Money Moral Dilemma: Is pick and mix nibbling theft?

awehla

I would say something to my friend and think they were a bit trampy but I wouldn't report them. I can't imagine any of my friends doing that. An old school friend of mine who I'm no longer in contact with once took a sandwich that wasn't hers in a cafe. The waitress asked if it was hers and she took it even though it wasn't. She said to me and my other friend she was going to pay for it but she didn't. She also used to get child train tickets and got caught once oh and she got caught shop lifting when we were kids. I never told on her but I wouldn't put up with that behaviour now.

RuthnJasper

Well, although the cinema prices are extortionate it would still be stealing and I wouldn't like my friend to do it. I don't think I'd report them, though I would tell my friend that I thought they were out of order.

I know 'a few sweets here and there' probably don't seem like many, but if ALL the people who went to see, for example, Alice in Wonderland in its UK opening weekend pinched just three pick'n'mix sweets, that would be an approximate total of 3,937,500 stolen sweeties. No wonder the prices are high.

I hate eating in cinemas anyway, and I certainly wouldn't buy the pick'n'mix sweets - apart from the price who knows whose grubby paws have been rootling around in there?! Ewww...

Billionpounddreamer

alexhawk wrote: »

Since extortionate means excessive then it's completely subjective whether or not they're excessive.

True, it is subjective, but I think most would argue a 10,000% profit margin may be greedy and excessive, which is, technically, the definition of extortion. Find someone who doesn't think £10 for two medium drinks and a medium bucket of popcorn (which cost less than 10p to the cinema to purchase) is excessive and I'll grant you that point. In fact, no I won't..further down in your argument you refer to democracy and free markets, so majority wins.

alexhawk wrote: »

Speaking from experience of working in cineworld I know that the ticket price goes straight to the promoters. We can leave ticket price out of the argument therefore for most cinemas.
This argument was the single most annoying thing about working in a cinema. It is so flawed.

I didn't once metnion ticket prices. And to put it politely, I sincerely doubt, or to put it direct, I know for a fact, that cinemas get a cut of the box office receipts. Are you suggesting they are merely shops selling confectionery and beverages and don't collect any commission upon the sale of cinema tickets?

alexhawk wrote: »

I find the pub analogy works best to explain why this is so wrong.
You are right, they control the price. The cinema is privately owned property, they, like a pub, have a right to charge what they like for food/drink served in their establishment. You have the right not to give them your custom.
Beer generally tastes better (IMHO) when it is served by draft. The three quid my pub charges me is quite a mark up, however it is my choice to pay the extra. I do not have the facilities for draft beer at home, much like I don't have a cinema screen. I choose to pay over the odds for certain prodcts, knowing the facilities in said establishment are better than mine.

The pub analogy is flawed. How many cinemas are there in your area compared to pubs? There are only two cinemas within a reasonable driving distance in my town...compared to literally 100's of pubs. I can choose to go wherever I want pubwise, opting for a cheap night out if I wish to do so. Furthermore, within the pub, I also have a selection of a variety of beers, from the expensive (Cobra, Tiger, Stella) to the cheap (Fosters, Local brews). This is a stark contrast to the cinema, where not only is there a noticeable abscence of a range of differently priced products, but the lack of cinemas in my area means there is a lesser need for competitive prices. It mirrors a cartel, except there are no collusions between the two cinemas because they KNOW they can set absurd prices and still have the demand.

alexhawk wrote: »

When you buy a ticket you're not buying billionpounddreamers idea of what a cinema visit should entail. You're buying a right to view once copyrighted material. You get to watch this film on their system. You don't get free refreshments or food, just entry to the film.

Precisely, so why the ban on foods then?

alexhawk wrote: »

You are assuming 2 things. First people don't have to watch the film on a cinema screen, if people won't pay the prices they will lose custom.
Secondly, you are not being forced to buy popcorn or a cinema ticket. We live in a free market society, don't like it? Then vote with your feet.

No, but if you want popcorn/sweets, which most people do in a cinema, you have to pay their extortionate prices. You have no other choice.

We are not being FORCED to buy petrol either, but does that mean those who are in control of the fuel tankers that import petrol are fair in anchoring them offshore until prices rise further and further?

We can all operate in such a manner, but it is not the done thing. If everyone, nationally, refused to perform duties such as waiting on tables, or cleaning bins, the average wage of such a worker would rise and rise to over £100,000 (if everyone held out long enough)

We can all hold the world to hostage if we wanted to. But it isn't moral. It isn't fair.

alexhawk wrote: »

Even though cinemas are expensive, if I can show a little restraint and not feel the need to consume suagary products for 2 hours I can go and enjoy a $500 million dollar film shown on a £100,000 state of the art digital projector, complimented with 8 channel surround sound for under a tenner. Not bad imho (though not cheap either!)

The concessions stand and bar are their source of income. You are not just paying for the popcorn. The cinema uses revenue from that for the running of the entire multiplex. It pays for the £100k system you watch the latest blockbuster film on.

First, no film has ever cost $500,000,000 dollars to make. Avatar came near to that and that was the most expensive movie ever made. You are creating the impression that all films cost this much, when they don't. Secondly, you are implying that the cinemas themselves are the ones who incur this fictional cost. Cinemas do not have to cover any film making cost. These costs are covered by the film production companies, who recover them by selling reels of films to the cinemas. Cinemas which, worldwide, probably run into the millions. Together, they pay a small price each, covering these costs, but my cinema in England does not have to pay $500,000,000 for the film itself, so using this as justification for extortionate prices is absurd.

Granted, the projector probably costs thousands. I doubt your figure is accurate but let's say it is for the moment. For one singular film (Avatar, Gladiator, Toy Story etc) how many times will that be shown in one screen? I would estimate 5 times a day (looking at cinema listings) for seven days a week. Thats 35 viewings. And these films run for more than one week. Then once that show has been dropped, another will take it's place. For each viewing there will be box office reciepts. Average those viewings by the commission and you more than make your money back.

You refer to a source of income which is, to come back to the original point being made, extortionate. I would like to point out this is not there only source of income. I'm sure the facilities you described will be more than covered for by the 100's of films shown year after year.

Everyone does have the right to set their own prices. That is not what is being discussed. The point is that these prices are extortionate. As one MSE follower pointed out, the cinema prices have gone up way beyond the inflation rate in the last 10 years. Now it might be me but I doubt the expenses incurred by the cinema have gone up by the same rate. Or maybe these expenses, just these ones, are magically not bound by the financial tide of inflation.

alexhawk wrote: »

As for the dilemma, it is quite clearly stealing. Though if you asked the staff nicely they would almost certainly OK you trying one if you were buying a bag.

Finally, we agree.

Paulgonnabedebtfree

Idiophreak wrote: »

Absolutely, that's an entirely different thing - I've had occasions in the past where I've been dying of thirst, so have necked my bottle of water in the queue for the checkouts - but have still paid for it afterward, don't think that's the same thing at all...



Err, wouldn't it be easier just to weight the bag, then chuck some more sweets in afterward?

Maybew they should weigh the people on the way in and weigh them again on the way out of the shop. Then charge the difference .

PoorPennilessMe

blued wrote: »

I really couldnt care less and find it quite funny that some of the replies include "they would become and ex friend" and "I wouldnt trust them anymore". We dont buy food in the cinema due to the ridiculous prices, we buy in tesco and take them in. What do you lot on your high horses think of that?! Should we be arrested? Should our friends disown us?!

And I find it funny that you think of us 'On our high horses'.

This, as it says above, is a MORAL dilema. The morals are pretty simple - if someone I assosciate with is willing to steal a penny, why not a pound, or a fiver, or a tenner, or a hundred quid? THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE - THEFT IS THEFT!!!

And if they are willing to steal from a cinema, then why not a supermarket, or a street vendor, or a blind beggar, or a friend (me). Again, theft is theft.

That's why if someone is willing to steal, I would not trust them - they are a thief.

Simples!

And as for you taking food bought elsewhere in to the cinema - good luck to you. I certainly don't blame you for that considering the prices. If you get ejected halfway through the movie and can't get a refund though, don't moan and complain. You are breaking the rules (however unfair they may be) and should be willing to face the punishment if caught.

So now you know what I, 'on my high horse', think!

And in future, don't be so disparaging of those who dare to have a different opinion to you please? If you are disowned by your friends, it is far more likely to be for that, than taking your own food into a cinema...

Mumto2

adsteps wrote: »

I'm not sure where you are getting the infomration about 'Cinemas banning you taking food and drink in' as I've NEVER had this problem. We always take our own food in, usually in a see through ASDA bag and have never been stopped. Also, if you were to take in a bag of food/sweets that they couldn't see into, they have no right to ask you whats in it or search it.

I used to work in a cinema when I was a student, and they actively trained us to not stop customers entering with food, as this particular chain tried that approach and ended up with a front page headline along the lines of 'Cinema makes 7-year-old cry by refusing sweets for film' etc which resulted in substantial losses in profit!

So...ALWAYS take your own food in, never accept that you're not allowed, and if there is ever any issue, politely remind the manager that a local headline might not be too good for profits!

I took 2 of my kiddies to the Sat morning show this week. At the point where you hand over your tickets, there is a large sign saying 'do not bring own food/drink etc'. I was amazed how many people were taking in carrier bags full of food, carrying drink bottles, kids with lunchboxes etc.

I do take a few bits along in my handbag, but obviously have taking too much care at being subtle :rotfl:

mollyeyre_2

Of course it is theft, - similarly eating grapes in the supermarket etc. When I take my grandchildren around the supermarket they KNOW that they cannot have anything until it is paid for - and they are 2 and 3.

Maybe the reason that prices are high is that 'the rest of us' are paying for those who eat the goods on their way to the till.

Whether I would have the courage to inform a member of staff - I doubt that I would, but I would mention it to the friend and suggest that they shouldn't be eating without paying!!

Idiophreak

alexhawk wrote: »

Speaking from experience of working in cineworld I know that the ticket price goes straight to the promoters.

And who's fault is that, exactly?

I'm fed up of the UK cinema industry trotting out this lame old excuse. UK ticket prices are more than 3x higher than the European average - how? Somewhere along the line the UK consumer is getting screwed. And if it's not the cinemas doing the screwing themselves, they're certainly part of a system that is.

So, out of interest, you believe that cinemas lose money every time a student enters, every time they run "bargain Tuesdays", every time they run a child or OAP cinema club, every time they run a film+food promo? And you believe that this illusive "promoter"/distributor/whatever gets twice as much money when a film's shown in leicester square?

relaxtwotribes

Idiophreak wrote: »

It's unreasonable to expect someone (especially young'ens) to sit for 4 hours without food or drink. It's just not healthy - and that's key.

And just where is the healthy food and drink in a cinema?

Your post is just full of drivel as is that of BPD.

ani_ka0

I would tell them its stealing and ask them not to do it again.

I would not tell the police or the cinema.

If they did it again in my company then I would no longer go to the cinema with that individual.