# Was this a grift? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 21, 2024, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-a-grift/1000577 "2024-04-21T12:14:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-a-grift/1000577/21 "2024-04-21T14:42:07Z")
> [@Midtown](#): > > Second point. Some theaters sell tickets outside. Some theaters sell tickets inside. What’s with the big debate about it? Tradition! Quite possibly 50% of all thread content is nitpicks taken down a rabbit hole. It’s what dopers do best. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-a-grift/1000577/22 "2024-04-21T14:58:16Z")
Everyone agrees that the ticket thing was a grift Now, who can walk into a theater lobby – THAT’S something we can all disagree on! ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-a-grift/1000577/23 "2024-04-21T16:12:35Z")
In your experience… _Poll ([view on site](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-a-grift/1000577/23))_ ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-a-grift/1000577/24 "2024-04-21T16:31:43Z")
I haven’t been to a movie theatre in a while , but there is a difference between selling the tickets outside and checking tickets when you enter the building . I’m old enough to remember when most theatres showed one movie at a time, and in those days , they checked your ticket before letting you in the building. At some point, those theatres got renovated into multiplexes and no one checked your ticket to enter the building , only to enter the space where the movie was shown but you still bought the ticket at the booth outside on the street. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-a-grift/1000577/25 "2024-04-21T18:54:48Z")
Yeah. The multiplex I go to most often has an indoor area to buy tickets (from a person or a machine), then you enter a huge lobby area (without anyone checking to see whether you have a ticket) - where the lines for refreshments and for entry into the hallway-of-infinite-screen-rooms are. To enter the HoISR, you need a ticket - but once you’re in the hallway, no one checks that you go into the right screen room. Weird. There’s an ATM near the indoor area where tickets are sold. There’s probably an ATM inside the lobby-of-hugeness, too. Back in days of yore, I would buy a ticket outside the single-screen theatre to get inside at all - and yes, it got cold. On the other hand, it was a single screen theatre, so there was a limit to how long the line could be before the ticket office sold out ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-a-grift/1000577/26 "2024-04-21T19:16:56Z")
In my youth we had a single-screen theater in town, and you did have to wait outdoors to buy your ticket, and have it checked before you entered. But I haven’t had to stand outdoors to buy a ticket in decades. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-a-grift/1000577/27 "2024-04-21T19:21:22Z")
Most theaters I’ve seen are stand-alone and you need a ticket to go in. There is one near me inside a mall and the concession stand is open to the mall. You only need a ticket to get to the individual screens. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-a-grift/1000577/28 "2024-04-21T20:06:14Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Most theaters I’ve seen are stand-alone Do you mean the kind that only has one screen and shows one movie at a time? It’s been a long time since I’ve seen one of those. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-a-grift/1000577/29 "2024-04-21T20:12:44Z")
I think it refers to theaters that are not part of an indoor or outdoor mall . ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-a-grift/1000577/30 "2024-04-21T20:27:28Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I’ve never seen a theater that allowed customers in the lobby without paying admission. Out here it is common, you go into the lobby now to buy tickets from machines. Real live people to take your $ and dispense tickets and advice are too expensive it seems. There is a rope and a dude taking tickets. > [@colinfred](#): > > Oh OK, multiplexes here in the UK don’t work like that. Every cinema I’ve ever been to, you buy the tickets inside, (or online prior and pick them up inside.) Same here in many places. Why not just test the ATM? That would answer the question. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-a-grift/1000577/31 "2024-04-21T21:09:02Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > > [@TriPolar](#): > > > > Most theaters I’ve seen are stand-alone > > Do you mean the kind that only has one screen and shows one movie at a time? It’s been a long time since I’ve seen one of those. > [@doreen](#): > > I think it refers to theaters that are not part of an indoor or outdoor mall . Right. A separate building with the theater being the only function. I know there are others with entrances in malls but I haven’t been to one. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-a-grift/1000577/32 "2024-04-21T22:00:51Z")
Even locations that have a ticket booth outside, you can still walk in the door and no one actually takes your ticket until you move past the concession area to the screens. I haven’t been to a cinema where you had to have a ticket in hand just to enter the building in a decade or so. They’ve all been multiplex style locations though, not single screen buildings. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2024, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-a-grift/1000577/33 "2024-04-22T05:45:04Z")
The closest theater has: - outside ticket sale windows, - an outside ATM machine, - an outside ticket sales machine, and - a ticket taker at the door. How do we enter the theater? We walk up. My son flashes his phone with the prepaid tickets and reserved seats. We go in. That app also gets us free popcorn. Not enough popcorn, though. We always upgrade. The boy likes his apps. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2024, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-a-grift/1000577/34 "2024-04-22T06:55:02Z")
Here in Australia I cannot remember that you ever bought your tickets outside. I think that, in the last few years, I have probably had my ticket taken maybe 5% of the time. Admittedly I like attending the movies when there are few other people there but often there is no-one collecting tickets. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2024, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-a-grift/1000577/35 "2024-04-22T15:34:56Z")
The last time we went to a movie we had to buy our tickets at the concession counter, so yes, we had to get into the lobby to make our purchase. > [@](#): > > That the victim of the scam was in hearing distance of this unfortunate event is also suspect. If this happened to me I’d maybe quietly mention to my lovely child that daddy can’t take her into the movie today. I wouldn’t be talking so loud that strangers around me could hear. This. If I couldn’t afford it I’d quietly state that to the child. If you’re willing to put up some money, there’s a pretty much surefire way to know if it’s a grift, offer to buy them what they want rather than just giving them money to buy it themselves. If they really wanted to go to the movies, they’d love if you handed them tickets; same with the guy begging for $1 to get food. If he’s really hungry, he’d gladly go into the (fast food) restaurant while you paid for his meal instead of cursing you out for the suggestion that you both walk 40’ to the counter & you’ll buy him as much as he wants ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2024, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-a-grift/1000577/36 "2024-04-22T15:58:13Z")
Around DC the location of the box office/ticket counter is going to vary depending on the age of the theater. Older theaters like the Uptown will have the box office out front and you line up right on the sidewalk. [![](https://www.bu.edu/washington/files/2014/03/IMG_1175-e1395781072486.jpg) ](https://www.bu.edu/washington/files/2014/03/IMG_1175-e1395781072486.jpg) Newer theaters, mostly in the suburbs, tend to have huge lobbies and you buy a ticket either at a counter near concessions, or more commonly at a self-service kiosk near where you walked inside. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2024, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-a-grift/1000577/37 "2024-04-22T20:04:55Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > same with the guy begging for $1 to get food. If he’s really hungry, he’d gladly go into the (fast food) restaurant while you paid for his meal instead of cursing you out for the suggestion that you both walk 40’ to the counter & you’ll buy him as much as he wants When i lived in NYC, i got hit up by beggars pretty regularly. If they asked for money for food, and i had food on me, i would give them some. I offered oranges, bagels, leftover Chinese food, a box of strawberries… Whatever i was carrying. Responses varied. Some obviously wanted money. But about half were delighted to get the food. There was even a guy who hung out just outside my local convenience store at the end of the month and asked customers to buy him groceries. I sometimes bought him cereal and milk for his kid. (Because that’s what he asked for.) I think his benefits ran out before the end of the month. A woman (usually pregnant) sometimes hung out with him. I was tempted to throw in some condoms with the food, but never did. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2024, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-a-grift/1000577/38 "2024-04-22T20:13:26Z")
Another possibility is that the whole thing didnt happen, and the “grift” is people reimbursing the person who told it. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2024, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-a-grift/1000577/39 "2024-04-22T20:44:17Z")
I was specifically thinking of the McD’s at 33rd & 7th Ave which gets tons of foot traffic going past because it’s across from Penn Station. Quite possibly a different story at your neighborhood bodega, & yes, I’ve heard that food stamps, like Social Security don’t really cover everything & people are running dry before the end of the month. Back in the days when we fed parking meters those round things with Washington’s head on them I parked on the street one day. I had money but no coins so I pulled $1 out of my wallet & held it out in my hand as some guy walked past & asked if he had change for a dollar. He gruffly brushed me off & walked a few more steps until the lightbulb went off that I was literally asking for change & not spare change. He turns around, comes back to me, puts his hand in his pocket & pulls out three quarters. I tried to give him the dollar, as well, that’s the exchange rate but he wouldn’t take it. I found it interesting that he would freely give money to someone asking for literal change but couldn’t give the time of day to someone asking for spare change. > [@MandaJo](#): > > Another possibility is that the whole thing didnt happen, and the “grift” is people reimbursing the person who told it. I doubt it, who are you telling that story to, friends, family & cow-orkers? Then it would be a one-time grift at what, $25 reimbursement per those willing to give? ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2024, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-a-grift/1000577/40 "2024-04-22T21:54:45Z")
They said “someone on Nextdoor”. Is Nextdoor that good at filtering out fake accounts? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-a-grift/1000577.md?page=1)