Are all these cheap movie ticket deals a marketing scam?

• 

  plmko on 01/07/2013 - 00:55

  "there was extra comfy leather seats."

  Leather seats are a scam, they are cheaper to clean, and last longer. This lowers their bottom line.

  • 

    gmail92 on 01/07/2013 - 01:13

    "Vmax offers customers a big screen, maximum impact, high quality movie experience. Vmax auditoriums feature stadium seating with a giant state-of-the-art 20m silver screen capable of showing the latest in digital 3D film product as well as all the latest blockbusters. The seats have been exclusively designed to provide additional comfort through extra seat space, contoured high backs, tables and double the amount of leg room."

    http://services.eventcinemas.com.au/What-Is-Vmax

• 

  gmail92 on 01/07/2013 - 01:11

  +1

  Difference is the screen is bigger, not sure who told you they were leather. its always costed more. if you didnt have your book, it wouldve cost you $20+

  they usually do have regular sessions that are not vmax and not 3d, but it probably wasnt at a time that suited you, not that you bothered to mention it. i presume you arrived after the last non-3d, non-vmax session. which location were you at?

  The extra costs are to discourage people who are already price sensitive from watching the movie in peak-times. which as supply and demand would adjust, works out better for them to fill all their sessions and more profitable. Quite simple economics, those that are less sensitive to the price difference would pay more to watch the movie whenever they want, whereas those who are more price sensitive would adjust their plans to attend the cheaper session, hence efficiently catering for demand and maximizing profits.

  • 

    tonka on 01/07/2013 - 01:29

    'not that you bothered to mention it', bit harsh. I've been seeing sessions in the exact same Vmax theatre for 15 years and never noticed a $4 price difference. Screen hasn't changed, seating plan hasn't changed. Last time I saw Avengers for an extra $1 in the same theatre, granted B4 they upholstered in vinyl, also before 3rd party $10 tickets, ie Telstra became so available.
    I would argue also that the larger theatre and larger screen allows a larger audience for the new releases I don't find it enhances the experience.

    • 

      gmail92 on 01/07/2013 - 01:56

      When they sell a third party ticket, all they sell is the base product which is a standard theatre ticket. Listed in all the T&Cs in all the third party tickets you buy.

      When Avengers was screening , the price of Vmax surcharge was $3.

      They warn you beforehand that surcharges apply for non-standard theatres and stated in T&Cs, and they tell you a week in advance what is screening and what theatre type it is. Hence its up to you what session you want to watch, standard, vmax or 3d. IMHO, missing the cheaper session is like saying oh I missed that sale, and now i paid more for the it and its misleading advertising because I missed the sale.

      Also late sessions on fridays and saturdays at certain cinemas, with the walk in price of $11.

      • 

        tonka on 01/07/2013 - 03:33

        I know they charged me $1 surcharge to see Avengers 3D in the same cinema, maybe the dude stuffed up.

        Stop focusing on the missing the cheaper session, you sound like I got there late or something, I went to the session I planned to.

        My point was, is the idea of these cheap tickets a marketing strategy to lure people in, then stack on the extras. We all know that has always been the candy bar strategy.

        For me I can't see anything in the difference between the original senstadium and VMax to justify the price hike.

      • 

        gmail92 on 01/07/2013 - 11:13

        I almost forgot, assuming your location has a Vmax bar, Vmax serves alcohol to customers. That in itself may be worthwhile.

        $1 surcharge is actually the 3D glasses surcharge, and has always been. Which is funny, because usually VMAX 3D has double surcharges on top of the base price.

        If that was the session you planned to go to, you already knew there would be a surcharge? Or you don't read T&Cs?

        Probably. But marketing strategy is different to what you're claiming, a marketing scam. Who doesn't want to make their products sound more attractive than they seem if its legal, and increases profits.

  • 

    nubzy on 01/07/2013 - 11:48

    +1

    VMAX did not use to cost extra it was where all new releases were shown for the first few weeks. But Event Cinemas is a greedy company that has surcharges for everything, on top of the exorbitant ticket prices and they introduced the surcharge a few years ago.
    I only go to EVENT when I can get $10 tickets or have free tickets. Hate them as a company.

    • 

      tonka on 01/07/2013 - 12:10

      +1

      This. Agree it didn't used to have a surcharge. Just the bigger cinema where they could fit more in for the newer movies.

• 

  apophis on 01/07/2013 - 09:56

  It's better screen and better sound system. I would prefer to pay the extra 4 bucks to go to a session with less kids and teens(less people in general) talking during the movies, also happy that I dont have to sit on popcorn seat.

• 

  rokoz on 01/07/2013 - 10:55

  Pretty sure that Event has been adding the VMax surcharge for a while now, I check the sessions to avoid them as I don't value the difference.

  I've gone from Entertainment tickets to $10 Telstra thanks tickets as there's no booking fee and you choose standard, Vmax or 3d session before you go. Plus large combos are $10.50 prepaid.

  • 

    janeymac on 05/07/2013 - 00:18

    Speaking of combos, are they much better value to pre-buy than pay at the cinema? Is there a website that has popcorn/drink prices for each cinema? I always find when I pre-purchase, that by the time I get to the cinema, I don't feel like popcorn, but when I haven't pre-purchased, I end up going for multi-combos! It's not just me, either, it's everyone I go with. Gah!

    • 

      gmail92 on 05/07/2013 - 02:47

      +1

      $4 mount franklin
      $6.50 sml popcorn
      $4.20 choc top

      $7.50 mount franklin + sml pop
      $10 sml pop + sml drink + choctop
      $16 2 lrg drinks + lrg popcorn
      $18? 2 lrg drinks + tub combo

      note: very minimal difference between the lrg + tub size. just easier for sharing.

• 

  DEvok on 06/07/2013 - 13:04

  vmax has its up and downs, the bonuses are, bigger screen, larger seats, clear brighter screen, better sound quality, and more sexy attractive guys/girls.

  The minus would be, more popcorn floating about, less and forever cleaning from staff, movies are almost always player late, way to much comercial adds, and fugly people, some homeless come in as well.

• 

  kabigon on 07/07/2013 - 21:19

  I buy $10 Hoyts tickets through Optus, generally I never do 3D or Xtremescreen so that $10 remains as-is. Booking online says you'll be charged an extra $1 for the convenience but it doesn't end up charging this after all, just needs your credit card for verification.

  I never used to bother with pre-booking but since my local Hoyts sometimes only has the candy bar open with a long line and the ticket window annoying desolate, it's a no-brainer. I can pick my seats more easily, and have virtually no wait picking up my tickets at the cinema because there's either a ticket pick-up machine thingy and/or priority queue depending on which Hoyts you go to.

  No risk of upselling with a bit of preparation, pretty simple, only Hoyts requires you to buy the vouchers, then redeem them separately, rather than Village which does both steps in the one process.