Disappointed That People Took Free Movie Tickets and Then Not Turn up

edisonAU on 07/04/2024 - 09:24
Last edited 07/04/2024 - 11:08 by 1 other user

We went to yesterday’s free Kung Fu Panda 4 session at Macquarie, with free popcorn and drink, as part of this deal.

I was disappointed that the cinema was 50% full, even though the tickets were all taken within a few of hours after it was released. Based on the other comments, it seems to be across other cinemas as well.

Whilst I understand that there are some people who cannot go due to last minute emergencies, but there is no way it is 50% of the cinema capacity. I was expecting 80-90% full. I am sure there are people who just booked the tickets for the sake of it and then decided not to go, or forgot, <add other excuses>?

Those tickets could have given to other families who wanted but not afforded to go, especially in the midst of cost of living crisis.

To me, I felt that some of these people are very selfish, and they may be part of the OzBargain community. Why are they doing this?

TL DR: why are people (including some OzBargainers) taking free tickets if they decided not to go, denying other families to enjoy the free show?

Entertainment

Comments

  • AngoraFish on 07/04/2024 - 09:29
    +41

    It's a standard problem with free events.

    A token fee, such as $2 a ticket, weeds out a lot of that, although a small fee also reduces a lot of the viral marketing benefits of "FREE".

    • AustriaBargain on 07/04/2024 - 12:51
      +3

      Same with booking tables at restaurants. If there's no fee, even if that fee later is discounted from their order total, then people won't show up and there will be empty tables while people lining up waiting outside.

    • HeWhoKnows on 08/04/2024 - 07:27

      Better to have a "no show" fee

      • reactor-au on 08/04/2024 - 07:58
        +5

        Good luck with that, people won't show to pay it

        • HeWhoKnows on 10/04/2024 - 14:57

          Easy, take credit card number down as "deposit"
          Just as hotels do to cover any incidentals you incur.

    • GaryQ on 08/04/2024 - 08:36

      I'm paying $6pp for random shows at the MICF, so far we have been to 2 or 3 shows a night

    • Chandler on 08/04/2024 - 10:55
      +1

      Work social club counteracts this by charging $50 to attend events, which gets refunded if you turn up.

  • EightImmortals on 07/04/2024 - 09:29
    +6

    Welcome to the human race, everyone is 'me'.

  • knasty on 07/04/2024 - 09:31
    +8

    People value things at what they pay for them. Give something for free and they don't value it…

  • barge-in hunter on 07/04/2024 - 09:32
    +9

    When things are free, people feel a lot less commitment.

    In this case, the “it’s free and I might want to go on the day” mentality comes out.

    Charities find similar with some volunteers - “I’m volunteering my time for free, so it’s no big deal if I can’t make it on the day”

  • Hvrd on 07/04/2024 - 09:35
    +1

    they get a dopamine hit just for getting something for free, not from the actual product

    • apsilon on 07/04/2024 - 10:52
      +4

      You see the same thing here on ozbargain any time something free comes up. "I don't know what it is and don't need it but I used dummy emails to get 3!"

  • Sye on 07/04/2024 - 09:44
    +8

    I just wanted the free popcorn🍿, so I grabbed the free popcorn and left without watching the movie. Eating leftovers right now.
    /$

  • Neoika on 07/04/2024 - 09:54
    +2

    What about this? Still active for sale after the session.

  • El cheepo on 07/04/2024 - 10:08
    +2

    Because: People

    • CyberMurning on 07/04/2024 - 11:55

      Because they can

    • Yummy on 07/04/2024 - 14:32

      Because it was raining apocalypse.

  • try2bhelpful on 07/04/2024 - 10:12
    +12

    This is why Ozbargain charged people a $5 booking fee for the end of year party and then refunded to those who actually turned up. It was a great night BTW.

    • Wiadro on 07/04/2024 - 11:57

      i guess youre not a bot

  • 87percent on 07/04/2024 - 11:00
    +7

    I went to the session at Knox, and it was pretty much all full. Movie was not that great, but free movie, drink, and popcorn, was a huge win

    • AustriaBargain on 07/04/2024 - 12:52
      -1

      Madagascar peaked with the I Like To Move It Move It lemurs.

  • Nutrino on 07/04/2024 - 11:22
    +2

    Fomo

  • DingoBilly on 07/04/2024 - 11:25
    +9

    I love it when I get something for free and it's not crowded. Sounds like a win/win for you.

  • CyberMurning on 07/04/2024 - 11:57

    Similar when i posted something for free on gumtree someone said can you deliver for me 20km away but tomorrow at 2pm because im not at home now

  • brendanm on 07/04/2024 - 12:22
    +2

    People are assholes.

  • 7ekn00 on 07/04/2024 - 14:14

    People do not value "free"!

    As above, had it been a $2 booking fee or something, then the cinema would be > 80% filled ;)

  • Kranbone on 07/04/2024 - 15:57
    +2

    People didn't value it because it was free, so no loss for them by being a no-show.

    If anything, it's better for you as you're likely to get less disruption in the movie.

  • CheapskateQueen on 07/04/2024 - 20:36

    yes people are shit.

    its a catch 22. I'm pretty sure the deal was totally ozbargained which, on one hand is a shame because it only reached a tiny segment of society. on the other hand, i never wouldve known about it otherwise, and wouldve missed out

  • funkyblue on 08/04/2024 - 07:21

    I'd have put a $1 on it. Stop the people wasting their time tickets.

  • tabitha731 on 08/04/2024 - 07:58
    +1

    There was a massive train network disruption.. those who were coming with me, couldn’t make it, coz there were no trains for them to commute to get to the cinema, so some of my tickets went to waste. But by the same token, other people abused the free ticket situation, and brought their whole village into the cinemas, even a super a special needs child who clearly had no interest in the movie, but they insisted on bringing the child (around 10 years old), who was constantly moaning and restless, even with an iPad brightly shining in the dark. The city cinema was quite full with single seats vacant here and there.

  • dowhatuwant2 on 08/04/2024 - 08:29
    +4

    I'm more disappointed in the (profanity) on the forums here you see that tried to sell their free tickets for money.

    • JownehFixIT on 08/04/2024 - 08:41
      +1

      For real? Ban em for life 🤦‍♂️
      We went with our 2 boys, didn't realise about the popcorn and drinks so that was just an awesome bonus. Had a decent time of it. It's pretty low and sad for people to claim free tickets just to make a buck.

  • TheOtherLeft on 08/04/2024 - 08:43

    It's the same with giving stuff away on marketplace. Advertise it as free and you get zero interest. Put a token amount on it and people will come out of the cracks to buy it.

  • Ramrunner on 08/04/2024 - 16:00
    +1

    These days people don't think about consquences involving other people.

    "If I take 4 tickets and don't go who cares?".

    The 4 other people that would have loved those tickets and missed out because you're a dick, that's who.

    I actually would have grabbed some if the date was different but already had something on that night.

  • AS2035 on 08/04/2024 - 16:46

    Happens every time.

  • Dollar General on 08/04/2024 - 16:51

    Perhaps they had a car accident on the way there with an uninsured driver

    • try2bhelpful on 08/04/2024 - 17:41

      I won’t believe it without an MSPaint picture.

  • cloudy on 09/04/2024 - 12:47
    -1

    Not sure why you are disappointed to have some extra space, our cinema was 80% full and had to delay the start of the screening to get people in and settled etc etc so I’d be more appreciative if it was less packed.

    • FezMonkey on 09/04/2024 - 15:14
      +2

      Maybe because OP is not selfish and wanted to see the maximum number of people benefit from the free session

      • cloudy on 09/04/2024 - 15:21
        -2

        People benefited in other ways, that's what I'm pointing out.

        • FezMonkey on 09/04/2024 - 15:35
          +2

          And many others missed out entirely on seats that were available

          • cloudy on 09/04/2024 - 15:36
            -2

            @FezMonkey: Such is life isn't it?

            • FezMonkey on 09/04/2024 - 15:40
              +2

              @cloudy: Yep and that's what OP wanted to put up for discussion :)

              • cloudy on 09/04/2024 - 15:52
                -1

                @FezMonkey: yep, and I was just adding that there is some benefit from it not being 100% full such as being able to sit side by side with your kids too, might not be possible if jam packed.

  • doobey1231 on 11/04/2024 - 10:04
    +2

    I honestly believe that its a result of pages like OZB - some of the comments are facetious in nature when they say "thanks op bought 100000" or whatever, but I believe there is a gram of truth amongst the joke, I have no doubt that there are some users in this community that will just grab for anything even if they don't need it or have no intention of following through with it.. I think the only way to combat that is as others have said, a small required donation of some sort. Or possibly a charge that gets refunded once you have "checked in" or attended the venue, kinda like parking validation.

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