I laugh my head off (self sighting???)

[HotelMinion]

Okay, I didn't act like some people I've seen or read about on this site.
But I still feel bad. Kind of.
Well, what happened was, I went to the movies. It's been a while since I've went, maybe like a year or two. Mostly because the last time I went, I got motion sick and winded up throwing up in the bathrooms. And I'm not a motion sickness prone type of person.
But I decided to go in the day. 1. to beat the crowds. The last LAST time I went in the night, and there was this huge crowd and this dumbbutt kept yelling and screaming and ruining the whole movie for the rest of us. He was banned for doing so...but you know how it is, once one goes, another soon takes his place!
Sooo, anyway...I go and it's nice and quiet. I decide to get a small popcorn with no butter, so I go up to the counter and look at the prices. It takes me a while to find them, they are so small. Apparently, one SMALL popcorn costs as much as my ticket: $8.
"Hello can I help you?" says the teen behind the counter, obviously waiting for my order.
"HA HA HA $8???? Eight dollars, are you serious? For a small popcorn?" I said incredulously. I start laughing for a few minutes, and then walk away, saying "No thanks!" still laughing my head off.
He looked offended and I later thought, oh, maybe he thought I was laughing at him, not the prices. I guess I was laughing because the last time I was there it was $4, and I thought THAT was pretty high. Now it's EIGHT??? It's the same price as my @#$@# ticket! A SMALL! Barely bigger than my hand

I watched my movie, (which was very good, thank goodness ) and tried to go back to apologize to him but he wasn't there anymore so I left.

So what do you all think, should I be slapped silly?

[Anakah]

The last time I went to the movies for two tickets and two bottles of gatorade came out to $27. The prices are ridiculous now. And some teenaged bitches talked through the ENTIRE MOVIE.

[aulocksmith]

USD$8 for a ticket? I'd love to get a ticket that cheap! Here in Aus, we pay AUD$19.50 for an adult ticket. Add $3 if you want to go to the 3D instead plus $1 for the glasses.

Throw in the popcorn and drink, you've just blown about $40 for each person.

[BearLeeBadenaugh]

I've pretty much stopped going to movies. Kinda found it futile when the cost for my wife and I started approaching $40, at that point it was better to buy the bluray and make our own snacks. Toss in the kids tickets & snacks or babysitting etc, and it's really a no-brainer to me. Buy our movie, a kids movie, and snacks, and we're still saving money.

Heh, and that doesn't even count the fact that the nearest screen is about a 30 minute drive. 50 if we'd want to go 3d or ultrascreen.

[Ironclad Alibi]

I've pretty much stopped going to movies. Kinda found it futile when the cost for my wife and I started approaching $40, at that point it was better to buy the bluray and make our own snacks.

I feel the same way. By the time I buy two tickets, I've paid the price of the DVD. And I don't have to put up with theater annoyances.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

I feel the same way. By the time I buy two tickets, I've paid the price of the DVD. And I don't have to put up with theater annoyances.

Or, watch the movie at home with OnDemand or Blockbuster At Home.

Don't have to worry about the crowds, cell phones or obnoxious people. I've got all the movie channels available on my satellite (HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, TMC, Starz super pack, EPIX - you name it, I've got it. No need to drive anywhere.

[wagegoth]

USD$8 for a ticket? I'd love to get a ticket that cheap! Here in Aus, we pay AUD$19.50 for an adult ticket. Add $3 if you want to go to the 3D instead plus $1 for the glasses.

In my area, tickets are $9.50 to $11.50, depending on the theater, and if you choose IMAX add $5 to $7, or 3D is usually at least $3 to $4 more, which does include the price of the loaner glasses. Go to 3D in an IMAX theather and it's $19.50.

[sms001]

No, Hotel, you shouldn't. We all have those 'in our own little world' moments. I'm sure the counter person has had MUCH worse reactions than honest incredulity.

I'm on the only-at-home bandwagon too. The prices don't bother me, even the concessions (That's where they make their money, and we have a great second-run place with extremely low prices too.)
It's the people. As we all know (glances at title bar) people are just insanely ignorant and entitled. I can leave them behind in most shops etc., but at a theater you're trapped. It's give up your money or endure them. So I choose to do neither. The wife and I will catch the VERY occasional blockbuster -- the kind of thing that's just so much better on the big screen, but we usually do it in the aforementioned second run place, and are almost always in an audience of ten or less. A group that size, I can talk to the EW personal like if necessary. (But it's never come up.)

[HotelMinion]

I went to the early matinee, so the tickets were half price. At night time, they're $13 - $ 16, plus with that $8 - $10 popcorn, that's about $25 per person for the newest movie on a weekend night. Day time is much better Imo. NO Effing way am I paying EXTRA to have idiots close up next to me, yelling. They stomp their feet and fall out their seats, thrashing like they're at a concert or something. Very rude!
I guess the theater do make a lot of $$$ from snacks and drink because everyone had one, except for me. I guess they didn't mind the price.

[prjkt]

I was lucky enough to win a pair of "Gold Class" ticket vouchers through a supplier promo night (within weeks of starting my job)
Basically the cinema is maybe 16 recliner chairs, food and drink service, VIP style lounge while you wait for the cinemas. Don't go very often, it's no where near cheap, but with free tickets? Why not?

Best part, my partner and I had the whole cinema to ourselves.

Worst part, my bladder, which can withstand hours at work/road trips etc, can't last a movie. Ever...

[LesserSouthernFroglet]

Yeah, Gold Class is worth the bucks. No screaming kids, only a few seats, and you can have a nice red with your food. I only go to a cinema about once every year or two, and it's always GC if the movie is showing there.

I'm also old enough to miss the drive-ins. Hobart is toying with the idea of starting a drive-in back up again, there hasn't been one here for years, but the screen is still around.

[sms001]

Worst part, my bladder, which can withstand hours at work/road trips etc, can't last a movie. Ever...

Haven't used it myself, but this seems like a great idea. Peetime!

[prjkt]

You've just made my night with that

[Evannah]

He's just doing his job. He doesn't make the prices. I'd have probably been offended too.

[sms001]

He's just doing his job. He doesn't make the prices.

But my friends who've worked theaters know that the prices (compared to outside the venue) are ludicrous and are pretty inured to all but the most vehement of responses. I would guess the offended look probably just came from a day of other irritations - like when retail folk get a string of "uhr duhr, guess it must be free" people. HM didn't accost him or imply that he was gouging, just laughed and left.

We can't always not offend people, but we can not suck.