Today's Peeve of the Day, Thursday 19th September. (to buy, sticker, penny)

[Jezer]

Good morning peevers.

I have a few peeves that I encountered in the US last week , but here's one from yesterday.

I rarely go to the cinema these days but felt compelled to go and watch 'Rush' yesterday afternoon It was extremely good.

Knowing that the snacks they sell in the cinema was both second rate and also expensive I bought a bar of chocolate from a nearby shop- actually it was a chocolate specialists and it was super yummy!

I seem to recall that some cinemas stop you taking in snacks not bought at their place- fill me in on that if you can.

The POTD is;

Places trying to get you to buy their over priced snacks.

[Jezer]

Here with some photos taken on a boat trip around St Pete Beach showing something I don't recall seeing before;

[SATX56]

Well, like any amusement park or movie theater they have a captive audience. They tend to take full advantage of that fact. What chaps my hide is Fiesta Texas for example. It's $9.00+ for a corn dog. Regardless of where you go in the park the food is outrageously expensive and it always sucks! They could at least give you one or the other. Reasonable prices or decent food. Great peeve Jezer!

[wit-nit]

Places trying to get you to buy their over priced snacks.
Good peeve.
Like sports arenas, especially pro football and baseball stadiums. $7.00 beers, $5.00 hotdogs, $4.00 candy bars...

[SATX56]

I seem to recall that some cinemas stop you taking in snacks not bought at their place- fill me in on that if you can.

They frown on it but people take snacks even drinks in coats or purses from elsewhere in them. They are now beginning to check purses and such now. Given the recent theater attacks, they now feel they have reason to invade the privacy of their customers. Just the excuse they needed.


P.S. Last time we saw Barnum & Bailey's circus at the Alamodome it was 7 or 8 dollars for a small cereal box of stale popcorn.

[elnina]

I always wonder why people just can't be without food/drink for few hours. That constant chewing and sipping is the main cause of obesity. Big cup of soda and bucket (!!!) of popcorn probably covers three days' worth of saturated fat and sugar.
No one "makes them" to buy that overprices stuff. People choose to buy it, probably afraid that they will die from hunger and dehydration during the two hours at the movie...

BIG: Movie Theaters Fill Buckets…and Bellies

[rainroosty]

I just stick to drive-in theaters and when I do go I bring a big load of ribs and fried chicken and fried shrimp and fries and hushpuppies and I sit in my vehicle in my boxer shorts and chow down while enjoying the movies. That and a cooler of ice and drinks.

[tijlover]

I haven't been to a movie theatre since the late 80's, and I was peeved about the prices back then, and if I were to go to a movie theatre today I can well imagine the sticker shock!

I take thrift store vacations, and on the last one to Salt Lake City 2 months ago, I hauled back 130 old VHS tapes, and given no one wants them anymore (I do! I do!) you can pick them up now for 25 to 50 cents.

Airports are also notorious for gouging you for snacks!

[Bayarea4]

I wouldn't mind being gouged if the merchandise was first-rate, but it usually isn't. Theatres don't make a profit on the actual exhibiting of the films, so they have to rely on the concession stand to break even. That's why the prices are so high.

I usually don't eat or drink at the movies, but sometimes I'll get a coffee or a small popcorn with no butter when I visit an independent, single-screen theatre because they need all the help they can get to stay in business. (I've heard that movie theatre popcorn is pretty much unheard of in Britain, is that true, Jez?)

I also agree with elnina that constant snacking is a major cause of obesity.

[oeccscclhjhn]

no one forces them to buy. i don't spend a penny. it's hard to hear the dialoge while chewing.