Our "No outside food and drink policy", what does that mean to customers? Nothing!

[BowserKoopa1]

We have always had this policy at our movie theatre but have never really enforced it. Corporate finally decided to start doing just that starting on January 1, 2010. We've still been somewhat lenient on it though, allowing these whiny customers to do it "just this once" But now we are getting more strict on it. I was on ticket drop yesterday, and at least half a dozen times I would have someone come up with food or drinks from somewhere else. When I politely tell them of our policy, as you can imagine they get irritated with me and act like I'm being a hard ass.
Ok, I've been working with customers for about 18 years now, and I know how they are. They'll ask us to allow it "just this once" and promise not to do it again. But then they come back with food and try to pull the same thing on us. I decided I wasn't going to put up with it any longer, and so I decided to start enforcing it, that and the managers are watching too.
Now it'll be very interesting to find out how many of you say, "Maybe they didn't really know about your policy" and I'm sure there are those who don't know. Point is, when we tell you about our policy, you should either....
1. Throw away your food
2. Eat it quickly
3. Take it out to your car (don't worry, most people have plenty of time and there's 15 minutes of previews too)
Just once I'd like to have a customer just comply with what I say and not give me the look. Yeah, right, fat chance of that happening, eh?

[Shifty]

See this is why my wife has a "movie purse". It's way larger than a purse she would normally use. We use it to "smuggle" candy and drinks. I admit to doing that but at least we don't just walk in carrying it. Sorry, but I'm not paying $4 for that box of junior mints that I can get at a store for $1.

[roguesqd]

I pretty much figure all theaters do not allow outside food and drink(the more to sell $4-5 cokes), but I have never tried to take either into one

[cinema guy]

I thought it was common practice in the US, but less so in the UK. Although there is one big chain that was doing it, and that cause a big stink a couple of years ago with articles in the papers and even questions in parliament!

The cinema I work at does not have such a policy, although our site does not allow KFC in from next door, or other smelly takeaways.

We did have one incident when a couple had pizza and we wouldn't let them take it in, so they gave the last few slices to the staff.

[Krivak]

ill bring in candy, usually a bag of reese cups or something, but i ALWAYS put it in a pocket. (you cant seeeeee it!)

Oh, yeah, i always buy a coke too.

Although, some people who think they are masterminds withsmuggling stuff in, arent.

[Lindsey]

We have always had this policy at our movie theatre but have never really enforced it. Corporate finally decided to start doing just that starting on January 1, 2010. We've still been somewhat lenient on it though, allowing these whiny customers to do it "just this once" But now we are getting more strict on it. I was on ticket drop yesterday, and at least half a dozen times I would have someone come up with food or drinks from somewhere else. When I politely tell them of our policy, as you can imagine they get irritated with me and act like I'm being a hard ass.

There's the problem.. you've never enforced the policy before, so these are people who have brought food and drink into your theater over and over again, and are just now being informed that they can't do it.

Unfortunately you'll probably keep getting sucky customers over this for awhile. It's the way it works - even if you had a sign out before stating "No outside food and drink", if you didn't enforce it, it means nothing. Now you're enforcing it and people are going to act outraged. It sucks!

On another note, I've been one of those offenders, but my theater still doesn't enforce their policy. I took my brother and sister to see Michael Jackson's This Is It on Halloween this year, we got there two hours early, bought our tickets, and decided to get Chinese food while we were waiting. We weren't anticipating on the Chinese place being so full!

We waited a long time for our food and didn't actually start eating until 20 minutes before the movie started. So we ate whatever we could, got the rest in takeout containers, and hauled ass to the movie theater. The ticket guy never said a word about the food. Granted, we didn't eat it in the theater, we just didn't want to throw it away and we didn't have a car to leave it in, since we were getting picked up!

[dbblsanta]

It's disrespectful to eat during movies. Whatever happened to the grand movie palaces? You wouldn't be caught dead eating in those. You also wouldn't eat popcorn in a theater watching a play. (Warning, I am a cinema studies major and hence a film snob).

[Marszenka]

ddblsanta: Not true. According to my professor (specializes in Shakespeare and Irish drama), theaters in the UK hawk snacks before the show and during intermission. They just ask very politely for people to unwrap their candy before the show begins in order not to be disruptive.

[dbblsanta]

Ah. I stand corrected. I still never eat when I see a movie; I focus entirely on the film.

[Lindsey]

It's disrespectful to eat during movies. Whatever happened to the grand movie palaces? You wouldn't be caught dead eating in those. You also wouldn't eat popcorn in a theater watching a play. (Warning, I am a cinema studies major and hence a film snob).

Those are two different situations. The movie won't get offended if you eat in the theater, but the actors and crew in a play might.

[dbblsanta]

Just because the cast and crew aren't in the theater with you doesn't mean they still didn't put a lot of work into making the film...but I'm sensing this is turning debate-y and hence fratching-y.

I don't care if other people eat during films, so long as they do it unobtrusively. It's just something I don't do. I give my full attention to the film.

[Mystic]

I buy from the theater if it's on the discount day, otherwise, I'm bringing my own damn snacks. Already paid $18 in tickets, then they want another $18 in snacks? No wai! :P </rant>

I get that they make most of their money from the snack counter, but they would make a lot more if they lowered their prices to compete with the shops down the road. I'm just sayin'...

[flutes_and_fabric]

Don't they know to hide their food? I have a tiny bag that can fit 5 bags of candy, 3 bottles of water, and a bag of chips without looking stuffed. It's awesome. Sorry, I just can't spend $5 for a soda. If I was caught though I wouldn't try to beg my way in. One time I did ask if I could bring a drink in because for some reason the theater only had soda, not even water, and I hate carbonated stuff. They said yes, so it was all fine, but if they said no I wouldn't have pressed the issue.

[fireheart]

I comprimise.

If I feel like popcorn, I get a combo, but that's sparingly. (they're anywhere from $9-$11 depending on size)

Otherwise I'll buy lollies elsewhere, but I'll buy a frozen coke at the candy bar.

The theatre I go to on a regular basis once tried to enforce this policy. My mum used to still smuggle in stuff. They got rid of that rule a few years later, but the new rules are:

-No hot food.
-No glass.
-Obviously no alcohol.

[Rapscallion]

ddblsanta: Not true. According to my professor (specializes in Shakespeare and Irish drama), theaters in the UK hawk snacks before the show and during intermission. They just ask very politely for people to unwrap their candy before the show begins in order not to be disruptive.

Sadly, this used to be the case, with the intermission and the usher wandering up and down the aisles trying to get people to buy half-melted ice cream from the tray around her neck (think Cut Me Own Throat Dibbler, but with something marginally more edible). It's now gone the way of the dodo and it's US style - take in a swimming pool of heavily sugared drink and a vat of popcorn from the concession stand. Doesn't quite have the same charm.

Rapscallion