Is it ok to bring your own food and/or drinks into the movies?

[gone-ot]

...can you say "loss-leader"?

...sure you can!

[RobertSmalls]

Originally Posted by Piwoslaw

As for bringing your own oil to the car shop: Is it a car repair shop, or a car parts shop? You pay for repairs and tune-ups, and if they lower their prices then that's their problem and your gain. I've seen many car shops that change your oil for free if you bought that oil from them (even if you brought your own oil filter). Same with replacing coolant fluid.

As someone who used to sell auto parts to the general public and to repair shops, I can tell you that's not the way it works. Almost all chain stores, and some independent mechanics, refuse to install parts brought in by the customer. They'll give you some excuse about how they couldn't offer a warranty if they don't know how good the parts coming in are.

The fact is, they get a discount on parts - 10 to 60%, depending on what the part is, plus they get the parts delivered to them for free. Then they mark up the parts to about 200% of retail - i.e. "list price". This is a ubiquitous practice, and those who don't participate would have to charge a labor rate of $150/hr instead of the normal $70/hr to bring in the same amount of money.

So, in terms of profit, garages are auto parts stores first and foremost. Stores with a HUGE markup and a nice network of just-in-time suppliers. And yet, garages go out of business all the time. I guess $70/hr just isn't enough, when a technician costs you $20/hr.

I do all my own work on my cars.

[user removed]

Oh boy I sure don't need to jump into THIS ONE.

regards
Mech

[Ford Man]

Ever been to a NASCAR race? They sell beer for about $4.-$5 a can, soda for about $2-$3 a can, a hot dog for $3-$4 and so on, but you can bring in all your cooler will hold. I think they have a size limit on the cooler but if you use a colapsable cooler you can probably get a case of drinks in it and some small snacks. You my say NASCAR tickets are more expensive than movie tickets, but they have thousands of dollars that are given away to leaders of the race at different points in the race and still turn a huge profit, they don't give away a door prize to even one customer at a theater. I've taken tires into tire stores before to have them mounted and balanced, maybe they didn't sell me the tires, but still they make $40-$60 depending on how much they charge for mounting and balancing for 15-30 minutes work and a hand full of lead wheel weights. I'm not sure what the rules are at most theaters, but I certainly wouldn't feel bad taking in my own candy bar. If you pulled into a gas station and filled your car up with gas and checked the oil and it was a quart low and you had a quart in the trunk you had paid $3 for or you could buy it from the gas station for $6. quart would you feel guilty pouring in your own oil on their property? I wouldn't. It's all the same principle.

[SVOboy]

The poll is fatally flawed by throwing in the third option of a fake yes. Barring that I vote no, regardless of what you want as a consumer, you agree to their rules, it's their house, etc etc. It's unfortunate that the entire industry has moved in this sucky direction, but them's the beats. The cheap theatre around here is ~16$ for the cheapest movie time, though the food is a good deal cheaper. Meh?

[t vago]

Meh.

The poll neglected a fourth option - Don't go to the movies. I think that would have been the most popular choice. I haven't been to the movies for almost 6 years now, with no desire whatsoever to go.

[alohaspirit]

Originally Posted by t vago

Meh.

The poll neglected a fourth option - Don't go to the movies. I think that would have been the most popular choice. I haven't been to the movies for almost 6 years now, with no desire whatsoever to go.

i took that as a given


been watching new movies online for years

[bestclimb]

Originally Posted by SVOboy

The poll is fatally flawed by throwing in the third option of a fake yes. Barring that I vote no, regardless of what you want as a consumer, you agree to their rules, it's their house, etc etc. It's unfortunate that the entire industry has moved in this sucky direction, but them's the beats. The cheap theatre around here is ~16$ for the cheapest movie time, though the food is a good deal cheaper. Meh?

I am counting "Yes for medical conditions" as a no vote to get those out of the other yes category.

If you are not going to the movies the point is moot. For the most part movies are about 6 times a year thing for us. We don't own a TV and occasional like to see something we have read/heard good things about and make an it an evening out.

[gone-ot]

...being diabetic, I *always* bring my own "goodies"--right along with my "Doctors' Note" saying I can.

...so, guess which answer I selected?












P.S.--guess how "old" that "Dr's Note" is by now!

[Ford Man]

I haven't been to a movie in probably close to 10 years, so like I said I don't know what the house rules are, but if they are relying on concessions to be profitable they need to raise their admission rates. There have also been times when I have just stopped at a convienience store and bought a drink then decided I wanted something to eat as well and stop at a a fast food joint to get a burger, but I didn't buy another drink and they've never said anything about me bringing in the drink I had already bought a few minutes earlier. If they did I'd abide by their rules, but would go somewhere else to get something else to eat. That's just like when I travel and need the use of a bathroom I usually buy something as a courtesy for the use of their facilities, but usually not until after I've been to the restroom and am ready to leave, but a couple years ago I had them tell me at a place I stopped I had to buy something before using their restroom, so I just turned around and went somewhere else.