What a bizarre decison by Greater Union Cinemas to ban movie-goers from bringing thier own food and drink into thier cinemas. Their new policy means that moviegoers will only be allowed to take in food and drink that is bought from the complex's outlets. How bloody dumb can you get?
I understand that food and drink sold in their Candy Bar's are probably high yielding, and that their are trying to maximise their profits as a business, but such a policy is almost akin to creating a monolpoly; a captive market left with no choice but to pay through the nose for food and drinks (Greater Union charges $4.50 for a 600 millilitre bottle of Coke that costs $1.99 at Woolworths. And its 100 gram bag of chips costs $3.50 compared to $1.65 at Woolworths).
But I don't understand the merit behind a policy that is destined to invoke confrontations with your customers. Imagine being bailed up on the way into a cinema, and being frisked on the chance you might be smuggling some contraband food through the turnstile....Ridiculous.
Also, what about people, and parents who don't want their kids to eat the crappy popcorn and watered down Coke, but would prefer a water and an apple? Or diabetics and people with other dietry needs? Stiff, I guess.
I just can't help but wonder whether the costs of people bring in their own food and drink are worth all the bad publicity this decision wil bring them...
My guess is they're probably feeling the pinch from the home cinema and DVD piracy invasion and they're not getting the numbers anymore and have to make up for that in other ways. Unless of course they're just plain greedy.
Posted by: craig | Saturday, January 08, 2005 at 04:03 PM