Movie Popcorn pricing lawsuit

Rico · March 06, 2012, 08:52:48 AM

Probably won't get very far, but I found this interesting. Oh, I'm not the "Michigan Man" in the story.

A Michigan man says the price of movie theater popcorn is ridiculously high. Same goes for the sodas and candies sold by movie concessionaires. So Joshua Thompson is taking the issue to a higher authority: He's filed a class-action lawsuit to end what he says is price gouging.

Thompson, an avid moviegoer from Livonia, Mich., used to bypass the high prices charged for theater popcorn, soda and candy by bringing in his own treats, said his attorney, Kerry Morgan. But Thompson arrived at his local theater outside Detroit recently to find a new sign telling customers they were no longer allowed to bring in their own goodies.

"He called me and said, 'Can they do that?' " Morgan told The Times. The attorney said his first reaction was, "Sure, they can do that, it's private property." But then he began doing a little legal research and came across the Michigan Consumer Protection Act, a statute designed to prevent price gouging.
And a lawsuit was born.

The suit, which seeks refunds in a class action on behalf of moviegoers who were overcharged, was filed last week in Wayne County Circuit Court against AMC Theatres.

A spokesman for AMC told The Times that he could not comment on pending litigation.

While the lawsuit addresses alleged price gouging only in Michigan, you can bet that it will probably trigger copycat lawsuits elsewhere if successful. But don't hold your breath. Some legal experts told the Detroit Free Press that businesses that are already regulated, like movie theaters, are exempt form the state's price-gouging statute.

But Morgan says he's not so sure.

"We're going to test the legal boundaries of that state law," he said.

Morgan said consumers were willing to pay a fair premium for movie theater goodies. But they don't enjoy being charged three or four times the price of a box of Goobers.

"Consumers by and large feel very strongly about this," Morgan said.

As for Thompson, himself, Morgan says he prefers to stay out of the public eye and does not want to be interviewed by the media.

But Morgan did offer up this tidbit about Thompson, which might explain why the plaintiff is paying careful attention to what flies out of his wallet: Thompson is newly engaged and getting married in just a few months.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/la-na-nn-popcorn-lawsuit-20120305,0,6384713.story

Bromptonboy · March 06, 2012, 10:58:09 AM

I am sympathetic - since they gouge the public - but this will be as you say Rico, and get nowhere. Just say no to these exorbitant prices. The only time I get popcorn is when I get a free one from my 'Frequent Flyer Card' for the movie theater. Otherwise, we bring in our own snacks.

turtlesrock · March 06, 2012, 05:16:17 PM

XD i couldn't help but laugh at this, i mean yea prices are a little unreasonable, but why not just skip the treats?

Bromptonboy · March 06, 2012, 05:22:47 PM

Popcorn at a movie is an inalienable right guaranteed by our founding-fathers..(or would have been if that b@stard John Hancock hadn't voted against it being included in the Bill of Rights)...and even has precedents going back all the way to Magna Carta. Let us all rage against the machine, and say 'NO' to price gouging at the concession stand!

KingIsaacLinksr · March 06, 2012, 06:04:22 PM

Its all about demand. People are clearly still buying popcorn at this price otherwise it would have gone down by now...

King

Jobydrone · March 07, 2012, 07:34:20 AM

Never thought this kind of article would actually be necessary, but I found this on Google:

How to Sneak Food Into a Movie Theatre

Ever want to have something to eat at the movies, but don't want to pay 5 bucks for a box of candy or popcorn? You're not alone.

Steps

Girls

1
Get a purse big enough to hold the food of your choice. Fill it on up.

2
Cover the food with your wallet, a day planner, whatever. That way, if someone gets a look at the inside of your purse, they'll just see the stuff, not the food.

3
Boys are a bit harder than girls, but not impossible. The easiest way is to bring a man-purse. They are quite the new thing. Use the way described for girls.

4
Take advantage of the cold. Wad up your coat or jacket and hold it in your arm. Bundle food up in it. It will just look like you don't want to wear it inside.

5
Wear slightly baggy cargo pants. Preferably a pair with plenty of pockets, and carefully plan on what food to carry in those pockets. Items that stick out too much may raise suspicions.

6
Go with a girl. Have her bring the food in the way described above.

7
If you succeed in any of these, sit a few seats away from everyone else.

Both

1
Stick things like candy bars in your sleeves. Hold your arms casually at your sides, and no one will look twice.

2
Have an accomplice wait outside of the EXIT doors at the back/side of the theatre with the food in a bag. Go into the theatre with a mostly empty backpack. Go to the back of the theatre, stuff the food underneath the things that were already in your backpack. Take care not to act too suspicious as you walk to the movie. Meet said accomplice inside the screening room.

3
Alternately, (and though it has greater initial costs involved, it's a method you can employ again and again in the future) buy a large popcorn, go back to your car, empty out the popcorn into another box, place your contraband into the bottom of the popcorn container and pour the recently removed popcorn back into the container until it's full again. Works especially well with ziplock bags full of hot spaghetti, but should work with anything. You can keep the box and reuse the popcorn.

Tips

Have something closed up, such as Chinese food. Or just put your own stuff in containers.

If you do get caught, don't try to use a lame excuse. Just admit that you were bringing food in. Chances are, they'll just make you leave the food at the front desk, and still let you in.

Don't try to bring a pizza, or anything big like that, it is pretty hard to bring things that big in. If you are feeling daring, put it in a thin box (a cook it yourself pizza works best since it comes in one and you can take multiple pies), and use a belt to strap it laterally to your chest then wear a sweatshirt over it.

Just act natural. No one will look twice if you don't give them reason to be suspicious.
In most theaters, especially those in malls, most of the employees won't notice or care even if you walk in openly carrying a drink or part of a sandwich from the food court. Just act naturally and focus on the movie you're about to see, like most people do when they enter a theatre, not on whether or not anyone can see your food. Unlike the secretive methods, if somebody does notice the food, you can easily get out of trouble by apologizing politely, and acknowledging your "mistake." If you ask nicely, they might even tell you not to worry about it and you can keep going in with the food.

Warnings

Don't try to just try to carry in a bag of food. You WILL get caught if you go that way.
If you get caught, people will be mad at you.
If there is a sign telling you not to do this, then you know that you are doing something not permitted.

Bryancd · March 07, 2012, 07:41:52 AM

After the visual and audiotry experience, movie theater popcorn with "butter" is the only other reason I still go to a movie theater. I don't think twice about the price. Same with ticket prices. I certainly don't go enough for an expensive ticket to be even a consideration.

Rico · March 07, 2012, 10:50:58 AM

Bryan, sometimes I wish I had your attitude about some things. I could be a billionaire and it would still bug me to spend $5 on 10 cents worth of popcorn. It's not about the money usually for me - it's the principle. I know they need to make money, but it's a bit nuts. I used to hear jewelry had the biggest markup's of anything you buy. I think that was wrong - I think it's movie popcorn. :)

Bryancd · March 07, 2012, 10:53:23 AM

Quote from: Rico on March 07, 2012, 10:50:58 AM
Bryan, sometimes I wish I had your attitude about some things.

I don't sweat the pennies, I do however spend every day sweating and working the pounds, so to speak. :) $5 here or there is meaningless, how to invest $ is where the real import is. To me money is constantly in motion. And I tend not to get too excised over how a business prices it's product.

Jobydrone · March 07, 2012, 10:54:54 AM

It's impossible not to think about the price with a family of five. Going out to the movies with the wife and kids on a weekend costs around $100 after all is said and done. Outrageous in my opinion.

Bryancd · March 07, 2012, 10:56:31 AM

Quote from: Jobydrone on March 07, 2012, 10:54:54 AM
It's impossible not to think about the price with a family of five. Going out to the movies with the wife and kids on a weekend costs around $100 after all is said and done. Outrageous in my opinion.

Yeah, see now those aren't pennies but pounds! I currently don't have to manage that but if I did, i would likely take a pass and vote with my wallet.

Jobydrone · March 07, 2012, 11:00:13 AM

Quote from: Bryancd on March 07, 2012, 10:56:31 AM
Quote from: Jobydrone on March 07, 2012, 10:54:54 AM
It's impossible not to think about the price with a family of five. Going out to the movies with the wife and kids on a weekend costs around $100 after all is said and done. Outrageous in my opinion.

Yeah, see now those aren't pennies but pounds! I currently don't have to manage that but if I did, i would likely take a pass and vote with my wallet.

Yeah sadly we just don't do it very often, and when we do go to the movies it's rarely as a family but more often just one parent and one kid while the others do something else. In fact I believe the last time we all went together was on a family vacation last summer. Really sad, considering how much I love going to the movies and want to instill that love in my kids.

Bryancd · March 07, 2012, 11:05:07 AM

That's funny, I know a lot of families that do something very similar, movie going is usually one parent and one child, kind of like a bonding experience or a treat for a specific kid as opposed to the whole family. And I acknowledge the whole family price is high but entertainment has been moving away from the theater model for years now and even with more bells and whistles like 3D, it will likely slowly continue. Especially considering the quality of most home systems.

bevs_plaything · March 07, 2012, 11:13:02 AM

This lawsuit will get no where! Popcorn is just as expensive over here, and I never buy it in the movie house. On the odd occasion that I eat popcorn whilst watching a new movie I will buy it in either a supermarket, or local shop, for a fraction of the price charged at the movies!

I know movie tickets are expensive, but don't the movie houses use the prices they charge for concessions to keep prices down (though you'll never believe it!)?

jedijeff · March 07, 2012, 11:23:27 AM

The other question I have besides the price, is why it takes them so long at the concession stand to get a person a bag of popcorn and a drink. I have always found movies theatres are painfully slow in that area of service compared to other places. Maybe it is just the anticipation of going to the movies, but feel like a person waits 15 minutes in line when it really should only be about 5. :)