CONVENIENCE FEES HAHAHAHA
God what a scam that shit is
“Hey, we saved money by computerization, so we’re gonna pass that cost onto you!”
“Don’t you mean ‘pass the savings onto us?’”
:D “Nope!”
Honestly they probably spend so much on devs to maintain their website that they don’t break even lmao
The amount you’d save not hiring physical ticket sales workers would absolutely dwarf any amount of possible dev salaries for one website.
Lol in my local cinema I have to use a computer next to the ticket taker to print my ticket I bought online and then they physically look at it to tell me which theatre I should walk to, it’s like Idiocracy’s costco
What you don’t find paying extra money convenient?
It’s a convenient way for them to rip you off
The hell is a “convenience fee”?
That’s when you pay extra because money is yucky
Usually charged when you use a credit card online. Because “fees”. At least that’s what I’ve seen.
Came here to ask the same thing. Whatever it is you expect it to be included in the ticket price already when they are this high
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Convenience fee is the best name they can apply to soften a fee, which is really just a way for them to charge more than the list price.
Fees should be universally folded into the list price by default.
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You might be seeing fees I’m not, but some cell service are actually mandatory in the US. Usually a few dollars a month, they go to various state and federal agencies.
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I feel you. Weird that they don’t label it, maybe you get a summarized bill or something.
Essentially automated greed. They make more money by automating their employees and they charge you even more because of how convenient it was for them to do so.
For the convenience of getting screwed over…
I visited Marrakesh back in 2018 and went to a coffee shop where you can see the main city square from above. When I asked for the bill, the employee said the price plus a “serving” fee. This “convenience” fee has the same bullshit energy as that fake fee in Morocco.
I visited Marrakesh back in 2018 and went to a famous coffee shop where you can see the main city square from above. When I asked for the bill, the employee said the price plus a “serving” fee. This “convenience” fee has the same bullshit energy as the fee in the coffee shop in Morocco.
… and on top of that you have to watch like ten minutes’ worth of ads at the beginning. Ugh.
I quit going to movies when they started blaring loud obnoxious commercials under the guise of “entertainment” prior to the movies supposed start time. Going to a movie used to be a social thing you did with friends, but now with them blasting that shit at you at a volume that makes talking impossible what the fuck is even the point? The fact that ticket prices are climbing to this level with this kind of jack assery is ludicrous. And don’t get me started on the 20-30 minutes of previews they show after a movies supposed start time. Just fuck this shit.
So you haven’t been to a movie theater in, like, 20 years? Because none of that is new.
Ads are fairly new, like the car commercial kind of ads. Before you’d show up early to watch the trailers. No one would show up early to watch ads.
First time I remember going to see a movie was about 20 years ago. There might’ve been a movie preview or two; I don’t remember ads. Both “trailers” and ads have gotten progressively worse over the years - almost to the point that you’d think they alone fund the movie and the theatre - but you still pay a ridiculous ticket price.
Adverts have been on at the cinema for as long as I remember although they might have been for products sold at the cinema.
This is the oldest advert that I remember and it’s from 1986. https://youtu.be/rlyrlsf3EfA
Edit: although your point of both previews and ads getting progressively worse is still very correct.
That’s the thing that bugs me so much. Most movies have around 10 minutes of ads. That is ample time to promote some of the lesser known movies that company has made but instead we get ads for insurance companies pretending that they are green, banks gaslighting you into thinking they care about you, McDonalds trying to trick you into their food I synonymous with a happy family and Matt Damon pushing cryto currency on you. I would rather watch an ad for a good movie.
lol what? you go to the movies to watch the movie… if you want to talk you can do it afterwards. also, it’s not like the ads take time off the actual movie
You’re paying $20 to watch a series of giant, unmutable, unskippable and loud ads. It’s like going to a restaurant and the waiter reminds you to stop by the car dealership on the way home to experience the thrill of the new Chevy Equinox. Get ready for a journey that combines style, performance, and endless possibilities.
it’s not that serious, get there a couple minutes late and that’s it
Would be good if it was only 10 minutes. Where I’m from it’s 15 minute ads (with horrible sound usually too), followed by 15 minutes of trailers.
Though we don’t have this bullshit with “convenience fees”.
More like 20 to 30 minutes 🙄
Find a new theater, you’re being robbed.
I work at a pretty high end movie theater. All seats are recliners with tables, there’s a full wet bar and restaurant quality food, and we do events and shit too. Tickets typically run $10-$15. This is ridiculous.
What area of the world if you don’t mind answering? I used to love going to the cinema but its been too pricey for the past decade here.
I live in Vancouver and we have theatres similar to that here
Where? I’d love to go to one if you don’t mind sharing.
$10 - $15? in BC? I can’t get a lunch for under $20 anytime I was there, wonder why movies are the cheap thing still? Is this for a old cinema place?
What the fuck? A convenience fee??? They’re just making shit up at this point
AMC has this fee for choosing your seat and booking online ahead of time. It’s a dumb fee that they waive for spending $15/yr on a stubs membership.
I honestly just paid the $15 because it annoyingly makes things “cheaper”
You don’t need to pay for the stubs membership. Just sign up for the basic stubs which is free and the fee is waived. They get your email and can send you marketing materials but that’s easy to unsubscribe.
Question from an European: What is that convenience fee? Which costs does it cover?
Nothing for the customer. It’s just convenient for the theater to charge more for the ticket.
Nothing, it’s just an extra charge so that the company can make more money.
Answer from another: nothing. We also have them in various places, like parking, or highway vignettes - you are not using their facilities, you save them money, so they charge you some extra
In the early days of the internet in the US the convenience fee was what the 3rd part sales software charged for online transactions but I think now with the it mostly being first party sales or integrated to the vendors POS it’s just a way to charge more money without advertising it on the sticker price.
I think the “convenience” is referring to using a credit card. They charge businesses any time their card is used. This is the business passing that cost on to the consumer.
We go to AMC quite a bit and I think it’s actually the fee for buying tickets online or through the app. So probably even worse than passing CC fees on to customers lol. Always buy our tickets in person for that reason (and matinees).
Thing is…usually the “convenience fee” isn’t there if you pay in person. It’s usually done in online sales. It actually costs less for you to use their online portal because they don’t have to staff more employees in house. But for some reason companies like to charge you extra for buying online and put it as a “convenience fee” instead of going inside to pay. You could theorize that it has something to do with credit cards, but then why don’t they charge you for paying by a credit card in store?
And you have to create an account (with 2FA) to buy the tickets. In specifically inconvenient.
And the fee stacks too which is insane.
Adding to this for more context, in America, credit card fees on merchants are like 3-5% of the transaction. That’s why some places have started to pass them to consumers, especially in low-margin businesses like restaurants and movie theaters. If your margins are around 5% and Visa is taking 3.95%, that’s not super sustainable. Card network fees tend to be much lower in Europe. I’m not sure about elsewhere.
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I got a $600 projector and have about 90 inch display ( can hit 120 if my apartment was bigger). No need to go to a cinema, overpay for drinks and snacks, and I can pause and pee whenever I want.
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When you get divorced, you make decisions 😂
From the tone of your phrasing, it sounds like you got rid of TWO expensive things at once! lol
😂
I have a very good setup at home but we still like going to the cinema once in a while, it’s more of an event and we don’t spend the movie with our nose in our phones.
We do select movies where it’s worth it, big action, etc. Last one was the new avatar in “4D” where they splash you with sprays, the seats move and you feel the wind, pretty cool.
Maybe you should have a no phones rule when you watch a movie at home? Seems like a good idea otherwise what’s the point of watching
We probably should and sometimes when it’s a movie we’re actually looking forward to, we’ll admonish each other when we see ourselves do it, but a good chunk of our relax time is also “put whatever on and scroll” and we’re ok with that.
That last bit sounds detrimental to you brains, not a very healthy practice, but I also sometimes catch myself slipping up.
An exterminator told me that a lot of cinemas have issues with bedbugs. Since then, I haven’t been able to set foot in one.
That’s horrifying to think about
I’ve heard the same. They weren’t enjoyable places even pre covid and now it’s just not worth the trip or the risk. Better experience at home for less money.
Convenience fee? What does that even mean?!
Convenience of driving to the cinema with kids and dealing with their shenanigans, then finally getting in the cinema where they sit and watch the film for 2 hours without disturbing you. You are paying for that convenience.
Convenience fee for the convenience of making that shit right up
For the convenience of the sticky floors and seats so you don’t slide down the stairs - it’s a safety meausure
This reminds me… AMC wanted to test selling tickets at a higher cost based on seat location… corporate greed will keep folks at home.
This is why you should support any surviving local theaters that aren’t chains. Monopolies aren’t created solely by the companies but with the help of the consumers too
That’s ridiculous. I can get recliner seats with tons of arm room and reserved seating for $15 CDN. $12 for a matinee showing.
Same. For $9. Including a drink and popcorn. $11 for a ticket with a large drink and large popcorn.
As a producer who aims to make 2-10 million dollar genre flicks, I don’t see why ticket prices shouldn’t be scaled to budgets. Don’t want to pay 25 bucks to see Avengers 16? Pay 10 to see a low to mid budget crime or horror flick instead.
To keep profits up, theaters should bring back double features, intermissions, and sell popcorn with THC butter. Snack sales will explode.
and sell popcorn with THC butter.
Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.
We didn’t ask for a billion dollars in CGI. That’s their fault. That’s why people rather wait for their favorite site to have the movies and watch it from home. Even then… most movies are still disappointing.
I agree with you that this summer of 300 million dollar studio flops is well deserved and that the unholy fusion of Big Tech and Hollywood has destroyed our industry. Unfortunately for TV buffs, the era of big budget streaming is now also coming to a close due to a mixture of labor actions, rising interest rates, and the simple fact that there are too many apps and none of them make money.
The reason I prefer watching movies in theaters is because I enjoy communal experiences and feel good movies are enhanced by leaving home and joining a crowd. It’s the same reason I go to concerts, sporting events, and plays and comedy shows. Plus I am required to turn off my phone.
I do like the theater but it’s hundred plus dollars to go with me and the family. It makes more sense financially to pop some popcorn, invite their cousins over black out the living room best we can and watch the movie at home.
That’s too expensive. I don’t blame you. Things will need to change.
Theatres were dying before covid. People can get a better experience from home for less money. This is one of those things covid helped speed the death of up. Just like distributed working for those who have jobs that can be done remote offers better productivity with lower costs to employers and workers. Those businesses that fail to adapt will be brought into the future kicking and screaming or just fail to adapt and die off.
You are incorrect that the future of entertainment is an endless, perpetual feed of on-demand home video. It is completely unsustainable. The streaming model peaked during the global quarantine and is now in freefall. You will never have as many people watching TV at the same time again. There was literally almost nothing else to do. The reason why David Zaslav is butchering the MAX catalog, Netflix is cracking down on password sharing, Disney+ and Hulu are set to merge, Paramount is on the verge of a total shutdown, Apple and Prime are canceling shows left and right, and Peacock is seeking a lifeline is because these services existed to thrive during a pandemic. The shutdowns are over and people are going outside again.
You are correct that the studios’ major theatrical releases are flopping this summer and that multiplexes are suffering: The failure of Indiana Jones and The Flash are a testament to Hollywood’s greed, bloat, and hubris. But spend some time in New York, LA, Portland, Chicago, and more and you will find dozens of repertory and revival theaters selling out classic movies every single night with enthusiastic crowds. People want affordability and quality. And they want to leave their homes and enjoy entertainment with their communities.
Why don’t you all get togther and make a kickstarter for films, to go around the big corporate structure. Some sort of non-profit film studio that’s devoted to creating creating great scripts and funding their production.
Crowdfunding has been great for small indie video games and products and historically awful for film. Remember the Veronica Mars movie on Kickstarter? They raised a shitload of money from fans and then sold it to WB. We haven’t seen a high profile film crowdfunded since. WeFundr exists, but isn’t particularly killing it.
To make a real movie with wide theatrical potential, you need people willing to put six and seven figures in. Investors in movies want equity and access. They want a piece of the potential profit, they want to visit sets, meet movie stars and directors, and come to premieres and festivals. They want to have a cameo in the movie or give their kid a job on set. They want to see their names on a screen. They want to give notes. They want to tell their friends they made a movie. They want to be a part of the show. It’s my job to facilitate these investments while protecting my filmmakers from interference.
Well that explains why movies suck so much nowadays. Y’all need to fix that.
Stop watching the high budget movies then. Higher budgets creates higher risks, thus prioritizing methods to getting a return on their investment rather than just what would make the movie better.
Or better yet, just watch the movies that you think look cool and stop worrying about the underlying political mind games of the film industry.
I don’t. Maybe don’t assume shit.
Feels like reddit in here.
I think its a fair assumption. Statements like “movies suck now” are big indicators of the types of movies the person making the statement are watching. There are tonnes of excelent films out there, they just dont get the backing and advertisement that big budget films get. You have to go out and find them. There are resources all over the internet for finding good movies (big or small budget) but you have to make the effort to look and find something good. Thats just what happens when big industries get their fingers in the pie.
No I don’t need to go find them. The fact is we are talking about movie theaters. The types of movies people don’t have to fuckin Google.
