Movie theaters suck!

[Ediacara]

There are two theater chains in the town I live in. One is an older chain that used to have a monopoly and now just has junky buildings and rude people, the other is new, and has nice buildings and nice people. Unfortunately, they don't overlap in what movies they show, and today... well today didn't bode well for the older chain.

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Dear Sir or Madam,

I have often wondered how your theater remains in business. I realize that for a while it was because you were a monopoly in Bozeman, but now that there is competition from a new and modern movie theater, you have had to adapt. Unfortunately, you have adapted in the worst possible way. Instead of modernizing your decrepit and aging facilities, you’ve gone for two quick fixes:

1) Accepting some debit cards
2) Student discounts

Not only do these quick fixes address only a small portion of your theaters’ problems, but they address them in an extremely slipshod manner.

Instead of following the lead of the rest of the modern world and accepting credit and debit cards (you know, the ones with the Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express logos on them), you have opted for a “some debit cards only system,” that accepts cards based on the logos on the reverse of the card. Unfortunately, this system does not accept cards issued by Wells Fargo Bank. Wells Fargo is the bank I belong to, and happens to be the largest bank in this state. Why you would opt for a system that cannot process as many cards as possible and leaves quite a few customers grumbling, I’ll never know, but it’s a poor business practice.

I could live with your inconvenient card acceptance policies, but this afternoon, I experienced something that was the figurative straw that broke the camel’s back. I was attempting to purchase two student tickets for an evening showing of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; one for myself, and one for my roommate who was at work at the time. We are both students, and both have student IDs, but because I didn’t have his ID on me, I wasn’t allowed to purchase a second ticket.

It was explained to me that a lot of people attempt to defraud the theater by claiming student status, but not having IDs, so the theater has a strict policy in place not to sell student tickets without a student ID. I understand the reason for the policy, but the implementation of said policy leaves a lot to be desired. The employees I spoke with implied that I could have purchased a second student ticket if I had his ID on me, which seems like a major loophole open to fraud. Why not simply have the employee that tears ticket and directs you to your theater double-check student IDs? It wouldn’t be that hard to implement: simply place a sign in that region of the lobby stating that you must have your student ID out, and then have the employee ask for it when he or she tears the ticket and directs the customer to the appropriate theater. It would hardly be extra work, as the employee already takes the time to read the ticket.

On top of refusing to sell me a ticket, the employees I spoke to were beyond rude. One of these employees even claimed to be a manager! Here’s a suggestion for you: instead of inconveniencing your customers with poorly thought out card acceptance machinery and hassling those that wish to buy student tickets for fellow students, your theater should join the 21st Century and get machinery that accepts credit and debit cards based on the logos on the face of the card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express), and your employees should double-check the student IDs of customers when their tickets are torn prior to entering the theaters and not at the time of purchase.

Unless some changes are made to the way your theater operates and treats its customers, I highly doubt I’ll return. I can wait for movies to come out on DVD, but I doubt you can.

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Again, GRRR!!!!

[warrens]

1. I think they might have a reason for the first one

They have an agreement to pay the ATM surcharge, which is only a few pennies, compared to the debit card charge, which is more like 3 percent of the tab. It's silly, because the charge at the bank to count cash (bills only) is 3 percent too. And 5 percent for coins.

You have them nailed on the second one, though. Hell, you could just keep going back with one ID and buying tickets all day and then scalp them, depending on your discount.

[Ediacara]

2. I agree banks rip merchants off for CC fees

Especially small transaction amounts. A lot of places have opted for "$5 minimum charge" policies. According to Visa and MasterCard though, this is a big no-no. What I find utterly asinine though is that instead of getting mad at Visa and MasterCard, merchants hassle customers with "minimum charge" bullshit or these debit machines that accept SOME but not all cards.

And as for the student discount, it's not much of a discount, but the employees were getting ruder and ruder as the conversation progressed.... And you're absolutely right, I could have nought one, walked out the door and back in and bought the second one. If I had thought about it I would have come back in a stupid disguise (Groucho glasses or something) and bought the second one :-)

[StuckinBFE]

3. You right Bozeman Theaters suck!

I was so pissed that the crappy downtown theater got Star Wars. First off the seats are uncomfortable, the sound and screen quality suck. I think they should give up remodel with "MODERN" stadium seating.

Personally if I was the guy that owned it I would turn the downtown theater into a place where you can get dinner and drinks and watch movies that have been out for a while. But then again it is bozeman and the local merchants are clueless on customer service and they will lose their business because of this.

Anyways it is nice to see another bozeman person here. Later

[Kraklen]

4. Who owns the theaters in Bozeman?

Regal? Carmike?

[StuckinBFE]

6. I believe

Carmike owns the old theaters and Regal owns the new theater

Why?

[Floogeldy]

5. Damn!

You've got a lot of free time on your hands.

B-)