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Author Topic: Marcus No Sellout Guarantee Mark Lensenmayer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1605 From: Upper Arlington, OH Registered: Sep 1999 posted 05-31-2010 09:13 AM                     One of the two Marcus outlets here is advertising a "No Sellout Guarantee", but gives no details. Can any of the Marcus folks here say exactly what that is?  |  IP: Logged Edward Havens Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 614 From: Los Angeles, CA Registered: Mar 2008 posted 05-31-2010 09:18 PM                     Regency has been making the same offer at their Agoura Hills location (formerly a Mann Theatre until last year). I think it's just a marketing gimmick to hook people in to dead locations.  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 05-31-2010 09:49 PM                        That sounds pretty sad. But I guess it could appeal to some. But since it is a guarantee, what happens if something, by chance, does sell out? Refund for everyone?  |  IP: Logged James Westbrook Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1133 From: Lubbock, Texas, Usa Registered: Mar 2006 posted 06-01-2010 02:36 AM                     I recall when Hollywood Video had a guarantee that the new releases would be in stock. One of the guys who worked there, when they did rent out all of the copies of the new release, simply told the inquiring customer "We're out." I understand Hollywood Video isn't doing too well lately...  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 퍼항시, 경상푹도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 06-01-2010 07:15 AM                     Even though it's since closed, every time the local Hollywood Video was out of a guaranteed title, we were given a voucher to get it later for free.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 06-01-2010 10:58 AM                        quote: Joe Redifer what happens if something, by chance, does sell out? They probably kick out the three ticket-holders in some dead six-week-old movie in auditorium #24, and put the overflow crowd from "Iron Man 2" in there. So the picture is tiny ... nobody will care!  |  IP: Logged Sam Graham AKA: "The Evil Sam Graham". Wackiness ensues. Posts: 1431 From: Waukee, IA Registered: Dec 2004 posted 06-01-2010 12:55 PM                        I wonder if it's a poorly performing location that never does a good business for ANY movie, so they're trying to convince patrons to move over from the complex that has too much business.  |  IP: Logged Mark Lensenmayer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1605 From: Upper Arlington, OH Registered: Sep 1999 posted 06-01-2010 01:21 PM                     I think Sam has a good idea about this location. This Marcus theatre (Marcus Crosswooda) is located about 3 miles south of a major shopping area. There is a RAVE 18-plex very close to the giant mall that does very very good business. The Marcus, although a very excellent facillity, is far enough away from the primary traffic patterns to have lost business to the RAVE. Another indicator is that number of restaurants near the Marcus that have closed. The Marcus is located in an office/hotel type of area, while the RAVE is closer to the housing areas and heavier traffic. The other Marcus facillity locally is NOT offering such a sellout guarantee. It is the only theatre in a growth area with very good traffic patterns.  |  IP: Logged Scott D. Neff Theatre Dork Posts: 919 From: San Francisco, CA Registered: Oct 1999 posted 06-02-2010 01:59 PM                        It does sound as though they're saying "Come to our slow theatre! If we happen to sell something out we'll be HAPPY to give you a pass to a future film."  |  IP: Logged Manny Montes Master Film Handler Posts: 270 From: United States Registered: Feb 2010 posted 07-05-2010 04:58 AM                     exactly, what's the worst that could happen? They sell out? Thats great! then they give everyone a voucher to COME BACK AGAIN! It's actually pretty brilliant, it should bring in people, and if you can really WOW them then they will stay. I've seen it happen, We are right next to a huge 24 plex, and I mean RIGHT next to, its one street over, yet we still sell out shows every weekend and are busy. Simply because people got fed up with the management at the 24plex and gave us a shot, once we got them in the door, our service and presentation got them Hooked and coming back. I think this is what that theater is trying to do, their problem is getting them in the door, but they are confident they can keep them once they are in the door.  |  IP: Logged Mark Hajducki Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 500 From: Edinburgh, UK Registered: May 2003 posted 07-05-2010 02:34 PM                     One 'trick' they could be using is only offering the pass if there are no showings with seats available within a certain timeframe. This would be particularly useful if the cinema is busier in the afternoon than the evening. If, for example, a time limit of 3 hours is used (usually enough to see the next show [especially if multiple prints are used]) and the 18:00 show is sold out customers get diverted to the 20:30 show then no passes are needed.  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 퍼항시, 경상푹도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 07-06-2010 10:31 AM                     I don't think time limits are fair. If the 8 pm show is sold out, I'm not coming to the 10:30 if I have to be up early. A guarantee is a guarantee, not a guarantee only to be made good on within a certain time window.  |  IP: Logged Chad Souder Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 962 From: Waterloo, IA, USA Registered: Feb 2000 posted 07-22-2010 02:18 PM                     The time limit is 30 minutes, which I think is fair. Otherwise, like Mark guessed, you get a pass.  |  IP: Logged Manny Montes Master Film Handler Posts: 270 From: United States Registered: Feb 2010 posted 07-23-2010 05:24 AM                     Also the voucher is only good for 6 days, so i'm sure they are betting that people won't use it within that timeframe. Either way, its a great way to bring people into your lobby, and sometimes that's the hardest thing to do.  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 07-23-2010 08:21 AM                        Isn't it at least borderline unethical to "guarantee" that there will be no sellouts, and then to respond only with a pass that is good for a limited time? It may get people into the lobby, but it may also lose some customers permanently.  |  IP: Logged

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