Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by Fnord666 on Tuesday July 10 2018, @07:19PM   Printer-friendly
from the the-new-normal dept.

Submitted via IRC for BoyceMagooglyMonkey

MoviePass is rolling out peak pricing, its own version of surge pricing that will charge customers more to see popular movies during what the company considers "high demand" times.

The company is looking to raise another $1.2 billion by selling stock and debt. But if MoviePass wants to survive, it also needs to start losing less money on its subscribers, and fast.

That's where peak pricing comes in. MoviePass was vague on the details when it teased peak pricing in late June, and it hardly cleared things up in an email to users today (July 5).

"Peak Pricing goes into effect when there's high demand for a movie or showtime," MoviePass wrote in its email. "You may be asked to pay a small additional fee depending on the level of demand." Movies currently experiencing peak pricing will be marked with a red circle containing a white lightening bolt; movies growing in demand that "could enter Peak Pricing soon" will get a gray version of the icon.

Source: https://qz.com/1321913/moviepass-peak-pricing-will-charge-you-whatever-it-wants/


Original Submission

This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
(1)
  • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @07:37PM (8 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @07:37PM (#705330)

    CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN! THERE SHOULD BE A LAW!!!111

    Movie going has become the national past time; it influences the national dialog and therefore the very fabric of our culture. How can the disadvantaged participate in society without having equal access to the Big Screen??? Are the urban under-served undeserving of a little escapism, too? The Single mother cannot afford a break in the theater like the fat cat Straight White Men.

    I suggest a basic universal invite to every opening weekend screening—a kind of food stamp, but for entertainment.

    Forward, comrades!

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:47PM (7 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:47PM (#705367)

      Food to survive is a bit different from going to a movie slugger.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:50PM (6 children)

        by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:50PM (#705368)

        Do you know how much it costs per year to buy tampons and day-after pills?

        More than your annual ticket purchases, you fat cat Straight White Male.

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:57PM (4 children)

          by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:57PM (#705374)

          Considering I do not go to movies, it wouldn't take much to exceed those costs.

          • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @09:08PM (3 children)

            by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @09:08PM (#705382)

            But you benefit just the same.

            Because fat cat Straight White Men have the most disposable (read: stolen/raped) income, all the movies are made to their wicked, capitalistic pig-dog taste. So, that billboard you see on your way to your work, or that sound bite on the radio, or that trailer on TV. Yeah. That's for you, not me, because I don't matter.

            It's time to pay your FAIR SHARE, buckaroo. All men should have to stick tampons up their asses for a week each month.

            • (Score: 2) by Arik on Tuesday July 10 2018, @10:07PM

              by Arik (4543) on Tuesday July 10 2018, @10:07PM (#705409) Journal
              "Because fat cat Straight White Men have the most disposable (read: stolen/raped) income, all the movies are made to their wicked, capitalistic pig-dog taste."

              Hmm, that would neatly explain why I find so few recent movies even worth watching. You might be onto something. I'mma have to think on that.

              --
              If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
            • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @10:27PM

              by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @10:27PM (#705422)

              I encourage you to carry out your suicide fantasies.

            • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @10:38PM

              by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @10:38PM (#705427)

              *golf clap*

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 11 2018, @08:26PM

          by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 11 2018, @08:26PM (#705913)

          and day-after pills

          because fucking is equivalent to breathing and eating, sure. it's absolutely necessary to live.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @07:57PM (8 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @07:57PM (#705340)

    Can I still just buy a movie ticket from the theatre for the regular price (assuming they have seats left)?

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:00PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:00PM (#705343)

      Last time I checked I was able to get a ticket cheaper at the theater because there was a $1 convenience fee for online through their own website.

    • (Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:02PM (5 children)

      by JoeMerchant (3937) on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:02PM (#705344)

      They will jerk you around however they want to to attempt to maximize their profits.

      Lately, we've taken to borrowing DVDs from the county library - if you know one you want is coming you can put in a hold and often get it before it goes to RedBox or Netflix, you get to keep it for a week, and it's free.

      Back when $4 was a lot of money for a movie (and TV screens were small and fuzzy), we used to see a lot of movies in the theater. The theaters have gotten a little nicer in the meantime, but nothing that justifies $50 to take a family of four to see a show that we can get for free at home a few months later.

      --
      🌻🌻 [google.com]
      • (Score: 4, Informative) by Snow on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:52PM (4 children)

        by Snow (1601) on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:52PM (#705369) Journal

        $50 for 4 people?

        I'm guessing that doesn't include snacks.

        • (Score: 3, Interesting) by JoeMerchant on Tuesday July 10 2018, @09:05PM (3 children)

          by JoeMerchant (3937) on Tuesday July 10 2018, @09:05PM (#705381)

          Sometimes we'll get popcorn, one or two large ones to share.

          I had an aHA moment last time we were in the theater, the money you pay for the popcorn isn't for the popcorn itself, it's for the cost of cleaning it after you're gone. We don't leave those kinds of messes, but we seem to be rare...

          --
          🌻🌻 [google.com]
          • (Score: 2) by Arik on Tuesday July 10 2018, @10:04PM

            by Arik (4543) on Tuesday July 10 2018, @10:04PM (#705408) Journal
            "We don't leave those kinds of messes, but we seem to be rare..."

            If you have kids and get the popcorn you WILL leave those kinds of messes, maybe not this time but you will.

            It's not just people being complete assholes (though there are more than enough of those) but also accidents do happen, and realistically no, if your toddler knocks over your jumbo-sized popcorn in the back row and it's scattered across a large area of the theatre, you aren't going to clean it up. They are.
            --
            If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
          • (Score: 4, Informative) by stretch611 on Wednesday July 11 2018, @04:13AM (1 child)

            by stretch611 (6199) on Wednesday July 11 2018, @04:13AM (#705580)

            Actually, the price at the concession stand goes to the movie theater profits. While it does pay to clean up later, it also pays for most of everything.

            The majority of profit from the actual tickets, if not all of it, actually goes back to the movie studios.

            From https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/movie-distribution2.htm [howstuffworks.com]

            The movie itself is considered a loss leader by the theater owner: It is meant to get people into the theater. The theater makes its money selling refreshments to the movie audience. That's why concessions are so expensive -- without the profits generated by things like popcorn and soda, most theaters could not afford to stay in business.

            --
            Now with 5 covid vaccine shots/boosters altering my DNA :P
            • (Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday July 11 2018, @12:14PM

              by JoeMerchant (3937) on Wednesday July 11 2018, @12:14PM (#705681)

              without the profits generated by things like popcorn and soda, most theaters could not afford to stay in business.

              Not my problem. Ditto for gas stations and their attached convenience stores.

              --
              🌻🌻 [google.com]
    • (Score: 2) by edIII on Tuesday July 10 2018, @10:19PM

      by edIII (791) on Tuesday July 10 2018, @10:19PM (#705417)

      Depends. I have back problems, and the old shitty theater seats that didn't bother me as a kid torment me as an old man. Those new reclining seats that are practically full lazyboys often have a swinging tray table and huge drink holder. Paraphrasing Ferris Bueller, "If you have the means, I highly suggest it". At this point the theater would need to pay me to sit in the old seats.

      However, every single theater with it has gone to seat reservations. Surge pricing probably won't work that well when people are getting tickets a week in advance now. That allows you to plan as a group and go to matinees and I guess "unpopular" times. The few times I've tried to walk up and get a seat, most are already sold out. If they fucked with me on the surge pricing, I would just choose an off time. Kinda like getting plane tickets.

      I'm not sure they realize that those luxury seats are changing the dynamics big time.

      --
      Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
  • (Score: 2) by Arik on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:00PM (2 children)

    by Arik (4543) on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:00PM (#705342) Journal
    Alright, you asked, the answer is "no."
    --
    If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
    • (Score: 4, Interesting) by DannyB on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:58PM (1 child)

      by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:58PM (#705375) Journal

      The answer is no.

      Similar answer. And for similar reason. AT&T wants to screw with HBO because it is "not profitable enough". If it's profitable, then what's the problem?

      If you're going to make it more profitable, then as an HBO subscriber, it is a clear signal that I need to cancel my subscription while I'm not yet victimized by AT&T.

      --
      People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
      • (Score: 2) by stretch611 on Wednesday July 11 2018, @04:15AM

        by stretch611 (6199) on Wednesday July 11 2018, @04:15AM (#705582)

        next up... Huge budget cut for "Game of Thrones"

        --
        Now with 5 covid vaccine shots/boosters altering my DNA :P
  • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:03PM (18 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:03PM (#705345)

    This is not even Artificial Scarcity, because nothing is actually being made scarce. It's rather a case of "Make-believe Scarcity" where they try making it look like actual or artificial scarcity (by using the same-old methods and naming) in the hope of making captive (or stupid) customers pay through the nose.

    Hint 1: movie-type entertainment stopped being scarce about 15 years ago

    Hint 2: without scarcity, a captive audience is not. They only thing making them *seem* captive is their inertia (or stupidity)

    Hint 3: never allow yourself to think your customers are stupid. They always, always turn the tables on you if you do that.

    Prediction: and that is exactly what is going to happen here. Expect a dismal failure of this scheme. Then expect a law (see first post) in a vain try to reinstate actual (if artificial) scarcity. Then expect customers to leave in even bigger droves, as they are leaving cable TV now. Then expect the end. Of a company. Not of movies, though.

    • (Score: 4, Interesting) by bob_super on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:57PM (9 children)

      by bob_super (1357) on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:57PM (#705373)

      "If we make more money, it's because of the quality of the movies. If we don't grow by at least 5% a year, it's because of the pirates"

      Yet for all the evil pirates and attention-challenged millenials, record profits keep coming in, and people do keep paying ever-increasing ticket prices.

      • (Score: 3, Informative) by JoeMerchant on Tuesday July 10 2018, @09:22PM (3 children)

        by JoeMerchant (3937) on Tuesday July 10 2018, @09:22PM (#705396)

        If we don't grow by at least 5% a year,

        Then we're not keeping up with inflation. Sad, but true. All those great returns that people get in the stock market are barely beating the increases in the cost of living. Kinda figures when you factor in the management fees, trading commissions, capital gains taxes, etc.

        --
        🌻🌻 [google.com]
        • (Score: 2) by legont on Tuesday July 10 2018, @11:24PM (2 children)

          by legont (4179) on Tuesday July 10 2018, @11:24PM (#705444)

          What inflation? That's a conspiracy thought.

          --
          "Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.
          • (Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Tuesday July 10 2018, @11:39PM (1 child)

            by JoeMerchant (3937) on Tuesday July 10 2018, @11:39PM (#705450)

            inflation? That's a conspiracy thought.

            Absolutely [reddit.com]. /s

            --
            🌻🌻 [google.com]
            • (Score: 2) by legont on Tuesday July 10 2018, @11:59PM

              by legont (4179) on Tuesday July 10 2018, @11:59PM (#705457)

              Thank you very much. That's my story 100%. More than that. Can't believe I haven't seen it - guess I walked away too far)

              --
              "Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.
      • (Score: 3, Interesting) by edIII on Tuesday July 10 2018, @10:23PM (4 children)

        by edIII (791) on Tuesday July 10 2018, @10:23PM (#705420)

        To be fair, IMAX + Digital 3D + Luxury Seating + Reservations + Beer + Actual Good Fucking Food = Higher Prices.

        This is one of the few industries where I would say they are finally starting to meet customer demand. If I go to the theater I expect an environment that I would need to spend 1 million on at home to create.

        --
        Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
        • (Score: 2) by legont on Tuesday July 10 2018, @11:21PM (2 children)

          by legont (4179) on Tuesday July 10 2018, @11:21PM (#705441)

          Weed. They need magical grass and mushrooms in there.

          --
          "Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.
          • (Score: 2) by edIII on Wednesday July 11 2018, @08:19AM

            by edIII (791) on Wednesday July 11 2018, @08:19AM (#705637)

            Vape Pen. Edibles.

            It's not like trying to bring in outside food. A pen is very discreet, quick and easy to use, and not inherently contraband requiring testing the substance. Mushrooms are small enough to fit in a pocket and have no smell.

            --
            Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
          • (Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Thursday July 12 2018, @12:25AM

            by JoeMerchant (3937) on Thursday July 12 2018, @12:25AM (#706010)

            Smoke is not compatible with projectors...

            --
            🌻🌻 [google.com]
        • (Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Thursday July 12 2018, @12:21AM

          by JoeMerchant (3937) on Thursday July 12 2018, @12:21AM (#706007)

          Actual Good Fucking Food

          I have yet to experience this in a movie theater, any movie theater, and I've been to a few that are attached to full restaurants and serve you in the lounger chairs - movie food is still barely up to bottom-end sit-down restaurant standards, IME.

          --
          🌻🌻 [google.com]
    • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday July 10 2018, @09:00PM (1 child)

      by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday July 10 2018, @09:00PM (#705378) Journal

      We have Make Believe property. (intellectual property)

      We have Make Believe money. (printed on paper no less)

      Why not Make Believe Scarcity?

      (not a city that is scary)

      --
      People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
      • (Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 11 2018, @04:38PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 11 2018, @04:38PM (#705791)

        (not a city that is scary)

        Of course not, that would be Scarycity. Scarcity is a city with a scar. ;-)

    • (Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Tuesday July 10 2018, @09:12PM (4 children)

      by JoeMerchant (3937) on Tuesday July 10 2018, @09:12PM (#705386)

      never allow yourself to think your customers are stupid.

      According to Abe, you can't fool all of the people all of the time, but you can fool some of the people all of the time.

      Theaters still get packed out for opening weekend of popular titles (usually sequels.) As long as people are willing to pay more, they're going to be charging more.

      Many of our local theaters have installed big leather power-recliner chairs, with deep row spacings, probably cutting the theater capacity to 1/3 what it used to be with the traditional seating... having done this, now they can't pack it full like they used to (although with 24 screens, they can start the same movie once every 15 minutes all day long, if they wanted to.)

      Demand pricing? Sure, bring it on, it's not like I've paid for a non-matinee show in the last 20 years anyway.

      --
      🌻🌻 [google.com]
      • (Score: 2) by Arik on Tuesday July 10 2018, @10:11PM (3 children)

        by Arik (4543) on Tuesday July 10 2018, @10:11PM (#705411) Journal
        "Theaters still get packed out for opening weekend of popular titles (usually sequels.)"

        I can understand why Hollywood likes sequels. They're easier to do, less creativity and more special effects is a pretty easy formula to execute.

        What I can't understand is why people keep going to see them? Is there really nothing you'd rather do with your evening and your money than watch another stale Hollywood rehash of a story that wasn't great the first time?

        --
        If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
        • (Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Tuesday July 10 2018, @11:35PM

          by JoeMerchant (3937) on Tuesday July 10 2018, @11:35PM (#705447)

          Back when I was in college, I could walk into a record store and buy, with confidence, a new album or later CD and 9 times out of 10 not be too disappointed in the quality of my purchase. Some of this was just being young, with Buzz Lightyear's trademark: "I'm Buzz Lightyear, I'm always sure" confidence, but a lot of it was accumulated knowledge about what bands put out good quality albums, etc.

          My recently divorced mother (who is only ~19 years older than me), also enjoyed the new CDs, but she was afraid to pick them herself because she would more often get a bad one and feel cheated/burned for having handed over $10 for a waste of her time. I think the same thing applies to movies - people are afraid to be burned by un-enjoyable entertainment, and they can't be bothered to learn enough about the industry to be able to pre-judge for themselves, and who really trusts Siskel or Ebert, or has the time to listen to them anymore anyway?

          I can usually flip through the Netflix icons and pick something worth watching, partly because I'm still Buzz Lightyear, but also because I have the tolerance of diversity to appreciate most things that I watch for what they are, though some [wikipedia.org] are tougher than others [wikipedia.org].

          --
          🌻🌻 [google.com]
        • (Score: 2) by legont on Tuesday July 10 2018, @11:35PM (1 child)

          by legont (4179) on Tuesday July 10 2018, @11:35PM (#705448)

          For the same reason they make them - risk management. If you go to a new movie you are likely to be sorry as most of them are real bad. Adding a biting price, it is really a high risk enterprise. Sequel is a much safer bet; granted, not that exiting.

          That's why I wait for a few months to see if the movie worth it (and by that time usually available elsewhere). It's a vicious circle. For them to get me in the theater (and pay anything at all) they got to take a risk of making good movies. They don't. Screw them.

          --
          "Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.
          • (Score: 2) by Arik on Wednesday July 11 2018, @12:38AM

            by Arik (4543) on Wednesday July 11 2018, @12:38AM (#705477) Journal
            At a level that makes some sense, but figure in the production costs. Consider these things are now costing HUNDREDS of MILLIONS to create.

            There are a lot of reasons for that. First off there are hundreds if not thousands of incredibly talented actors out there looking for roles - and there are maybe a dozen that actually get work. "Only the top box office attractions" - well yeah, if ever studio is insisting on whoever is the top name this week then that person is going to charge accordingly, doh. Why not take a chance on one of the hundreds of other good candidates who would be happy to have the chance to work for a fraction of the cost? Then there's the special effects, and all the 'rights-clearing' because they don't write their own story, they derive it from something else that's currently popular... it's gotten to the point they're spending $300 MILLION or more on producing many of these films. So yeah, if you're putting that kind of cash in, damn straight you need to try and hedge against failure.

            But you could split that $300 million up and use it to fund, let's say 75 original films. That's $4 million dollars each. Don't use any 'top draw' talent, don't use anyone elses IP, write something new and then produce it. Yeah, some of those films might be stinkers, but surely at least a few would be really good! And they wouldn't need to make $300 million each at the box office before turning a profit either. You could take in only $40 million and still call it an enormous success!

            It's perfectly possible this is nonsense - the movie industry is one thing I won't pretend to understand - but that's how it looks to me. Hollywood has become prisoner to their own expectation of largeness, and painted themselves into a corner where creativity is no longer even possible for them.
            --
            If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
    • (Score: 1) by khallow on Wednesday July 11 2018, @02:52AM

      by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday July 11 2018, @02:52AM (#705535) Journal

      This is not even Artificial Scarcity, because nothing is actually being made scarce.

      Seats in an actual theater remain scarce.

  • (Score: -1, Redundant) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:03PM (13 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:03PM (#705346)

    CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN! THERE SHOULD BE A LAW!!!111

    Movie going has become the national past time; it influences the national dialog and therefore the very fabric of our culture. How can the disadvantaged participate in society without having equal access to the Big Screen??? Are the urban under-served undeserving of a little escapism, too? The Single mother cannot afford a break in the theater like the fat cat Straight White Men.

    I suggest a basic universal invite to every opening weekend screening—a kind of food stamp, but for entertainment.

    Forward, comrades!

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:54PM (12 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:54PM (#705371)

      Hey mods, can we please put a stop to people anon posting and then modding their own post up please, maybe by preventing an IP from anon and modding in the same story? There is NO way anyone would mod that informative.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:59PM (10 children)

        by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:59PM (#705377)

        why, because YOU said so? never occurred to you due to limitations SN places on moderation that the post was upvoted in protest of said limitations? or that the moderator actually thought the post informative? who the fuck are you to say what someone else should do/think, trump? hitler? pol pot?

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @09:13PM

          by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @09:13PM (#705387)

          Shhhh, its ok. You've been found out. Find a new way to troll. You are creative.

        • (Score: 2) by edIII on Tuesday July 10 2018, @10:26PM (8 children)

          by edIII (791) on Tuesday July 10 2018, @10:26PM (#705421)

          No you dumbfuck. It's because they're obviously trying to spam the whole thread multiple fucking times in effort to be "louder". Any post after the 1st one, that more or less are equal strings, should be automatically deleted as if it were an accidental posting.

          No moderation is even required. Delete is appropriate.

          --
          Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
          • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @10:35PM (7 children)

            by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @10:35PM (#705426)

            I also don't like the clutter, but at least one of the ACs has made it clear that he/she just doesn't want his/her comment "collapsed".

            Let people have their say, otherwise you get pathological behavior.

            • (Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 11 2018, @12:33AM

              by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 11 2018, @12:33AM (#705474)

              Lol, i am having a hard time believing you arent the OP.

              Dont want to be modded down? Make better points. Ive been modded down plenty of times yet i dont repost repeatedly like a 5 year old throwing a tantrum.

            • (Score: 1) by khallow on Wednesday July 11 2018, @03:02AM (4 children)

              by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday July 11 2018, @03:02AM (#705545) Journal
              The mod system is a legitimate way to censor legitimate comments. Not feeling the need to care about your inability to say something that isn't stupid.

              Let people have their say, otherwise you get pathological behavior.

              The thing is, we already did that by letting them post in the first place and we got the pathological behavior anyway.0

              • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 11 2018, @03:04AM (3 children)

                by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 11 2018, @03:04AM (#705547)

                Collapse -> Repost

                The pattern is really simple.

                • (Score: 1) by khallow on Wednesday July 11 2018, @04:43AM (2 children)

                  by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday July 11 2018, @04:43AM (#705593) Journal
                  I bet the parties multi-posting aren't waiting for downmods.
                  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 11 2018, @03:38PM (1 child)

                    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 11 2018, @03:38PM (#705771)

                    That's exactly what I do.

                    But it's not downmods; it's collapsing.

                    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 11 2018, @05:41PM

                      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 11 2018, @05:41PM (#705829)

                      Most of us read at -1. Just stop. that shit never collapses, it's just spam. You get downmodded even when you make a good point because you're annoying as hell.

            • (Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Wednesday July 11 2018, @08:21PM

              by tangomargarine (667) on Wednesday July 11 2018, @08:21PM (#705911)

              but at least one of the ACs has made it clear that he/she just doesn't want his/her comment "collapsed".

              The thing is, they can't even be sure this is happening. What level you browse at is user-configurable. I guarantee you that not everyone is reading at 0/1.

              If they want to be heard by default, they can get a damn account like the rest of us. How entitled is it to think that "you" as an Anonymous Coward should be front and center to everyone? A lot of sites don't even let you post at all without an account.

              --

              But the real joke is caring this much about your visibility in the first place, in the echo chamber partisan screamfest that SN has devolved into by now.

              --
              "Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
      • (Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Wednesday July 11 2018, @08:28PM

        by tangomargarine (667) on Wednesday July 11 2018, @08:28PM (#705914)

        people anon posting and then modding their own post up

        If you already have an account with mod points, why not just post with that account?

        --
        "Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
  • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:53PM (2 children)

    by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:53PM (#705370) Journal

    if MoviePass wants to survive, it also needs to start losing less money on its subscribers

    Losing less money on each subscriber is a sure fire way to not only survive but to thrive.

    Movie Piss really needs to insult consult an expert at business success: Donald Trump.

    --
    People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
    • (Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Tuesday July 10 2018, @09:16PM (1 child)

      by JoeMerchant (3937) on Tuesday July 10 2018, @09:16PM (#705390)

      losing less money on its subscribers

      Hollywood accounting, this is why you ignore profits and look at the gross take.

      --
      🌻🌻 [google.com]
      • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday July 10 2018, @09:43PM

        by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday July 10 2018, @09:43PM (#705403) Journal

        It reminds me of when the RIAA said piracy had cost them $75 TRILLION. [wikipedia.org] More than the Global GDP.

        --
        People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:55PM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:55PM (#705372)

    When did "lose less money" become a business model? You 'merkins and your failed math and knowledge of economics. No wonder your country is swirling clockwise down the toilet bowl.

    • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday July 10 2018, @09:02PM

      by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday July 10 2018, @09:02PM (#705379) Journal

      Maybe Trump can save us and reverse the spin! Quick!

      --
      People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
    • (Score: 2) by legont on Tuesday July 10 2018, @11:39PM

      by legont (4179) on Tuesday July 10 2018, @11:39PM (#705449)

      Amazon begs to differ.

      --
      "Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.
  • (Score: 4, Insightful) by anubi on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:59PM (10 children)

    by anubi (2828) on Tuesday July 10 2018, @08:59PM (#705376) Journal

    If I am expected to pay a SURCHARGE to see a movie at peak times, I demand a DISCOUNT when its not peak time.

    Oh, my discount won't happen? Well, back to downloads....

    ( I am an old goat who considers $2 about right for a off-time theater admission. For the $10 they ask, I feel entitled to a complementary popcorn, candy, and soda pop buffet. No, I do not get what I feel entitled to, so I don't go. I know the price of popcorn by now... I buy it by the pound... and I make soda pop too. I could not go through eight dollars worth of the stuff in four hours. )

    --
    "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
    • (Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Tuesday July 10 2018, @09:19PM (2 children)

      by JoeMerchant (3937) on Tuesday July 10 2018, @09:19PM (#705392)

      I demand a DISCOUNT when its not peak time.

      That's called the matinee price - around here $4.99 for non-peak hours, while ordinary peak showtimes run $8.99 and up.

      I, too, remember when I went to Manhattan in 1988 and $4 for a movie was shockingly high. We had $0.99 theaters back home, and even the regular theaters were rarely over $2.50.

      --
      🌻🌻 [google.com]
      • (Score: 1) by anubi on Wednesday July 11 2018, @12:25AM (1 child)

        by anubi (2828) on Wednesday July 11 2018, @12:25AM (#705471) Journal

        Theaters around my place have gotten so expensive I've stopped even trying to shop around. I started doing other things, and found I no longer had time for trying to arrange my schedule around a showing.

        Not only that, my "Silver Experience" had become well tarnished when they started surcharging the movie passes I had "earned" at the local college as one of the "thank-yous" for doing volunteer work. Although they originally would have gotten me into any non-firstrun showing, they would no longer be accepted for even the matinees.

        It was of little interest to me anymore of going through all the hassle to attend a theater screening.
           

        --
        "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
        • (Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday July 11 2018, @12:09PM

          by JoeMerchant (3937) on Wednesday July 11 2018, @12:09PM (#705678)

          Around about the summer of 1985, I got a part time job in a local dollar theater - pay was minimum wage, but the work was pretty easy (2 screens, just the incoming concessions rush), and the main benefit was complimentary movie admission for you and a guest at any theater in town for any show that wasn't going to sell out.

          I think I saw about 6 free movies in a month, can't remember what most of them were, one was Pee Wee's big Adventure. After that orgy of free movie-going, I had a good solid handle on why I didn't pay for movies that I didn't think I'd love.

          --
          🌻🌻 [google.com]
    • (Score: 5, Touché) by DannyB on Tuesday July 10 2018, @09:47PM (3 children)

      by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday July 10 2018, @09:47PM (#705404) Journal

      Not only that, I want a discount if the movie sucks. Or better yet, they should pay me for watching it.

      With internet streaming, I can sit in my own living room with my big screen tv and watch a movie when I want, pause for breaks, make popcorn for only pennies, and not hear screaming kids and ringing phones or see bright cell phone screens from inconsiderate people. If the movie itself sucks, I can watch something else. If the streaming service consistently has nothing good, or if AT&T is going to make HBO more profitable then I can switch to a different streaming service.

      --
      People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
      • (Score: 4, Interesting) by Arik on Tuesday July 10 2018, @10:17PM (2 children)

        by Arik (4543) on Tuesday July 10 2018, @10:17PM (#705416) Journal
        "Not only that, I want a discount if the movie sucks. Or better yet, they should pay me for watching it."

        I can remember walking out of a theatre a little less than halfway through a movie and having the manager approach us on the way out asking if something was wrong. I just shrugged, someone else in our group said it sucked, I nodded with an expression of pained agreement. That movie did suck.

        The manager said he was sorry we didn't like it and gave us all passes good for free admission and popcorn the next time we came back.

        As a result, we did.

        I really doubt this happens anymore.
        --
        If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
        • (Score: 2) by edIII on Tuesday July 10 2018, @10:28PM (1 child)

          by edIII (791) on Tuesday July 10 2018, @10:28PM (#705424)

          No, I can also say that each and everytime I've complained the manager has been very nice and given free passes and popcorn.

          That kind of treatment is still around I think.

          --
          Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
          • (Score: 2, Insightful) by anubi on Wednesday July 11 2018, @12:18AM

            by anubi (2828) on Wednesday July 11 2018, @12:18AM (#705468) Journal

            Knowing the incremental cost of a theater seat and popcorn, it is an extremely inexpensive gesture to retain a customer that will pay list price for such things.

            --
            "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
    • (Score: 1) by Captival on Wednesday July 11 2018, @02:09AM (1 child)

      by Captival (6866) on Wednesday July 11 2018, @02:09AM (#705513)

      Presuming you really are a member, you're ALREADY getting a massive discount. How entitled can you get? The free ride is ending since it was too good to be true.

      • (Score: 1) by anubi on Wednesday July 11 2018, @04:37AM

        by anubi (2828) on Wednesday July 11 2018, @04:37AM (#705590) Journal

        My costs for housing, medical, tax, has gone up faster than my income. Something has to give. I am not taking out loans to maintain the standard of living I had twenty years ago. Things I don't really need to have or to do are the first things I cut back on.

        What it means is I spend the evening trimming the trees instead of hiring a gardener, as well as not going to go see a grown man hit a ball with a stick. I am able to redirect quite a bit of money by just redirecting my activities. A tax hike or medical bill has to be paid from somewhere, and I have little choice with either whether or not I will pay it. So those assessments come directly out of things I do have discretionary choice to spend.

        Tax hikes come right out of the tills of local businesses.

        --
        "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
    • (Score: 2) by darkfeline on Thursday July 12 2018, @06:45PM

      by darkfeline (1030) on Thursday July 12 2018, @06:45PM (#706300) Homepage

      Sure, we'll just raise the prices to the peak price, and discount to the previous price during off times. Reframing the prices is a great way to manipulate humans psychologically.

      --
      Join the SDF Public Access UNIX System today!
  • (Score: 4, Interesting) by Phoenix666 on Tuesday July 10 2018, @11:42PM (1 child)

    by Phoenix666 (552) on Tuesday July 10 2018, @11:42PM (#705451) Journal

    I can't imagine going to a movie at all anymore, much less paying even more for it.

    The only thing i could imagine that could save that industry is a choose-your-own-adventure style format where each viewing is different, because it's collectively chosen.

    --
    Washington DC delenda est.
    • (Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 11 2018, @12:01PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 11 2018, @12:01PM (#705677)

      each viewing is different

      ...

      collectively chosen

      The Bell curve will ensure that it comes out the same every time.

(1)