Man sues over price of movie popcorn

[Starkers]

The trouble is as a business model charging the earth because you have a 'captive audience' doesn't neccesarily work. If prices were more reasonable I'd be much more inclined to buy stuff in the cinema rather than eating beforehand or popping to Spar and sneaking in a chocolate bar, or just not eating.

The guy isn't suing because the prices are too high. He's suing because he's forbidden to bring in outside food in lieu of paying the high prices. It would be like a school forcing you to buy the cafeteria food or go hungry.

i don't see it that way. you don't have to eat something while watching a movie. he won't be harmed by not eating for an hour and a half to two hours.

No people would probably die, the same way people will obviously die if they can't check their phones for 2 hours or, heaven forbid, can't chat for 2 hours...

 

[OmahaStar]

b) A business has the right to set whatever price they want for the stuff they sell.

And if you had the slightest clue what you were talking about, this post wouldn't exist. But it does. So, you're telling me that any store can set any price they want on a Wii? And Best Buy or Wal-Mart can set any price they want on the iPad or other Apple products they sell, regardless of what their contracts specifically state?

 

[Caligula]

I've gotten sick the last couple of times I bought snacks at the theater, so the most I ever get anymore is usually just a Sprite to drink. Most of the time not even that. That being said, though the prices they charge are beyond ridiculous, I also understand the need for them to do so. To sue over something you're not even being forced into buying is just silly.

 

[RoJoHen]

What valid reason does the theater have to prohibit their customers from bringing in outside food?

It's a business. Why can't you eat your mom's meat loaf at a restaurant and bring a six-pack to drink at the bar?

Exactly. Businesses are private property, and the management has every right to tell you what you can and can't bring inside. Going to the movies is much like going to a major sporting event. I can't go to a Cubs game and bring in my own food and beer; they'll search my bag and refuse to let me inside. The only difference between that and a movie theater is that movie theaters don't have that tight of security.

 

[Sheep]

b) A business has the right to set whatever price they want for the stuff they sell.

And if you had the slightest clue what you were talking about, this post wouldn't exist. But it does. So, you're telling me that any store can set any price they want on a Wii? And Best Buy or Wal-Mart can set any price they want on the iPad or other Apple products they sell, regardless of what their contracts specifically state?

I'm not sure what you're eye-rolling at--Trekker is basically correct. I'm pretty certain a store could sell a Wii for $1 if they wanted to as long as Nintendo was still getting paid. Some products do have minimal price or "click here to see the sale price" clauses but those are a pretty small minority.

 

[OmahaStar]

b) A business has the right to set whatever price they want for the stuff they sell.

And if you had the slightest clue what you were talking about, this post wouldn't exist. But it does. So, you're telling me that any store can set any price they want on a Wii? And Best Buy or Wal-Mart can set any price they want on the iPad or other Apple products they sell, regardless of what their contracts specifically state?

I'm not sure what you're eye-rolling at--Trekker is basically correct. I'm pretty certain a store could sell a Wii for $1 if they wanted to as long as Nintendo was still getting paid.

Then you're pretty wrong.

Some products do have minimal price or "click here to see the sale price" clauses but those are a pretty small minority.

which completely contradicts what you just said.

 

[doubleohfive]

 

[backstept]

 

[Kelthaz]

Exactly. Businesses are private property, and the management has every right to tell you what you can and can't bring inside. Going to the movies is much like going to a major sporting event. I can't go to a Cubs game and bring in my own food and beer; they'll search my bag and refuse to let me inside. The only difference between that and a movie theater is that movie theaters don't have that tight of security.

Yes, but should you be able to bring your own snacks to a Cubs game? You're paying money to see a baseball game, so why does that give them the right to control the flow of food? Why not restrict clothing too and force you to buy their official $200 sports jacket and pants if you don't want to go naked? You should be allowed to bring your own food and theaters/stadiums would have to compete by making better food at an affordable price. That whole capitalism "competition is good for everyone" thing again.

* Because this topic is getting heated, I should point out that my argument is merely a Seinfeld-styled conversation; keep it light or I'll ignore you.

 

[Sheep]

And if you had the slightest clue what you were talking about, this post wouldn't exist. But it does. So, you're telling me that any store can set any price they want on a Wii? And Best Buy or Wal-Mart can set any price they want on the iPad or other Apple products they sell, regardless of what their contracts specifically state?

I'm not sure what you're eye-rolling at--Trekker is basically correct. I'm pretty certain a store could sell a Wii for $1 if they wanted to as long as Nintendo was still getting paid.

Then you're pretty wrong.

Some products do have minimal price or "click here to see the sale price" clauses but those are a pretty small minority.

which completely contradicts what you just said.

Not sure what the difficulty is here--SOME products have that clause, and the Wii isn't one of them because I see the things on sale or bundled with other stuff all the time. Reading is fundamental.

Do you REALLY think companies who make movie theater concession snacks have contracts indicating that theaters have to sell Twizzlers or Coke for $5 because those products would be de-valued selling for a lower price?

 

[FPAlpha]

I don't think the lawsuit has much chance to succeed. For price gouging to be what it is the product has to have a real need.. food, clothing, water/electricity etc which you need to live.

While the stuff you get at the movies is technically food (any nutritionist or doctor.. please don't kill me for this statement ) it's not necessary and therefore should not fall under the definition of price gouging. And because the cinema is private property it's their rules as long as they are not breaking laws so since it's a free market they are allowed to set their prices as they like and see where it get's them.

I don#t go much to the movies anymore.. too expensive but if i go it's a maximum of one movie a month if that and then i treat myself to a nice evening including way overpriced nachos and a small keg of coke alongside with it

 

[Trekker4747]

With some companies I suspect that there's contacts and stuff on what prices to set for items. But I can speak from personal, hands-on, experience that at work no one tells me what price I can set for stuff. If I wanted to I could go in there tomorrow and change all of the prices of my Oscar Mayer hot dogs to $20 and no one could stop be (well, my bosses would probably have some things to say about it...)

With the Wii and other electronics being made by big-time companies I suspect there might be an ounce or two of "control" on what can be and cannot be set on pricing, Best Buy can't charge $800 for a Wii, for example. But even if they could the local market is going to be the bigger demand on what the price is going to be. If they set the price on a Wii at $800 (or I set my hot dog price at $20) they won't sell any.

Movie theaters are under no obligation to charge a specific prices for candy and popcorn, they can make the price whatever they want.

 

[RoJoHen]

Exactly. Businesses are private property, and the management has every right to tell you what you can and can't bring inside. Going to the movies is much like going to a major sporting event. I can't go to a Cubs game and bring in my own food and beer; they'll search my bag and refuse to let me inside. The only difference between that and a movie theater is that movie theaters don't have that tight of security.

Yes, but should you be able to bring your own snacks to a Cubs game? You're paying money to see a baseball game, so why does that give them the right to control the flow of food? Why not restrict clothing too and force you to buy their official $200 sports jacket and pants if you don't want to go naked?

Public nudity is illegal.

Public not eating is perfectly fine.

Nobody is forcing you to eat or drink at these events, but the law does require that you clothe yourself.

 

[Marten]

With some companies I suspect that there's contacts and stuff on what prices to set for items. But I can speak from personal, hands-on, experience that at work no one tells me what price I can set for stuff. If I wanted to I could go in there tomorrow and change all of the prices of my Oscar Mayer hot dogs to $20 and no one could stop be (well, my bosses would probably have some things to say about it...)

With the Wii and other electronics being made by big-time companies I suspect there might be an ounce or two of "control" on what can be and cannot be set on pricing, Best Buy can't charge $800 for a Wii, for example. But even if they could the local market is going to be the bigger demand on what the price is going to be. If they set the price on a Wii at $800 (or I set my hot dog price at $20) they won't sell any.

Movie theaters are under no obligation to charge a specific prices for candy and popcorn, they can make the price whatever they want.

At least in Sweden, manufacturers are allowed to set a maximum price, but not a minimum price, for the seller. I'd guess it's the same in the rest of EU, and the soething similar in the US.

 

[Kelthaz]

Public nudity is illegal.

Public not eating is perfectly fine.

Nobody is forcing you to eat or drink at these events, but the law does require that you clothe yourself.

I agree that there's no legal reason to allow food inside a theater, but there's no legal argument for the ban on outside food either. I just can't think of any reasons for prohibiting customers from bringing food other than to rip them off, so from a customer POV it sucks. Just imagine a world where you were allowed to bring in outside food. Food prices would drop dramatically and cinemas would serve much better food in order to compete against your homemade alternatives (maybe a Subway in the cinema itself?). It would be awesome and make the theater experience so much better.

 

[firesoforion]

Public nudity is illegal.

Public not eating is perfectly fine.

Nobody is forcing you to eat or drink at these events, but the law does require that you clothe yourself.

I agree that there's no legal reason to allow food inside a theater, but there's no legal argument for the ban on outside food either. I just can't think of any reasons for prohibiting customers from bringing food other than to rip them off, so from a customer POV it sucks. Just imagine a world where you were allowed to bring in outside food. Food prices would drop dramatically and cinemas would serve much better food in order to compete against your homemade alternatives (maybe a Subway in the cinema itself?). It would be awesome and make the theater experience so much better.

And in turn, the prices of the tickets themselves would rise. The fact is the theater needs to make a certain amount of money to continue being profitable, if they can't get it from food, they will have to get it from somewhere else, and people won't be any happier.

 

[Kelthaz]

No, I'd be cool with that. If higher ticket prices means I can snack on some McNuggets or a sub doing a movie I'd pay it. It would work out to be the same price in the end, the cinema would make money directly from their intended main source of business, and I would get better food.

 

[RoJoHen]

I don't go to the movies to eat real food. I go there to eat Raisinets!

 

[Kelthaz]

You know, I've never actually had those. I find eating while watching a movie distracting, so I rarely get anything. Maybe next time.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

You know, I've never actually had those. I find eating while watching a movie distracting, so I rarely get anything. Maybe next time.

Then why do you want to pay more so you can eat chicken mcnuggets?