I work at a movie theatre concession stand. I know, hardly a lucrative or prestigious job. Lick my bag
ANYway… after only a couple of weeks, it’s become painfully obvious that few people think ahead about what they want to buy. They’ll be standing in line for five or six minutes, and when they finally get up to the counter, the first words out of their mouth is “How much is your popcorn?”
::sigh::
It takes much effort to refrain from shouting out “Hey, dumbass, the prices are right up there on the wall, in letters bigger than your dick! Perhaps instead of gabbing on your cell phone, you can give it a read!” Luckily for my (minimum) wage, I’ve got more restraint than I suspected.
Then there’s the gratuitous “How big is your large?” I quickly developed the automatic reaction of pointing to the display tubs that are never more than three feet away from the customer, clearly labeled from Small to Large. And the customer always reacts as if the display just appeared out of nowhere.
Look, I know the prices are dreadfully high. If they weren’t, they’d have to charge $20 for a movie ticket (did you know that, even at $8.50, theatres only make about a 1% profit off the tickets?). But still, can’t you take a moment out of your oh-so-precious time to just toss a stray glance at the damned menu?!? Not so much for me - I’m not going anywhere, after all - but you’ve got five people standing behind you, waiting while you display your stupidity for the world in general.
Then let’s not even start about the people who always insist on free refills…
but damnit spoofe. I come to theaters to have personal interactions with people. I treasure the time I spend asking about prices and making my decisions. The world is too cold impersonal and automated as it is.
But Oldscratch… is it too much to ask that you look at the answer to your question before you ask it? The reason the prices are hanging on the wall is to prevent people from asking “How much do such-and-such cost?”
Also, I forgot to mention a recent peeve… right on every single cash register, in letters that are difficult to ignore, we have a sign that says “Cappucino machine is not working”. And we still have people asking “Do you have cappucino?” Perhaps their caffeine dependency makes their eyesight fuzzy
I generally hit the movies with a little ‘buzz’.
After smoking 3 bowls in the car, finding my way into the building, and making it up to the counter, if I ask “How much is the large?” it’s because I can’t find the sign.
Please, help the helpless.
(point me towards the bathroom if I look really confused)
Hey, I always check for dilated pupils 'fore I talk to anybody.
People like you’d get into the VIP balconey seats and have complimentary popcorn and hotdogs. And if you share the “buzz”, you get a lifetime movie pass.
that the movie going public has not gotten the tiniest bit less annoying or more intelligent since I was working the concession on Hollywood Boulevard back in 1974.
What kills me is when people(and I use the term loosely) stand in line for up to ten minutes, finally get to the front, and then think about what they want. Makes me want to smack them upside the head.
