Crappy policies

[Rageaholic]

On customerssuck, there are a lot of stories of customers giving clerks a hard time over some policy. Now granted, 99% of the time, they are being jerks, but I happen to think some of those policies are pretty crappy. Instead of going off on a clerk or cashier, I will rant about them here.

1. "No food and drinks from outside sources". Most common at movie theatres, sports arenas, and bowling alley's. This way, they can get away with insanely priced food and drinks. Where else do water bottles cost 3 bucks each, popcorn is 4 bucks each, and a medium pizza is 13? Also, a lot of the time, the food they offer isn't even that good. Though I rarely ever go to movie theatres anyway, when I am dragged along, I usually just sneak the food in somehow. And I don't think it's sucky of me since they are getting my money from tickets (and I usually do end up buying something there anyway). So to them!

2. Lazer tag. Ah, it's been so long since I've played lazer tag. I can't convince anyone to go with me. I think they see themselves as too grown up to play it or maybe they just don't want to spend the money. IDK, but where fun can be found, so can suckiness. One of the STUPIDEST policies that takes a lot of the fun away is no running. Let me get this straight. You're playing a real life first person shooter game. How the hell are you not supposed to run?! Yeah I know, some asswipe will sue if their pwecious gets hurt. They also rarely enforce that one, but years back, a friend of mine got points docked from the game for running. The fact that they have the rule is just so dumb!

3. Also lazer tag, what's with them making you repeat the rules at the beginning? I always thought that was stupid. Lighten up! I'm there to have fun, not be treated I'm a bad boy.

Those are just some at the top of my head. I KNOW I'll think of more to add to this list. Feel free to add some, agree, or even disagree with them.

[jackfaire]

Making me leave my bag at the door. This is a BS policy and will result in me and others not frequenting your store.

I understand you making me put it in a secure (you can see it) place where you can make sure we don't sneak stuff into them but you want me to put my backpack with my expensive laptop in it at the door so you can make sure I am not stealing from you but accept no liability if someone steals my stuff. Yeah I don't think so.

[Boozy]

And I don't think it's sucky of me since they are getting my money from tickets (and I usually do end up buying something there anyway).

Apparently movie theatres don't make any money off the tickets. They barely break even, and sometimes they take a loss. The movie studios charge a lot for those reels.

So they need to jack up the price of the concession items, or they won't make a profit.

[Rageaholic]

Apparently movie theatres don't make any money off the tickets. They barely break even, and sometimes they take a loss. The movie studios charge a lot for those reels.

So they need to jack up the price of the concession items, or they won't make a profit.

This shouldn't surprise me. I have been taking business classes and this seems to be a common practice (charge reasonably for one thing and charging huge amounts for others). Still, it doesn't mean I have to buy their crap.

[jackfaire]

(charge reasonably for one thing and charging huge amounts for others). Still, it doesn't mean I have to buy their crap.

I don't know anyone that thinks ticket prices at movie theaters are reasonable. Most people around here think the whole thing is priced more than is needed and that the theater owners are lining their pockets with Gold.

[Boozy]

Still, it doesn't mean I have to buy their crap.

No. You have every right to buy a ticket and buy nothing at the concession. If they have a problem with that, they should either increase ticket prices or only sell "packages" with tickets and concession items together.

But I do understand the "no outside food" rule. If they make the bulk of their money selling food, then their business model is much like a restaurant's. And no one expects that they can bring a McDonald's burger into a sushi joint.

[jackfaire]

And no one expects that they can bring a McDonald's burger into a sushi joint.

*Grins* Let me introduce you to my mom. She would get herself a meal at Taco Bell and then take me and my siblings to McDonald's where we would get our meals.

Probably got away with it cuz it was a small town and she knew all the owners.

Most reasonable sounding excuse I ever heard for no outside food was, "If you get sick eating someone eles's food in our theater you could claim it was our food." It made sense when I was a kid.

[Fryk]

I always thought Lazer Tag looked so fun, until I actually try to play it one time. Not only did the joint I went to not let you run, there was also no jumping and no ducking or crouching. And no crawling, too, I forgot about that. So it all boiled down to us speedwalking upright away from people through a maze, trying to avoid anyone else at all costs, because if you tried to shoot someone, you were bound to be hit yourself. In other words, it was a maze with black lights and some doofy gear strapped on you to walk with. Wee.

[Rageaholic]

*Grins* Let me introduce you to my mom. She would get herself a meal at Taco Bell and then take me and my siblings to McDonald's where we would get our meals.

Probably got away with it cuz it was a small town and she knew all the owners.

Most reasonable sounding excuse I ever heard for no outside food was, "If you get sick eating someone eles's food in our theater you could claim it was our food." It made sense when I was a kid.

Ah... *slaps forehead Homer Simpson style*

Of course, it always comes down to potential lawsuits being a huge influencer crappy policies. It just comes down to figuring out how someone can sue and to make sure you have all your bases covered.

[Nyoibo]

Apparently movie theatres don't make any money off the tickets. They barely break even, and sometimes they take a loss. The movie studios charge a lot for those reels.

So they need to jack up the price of the concession items, or they won't make a profit.

They must be chargind a crap load for reels if cinemas have to charge $17 a ticket.

[lordlundar]

Not only did the joint I went to not let you run, there was also no jumping and no ducking or crouching. And no crawling, too, I forgot about that.

Geeze, what sort of messed up place is that? The one I went to, granted didn't allow you to go full out run (though there were enough twists and turns that pretty much made it impossible unless you liked running head first into plywood) though it did allow faster movements, and certainly jumping, (Though not off objects, too risky) ducking and crouching.

[Mr Slugger]

They must be chargind a crap load for reels if cinemas have to charge $17 a ticket.

See I like the older days. When I was growing up there was an old style movie theater, and they would get the movies right before they fell out of the movie theaters. Anyway monday and tuesday nights were buck night for two shows each night. And they would pack the place. I'm talking 400-500 people. Yes the popcorn and soda was normal prices but when you're paying nothing for tickets it made sense. Plus it was so fun going to a jammed packed movie.

[Rageaholic]

I always thought Lazer Tag looked so fun, until I actually try to play it one time. Not only did the joint I went to not let you run, there was also no jumping and no ducking or crouching. And no crawling, too, I forgot about that. So it all boiled down to us speedwalking upright away from people through a maze, trying to avoid anyone else at all costs, because if you tried to shoot someone, you were bound to be hit yourself. In other words, it was a maze with black lights and some doofy gear strapped on you to walk with. Wee.

Yeah, maybe now I see why lazer tag isn't always looked well upon. All those stupid rules take the strategy out of it. Plus, a lot of the employees acted like drill sergents, thinking they were hot shit on a stick enforcing their crappy rules. The maze is pretty cool, but for the money, forget it!

And the ones I went to weren't even that uptight in comparison!

[Boozy]

They must be chargind a crap load for reels if cinemas have to charge $17 a ticket.

Absolutely. How do you think the movie studios make all that money? They don't sell popcorn.

And $17 isn't the price everywhere. I can go for about $12.

[jackfaire]

Absolutely. How do you think the movie studios make all that money? They don't sell popcorn.

And $17 isn't the price everywhere. I can go for about $12.

Around here last time I checked it was around 10 something at box office. I tend to buy my tickets in twos at Costco saves me about 3 bucks a ticket.