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>>>Have any of ya'll ever had a similar problem as the lady who wrote this letter to the editor?

http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20091029/ARTICLES/910295005/1017/OPINION?Title=Wasted-trip


>>>I ask because this has happened twice to me. It ticked me off pretty badly. Thoughts? Opinions? Cause I know ya'll have them!! Smiler
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hmmm... sorry about that. I'll post the whole story instead.


Wasted trip

Published: Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 5:42 p.m.
I recently took my 13-year-old son to the movies with his friend. We got dressed, loaded into the car and set out to the theater. The boys wanted to see "Zombieland." When we arrived at the theater I let my son out to purchase tickets. The attendant told him he was too young to buy the tickets, so I parked my car and walked to the ticket counter to buy them myself.

The attendant told me she would have to see ID before selling tickets to me. As I started to pull out my license, she said "I will have to see ID on all three of you."

I explained that I don't carry ID for my son and I certainly wouldn't have ID for his friend. I told her "I'm 35 years old, one of the boys is my son and I am the guardian of the other." She still wouldn't sell the tickets to me.

I became frustrated and just walked off. As I did, I could hear the attendant laughing at me. She seemed to find great joy in knowing she had "showed me who was boss." In today's economy, a 40-mile round trip to the theater eats into a budget. Not to mention the fact that we didn't even get to see the movie we came for in the first place.

After ticket sales drop at the theater I hope as the attendant waits in line at the unemployment office for her check that she will remember one of the reasons she is there in the first place. As for me and my family, we will never waste our time making this trip again.

Kimberly Hammond

Florence
I, and the girl I was with, were recently carded at an R-rated movie. We are more than old enough, so it wasn't huge deal. I also saw them card other people who were obviously of age.

I got to thinking. To be concerned that I'm not old enough to see the movie is to suggest I appear to be under 17, which I don't. So, there's obviously some other motive here. Furthermore, what are the ramifications for letting a 15 or 16 year old into an R-rated movie? Selling alcohol to an underage person can result in a lot of trouble, but movie tickets?
Let me preface my comment by saying that I do not condone the theather's action, but I have seen it before when I was standing in the line.
According to the story the son went to the window first and was denied a ticket.
At other times I have seen something similar, and the youngster goes out to the car or into the crowd and gets someone to buy them a ticket. The ticket box is pretty astutue to what is going on and asks the then "guardian" to show some ID, which is not unreasonable, BUT to the defense of the buyer you could use some common sense and tell whther or not the parent with them was legitimate, PLUS the parent was also buying a ticket.
To prevent this, all the parent had to do was to go up to the theater ticket office FIRST and purchase the tickets, and I doubt there would have been any question about it. The theater is just trying to protect the kids, and are enforcing the rules. As much as I would think they had rather have the sale, at least they were enforcing the rules they are given, you can't fault them to much for that.
My adult daughter tried to take her 13, 15 and 17 year old brothers and sister to the movies this summer, and the ticket attendant wouldn't sell her tickets for the younger two. I had already approved of the movie; it was some shoot 'em up movie without the crazy sex scenes. The lady wouldn't sell her tickets AND she was very rude and condescending.

If an adult is accompanying a minor to an R rated show, I don't see how the attendants have any right to deny them to do so. Nowhere on the Carmike Cinema website did I find their policy explaining ticket sales for adults accompanying minors. It seems like someone is interpreting the rule as they see fit in a very narrow way.

To me, this seems like somebody on their "high horse" wanting to force their narrow minded views/beliefs/opinions on others and then enjoying the frustration that they cause others.
In response to Teyates:

Sunday, my husband, boys and I went to see "Paranormal Activity" (side note- don't waste your money; it was not scarry at all!!) I walked up to the ticket booth with one son (my husband and other son were meeting us there) and asked for 4 tickets. The attendant asked who the tickets were for.

I said, "4 adults (thinking he needed to know what to charge- adult vs. child)."

He said, "No, who are you buying the tickets for? Are they all adults? Do you have any kids going with you?"

I said, "Yes, 2 boys. (still confused that there is a question about why I need 4 tickets- it was time for my Sunday afternoon nap and my brain was slow-working)".

He said, "What is your relation to them?"

I said, "I"M THEIR MOTHER." (I'll admit I was a little miffed at getting the 3rd degree for this.)

He sai, "Oh, OK."

I didn't send my 13 year old to buy the tickets first; I walked right up to the counter with him. I found it very puzzling that there was any question for whom I was purchasing the tickets.

And this is not the first time this has happened to us, only the most recent. I registered my complaint this morning at the Carmike website. If it is their policy to deny tickets, I can only ask they change it or not give them my business. BUT the rudeness is uncalled for- EVER!!
Actually, I've never been denied a ticket, but a few years ago when "The Omen" came out on 06/06/06 and everyone flocked to see it on that evil day -- they carded every single person that went into that bought a ticket. There were many teenagers left out front that were not allowed to buy a ticket and were not allowed to see the movie because a 'parent' or 'guardian' were not with them to sit through it.

My question is this -- were you going to the movie with them or were you just buying their tickets? If you were attending with them--then I say the denial was wrong, but if you were just buying the tickets for them so they could sit through the movie alone -- then no, she was correct according to the rules as I understand. No, it's not like when we were teens and could get into R rated movies etc -- but the way they are regulated now -- it's not enough to just approve them to see the movie -- you have to hold their hand and wipe their nose too. Big Grin I didn't say I liked it, but it is what it is....
In all 3 situations, I (or my adult daughter) was going into the movie with the kids and watching it with them. I would not expect a movie theater to allow underage kids into an R rated movie without parents/guardian but not selling you tickets for your kid's friends is ridiculous!!! What's next?? Will we have to start bringing birth certificates and social security cards to buy movie tickets?? Crazy!
I understand the frustration, but as with the same situation I mentioned -- we watched several in the parking lot approach other adults to buy them a ticket...but when the adults tried they were denied...that's what the theater is trying to avoid is allowing a kid entrance and then getting in trouble for doing so when their parent raises cain about the situation...it is very sad to me that society is such a "sue happy" world now that even movie entertainment is tainted by people like that...

However, given the crowds that are at the theater -- I don't see anyone going to the unemployment line any time soon ... now if ticket prices continue to rise and the movies continue to be mediocre -- that will cause the unemployment...they just don't make them like they used too...and now Hollywood has run out of ideas and are remaking every old movie that did millions at the box office...they can't come up with anything new anymore....
I usually don't reply much on here but I thought I had to reply to this since I work at the theater and want to clear up this situation.
I understand patrons get frustrated when it comes to buying tickets to "R" rated movies. Being asked for ID and who they are buying tickets for and Etc. If you only realized how many under age kids try and sneak in every week and how many calls and complaints are received from angry parents because their child was let in a "R" rated movie. Kids come up and buy tickets to Disney movies or some other movie they know they can buy for and then sneak in the bad movies. The theater has a responsibility to try and stop this as much as it can. its not that tickets are being "denied" Its just trying to be responsible and make it as family oriented as possible. So I ask, please be patient and understand where management is coming from. If you aren't satisfied please come in a talk to a manager and explain the situation.
I've had many problems at out local Carmike. Just about every time I go something is screwed up with the movie. One time it took a hour and a half to get the movie started and I was expecting some sort of coupon or apology and got nothing.

For a period of several months they wouldn't take my debit card (a visa). I called Visa and reported it. Several other times the debit card machines were out and I had to go to the bank.

Right after they first built it they didn't even have debit card machines at the concession stand and had to take the card to the ticket counter to ring people out.

This and their policy of not letting kids into movies without a parent is absurd. Parents don't want to go see teen movies. A 14 year old should be able to see a movie with his/her friends.

I've had problems at other Carmikes but Florence's has by far been the worst. At their old location on Florence Blvd we tried to leave through the fire escape and it was locked.
quote:
Originally posted by lawguy07:
I've found the perfect remedy--save myself about 20 bucks per person by just waiting a short time until the movie hits video. Netflix delivers it right to my house and I can let the kids watch it or not.


I don't waste any of my money on movies, cause I wind up going to sleep in just a few minutes anyway.
FLO50-

I completely understand about kids sneaking in to see inappropriate movies and the safeguards the theater must take to prevent this. But what I find ridiculous is when an adult tries to take her brothers and sister to the movies and the ticket lady will not sell her tickets because she isn't the mother. She was over 18 and acting as their guardian in my absence. She was going to watch the movie with them, not drop them off. She lives out of town and wanted to treat her younger siblings to a movie and popcorn and was denied based on a rule that was carried out to the nth degree.

If the rating system is "no one under 17 admitted without a parent/guardian" then that is what the theater should do.

And the rudeness, of course, is unnecessary and only adds insult to injury.

Maybe we will stop going to the movie theater and wait for the video to come out. What a shame that even the movie theater industry has to practice "CYA" and lose business doing it.

Teyates-

My previous post did sound miffed at you. Sorry about that; I did not intend it to sound so harsh! Smiler
It has already been established by a couple of other posters on this forum that I am old! LOL
Around 1968 I took my daughter and four girl friends who were around 16 to see "Romeo and Juliet" at the old theater in Tuscumbia. It was one of the sweetest movies I have ever seen! A very small rounded portion of one of Juiet's breast was showing! (Reason for rule) LOL! I took with me a signed note from each parent! I had made prior arrangements with the theater! Just a fun story to share!
I have found many Carmike employees and some in management (but not all) to be VERY rude. This is because they are the only show in town - they have no competition. They can treat customers any way they want because they know if they want to go see a movie, they"ll be back.

It is just way too expensive to take myself and three kids to the movies. Last time we went, it cost @40 bucks just to get in (it was a 3D movie with an extra charge for glasses, of course). Then, I was gonna treat the kids to popcorn and cokes and saw the new prices (they had just gone up again) - it would have been at least another $25.00 - and they cut out all refills. I just don't see it. I'll wait on Redbox.
Businesses have the right to refuse service. If you try to get a table at a nice restaurant with no shirt, they'll ask you to leave.

It's the theater's right to refuse kids to see rated R movies. They can card people for PG movies if they wanted, it's their theater. Personally, I wouldn't let a 13 year old see a movie like that, but that's just me. If she doesn't like that policy, she can take her business to another theater.
quote:
Originally posted by Ronnie P.:
I've had many problems at out local Carmike. Just about every time I go something is screwed up with the movie.


I haven't been to the Florence Carmike since 2005 to see Episode III.

After being mocked, ridiculed, and told to put my "lifesaver" away, that did it for me.

Oh yea, and the movie screwed up about 20 minutes in and they had to reset it.

To the original post - I do wonder if there was more to the story. I've always thought that as long as adults are present and purchase a ticket, under 17 can get in. Right?

I do remember being 16, and trying to claim my 18 year old friend was my legal guardian. Ha, that didn't pass Smiler
quote:
Originally posted by HelloKitty:
quote:
Originally posted by Ronnie P.:
I've had many problems at out local Carmike. Just about every time I go something is screwed up with the movie.


I haven't been to the Florence Carmike since 2005 to see Episode III.

After being mocked, ridiculed, and told to put my "lifesaver" away, that did it for me.

Oh yea, and the movie screwed up about 20 minutes in and they had to reset it.

To the original post - I do wonder if there was more to the story. I've always thought that as long as adults are present and purchase a ticket, under 17 can get in. Right?

I do remember being 16, and trying to claim my 18 year old friend was my legal guardian. Ha, that didn't pass Smiler


I was happy when they switched to DLP Cinema but even that, they screw up some how. The projectionist there is horrible. Also when you complain about the picture not being correct they seem to care less about fixing it.

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