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This topic comprises 3 pages: 1 2 3
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Author
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Topic: Carding for 'R' rated movies
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Jeff Newman
Film Handler
Posts: 14
From: Fenton, MO, USA
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 02-04-2001 12:20 PM
Hi All..I don't know, maybe its just me, but do any of you have customers that get VERY irate when you card them for a rater R movie? I had one guy threaten to KILL me last night (Quote: "Im taking you out dawg. Im not even joking, im taking you out" Then he stared at me very evil as he walked by) The employee next to me had someone start pounding on the glass screaming for a manager because he didnt think he should show his ID. Literally screaming obscenities and banging his fists on the glass. Is it just me? What is the big deal? Please someone enlighten me as to this aspect of humanity. Why we threaten to beat, kill, cuss people out over showing a piece of plastic with our age on it. Sorry, rough night last night :-) -Jeff "Box office god" Newman P.S Funny side story: Told people all last night "Walk around the chains, not over them! They are there for a reason!" I even had some lady scream back at me "Ill walk over them if a damn well want to!" (I told her when she came to my window to buy a ticket, "No, you will not! Do you understand? If I see you do it again you will be escorted off the property!") Anyways, not 1 hour later, somebody was walking over the chains, tripped, fell on their face splitting their chin open.. People never listen and just think your being a jerk for saying something. Until they trip and realize that you were not ust being a jerk.. I told one of the managers I am going to weld spikes onto the top of the chains to prevent people walking over them. :-)
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Jerry Chase
Phenomenal Film Handler
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Posts: 1068
From: Margate, FL, USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 02-04-2001 03:06 PM
You aren't going to like my answer, but about the only thing that will eventually solve the problem is a manager who will take the person aside, and let them know that unless they not only provide the ID, but apologize directly to the employee that was cursed at or threatened, they won't be allowed in the theatre ever again. The manager then has to follow through, and make sure all the assistants do as well. This isn't a policy that corporations like.Word gets around quickly, and a--holes hate being taken to task and made to apologize. They usually end up threatening to get the manager fired or some such. There is no reason you should ever accept being cursed at or threatened. If the management expects that of you, and repeatedly refuses to take action despite your requests, wait until it happens again in the middle of a Saturday night rush, and tell the manager you are leaving immediately and he can deal with the customer. Eventually some crackpot will take a jab at a face, and better that jab get directed at the person who allowed things to deteriorate. Thirty or forty years ago, there wouldn't have been a question. The doorman, manager, or even a nearby customer would have taken the guy out back and... err.. given instructions in manners. The other side of that coin was that employees always had to treat customers with utmost courtesy and respect, and present a professional appearance at all times, with no friends hanging around, no leaning on counters or walls, etc. In other words, standards were equally high for both customer and employee behavior. Civilization can be like that.
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Russ Kress
Expert Film Handler
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Posts: 202
From: Charleston, WV, USA
Registered: May 2000
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posted 02-05-2001 08:46 PM
Cashiers can be abused. That's why they get glass between them and the customers! ![](http://www.film-tech.com/ubb/smile.gif) I find that placing an assistant manager or a really big usher in the ticket line to direct traffic tends to eliminate most of the abuse. "Hi! How are you this evening? Welcome to the theatre! The shortest line is right over there!" This also keeps the youngins from harassing other customers to buy their tickets for them. The second usher checks stubs at the auditorium door. When I was little, I was a wiz at sneakin' into the R rated films! I guess it takes one to catch one *grin*. Russ
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Ky Boyd
Hey I'm #23
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Posts: 314
From: Santa Rosa, CA, USA
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 02-06-2001 05:35 PM
I have to chime in here and say that I disagree about the glass thing. I strongly believe that putting a glass wall between the box office cashier and the customer is an invitiation for rudeness on both parties. At our theatre, prior to our ownership of it, people purchased their tickets from out on the porch through a glass window right next to the front door. When we took over, we turned the box office 90 degrees and put in a nice counter. People now come inside to purchase tickets and employees and customers agree it is a much friendlier, welcoming environment. We do frequent drops and never let the cash accumulate. Obviously, with the gargantuplexes, cash security is an issue, hence the glass - but if the box office is inside the lobby is it absolutely necessary? It's not in banks. As to the topic of this thread, if the person doesn't appear to be at least 17, then yes, by all means check their ID. However, a policy of checking all id's for R rated films is ludicrious. No one 30 or over will find it anything but absolutely ridiculous, not to mention a waste of time. The longer people wait at the box office, the less likely they are to get in line to buy concessions.
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Jeff Newman
Film Handler
Posts: 14
From: Fenton, MO, USA
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 02-12-2001 08:19 AM
To me, you see a sign at the gas station, or gorcery stores that say "If you look under 30, we will ID you" Thats the same judgement I use. I have seen 25 year olds that look 15 and 15 year olds that look 25. Im a bad judge I guess. I just always take the safe route. 18 to buy cigarettes, 17 to see an R rated movie. I don't think they would get as pissed if they were buying smokes, so they shouldnt get that mad to see an R rated movie... Now about the cussing thing. If I do have someone in front of me cursing, etc.. I have the right (and the managers back me) to stop the sale immediatly, give them their money back and tell them to leave. The problem is most of the people take their change/tickets and walk away and say "Thanks asshole" or something to that effect. Now, the line is to the back of the door, as soon as they step away, someone walks right up to my window. My options are very limited. I can run around the corner and eject the person, leaving the window/customer. Or I can yell to the guest services desk for a manager and hope they are not busy etc.. My point is that the options are very limited, unless the sale has not yet been completed and they are standing in front of my window. I can say that management is usually VERY supportive, and do not expect us to be cussed at or anything. They have a very limited tolerance or patience for cussing :-)
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Jason Black
Phenomenal Film Handler
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Posts: 1723
From: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 02-13-2001 07:07 PM
I'll yield my two cents from a manager's standpoint... Please bear in mind that I work for one of the major chains, so you have to keep that 'corporate policy' thing in your mind.. Two kids, ages 16 and 17 come to the window on a busy Friday night for the 7pm Hannibal. My cashier denies them a ticket due to inability to produce a valid ID. They display hostility to the cashier but do not use profane language (I know, it's far fetche dthat someone would NOT cuss you out) and they ask for a manager. I step up from the Customer Service desk (or wherever I may be) ad kindly ask what assistance might I be... The kids tell me that the lady at the window wouldn't sell them a ticket and was rude to them. I ask them what film they were planning to see with the reply being "hannibal". I ask for ID myself and, of course, they can't produce. I tell them that I'm sorry but we will not sell a ticket to anyone underage (-17). This was NOT the answer they were looking for so they display more mouth to me and blab on about how they NEVER get carded any other time, even at my theatre... yada yada yada... I break in and tell them that they have been given my final answer and there is nothing further to discuss, you can buy a ticket for another movie but not for an R rated film. And don't get caught trying to cross over or you'll be asked to leave with no refund given. When they elevate the verbal assualt, I offer to call the police and let them settle the matter. This works 99% of the time. Kids are assholes these days because they KNOW that they will most likely be allowed to get away with it. I blame it on the liberals in society who have allowed anyone and evryone BUT themselves to raise their kids, but that's a story all it's own. Corporate policy or not, I simply REFUSE to be treated like a dog from a customer anymore. It's bad enough that corporate folks treat you the way they do.... Bottom line, stand your ground and keep the riff raff out. The money they bring in is not sufficient enough to replace the money you will eventually lose when the regular customers you have stop coming to your facility due to the troubles kids create. Your milage may vary. Rant mode off. The above did not happen to me this wknd, instead I had a run in with a drunk middle age man who had $27 worth of gift cert's that expired 12/31/00. If anyone cares to hear the story I'll tell it if asked.
------------------ The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese!
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