Managers on Heston's Mission Impossible

vyle

Now, this isn't so much a vent as an observation, but I thought I'd put this here...

I watched (a recorded) Heston's Mission Impossible last night, where he went to cineworld. I understand the format of the show requires there to be someone who says "no, you can't do this!" who is then proved wrong at the end, but did Cineworld think that getting that numpty of a manager to represent the company would be good publicity?

In case you didn't see it, the manager gleefully told how much markup he made on popcorn, how he'd rather staff dropped popcorn on the floor rather than rip a bag, because the bags cost more, how they must always upsell to large and never mention small. He even insists they hand cups over with the cineworld logo facing the customer.

He also said he didn't care how healthy or decent Heston's alternative food was, he'd ban his staff from selling it if it wasn't as profitable as popcorn.

Now, one of the first things I learnt in retail is, sometimes it's worth swallowing a partial loss in the short term, to win a customer's loyalty in the long term. I never buy food from cineworld, but he's annoyed me enough that Vue would be my first choice next time I go see a film -- it's the same price where I am anyway.

Didn't he consider that coming across as willing on TV and saying, 'That looks great, Heston, let's see if we can make it a little more practical,' rather than trying to sabotage things, it'd make the company look a lot better, AND entice more customers with the thought of alternative food?

shaun_from_Africa

This types of program, whether it's Heston or Gordon Ramsey are in reality no different to the "holiday swop", "Wife swop"," job swop" tryp of program.

The producers don't want people who get on and agree with everything that is being said. They want a bit of confrontation and someone who comes across as "Mr/Mrs Nasty or incompetent.
It's all showbiz, and I wouldn't be surprised to find that it had been rehearsed and planned beforehand, and any reasonable comments made by the managed, edited out of the final cut.

vyle

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

This types of program, whether it's Heston or Gordon Ramsey are in reality no different to the "holiday swop", "Wife swop"," job swop" tryp of program.

The producers don't want people who get on and agree with everything that is being said. They want a bit of confrontation and someone who comes across as "Mr/Mrs Nasty or incompetent.
It's all showbiz, and I wouldn't be surprised to find that it had been rehearsed and planned beforehand, and any reasonable comments made by the managed, edited out of the final cut.

True. It just seems a bit crazy that a company like cineworld would agree to go on a TV show with that format, KNOWING that they're gonna look like spoons and get bad PR. If it was me, I'd do everything I could to be helpful... but then I've never been on TV. Probably because I'm too laid back and amiable lol.

trumpton

The price of snacks at the cinema is outrageous. We just never, ever buy stuff there. There was a bit of a fuss a few years ago when it came out that some cinemas were preventing people taking in their own sweets, which is just downright cheeky.

Here's a tip if you go to Vue cinemas - they do a kids box with popcorn, soft drink, and Milky Way for £2.30. If you really need to eat, get one of these as they are much better value. Odeon do a similar thing for about £3, but you usually get a book as well. They don't always advertise these, but it is worth asking.

I agree that these shows are made in a provocative way, which is why I don't watch that kind of thing. But it's cheap telly so we will continue to see loads of them. I dare say Cineworld may be having second thoughts about being on the show now they have seen the edited version.

Googlewhacker

trumpton wrote: »

The price of snacks at the cinema is outrageous. We just never, ever buy stuff there. There was a bit of a fuss a few years ago when it came out that some cinemas were preventing people taking in their own sweets, which is just downright cheeky.

Here's a tip if you go to Vue cinemas - they do a kids box with popcorn, soft drink, and Milky Way for £2.30. If you really need to eat, get one of these as they are much better value. Odeon do a similar thing for about £3, but you usually get a book as well. They don't always advertise these, but it is worth asking.

I agree that these shows are made in a provocative way, which is why I don't watch that kind of thing. But it's cheap telly so we will continue to see loads of them. I dare say Cineworld may be having second thoughts about being on the show now they have seen the edited version.

Why is it cheeky preventing someone from bringing onto private property sweets from another place?

Just business I'm afraid!

vusys1

im sure i read that the income generated from the food & drinks sales out perform the ticket sales. I buy my stuff tescos before I go in. Its bad enough I paid £8 for ticket to see the Last Airbender,what a pile!!!! if dissatisfied can you ask for your money back????

robpw2

vusys1 wrote: »

im sure i read that the income generated from the food & drinks sales out perform the ticket sales. I buy my stuff tescos before I go in. Its bad enough I paid £8 for ticket to see the Last Airbender,what a pile!!!! if dissatisfied can you ask for your money back????

no sadly not but i would like to have got a refund on my ticket to Date movie, tristian and isolde and other movies where if i had paid i would have walked out in disgust (i worked in a cinema so got free tickets lol)

trumpton

"Why is it cheeky preventing someone from bringing onto private property sweets from another place? Just business I'm afraid!"

Well, I would say it's cheeky because you have paid to see the film. What you bring to eat is none of their business as long as it's not a health and safety issue - eg alcohol, glass bottles etc. It's not like getting your own sandwich out in the Tesco cafe. Same goes with sports events.

Of course, if they didn't rip you off on the snack prices, more people would buy stuff in the foyer.

Other films to avoid like the plague - Marmaduke, Animals United, and the really dreadful Space Chimps 2. Ramona and Beezus is a surprisingly lovely film though.

paddyrg

Ticket for a blockbuster movie £8, of which the distributor takes between 50-95%(!), the cinemas still have to pay for the leccy, bulbs, staff, heating, insurances, etc - they make much more if you buy a single bag of popcorn than see a big film.

Film producer to cinema owner - "I'll hold 'em still whilst you sell 'em sugar"

fiscalfreckles

vyle wrote: »

Now, this isn't so much a vent as an observation, but I thought I'd put this here...

I watched (a recorded) Heston's Mission Impossible last night, where he went to cineworld. I understand the format of the show requires there to be someone who says "no, you can't do this!" who is then proved wrong at the end, but did Cineworld think that getting that numpty of a manager to represent the company would be good publicity?

In case you didn't see it, the manager gleefully told how much markup he made on popcorn, how he'd rather staff dropped popcorn on the floor rather than rip a bag, because the bags cost more, how they must always upsell to large and never mention small. He even insists they hand cups over with the cineworld logo facing the customer.

He also said he didn't care how healthy or decent Heston's alternative food was, he'd ban his staff from selling it if it wasn't as profitable as popcorn.

Now, one of the first things I learnt in retail is, sometimes it's worth swallowing a partial loss in the short term, to win a customer's loyalty in the long term. I never buy food from cineworld, but he's annoyed me enough that Vue would be my first choice next time I go see a film -- it's the same price where I am anyway.

Didn't he consider that coming across as willing on TV and saying, 'That looks great, Heston, let's see if we can make it a little more practical,' rather than trying to sabotage things, it'd make the company look a lot better, AND entice more customers with the thought of alternative food?

But, to be fair, those decisions aren't for the manager of an individual cinema to make. He has to toe the company line & the more effectively he does that (and gets his staff to do that) - the more he will earn in rewards & bonuses. its all about profit & while I find the prices outrageous and always smuggle in my own refreshments, there are plenty who pay the prices, so there is no reason for Cineworld to do anything differently.

I don't think you'll find the policies at Vue much different either...

Money_User

vyle wrote: »

In case you didn't see it, the manager gleefully told how much markup he made on popcorn, how he'd rather staff dropped popcorn on the floor rather than rip a bag, because the bags cost more, how they must always upsell to large and never mention small. He even insists they hand cups over with the cineworld logo facing the customer.

That just sounds like standard company targets/policies to me. You can't blame the manager for that. Maybe it'll make the company aware of the impact of the targets it's sets and what the people held accountable for achieving those targets have to end up doing to actually hit them.