Waiting in queue for cinema

Herbalus

Went to cinema on Saturday night. Average of 4 minutes per customer to sell tickets. 4 minutes! It's not like there's a specific time that a film starts or anything. Each customer was a couple more or less (ordering and paying as one) so it's not as if it's a large group and somebody counting out coppers.

I wasn't bothered about being late because there's 20 minutes of adverts, but standing in a queue of five (with plenty more behind me) for 17 minutes because the staff don't practise the word 'haste' on a Saturday night was painful.

Vue cinema, so they should know better.

Or is it just me?

wealdroam

Herbalus wrote: »

Went to cinema on Saturday night. Average of 4 minutes per customer to sell tickets. 4 minutes! It's not like there's a specific time that a film starts or anything. Each customer was a couple more or less (ordering and paying as one) so it's not as if it's a large group and somebody counting out coppers.

I wasn't bothered about being late because there's 20 minutes of adverts, but standing in a queue of five (with plenty more behind me) for 17 minutes because the staff don't practise the word 'haste' on a Saturday night was painful.

Vue cinema, so they should know better.

Or is it just me?

Have you thought about buying your tickets online before leaving home?

pendragon_arther

Yes, I've experienced this. It's an absolute pain. I think the staf get off on deliberately keeping people waiting. I used to get this in Matalan where the cashier veeeerrry sloooowwwly packs the stuff and there's only one till open and a queue forms behind... I don't use them any more.

Herbalus

wealdroam wrote: »

Have you thought about buying your tickets online before leaving home?

My Club Lloyds cinema tickets can't be used online or by phone unfortunately.

In any case you've got the additional booking charge online, and an expensive 0870 number for booking by phone. There really isn't a good way to do it.

shaun_from_Africa

If you think that 4 minutes per customer is bad, don't go a "fast" food eatery in Trinidad (it's mainly KFC and Subway but very few burger joints).
They seem to have slow service down to a fine art and if there are 4 or 5 people in front of you in the queue then you know you are likely to have a 20 to 30 minute wait.


With Subway, it's not uncommon to only have one person serving and the procedure is generally:
1/ Take your order.
2/ Put on disposable gloves to start your sandwich.
3/ Take off the gloves to take another order.
4/ Repeat 1-3 half a dozen times.
5/ Complete making the sandwiches that are piled up.
6/ Wrap all of the sandwiches.
7 Start taking payment from all of the waiting customers with occasional breaks so that items 1-3 can be carried out as and when required.

tykesi

Herbalus wrote: »

My Club Lloyds cinema tickets can't be used online or by phone unfortunately.

In any case you've got the additional booking charge online, and an expensive 0870 number for booking by phone. There really isn't a good way to do it.

1600 posts on a money saving forum and you haven't heard of saynoto0870?

Wow!

Alidolly

Slowest service ever - McDonalds at Menorca airport. Took AN HOUR as while there were 4 women at the tills, there was only one guy actually cooking any food...and that was painfully slowly. Captive audience as well but never again.

DTDfanBoy

Alidolly wrote: »

Slowest service ever - McDonalds at Menorca airport. Took AN HOUR as while there were 4 women at the tills, there was only one guy actually cooking any food...and that was painfully slowly. Captive audience as well but never again.

Wow, you waited in line for an hour for McDonalds :eek:

iclayt

Herbalus this actually drives me mad as well, at our local cinema you walk in and at the front there is a desk that sells tickets, however there is always a sign up saying it's closed and to buy/collect tickets from the food counter. I don't want to have to stand behind 15 people all queuing for vast troughs of popcorn when all I want is a ticket. They don't usually try to flog me any food anyway so I don't think it's solely to make extra sales. I think there should be a fast track til for people who don't want food/drink. Hang on, that would be the closed ticket desk...

trinidadone

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

If you think that 4 minutes per customer is bad, don't go a "fast" food eatery in Trinidad (it's mainly KFC and Subway but very few burger joints).
They seem to have slow service down to a fine art and if there are 4 or 5 people in front of you in the queue then you know you are likely to have a 20 to 30 minute wait.


With Subway, it's not uncommon to only have one person serving and the procedure is generally:
1/ Take your order.
2/ Put on disposable gloves to start your sandwich.
3/ Take off the gloves to take another order.
4/ Repeat 1-3 half a dozen times.
5/ Complete making the sandwiches that are piled up.
6/ Wrap all of the sandwiches.
7 Start taking payment from all of the waiting customers with occasional breaks so that items 1-3 can be carried out as and when required.

LOL, i see you have been to my shores

shaun_from_Africa

trinidadone wrote: »

LOL, i see you have been to my shores

Went to work in Trinidad for "a couple of weeks" back in early 2011 and been there ever since.