[Djiban]

Anybody knows why? makes everything more convenient rather than going to the theater early just to save desired seats

[StylinRed]

bcuz would still be competing for seats, at least the way it is now ppl have a better chance to get the seat they want

implementation is an issue

ppl have been used to going to the theatres and finding their seats etc its part of the expierience

etc etc, move to hong kong if ur annoyed by it that much

[sh0n]

Actually I'm for assigned seating but only limited to a small portion of the theater (i.e best seats in house).

I have no idea why the movie theaters haven't thought about this way to generate increased revenue.

I for one would pay a $2.50 or $3 premium to get the seat I want and not have to come 1-2 hr before the movie.

[SkinnyPupp]

They have assigned seating in Hong Kong, and it's awesome. You can even pick your seats online.

[winson604]

I miss the good old days when we still had chinese theatres here at the old Abderdeen and Broadway and Commercial Drive just to name a couple. It was quite handy going earlier in the day buying tix and securing seats and not having to worry about going early just to find seats.

However, like most things there's always pros and cons. When you get stuck beside some douchbags you have no choice but of course this doesn't happen often so really it isn't that much of a con I guess.

[Ulic Qel-Droma]

yeah they should just have assigned seating.

[Mugen EvOlutioN]

they assign seats at GM place, they should assign seats for movie theaters

[jACEDesignsLtd]

one thing with unassigned seating, you often get people putting their jackets trying to save like 10 seats for their late friends on opening night. It's annoying. If you've got a group, come at the same time. A few seats are okay, but more than 4 is going overboard on opening night.

[jlo mein]

I am against this unless movie theatres increase their maitenance of the seats. Too often I walk into a theatre here and some part of the seat is broken or dirty. Another downside is this process would increase the time it takes the average customer to buy tickets, since they would have to choose and decide what seats they want. On busy nights the line ups at the box office and automated machines are already ridiculous. Plus, Cineplex still doesn't have full online ticketing right? So you can buy tickets online, but still have to go line up at the theatre to pick up your tickets?

[quasi]

I like the way it is right now, first come first serve. If you have assigned seating you'll also create a new problem as people will scalp seats to popular movies when they first come out which would be so retarded. You'd have scalpers lining up early and buying tons of seats.

[winson604]

I am against this unless movie theatres increase their maitenance of the seats. Too often I walk into a theatre here and some part of the seat is broken or dirty. Another downside is this process would increase the time it takes the average customer to buy tickets, since they would have to choose and decide what seats they want. On busy nights the line ups at the box office and automated machines are already ridiculous. Plus, Cineplex still doesn't have full online ticketing right? So you can buy tickets online, but still have to go line up at the theatre to pick up your tickets?

Well it wouldn't exactly hold up the lines, if anything it would probably improve them. Less people would be lining up to get tickets because they already secured them earlier whether at the theatre or online.

[RayBot]

Definitely not necessary to have assigned seating...and its not gonna happen here, because its pointless.

In the average 12 theatre complex...at most, only 2 titles will sell out, and it will most likely be on a weekend, weather the 2 titles take up 3 to 5 cinemas.

On top of that, each theatre will show that movie 4-5 times a day, and most of the times, the theatre isn't even going to be half full....


If you want to watch a movie on opening night, then you put yourself in that situation where u can't wait till monday to watch it when the theatre won't even be half full.

Well, lets also add this...if there is a reservation benefit if people want to compare it to any event where there is reserved seating, then they will also make a reserved seating policy....which i can very well assume means, if you want to reserve your seats, then you will NOT be entitled for a refund whatsoever. Boy, i would hate to have to pay a premium price, and something comes up and waste my money on movie that i can watch anytime.


So why expense a system to assign seats for only 10 busy shows out of the whole week?

Cool that they have it in Hong Kong....but how many people does have Hong Kong have in that peanut sized map-area? This isn't Hong Kong, and for how many people go to a movie per night in Vancouver....ain't necessary.

[silk]

They use to assigned seats in Tw back in the days and it was pretty stupid.
I still like the first come first serve, cry about it if you dont like your seat.

[hotjoint]

:lol at the fails for assigned and no assigned seating

[Mugen EvOlutioN]

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

[shenmecar]

I am against this unless movie theatres increase their maitenance of the seats. Too often I walk into a theatre here and some part of the seat is broken or dirty. Another downside is this process would increase the time it takes the average customer to buy tickets, since they would have to choose and decide what seats they want. On busy nights the line ups at the box office and automated machines are already ridiculous. Plus, Cineplex still doesn't have full online ticketing right? So you can buy tickets online, but still have to go line up at the theatre to pick up your tickets?

Actually, some theatres allow you to buy and print your tickets online, skip the box office and walk directly to the auditorium when you get to the theatre. This service called "Print, Skip, Scan". I never used it but they keep advertising it just before my movie starts.

I'm against this assigned seat thing because it just sucks. Some seats are just dirty as hell. I sure don't want to sit on gum and liquid spills. Going to a movie earlier and finding an awesome seat is part of the movie-going experience here in Canada. Don't like it? Then wait for the DVD.

[Gt-R R34]

I am against this unless movie theatres increase their maitenance of the seats. Too often I walk into a theatre here and some part of the seat is broken or dirty. Another downside is this process would increase the time it takes the average customer to buy tickets, since they would have to choose and decide what seats they want. On busy nights the line ups at the box office and automated machines are already ridiculous. Plus, Cineplex still doesn't have full online ticketing right? So you can buy tickets online, but still have to go line up at the theatre to pick up your tickets?

AGREED - the theatres now are getting very nasty, i always find the floor sticky from spilled pop and never cleaned it seems.

I like the way it is right now, first come first serve. If you have assigned seating you'll also create a new problem as people will scalp seats to popular movies when they first come out which would be so retarded. You'd have scalpers lining up early and buying tons of seats.

Good point - never thought of it, but if 1 guy buys up all the best seats in the morning and sells them at night for a premium. Interesting concepts.

[vapour_lock]

im curious, how do they enforce assigned seating in hk? is it an honor system? the only prob i see is the extra manpower needed to enforce this, and is it worth it.

[J____]

assigned seating will reduce overal revenue. If the shows almost sold out and theres only shitty seats left, chances are ppl wont buy tickets. If you're about to sell out and ppl dont have assigned seating, at least ppl will still buy those last tickets hoping they'll get a decent seat.

cases in asia are different, since the theatres there rarely sell out. Most ppl pay $5 outside the theatre for a pirate anyway =/

[jACEDesignsLtd]

I don't think the cost of movies would make it worth it for scalpers to pre-buy tickets and re-sell them. But right about the theatre not selling the shittier seats (e.g. front rows) though.

Personally, I went to Asia and liked the assigned seating. I knew what I was buying ahead of time. But I appreciate that it was a different place, different culture.

OH and one question. We have those Cineplex Odeon GCs. Do they work online like the "Print, Skan, Skip" thing that Shemecar was talking about? If so, I'm doing that next time.

[Djiban]

assigned seating will reduce overal revenue. If the shows almost sold out and theres only shitty seats left, chances are ppl wont buy tickets. If you're about to sell out and ppl dont have assigned seating, at least ppl will still buy those last tickets hoping they'll get a decent seat.

cases in asia are different, since the theatres there rarely sell out. Most ppl pay $5 outside the theatre for a pirate anyway =/

This is a good point. Thanks for answering my question.

[SkinnyPupp]

im curious, how do they enforce assigned seating in hk? is it an honor system? the only prob i see is the extra manpower needed to enforce this, and is it worth it.
Your ticket has the seat number on it, just like when you go to a concert or whatever. Nothing is stopping you from switching seats, and you can if it's not busy. But if you are in someone's seat, you just have to move.

Also, when I was in Canada and there was a huge lineup and I knew I would be in the back, I just didn't buy a ticket. It's the same as when I am in Hong Kong and I look at the seating chart on the monitors and see that there are no good seats left.

It's so much better than the system they use in Canada. There is no issue with scalping either, even for super huge releases. Surprisingly enough.

[BD2002]

Anybody knows why? makes everything more convenient rather than going to the theater early just to save desired seats

that's stupid.

[Gh0stRider]

I hope they never do this.
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

[impactX]

I like the assigned seating in HK as I always buy tickets online and get to the theater on time instead of arriving 30 mins earlier like in Vancouver.

[stuff99]

I prefer assigned seating too.

Why would anyone prefer to line up and do the first come first serve thing?

[Manic!]

Build a home theater, that way you will always have the best seat in the house.

[d1]

Actually, some theatres allow you to buy and print your tickets online, skip the box office and walk directly to the auditorium when you get to the theatre. This service called "Print, Skip, Scan". I never used it but they keep advertising it just before my movie starts.

The system is stupid - they don't actually scan the tickets. You could easily buy/print one ticket and just make copies of it.

[NimbeeTT]

^
i do the print skip scan thing for big releases like harry potter or something, but eitherway you still need to wait in the line to get into the theatre. It just saves you time from waiting line at he box office.
But i would prefer assignmed seating just cause the lineup for new releases are just too fkn long and i hate going an hour early to find the line already snaking throughout the building grr.

[Lomac]

I prefer assigned seating too.

Why would anyone prefer to line up and do the first come first serve thing?

^
i do the print skip scan thing for big releases like harry potter or something, but eitherway you still need to wait in the line to get into the theatre. It just saves you time from waiting line at he box office.
But i would prefer assignmed seating just cause the lineup for new releases are just too fkn long and i hate going an hour early to find the line already snaking throughout the building grr.

I actually don't mind the whole line-up thing. I'm not an impatient person by any any means, but I usually don't like waiting in line ups. However, if there's a movie coming out that I'm really looking forward to, I honestly don't mind waiting in line to get a good seat, especially if it's opening night. I go there expecting it to be busy, so I take it all in stride as "part of the experience." Besides, if you go with friends, it's a good chance to simply hang out and chat.

If you don't want to wait in a line up, especially on opening night, either go early in the day when most people are still at school/working, or for the last showing of the night.

[RayBot]

^^ to add to that....i just don't understand why a lot of people rush to see a movie on opening weekend. Its a movie! Great that you get a chance to see it on opening weekend....but its not the end of the world if you don't!

[Ax2-Y]

When i was in Rome this summer i thought it would be sweet to watch angels and demons before we went sight-seeing the next day so we went to the english theatre and got some tickets. we just missed the first showing and were like 2 hours early for the next one. we got food, picked out the best seats and hungout. the theatre filled up, as it was opening weekend and literally two minutes before the movie started some fucking italian douche bag without a word of english kicked us out of his seats. I was SO choked. we found our assigned seats and they were taken by another couple who didnt know it was assigned seats either... their seats were taken too.. it was a mess so we just ended up finding some empty seats in the back corner. fuck assigned seating

[miss_crayon]

and literally two minutes before the movie started some fucking italian douche bag without a word of english kicked us out of his seats. I was SO choked.

how can you be choked at the `fucking italian douche bag` when you took his seats in the first place

edit: oh wait, you didn`t know

[NiceGirl]

as other people have mentioned, the conditions of the silvercity theatres is getting pretty close to what the old theatres were like in station square.

i went to watch a movie and came in during the previews. i didn't realize it, but one of my arm rests was broken and the theatre replaced it with a piece of wood.

i wouldn't be too happy if i paid for an assigned seat that was broken or had gum stuck to it.

[6insomnia9]

Hey man if i'm paying for 15 a movie, i should be able to sit where ever the fuck i want.

[SkinnyPupp]

Hey man if i'm paying for 15 a movie, i should be able to sit where ever the fuck i want.
You can sit where ever you want, you just pick your seat when you buy the ticket

[6insomnia9]

You can sit where ever you want, you just pick your seat when you buy the ticket

That works too but why go through the hassle?

[SkinnyPupp]

It's not a hassle when you don't have to deal with idiots who run into the cinema to hog seats, and reserve seats for each other, and you don't h ave to worry about making it right on time, you can go casually whenever you want. And you don't have to worry about having to leave your seat to take a piss or whatever, and losing your spot.

Basically, there are only advantages to assigned seating, and no disadvantages. I really can't believe anyone sees it any other way other than "that's how it has always been done".

[Ulic Qel-Droma]

i can't believe how stupid ppl are here.

people also forget you can buy assigned seated tickets from other places other than the theatre
you could be at 7-11 or some shit, go use their little computer thingy and buy your ticket and choose your seat there.

you can preview and see how full the theatre is, why bother going if all the good seats are already taken up? and you know well ahead of time.

you can even just browse through different movies playing at different times and see which seats are free, and pick the one with the best seats.

like skinnypupp said, there ARE no disadvantages.

if the theatre is fuckin empty, u can sit wherever u want, just move quietly after you're sure no one's gonna show up with a ticket with that seat in it.


there's so many advantages, our current system wastes so much time.

say you, a keener decides to show up early, like 2 hours early for a new movie, u pick your seat that you deserve cuz you showed up early, then you fuck off and do whatever u want and come back later.

people that decide to get their tickets later should have worse seats. that's the way it should be. why should some fuckin douche that buys their ticket last minute get to push everyone outta the way and run up to the best seats sit down and then say "sorry this row is taken"?

[ilvtofu]

FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BITCHES!!!

But no, it's such a pain in the ass if it's a popular movie and you have to sit in the first row or get there an hour early >:O

[Gumby]

I am in favour of assigned seats in movie theatres for the reasons stated above. Unfortunately, Vancouver is adverse to progress, so you won't see assigned seats any time soon.

[RRxtar]

i think part of the reason they dont do that is by having people come 45 minutes early it almost makes people spend $15 on popcorn and pop to pass the time waiting for the next showing.


and plus this whole "why should i have to go early to get a good seat... why should i have to goto the theater to see if its full.... id rather order tickets online from home..." why dont you just rent a dvd instead since youre so damn lazy. society these days...


i wish there was an express lane at tim hortons in the morning for people with a huge sence of entitlement. the regular line would be empty.

[jACEDesignsLtd]

Good point. The concessions is where the theatres make the money, not the movie ticket sales. Correct me if I'm wrong. So the longer you wait, the hungrier you get, the thirstier you get, cha ching. Anyone used to work in the theatres?

For me, I typically rent movies or go to my buddy's condo (they have a small theatre you can book for watching movies... so wicked). But if it's a new movie where you know the special effects are going to kick ass, then you've got to go to Silvercity and get the full experience.

oh while we're stirring up the pot, how about when you're lining up for a new release (you've arrived early and planned ahead of time) and the groups infront of you let their like 10 of their friends who all came last minute budge in? rofl.

[KingDeeCee]

Wait....are you saying people could line up two days before a big movie comes out and get the best seats. Then he comes like 10 minutes into the commercials? Yeah....No.

[misteranswer]

Good point. The concessions is where the theatres make the money, not the movie ticket sales. Correct me if I'm wrong. So the longer you wait, the hungrier you get, the thirstier you get, cha ching. Anyone used to work in the theatres?

For me, I typically rent movies or go to my buddy's condo (they have a small theatre you can book for watching movies... so wicked). But if it's a new movie where you know the special effects are going to kick ass, then you've got to go to Silvercity and get the full experience.

oh while we're stirring up the pot, how about when you're lining up for a new release (you've arrived early and planned ahead of time) and the groups infront of you let their like 10 of their friends who all came last minute budge in? rofl.

True. Most movie ticket revenue goes to the studios.

There is no reason for theaters in North America to have assigned seating. It's like a price war. The only winners in a price war, are the consumers.