Dracula
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Post by Dracula on Aug 15, 2017 18:02:38 GMT -5
A lot of websites do that where they don't let you even enter and look around without signing up first, it's annoying as hell.
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Neverending
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Post by Neverending on Aug 15, 2017 19:00:47 GMT -5
Not being familiar with MoviePass, I decided to go to their site to get some information on them. They don't seem to be very interested in providing any details regarding their service at all. They say they have "America's Largest Theater Network", yet they fail to provide a link as to which theaters are in that network. The FAQ has this in their list of questions, but their "answer" is a blatant lie. Their first answer is to download their app, and that will tell you which theaters are in the network. Maybe that's true, but I'm not going to download their app to find out. Their second answer is that if you don't want to use the app, there is a list of theaters on their main website. There is no such list on their site. It's telling that only 4 out of 53 people found that particular FAQ answer helpful. A lot of websites do that where they don't let you even enter and look around without signing up first, it's annoying as hell. This is how MoviePass works: YES, you have to download the app. Why? Because you need to check-in before purchasing the tickets. You arrive at the theater. Check-in so they know you're actually there. Funds are then put into the card. Then you buy the ticket. They do that so you're not sharing your card with all your friends and family. |
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Dracula
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Post by Dracula on Aug 15, 2017 19:07:21 GMT -5
Not being familiar with MoviePass, I decided to go to their site to get some information on them. They don't seem to be very interested in providing any details regarding their service at all. They say they have "America's Largest Theater Network", yet they fail to provide a link as to which theaters are in that network. The FAQ has this in their list of questions, but their "answer" is a blatant lie. Their first answer is to download their app, and that will tell you which theaters are in the network. Maybe that's true, but I'm not going to download their app to find out. Their second answer is that if you don't want to use the app, there is a list of theaters on their main website. There is no such list on their site. It's telling that only 4 out of 53 people found that particular FAQ answer helpful. A lot of websites do that where they don't let you even enter and look around without signing up first, it's annoying as hell. This is how MoviePass works: YES, you have to download the app. Why? Because you need to check-in before purchasing the tickets. You arrive at the theater. Check-in so they know you're actually there. Funds are then put into the card. Then you buy the ticket. They do that so you're not sharing your card with all your friends and family. What if you want to buy tickets early to get the best reserved seating? |
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Wyldstaar
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Post by Wyldstaar on Aug 15, 2017 19:09:34 GMT -5
This is how MoviePass works: YES, you have to download the app. Why? Because you need to check-in before purchasing the tickets. You arrive at the theater. Check-in so they know you're actually there. Funds are then put into the card. Then you buy the ticket. They do that so you're not sharing your card with all your friends and family. Well, obviously one would have to download the app if they were to actually use the service. I shouldn't have to download the app just to find out how it works and which theaters I can use it at, though. It should be on their site, especially since they are claiming they do in the FAQ. Lying to potential customers does not make a good first impression. |
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Dracula
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Post by Dracula on Aug 15, 2017 19:14:35 GMT -5
AMC Theatres threatens legal action against MoviePass for dropping its prices
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Nilade
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Post by Nilade on Aug 16, 2017 3:20:26 GMT -5
AMC Theatres threatens legal action against MoviePass for dropping its prices
I can understand that. Most movie theater chains have spent hundreds of thousands already in renovating to more luxurious seating, integrating reserved seating online, implementing bars, and even full service kitchens. These new investments are what theater chains are gambling on for creating increased traffic, not some 3rd party coming in to muscle in on their action and destroy their pricing. Unless MoviePass has some heavy investors behind it, between the loss it takes on it's ticket sales, and inevitable legal costs, I don't see it lasting more than a year. |
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frankyt
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Post by frankyt on Aug 16, 2017 8:52:25 GMT -5
Sucks. Amc is the chain I go to most often and if it worked, even for a month or two, I was in. Combined with stubs premium which upgrades small drinks and popcorns to large automatically, twas a great deal.
Guess it's just gonna stay discount nights for us for now.
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Fanible
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Post by Fanible on Aug 16, 2017 17:18:24 GMT -5
I would think it could or would greatly increase concession sales, which would be a good thing. Obviously that's what they were hoping. Seems like a crazy idea on the MoviePass to think they can do it without losing a lot of money. I'm more surprised that AMC is the one reacting this way, instead of seeing the increase in customers as a positive thing, especially if MoviePass is buying tickets up from them to do it, in addition to increasing attendance. Or is AMC actually berating the company on behalf of the customer? Figuring that in the end, there's no way the pass could hold up to the promises of such a low price?
Indeed, $10 a month is a little crazy. A movie every single day, or even once a week, for so little? There's no way they can possibly think they can sustain that. They're probably hoping they'll get an increase in pass sales and once people have a taste, they'll stick with it even if the price goes up to $30 or $40. So is that what AMC is having an issue with? That the eventual crash of the pass or sudden increase back in price, will turn off consumers from going to the theater altogether?
My theater has been getting an increased amount of calls about the movie pass since the change. We don't take it, though, so not something we'll be having to deal with.
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Neverending
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Post by Neverending on Aug 16, 2017 18:36:24 GMT -5
AMC Theatres threatens legal action against MoviePass for dropping its prices
I can understand that. Most movie theater chains have spent hundreds of thousands already in renovating to more luxurious seating, integrating reserved seating online, implementing bars, and even full service kitchens. These new investments are what theater chains are gambling on for creating increased traffic, not some 3rd party coming in to muscle in on their action and destroy their pricing. Unless MoviePass has some heavy investors behind it, between the loss it takes on it's ticket sales, and inevitable legal costs, I don't see it lasting more than a year. I would think it could or would greatly increase concession sales, which would be a good thing. Obviously that's what they were hoping. Seems like a crazy idea on the MoviePass to think they can do it without losing a lot of money. I'm more surprised that AMC is the one reacting this way, instead of seeing the increase in customers as a positive thing, especially if MoviePass is buying tickets up from them to do it, in addition to increasing attendance. Or is AMC actually berating the company on behalf of the customer? Figuring that in the end, there's no way the pass could hold up to the promises of such a low price? Indeed, $10 a month is a little crazy. A movie every single day, or even once a week, for so little? There's no way they can possibly think they can sustain that. They're probably hoping they'll get an increase in pass sales and once people have a taste, they'll stick with it even if the price goes up to $30 or $40. So is that what AMC is having an issue with? That the eventual crash of the pass or sudden increase back in price, will turn off consumers from going to the theater altogether? My theater has been getting an increased amount of calls about the movie pass since the change. We don't take it, though, so not something we'll be having to deal with. MoviePass was already $50-a-month. It's very likely they'll go back to that. It's like how cable gives you a promotional offer for 3 months and then switches to the full price. As for AMC, they're just concerned about the Stubs program. That's what drives their business. Pay $15-a-month and get all sorts of discounts. If people have MoviePass, they're not gonna care about any loyalty cards and will be more open to exploring different theatres. |
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Neverending
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Post by Neverending on Aug 16, 2017 21:16:00 GMT -5
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Fanible
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Post by Fanible on Aug 16, 2017 22:49:58 GMT -5
So they're pretty much saying the same thing I contemplated. AMC is thinking that once the price goes back up (or if MoviePass goes bankrupt), it's going to cause movie attendance to drop even more, because people will have been so used to such a low price. I'm not so sure, though.
If anything, assuming MoviePass sticks with the year long price point and does not go out of business, they'll definitely see a drop in attendance, but it will be a drop from an increase from what movie theaters are severely lacking already as it is. New renovations and fancier theaters could benefit from this if they show that movies being seen actually at the theater are incomparable with your experience at home, hopefully that will keep people coming back in the future.
I know my theater chain is pushing big screens and IMAXs heavily, because they're hoping the more people experience those, an experience you can't get outside the theater, the more they may come back. Something like this could help, in addition to the temporary increase in ticket and concession sales. All this, and of course they haven't bothered noting that part of MoviePass's business plan is that if they can prove that their passes have increased attendance and food sales, that some chains will actually start paying them a premium to have the passes used at their theaters. I guess it depends on how well this takes off. Not very, if of course AMC manages to block them.
*On a side note, depending on the "success" (I say that very loosely), this could see some American chains start using their own passes. Some other countries' theaters have passes of their own that do the same thing ($30 a month, etc), that allow you to see multiple movies, if you so choose. It may come down to studio approval and support, naturally, but even if the chain has to pay the full ticket percentage, as long as its increasing attendance and food sales, it could be beneficial to all. Not to mention some people who might not use the pass to its fullest value some months, in which case the theater ends up taking that plus.
This is, of course, under an assumption for a best case scenario where it can benefit the consumers at the end of the day, even if it doesn't necessarily benefit the businesses at the beginning. The movie theater going experience is long overdue for an overhaul, and pricing in general, tickets or otherwise, are one of the key factors.
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Nilade
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Post by Nilade on Aug 16, 2017 23:48:56 GMT -5
I can understand that. Most movie theater chains have spent hundreds of thousands already in renovating to more luxurious seating, integrating reserved seating online, implementing bars, and even full service kitchens. These new investments are what theater chains are gambling on for creating increased traffic, not some 3rd party coming in to muscle in on their action and destroy their pricing. Unless MoviePass has some heavy investors behind it, between the loss it takes on it's ticket sales, and inevitable legal costs, I don't see it lasting more than a year. I would think it could or would greatly increase concession sales, which would be a good thing. Obviously that's what they were hoping. Seems like a crazy idea on the MoviePass to think they can do it without losing a lot of money. I'm more surprised that AMC is the one reacting this way, instead of seeing the increase in customers as a positive thing, especially if MoviePass is buying tickets up from them to do it, in addition to increasing attendance. Or is AMC actually berating the company on behalf of the customer? Figuring that in the end, there's no way the pass could hold up to the promises of such a low price? Indeed, $10 a month is a little crazy. A movie every single day, or even once a week, for so little? There's no way they can possibly think they can sustain that. They're probably hoping they'll get an increase in pass sales and once people have a taste, they'll stick with it even if the price goes up to $30 or $40. So is that what AMC is having an issue with? That the eventual crash of the pass or sudden increase back in price, will turn off consumers from going to the theater altogether? My theater has been getting an increased amount of calls about the movie pass since the change. We don't take it, though, so not something we'll be having to deal with. MoviePass was already $50-a-month. It's very likely they'll go back to that. It's like how cable gives you a promotional offer for 3 months and then switches to the full price. As for AMC, they're just concerned about the Stubs program. That's what drives their business. Pay $15-a-month and get all sorts of discounts. If people have MoviePass, they're not gonna care about any loyalty cards and will be more open to exploring different theatres. Stubs isn't even $15 a month, it's much less than that for an annual fee. It's pretty great too. You get free popcorn/drink upgrades, Fandango fees are waived, you get a members only line at the concession stand (which no one is ever in), and $5 rewards for every $50 you spend. My sibling-in-laws always use my Stubs-linked Fandango account for the waived fees, which works out for me when the rewards keep adding up. Sometimes I show up at the theater and find $10-$15 in rewards I didn't even know I had. If your theater of choice is AMC, it's a no-brainer. |
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Neverending
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Post by Neverending on Aug 17, 2017 0:00:47 GMT -5
MoviePass was already $50-a-month. It's very likely they'll go back to that. It's like how cable gives you a promotional offer for 3 months and then switches to the full price. As for AMC, they're just concerned about the Stubs program. That's what drives their business. Pay $15-a-month and get all sorts of discounts. If people have MoviePass, they're not gonna care about any loyalty cards and will be more open to exploring different theatres. Stubs isn't even $15 a month, it's much less than that for an annual fee. It's pretty great too. You get free popcorn/drink upgrades, Fandango fees are waived, you get a members only line at the concession stand (which no one is ever in), and $5 rewards for every $50 you spend. My sibling-in-laws always use my Stubs-linked Fandango account for the waived fees, which works out for me when the rewards keep adding up. Sometimes I show up at the theater and find $10-$15 in rewards I didn't even know I had. If your theater of choice is AMC, it's a no-brainer. |
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Nilade
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Post by Nilade on Aug 17, 2017 1:53:44 GMT -5
Stubs isn't even $15 a month, it's much less than that for an annual fee. It's pretty great too. You get free popcorn/drink upgrades, Fandango fees are waived, you get a members only line at the concession stand (which no one is ever in), and $5 rewards for every $50 you spend. My sibling-in-laws always use my Stubs-linked Fandango account for the waived fees, which works out for me when the rewards keep adding up. Sometimes I show up at the theater and find $10-$15 in rewards I didn't even know I had. If your theater of choice is AMC, it's a no-brainer. It's not monthly, it's annual. My first year was $8, and there's been better deals than that. If it was monthly, it wouldn't be as great as a deal |
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Post by Neverending on Aug 17, 2017 4:10:18 GMT -5
It's not monthly, it's annual. My first year was $8, and there's been better deals than that. If it was monthly, it wouldn't be as great as a deal Didn't realize I wrote monthly, I meant yearly. My bad. |
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Neverending
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Post by Neverending on Aug 24, 2017 19:40:55 GMT -5
150,000 have signed on to MoviePass
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sabin26
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Post by sabin26 on Aug 25, 2017 14:30:48 GMT -5
I took my dad and his girlfriend to see Wonder Woman last night at the local AMC Fork and Screen. They aren't used to having a waiter come up and ask if they need anything before the movie. That and the fact that we could enjoy an ice cold beer with some decent food and comfortable seats.
I have an AMC Stubs card and it's saved me quite a bit of money. Either it be on tickets, drinks or food. Plus when I want to get tickets through the app it waives a lot of fees.
As for movie pass. I think it's a decent deal, but you have to be seeing a lot of movies monthly to make it worth your wild.
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Neverending
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Post by Neverending on Aug 25, 2017 15:06:47 GMT -5
you have to be seeing a lot of movies monthly to make it worth your wild. Tickets are $12 where I live. Watching just one movie for $9.95 makes the card a good investment. |
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frankyt
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Post by frankyt on Aug 27, 2017 11:45:13 GMT -5
I signed up. How did your theater decide not to take it fanible? I was under the impression it's just a MasterCard that they swipe and movie pass pays that balance monthly.
How can amc stop them? By not allowing MasterCard usage across the whole business? Seems like cutting off the nose to spite the face sorta thing.
Only one theater around here isn't taking it.
And now I can go on a different night than cheap night with literally everyone else.
I'll report back once I get my card and start using it. They got slammed and are working to fulfil orders I'm assuming I get my card in a week or two.
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Fanible
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Post by Fanible on Aug 27, 2017 14:23:57 GMT -5
Our theaters weren't listed. Since the blowup and inquiry, they've added them now and people have been using it here.
AMC would have to take some kind of legal recourse and get their theaters removed from the site. It'll be surprising if it happens.
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frankyt
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Post by frankyt on Aug 28, 2017 10:15:35 GMT -5
I have no idea how legally they could drop out. It's a MasterCard they're getting paid money for their products.
The only theater not taking it here just doesn't allow MasterCard. It's a tiny independent theater though that doesn't wanna pay the percentage to use that card.
Still waiting for my card to ship though...
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Neverending
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Post by Neverending on Aug 30, 2017 10:17:57 GMT -5
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Doomsday
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Post by Doomsday on Aug 30, 2017 11:52:09 GMT -5
Most theaters near me have kiosks now where you can pick up your tickets, the line is for the old folks.
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sabin26
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Post by sabin26 on Aug 31, 2017 21:15:47 GMT -5
AMC just scan my QR Code off my phone with my app. It's one code for how ever many tickets I bought. Quick and easy.
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frankyt
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Post by frankyt on Sept 7, 2017 22:13:10 GMT -5
Gotta go to the actual people, my card arrived this week.
Will test it out next week... Repeatedly.
I'll report back with my findings.
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