Cinema Sweet Prices Rip Off

uktim29

Idiophreak wrote: »

Errr...If that's as best as your "proving" something goes, I wish you luck in all your endeavours.

I have worked in umpteen different business's which all have had premium prices on confectionary/drinks. All have experimented with pricing eg bringing it more inline with supermarket pricing to see if it makes more money. It never did.

What more proof do you want?

Why would you wish me luck in my endeavours! Whats the connection between my endeavours and the optimum pricing for confectionary at a cinema?

This link put UK cinema prices being what you'd pretty much expect for the cost of living & more importantly cost/rent of the land the business is run on.

http://www.screendigest.com/reports/cede204/R.CED_07-2003Press_release-n/view.html

I very much doubt it's cheap to buy/rent land in Leicester Square!

Honeydog

Guys - you're just going round in circles. Does it REALLY matter why cinemas charge a lot for their popcorn and coke? They just do - that's all.

If there were no alternative then it would be grossly unfair but since there is always the option to put some of your own sweets and drink in your coat pocket then there is a way round it. eg I had a small carton of orange juice and some Werthers original in my pocket at the cinema last night. Job done.

Anyone can do that - they might search your bag for a camcorder (but they'd need an SIA registered security guard for that - apparently ordinary cinema staff members can't do it) but I've never seen that happen and they certainly can't 'pat you down' looking for sweets.

But many people are lazy and taking your own stuff means you have to buy it first and some people just can't be bothered to do that. Fair enough but don't moan about the prices then.

From a money saving point of view my 'cinema habit' costs me less than a quid per visit. I have an Unlimited card and easily see between 12-15 movies a month plus I take my own stuff.

The ONLY reason I can see that anyone would be justified in spending a small fortune at the sweet kiosk is if they were on a first date and wanting to impress someone with their generosity!

No_Future

I don't even consider it to be 'smuggling' to take your own food into the cinema. You've paid for your film ticket and that is that. It is optional to buy cinema food and drink, simple as.

I often take in food e.g. cinema snacks + groceries from Sainsbury's in a few carrier bags and nobody blinks an eye.

Outside the cinema there is far more choice. Why should I pay ridiculous amounts for fatty, cheap foods? If I want fresh juice, hummous, seafood sticks, Taste the Difference sandwiches, yoghurts etc for a lower cost, why not? I prefer to have more choice over what I eat than be restricted to processed hot dogs and cheap gubbins.

noisysaver

This practise has been going on for years and as long as I go to the cinema I'll continue buying my munchies at the supermarket and concealing them in my coat.

This has always worked and until they commence pat down searches I'll never buy sweets etc in a cinema.

mymatebob

Found this on the Cineworld website


Can I bring in my own food and drink?
Cineworld have a strict NO FOOD AND DRINK policy. We reserve the right to refuse customers entry into the screens with food or drink bought outside the premises. All our cinemas display the necessary signage, advising customers of this policy. As a food operator we offer a wide range of drinks and snacks to satisfy our customers but also protect our cinema finishes and customers clothing. Not all movie-goers are considerate of others in their snack choices and we have needed to set clearer guidelines on what is appropriate.



So they are a "food operator" for the purposes of this, although I think their reasoning is a little flawed.
What guidelines do they use to suggest that the food and drink they sell will not damage the fixtures and fittings. Wonder if I could get my cleaning paid for if I dropped my Revels onto a nice clean shirt? Anyway - they say they have a policy and that they will enforce it. So if they catch you tough they can chuck you out.

98jdougl

They did have me on 'guard duty' the other day- had people obviously trying to get in with food from the chip shop and I am (appraently) quite a scary person to cross so had to stand at the gate and make sure nobody was sneaking in with food

RadoJo

To be honest, I can understand why they wouldn't want people bringing in chips from a chippie - they smell so strong, and I can imagine other customers complaining if they had to stand the smell fo someone else's dinner while they were watching a film!

"As a food operator we offer a wide range of drinks and snacks to satisfy our customers but also protect our cinema finishes and customers clothing. Not all movie-goers are considerate of others in their snack choices and we have needed to set clearer guidelines on what is appropriate."

I think the quote above posted by mymateBob is basically a 'nice' way of them saying 'It's our cinema, and we will allow people in based on our criteria - you can like it or lump it!' which is fair enough, although I am amused by the idea that a jelly sweet from outside the cinema is more likely to stick to their fittings than a jelly sweet bought at twice the price inside!

peediedj

Wild_Rover wrote: »

Any prospect of a campaign against the cinema chains for the restrictions on taking in your own (i.e. not total rip-off prices) sweets?

See article at http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/19022008/5/cinema-s-sweet-eating-policy-sucks-0.html

How can a cinema decide for you what you will or will not consume? We have two kids and the price of a trip to the cinema is bad enough without paying an arm and a leg for refreshments.

I can see the point about not taking your own food into a cafe, or your own lager into a pub, as these activities compete with the primary purpose of the establishment. Isn't this different ?

WR

they cant and dont stop you bringing your own in,we do in a small rucksack and never been challenged yet

mymatebob

peediedj wrote: »

they cant and dont stop you bringing your own in,we do in a small rucksack and never been challenged yet

They could and might - their place their rules

darwin-rover

Idiophreak wrote: »

So, bap98189, uktim29, darwin-rover...rather than quoting that part out of context, please respond to the rest of it...Please explain *why* our cinemas pay so much more than every other country in Europe to the distributors...

Rip-off Britain . There are NUMEROUS things more expensive here than in the rest of Europe . Things like cars and petrol . If some people devoted a fraction of their energy complaining about the price of fuel here , rather than cinema prices , then we'd all be better off .