Sneaking contraband into the cinema, what's the forum's position

twinytwo · 31-10-2014 11:41am

Shiraz 4.99 wrote: »

Wife brought ours & 2 neighbours kids to the cinema yesterday as a mid term treat.
Anyway, they stopped off at a local Centra to pick up the contraband before going in.
One of the kids refused as his parents had taught him it was stealing.
Rather than buy him his 1000% markup popcorn combo my missus let him go hungry while the other munched into their Manhattan & Haribo.

What's the forum's opinion on smuggling food into the cinema ?, I'd be interested in hearing if there is a consensus.

the only way the cinema makes money is with their "1000%" markup....

If the cinema for example wants to show the new avengers film it must firstly rent the film from the distribution company which costs a forturne... then they must also pay a large % of their gate takings... so ya way to stick it to the man

Gannicus · 31-10-2014 11:55am

Trent Houseboat wrote: »

Some people are implying that to bring in outside food is akin to stealing from the establishment, but what of the case of a person who doesn't buy or bring food/drinks?

They've paid as much Davos Seaworth, are they committing the same crime?

I wouldn't say its akin to stealing but to be fair would you:

walk into a cafe and pour a cup of coffee you brought from home,
or
sit in a pub and start cracking cans you bought in Tesco,
or
go into a McDonalds and start eating a Burger King.

The answer in most cases is NO because, if you were caught you would be asked to leave or be removed from the premises. I know its expensive but I wouldn't liken it to stealing. The cinemas claim that it has the effect as stealing i.e. the are losing revenue due to people bringing in their own stuff so they have to increase the cost to those who are buying in the cinema.

cloud493 · 31-10-2014 11:58am

But surely thats still better than not spending the money for a ticket at all. I'm not sure the mcdonalds comparison is the best to make, since I have to pay in to sit in a cinema at all, while I can go sit in mcdonalds and do nothing (in theory) which costs them space that could be used by someone who pays for food.

Connemara Farmer · 31-10-2014 12:13pm

Gannicus wrote: »

institutionalized to believe its too expensive.

€5 for popcorn isn't institutionalized, it's daylight robbery.

They're completely anal about outside food in one of the cinemas in Galway, Eye cinema I think it is. To the point I just don't go now, will watch on TV or online.

Rory28 · 31-10-2014 12:23pm

Connemara Farmer wrote: »

€5 for popcorn isn't institutionalized, it's daylight robbery.

They're completely anal about outside food in one of the cinemas in Galway, Eye cinema I think it is. To the point I just don't go now, will watch on TV or online.

€5? Where you getting that bargain?
Its usually 6 or 7 or 10 with a coke.

Eutow · 31-10-2014 12:23pm

Gannicus wrote: »

I wouldn't say its akin to stealing but to be fair would you:

walk into a cafe and pour a cup of coffee you brought from home,
or
sit in a pub and start cracking cans you bought in Tesco,
or
go into a McDonalds and start eating a Burger King.

The answer in most cases is NO because, if you were caught you would be asked to leave or be removed from the premises. I know its expensive but I wouldn't liken it to stealing. The cinemas claim that it has the effect as stealing i.e. the are losing revenue due to people bringing in their own stuff so they have to increase the cost to those who are buying in the cinema.

This kind of comparison annoys me. People go to the cinema to watch the movie (well that should be the main reason, but it appears a lot of people just use it as an excuse to stuff their face under the cover of darkness) and the ticket has been paid for. If people went in without paying for the ticket then it is stealing.

People go to the pub to drink, for the most part, so to use their facilities you buy drink, so you can't compare the two.

Connemara Farmer · 31-10-2014 12:24pm

Rory28 wrote: »

€5? Where you getting that bargain?
Its usually 6 or 7 or 10 with a coke.

Getting it for less at home now that's for sure

Could probably buy a projector for the laptop with the munchies savings :cool:

Gannicus · 31-10-2014 12:52pm

Eutow wrote: »

This kind of comparison annoys me. People go to the cinema to watch the movie (well that should be the main reason, but it appears a lot of people just use it as an excuse to stuff their face under the cover of darkness) and the ticket has been paid for. If people went in without paying for the ticket then it is stealing.

People go to the pub to drink, for the most part, so to use their facilities you buy drink, so you can't compare the two.

Be annoyed. People go to Cafés or pubs to socialize yet they buy alcohol and nightclubs to dance and meet someone (even for a O.N.S.) and pay an admission yet if they were removed from bringing their own can in most reasonable people would say its the persons own fault.

Trent Houseboat · 31-10-2014 12:52pm

Gannicus wrote: »

I wouldn't say its akin to stealing but to be fair would you:

walk into a cafe and pour a cup of coffee you brought from home,
or
sit in a pub and start cracking cans you bought in Tesco,
or
go into a McDonalds and start eating a Burger King.

The answer in most cases is NO because, if you were caught you would be asked to leave or be removed from the premises. I know its expensive but I wouldn't liken it to stealing. The cinemas claim that it has the effect as stealing i.e. the are losing revenue due to people bringing in their own stuff so they have to increase the cost to those who are buying in the cinema.

It's not really a direct comparison.

In my opinion the following hypothetical is a closer comparison:
You go to a coffee shop that also sells newspapers. You buy a coffee and take a book out of your bag and read that instead of buying one of their newspapers.

Gannicus · 31-10-2014 12:54pm

Trent Houseboat wrote: »

It's not really a direct comparison.

In my opinion the following hypothetical is a closer comparison:

The fact that its a hypothetical also means the comparison is moot on that basis alone. I'm not agreeing with people paying cinema prices against their will or agreeing with prices some cinemas charge for food I'm just likening it to something else planted in reality were is a similar incidence took place it would not be tolerated/

Copper_pipe · 31-10-2014 12:57pm

14.75 got me a ticket , large popcorn and large coke on my last visit to the cinema

31-10-2014 1:18pm

As someone mentioned already, cinemas keep shag all of the ticket sales. When I was working in one when Up was out, something like 70-80% of the ticket went back to the distributor. Cinemas have to have a policy and charge a fortune for food because, to be frank, most cinemas barely make a profit as is. Someone mentioned the Eye Cinema in Galway; this is an independent cinema with no other ones in a franchise, like the IMC. If they don't charge extra, there's no way in hell they'd be able to stay open. It's pretty simple.

You'd be amazed at what people try to smuggle in to the movies. You'd always get the people with sweets and even popcorn, but you'd get the chancers that bring in takeaway/fast food.

I remember one incident where a woman tried to bring in a few bags of prepopped microwave popcorn to give to her kids. Wasn't even trying to hide it, like normal people. She was stopped, of course, and informed that she cannot bring them in. Next thing you know, she goes mad and starts throwing the bags at the employee, who was just trying to do their job.

candy-gal1 · 31-10-2014 1:19pm

Tasden wrote: »

Best part of going to the cinema is the warm popcorn drenched in butter.

Yeah but thanks to someone ruining that a fair while ago, we only can get buttered popcorn in the Odeon cinemas! :rolleyes:
I like Odeon and have been there a lot the paat few years before this year, but since having the cineworld card since last xmas, very hard to justify going some other cinema

:pac:

candy-gal1 · 31-10-2014 1:26pm

Copper_pipe wrote: »

14.75 got me a ticket , large popcorn and large coke on my last visit to the cinema

Woah!! Id say you must have went to cineworld or Odeon on a tuesday or wedensday for that price, of I want to know where you went?! lol

candy-gal1 · 31-10-2014 1:32pm

Deleted User wrote: »

As someone mentioned already, cinemas keep shag all of the ticket sales. When I was working in one when Up was out, something like 70-80% of the ticket went back to the distributor. Cinemas have to have a policy and charge a fortune for food because, to be frank, most cinemas barely make a profit as is. Someone mentioned the Eye Cinema in Galway; this is an independent cinema with no other ones in a franchise, like the IMC. If they don't charge extra, there's no way in hell they'd be able to stay open. It's pretty simple.

You'd be amazed at what people try to smuggle in to the movies. You'd always get the people with sweets and even popcorn, but you'd get the chancers that bring in takeaway/fast food.

I remember one incident where a woman tried to bring in a few bags of prepopped microwave popcorn to give to her kids. Wasn't even trying to hide it, like normal people. She was stopped, of course, and informed that she cannot bring them in. Next thing you know, she goes mad and starts throwing the bags at the employee, who was just trying to do their job.

Well tbh, I dont and never have seen any problem bringing in whatever you like imho, as long as it doesnt smell very strong or makes loads more noise than most things would then I dont see the problem!?!

As long as I can remember Ive got sweets, popcorn, drinks whatever in the shops for the cinema, and yes on rare occaisons a small bit of fast food esp if tis early or an empty screen!

I only really ever got items like that in the cinema when I was small when they had the kids deal going to the kids club movie etc, a few times as a teen if twas cheap and twas a random cinema visit and not near any shops same as now, or if its the buttered popcorn, thats about it!

Great having the large poundshop beside Cineworld though recently, love it!

Eutow · 31-10-2014 1:33pm

Gannicus wrote: »

Be annoyed. People go to Cafés or pubs to socialize yet they buy alcohol and nightclubs to dance and meet someone (even for a O.N.S.) and pay an admission yet if they were removed from bringing their own can in most reasonable people would say its the persons own fault.

Yes, people go to socialize as well, but if people did not buy anything in the pub, cafe, or nightclub, or pay an admission entrance, then they are filling up a space that could be used by a paying customer. The business would be well within their rights to eject that person. Somebody going into a cafe with their own food and sitting there for the day would be taking the p!ss.

People bringing in their own snacks to the cinema have already paid their entrance fee (price of the ticket) so they are not taking business away in the same way as the example above. They have paid to see the movie, so are not stealing, in my opinion anyway.

Copper_pipe · 31-10-2014 1:50pm

candy-gal1 wrote: »

Woah!! Id say you must have went to cineworld or Odeon on a tuesday or wedensday for that price, of I want to know where you went?! lol

Odeon cinema in Limerick. Wednesday night!

Tasden · 31-10-2014 2:13pm

Yeah Wednesdays at odeon are great

Gannicus · 31-10-2014 2:15pm

candy-gal1 wrote: »

I like Odeon and have been there a lot the paat few years before this year, but since having the cineworld card since last xmas, very hard to justify going some other cinema :pac:

I love having an Unlimited Card for Cineworld. Year one you get 10% off food and at the bar and year two onwards you get 25% off food and at the bar. it saves a lot. I know its €250 for the card for the year but you can go as much as you want to 2d screenings for movies and 3d movies cost less than normal too.

Maybe other cinemas should try that to get customers in and buying food.

Trent Houseboat · 31-10-2014 2:26pm

Gannicus wrote: »

The fact that its a hypothetical also means the comparison is moot on that basis alone. I'm not agreeing with people paying cinema prices against their will or agreeing with prices some cinemas charge for food I'm just likening it to something else planted in reality were is a similar incidence took place it would not be tolerated/

What does this sentence even mean? Your situation where people were eating McDonalds in Burger King was a hypothetical.

Gannicus wrote: »

I love having an Unlimited Card for Cineworld. Year one you get 10% off food and at the bar and year two onwards you get 25% off food and at the bar. it saves a lot. I know its €250 for the card for the year but you can go as much as you want to 2d screenings for movies and 3d movies cost less than normal too.

Maybe other cinemas should try that to get customers in and buying food.

No uplift for 3D on black card, but you still have to pay for glasses and IMAX(probably at a reduced rate).

m5ex9oqjawdg2i · 31-10-2014 2:36pm

Wossack wrote: »

jaysus, what a little dork

should have left him in the car

For standing up for his beliefs? I don't think that's very fair.

I think it took a lot of courage to not go with the "norm" in this case.

I buy the stuff in the cinema because I have money, when I didn't have money I snuck in my 25p packet of popcorn, 10p bag and bottle of cadet.

Let people do what the fcuk they want and stop being so judgemental.

Do people who purchase nothing, yet bring nothing with them also stealing business?

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/stealing

Gannicus · 31-10-2014 2:43pm

Trent Houseboat wrote: »

Your situation where people were eating McDonalds in Burger King was a hypothetical.

I'm saying if you did try it that it would not be tolerated and you'd be removed so why should the cinema be any different. I don't care myself but I would not be annoyed if cinemas took that approach..

candy-gal1 · 31-10-2014 2:49pm

Gannicus wrote: »

I'm saying if you did try it that it would not be tolerated and you'd be removed so why should the cinema be any different. I don't care myself but I would not be annoyed if cinemas took that approach..

Tbh though, your paying for your ticket anyway, the sweets, popcorn etc are just extras that people may or may not bring in/buy, so I really cant see how it could be perceived as stealing really!

If you went and picked up the popcorn/bag of sweets or filled up your drink/icecream there with the cinemas produce then yes that could definitly be put out out there as stealing/making them lose money, but not buying it at all in the cinema and/or bringing the sweets etc in with you is just a choice imho

Nick_1494 · 31-10-2014 3:02pm

I wouldn't go as far as to say it's stealing but I still don't think people should do it

Connemara Farmer · 31-10-2014 3:39pm

Deleted User wrote: »

As someone mentioned already, cinemas keep shag all of the ticket sales. When I was working in one when Up was out, something like 70-80% of the ticket went back to the distributor. Cinemas have to have a policy and charge a fortune for food because, to be frank, most cinemas barely make a profit as is. Someone mentioned the Eye Cinema in Galway; this is an independent cinema with no other ones in a franchise, like the IMC. If they don't charge extra, there's no way in hell they'd be able to stay open. It's pretty simple.

It can be their policy all they like, not my problem they don't keep feck all of ticket sales. I've voted with my feet and won't be a cash cow for their poor business model.

yipeeeee · 31-10-2014 4:26pm

This thread has made me realise that the majority of people in this country use a fork in their sugar bowl.

podgemonster · 31-10-2014 4:51pm

yipeeeee wrote: »

This thread has made me realise that the majority of people in this country use a fork in their sugar bowl.

Where are going with a bowl, the sugar fits fine in the bag. Ya can't be going round buying bowls like your Richard Branson. :pac:

Gannicus · 31-10-2014 5:03pm

candy-gal1 wrote: »

Tbh though, your paying for your ticket anyway, the sweets, popcorn etc are just extras that people may or may not bring in/buy, so I really cant see how it could be perceived as stealing really!

If you went and picked up the popcorn/bag of sweets or filled up your drink/icecream there with the cinemas produce then yes that could definitly be put out out there as stealing/making them lose money, but not buying it at all in the cinema and/or bringing the sweets etc in with you is just a choice imho

I've never said it was stealing. But if you pay in to a nightclub by all these definitions its okay to bring in a bottle of vodka or whiskey because you've paid in. but most reasonable people don't as they'd be ejected and prices of drinks in nightclubs and pubs in this country are far more overpriced than cinema food. I agree that some food items are overpriced in cinemas as I've said but I've also said I understand the reasons behind it.

blade1 · 31-10-2014 5:15pm

Gannicus wrote: »

I've never said it was stealing. But if you pay in to a nightclub by all these definitions its okay to bring in a bottle of vodka or whiskey because you've paid in. but most reasonable people don't as they'd be ejected and prices of drinks in nightclubs and pubs in this country are far more overpriced than cinema food. I agree that some food items are overpriced in cinemas as I've said but I've also said I understand the reasons behind it.

A nightclub is just a pub with a dance floor.
It's not fair to compare it like that!

Now if you said bringing food into the cinema was like bringing an iPod and headphones to a nightclub and listening to your own music.....:pac:

Gannicus · 31-10-2014 5:28pm

blade1 wrote: »

A nightclub is just a pub with a dance floor.
It's not fair to compare it like that!

Now if you said bringing food into the cinema was like bringing an iPod and headphones to a nightclub and listening to your own music.....:pac:

It perfectly a fair comparison you pay in to be allowed to dance, socialize and stay out later than regular pubs nobody forces you to drink but you'd still be turfed for bringing in your own

We'll go another way then.

You go to a gig to see a band or comedian. You're paying to see the act yes? I'm sure we can agree on that much.

You're still searched to see if you're bringing in booze (depending where you're going). If you were caught with it you'd either have it confiscated or be told you're leaving if you're caught with it during the gig. Now that's a pretty fair comparison

31-10-2014 6:14pm

Connemara Farmer wrote: »

It can be their policy all they like, not my problem they don't keep feck all of ticket sales. I've voted with my feet and won't be a cash cow for their poor business model.

So you're not going to any cinema then? As most have the same policies, but just some are more strict about it.

People keep comparing cinemas to things like pubs, cafes, and clubs. It would only be the same if there was a cover charge to enter these places and the majority of the money went to someone else altogether. If this were the case, then every business would hike up the price of everything they have.0

Connemara Farmer · 31-10-2014 6:42pm

Deleted User wrote: »

So you're not going to any cinema then? As most have the same policies, but just some are more strict about it.

People keep comparing cinemas to things like pubs, cafes, and clubs. It would only be the same if there was a cover charge to enter these places and the majority of the money went to someone else altogether. If this were the case, then every business would hike up the price of everything they have.0

No cinema at all, saving a fortune.

There are similarities to pubs, they thought they could charge a fortune too. Now they're squealing about supermarkets and off licenses. Doesn't bother me as I don't frequent pubs anyhow.

Squeedily Spooch · 31-10-2014 6:51pm

Chocolate Lions wrote: »

I don't scarf sweets at home and I don't do it in the cinema either. I'm there to watch a film, not listen to people rustling packets, masticating and slurping diabetes fuel.

I think if you feel compelled to eat a bag full of crap just because you're at the cinema you need to have a think to yourself as to why. You could have a proper meal afterward for the price nearly.

Must be hard being so ****ing miserable

hatrickpatrick · 31-10-2014 6:56pm

"Contraband:

myshirt · 31-10-2014 7:18pm

It is exactly the attitude of that lady described in the op - an absolute wanting and sniggering lack of ethics - (albeit applied at the upper echelons of society) that caused this country to fall to sh!t.

It is completely and utterly shameful.

DoYouEvenLift · 31-10-2014 7:59pm

Trent Houseboat wrote: »

What does this sentence even mean? Your situation where people were eating McDonalds in Burger King was a hypothetical.

No uplift for 3D on black card, but you still have to pay for glasses and IMAX(probably at a reduced rate).

That IMAX isn't worth going to anyway since it's digital/liemax, anyone who pays the full price to go to cineworld IMAX screen is a fool, and anyone who pays full price to go to any of the poverty knock offs, like omniplexs hilarious attempt at scrounging money with omnimaxx, is even worse

cloud493 · 31-10-2014 8:05pm

I wouldn't pay the ridiculous €18 price for cineworld's imax screen, but its €4.50 on my unlimited card, so fair enough.

DoYouEvenLift · 31-10-2014 8:14pm

cloud493 wrote: »

I wouldn't pay the ridiculous €18 price for cineworld's imax screen, but its €4.50 on my unlimited card, so fair enough.

The thing is, €18 wouldn't be a ridiculous price for the IMAX screen if it was a proper 70mm film projector if it's actually a movie with 70mm scenes, but it's just disgraceful that they charge the same for both. Digital IMAX shouldn't be any more than €12-€14. Anyone who pays €18 for the screen is paying the same, and actually more than one, as people in UK who actually are getting the true experience.

Odeon should really invest in getting a ~20m 70mm IMAX screen setup over here and promote the sh!t out of it, take the business off of frauding cinemaworld. There's definitely a demand for it also, if they set it up in a nice, busy place that's easy to get to people from all over the country, even the north, would travel for movies like TDKR and Interstellar. Lots of people, including myself, are flying to UK just to see Interstellar lol. And more directors are picking up on filming IMAX scenes so movies using it are gonna get more frequent, along with the work the company themselves are even putting in to it.

cloud493 · 31-10-2014 9:04pm

Well I've never a movie on a proper imax screen, so I cant compare it.

mikeym · 31-10-2014 9:08pm

When I was a kid I didnt get loads of pounds off my parents so buying cinema coke and popcorn wasnt an option.

Now that I have a job I can afford Cinema Popcorn and Coke.

syklops · 01-11-2014 8:12pm

Fuhrer wrote: »

Good luck getting that anywhere anymore.

Only popcorn ive seen in cinemas is that awful sweatened and salted rubbish

Thats why I bring my own pre-melted butter with me.

I don't know why but they stopped adding butter to popcorn in the cinema.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 01-11-2014 8:23pm

mikeym wrote: »

When I was a kid I didnt get loads of pounds off my parents so buying cinema coke and popcorn wasnt an option.

Now that I have a job I can afford Cinema Popcorn and Coke.

That's right no such thing as a free lunch, you want popcorn you go out and earn.

Iranoutofideas · 01-11-2014 8:40pm

Cinema popcorn is vile with the amount of salt on it. Might as well get a container of Saxo and pour it down my throat during the movie

Copper_pipe · 01-11-2014 8:48pm

can they take drinks and sweets off ya, if they somehow see you trying to sneak them in?

bodice ripper · 01-11-2014 8:55pm

Iranoutofideas wrote: »

Cinema popcorn is vile with the amount of salt on it. Might as well get a container of Saxo and pour it down my throat during the movie

having worked in a cinema, I can tell you that the Great Unwashed do nothing but ask for more salt.

01-11-2014 9:02pm

I was bringing 4 kids to see Annabelle in Odeon last night, they were going on 15 but refused access because it was a 16 film.
Place was deserted. I took them home and they watched it in my living room on a 42" TV.
Saved a fortune, thanks to the App that can't be mentioned and a Chromecast. Kids enjoyed it, it was in HD and they had home made popcorn and drinks from Centra.
I don't buy food in cinema unless Am bringing a group for a special treat like last night.

cloud493 · 01-11-2014 9:20pm

I hate salty popcorn, its gross. Most cinemas don't seem to serve sweet popcorn so.

Tarzana2 · 01-11-2014 9:43pm

Barely There wrote: »

Fine to bring in sweets, crisps, popcorn etc.

Crisps are really noisy to eat. Note that cinemas don't sell them! Nachos, yeah but they soften with the sauce. So bringing in crisps is not cool.

Tarzana2 · 01-11-2014 10:10pm

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

Have to laugh at the people who blank point refuse to buy it on principle - do you smuggle cans into your local pub/club as well? The amount of people I see complaining about popcorn prices and refusing to buy it, who think nothing of spending €5 per pint on a night out, all night - far more regularly than they'd go to the cinema!

My thoughts too!

UCDVet · 01-11-2014 11:03pm

I went to ODEN's website - but couldn't find anything in their FAQs about not allowing outside food/drink. Are these official policies - or is it just a social norm not to do so?

Sneaking contraband into the cinema, what's the forum's position

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