Another Reason NOT to visit the Cinema!!!

[DRFielding]

I recently went to visit my local Odeon only to find the Box Office boarded up, forcing me to queue at the concession stand to buy my tickets even though I didn't want any sweets/drinks etc. I was waiting in the queue in excess of 10 minutes. Furthermore when I bought my tickets I wasn't offered the option to choose my seats (As I had in the past). When I checked their website I found this facility had also been removed from the website (unless I wanted to pay extra for Premium Seats).

I sent a complaint to the Odeon, outlining the excessive delays to buy my tickets and the removal of the option to choose were to seat, explaining I prefer to book in advance to ensure I have a good seating position, as I have in the past turned up and had to sit on the front row spoiling my enjoyment of the film....The replay I got is below:

Dear Mr Fielding,
thank you for taking the time to write to us as feedback from our Guests is invaluable during this trial period. We have closed box office for the time being to try and reduce the average queue time by allowing Guests to purchase everything at one till. I appreciate you may not wish to wait behind Guests purchasing food so may I suggest that you use our sales and Collection ATMs at the cinema's entrance where you can pay for your tickets using a credit or debit card at no extra cost?
As for the standard seats no longer being allocated, this again is a trial to reduce the amount of time Guests have to wait to be served with the express aim of ensuring they do not miss the start of their film. Rather than taking time to make their decision at box office, Guests are now able to choose from the available seats once they are actually in the screen. We appreciate that not all changes are always universally popular and it is therefore essential that we receive feedback such as yours so that we can effectively review the trial going forward.

Best regards,

Richard Wilson,
General Manager

Now call me a cynic but I think the real reason that the Box Office was closed is twofold :
1/ Cost savings - Less staff required
2/ Increase the amount of (over priced) sweets etc sold, with impulse buys

As for the seating issue, I'm not sure, yes it would reduce queuing time slightly but as we humans have a problem sitting next to strangers people will always leave seats empty, resulting in cinema staff running round asking people to move up when they are busy.....Some what counter productive I think!!!

In the Manager's reply he states that 'Feedback is invaluable' so if anybody thinks as I do that these changes are a backward step then please post your comments below, and I will email the Manager again with a link so he can view.

Thanks for your time.

Robert

[J1mbo]

Odeon shooting themselves in the foot again...

The chain must be in trouble if it has to shed staff like this.

I loathe the 'premium' seating policy, but I imagine it's netted a decent profit for them. I imagine this is equally designed to increase revenue at the expense of customer satisfaction.

[raigraphixs]

I hate queues hence book in advance, longest queue time is usually about 2mins.

[McNab]

Originally Posted by DRFielding

Richard Wilson,
General Manager

I don't believe it!

[binbag]

Originally Posted by DRFielding

Now call me a cynic but I think the real reason that the Box Office was closed is twofold :
1/ Cost savings - Less staff required
2/ Increase the amount of (over priced) sweets etc sold, with impulse buys

You're a cynic! Your assessment is bang on though.

Bet that the time saved by removing the seating decision will be totally dwarfed by the time taken for families to make the sweety decision at the new point of sale. Which in turn will make more customers go to the pre-book web service and if its free now thats all well and good but how long will it remain so when other cinema chains already charge for this facility?

How long before you have to swipe your credit card to gain entry to a screen and pick up a 'bundled in the ticket price' food & drink option as you walk to your seat?

[travlinmatt]

This is real reason I rarely go to the cinema anymore, unless I'm at home midweek and know there won't be too many others messing around, or heading into Central London for a "tent pole" type of film, but going midweek durring the day does take the fun of seeing a film with a crowd away.

My local Vue in Croydon, rarely if ever opens the ticket booths. Last time I went the "movie times" flyer in the window of the booth was four months out of date, which shows the care taken.

Just wish they would hurry up and open a Gold Class type cinema like they have in Oz. Saw Quantum of Solace for the second time in one in Melbourne. Me, a mate and maybe 25-30 others in the cinema, big screen, great sound, Lazee boy type recliners, waiter service and booze. Was heaven, just like being at home, only in Oz and it costing more, other than that perfect!

[denzyl]

Originally Posted by DRFielding

Best regards,

Richard Wilson,
General Manager

I don,t beleive it

[tony brazao]

For many reasons already mentioned, I avoid public cinemas and I enjoy watching films at home on my projector/HC set up. With beer. And no idiots laughing or chucking food at around etc....

[LFC_SL]

Premium seating at Odeon's are not worth it

A bit extra for a seat with a bit of extra padding. Nothing premium about it. Not even optimum viewing placement

[Yuzo]

only tend to visit the cinema on orange wednesdays (2 for 1).

... so watching a new film for around £3 is very good.

there is the odd annoyance when i visit,.. but mostly well worth it for the price.

plus take my own drinks and supply of sweets and im laughing

[BenchyUK]

The cinema is really going downhill and slowly dying. At my local cineworld, ticket prices are high and a regular coke and popcorn costs £8 which is just the start.

The sound is terrible and picture isn't all that either. I was kind of hoping that 3D was going to be the savour of cinema but they costs of implementing it will be too expensive plus companies are already developing 3D for the Home.

I rarely go anymore and would rather pay the extra to go to London and see a film at the Imax.

I'm more than happy to just watch a film at home in HD.

[Greg]

Only really go to the cinema at the Hatfield Galleria. They have the new digital screens and the picture quality on the whole is pretty good. Sound is fine as well.

Although make no mistake they are very expensive now.

I would imagine a family of 4, could easily spend £30 at least with admission and food.

[kBm]

Originally Posted by DRFielding

when I bought my tickets I wasn't offered the option to choose my seats (As I had in the past). When I checked their website I found this facility had also been removed from the website (unless I wanted to pay extra for Premium Seats).

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

Premium seating at Odeon's are not worth it

I've paid the extra in the past - only to have people strolling up in the dark siting in whatever seats they want - the premium seats, without paying for them!

Do they have staff around to stop this? No.
Are you giong to get up and complain just as the film is starting? No.


I'll stay at home and sit in my own premium seat thanks.

[Boson]

ive been told that the only profit the cinema makes is from selling food and drink, the cost of the ticket goes to the producers etc.

so i think that your 2 theories are spot on

you can't use the atms if you have vouchers or 2-for-1's either

[Boson]

Originally Posted by BenchyUK

The cinema is really going downhill and slowly dying. At my local cineworld, ticket prices are high and a regular coke and popcorn costs £8 which is just the start.

The sound is terrible and picture isn't all that either. I was kind of hoping that 3D was going to be the savour of cinema but they costs of implementing it will be too expensive plus companies are already developing 3D for the Home.

I rarely go anymore and would rather pay the extra to go to London and see a film at the Imax.

I'm more than happy to just watch a film at home in HD.

plus you have to sit around the general public, which i think people are slowly becoming less tolerant of

best off downloading a hd film off pirate bay, turn the lights out, look the tv up to the amp and speakers

you can buy popping corn for a £1 which produces about the equivalent of 6-7 large boxes, so thats a saving of £30 on top of the £8 ticket

add some beer or wine and enjoy