common sense, so if there was a situation where a customer could not make it back, I'm sure they would be taken care of.