Cineplex is introducing a new booking fee that will see an additional $1.50 charged for tickets purchased online and through the Cineplex mobile app.
As first reported by The Globe and Mail, Cineplex is committed to adding this charge into the fold of buying tickets online. According to the report, the fee is already implemented. However, Cineplex stealthily added the fee without an official announcement on the matter. However, moviegoers have already taken to social media to question the decision. This has led to Cineplex responding, providing some clarity on the matter.
Cineplex confirms that the fee will only be applied when purchasing tickets online or via the app. Tickets purchased at a Cineplex theatre via theatre kiosks, box offices or concession stands will not see a booking fee applied to each ticket. However, those with Cineplex’s Scene+ rewards program will see a discount of $1 a ticket. Plus, members of the CineClub monthly subscription program will have the fee waived entirely.
Hi Ayzeros, to fund the expansion and improvement of our digital infrastructure, we have implemented a nominal $1.50 booking fee on online ticket purchases. Scene+ members will see their fee discounted to $1, while CineClub members will have their fee waived entirely.
— Cineplex (@CineplexMovies) June 21, 2022
The decision to introduce a booking fee is reportedly due to Cineplex’s desire to “further invest and evolve our digital infrastructure,” according to the company. While not divulging what that means for the company or the customers, Cineplex’s vice-president of communications Van Lange said that booking fees “have been in place for many years with our exhibition counterparts globally.”
The introduction of a booking fee comes as the Canadian theatrical market is seeing its first big summer blockbuster period since 2019. With the pandemic disrupting theatre chains, Cineplex finally has the chance to get audiences back in their seats. This is especially true with the likes of Thor: Love and Thunder, Nope, and Bullet Train on the horizon.
Canada’s second-largest exhibitor, Landmark Cinemas, is said to be “evaluating the impact” of Cineplex’s new booking fee. CEO Bill Walker has said the company is “determining what will be best for our business.”
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Meh, we’ve completely switched to Landmark Cinemas. The local Cineplex in our area is run down and have awful seats that don’t recline at all whereas Landmark have comfortable electronic seats that recline almost to a bed. Plus, Landmark is so much more affordable. I even gave up my Scene card a couple years ago!
That’s pretty neat! Is that for all of their theatres or just the “VIP” ones or whatever they’re called at Landmark? Seems expensive for them to have every single chair be electronic though
Landmark & Cineplex’s prices are quite comparable but you’ll have to check with your local Landmark theatres for types of seats. We go to two different locations in the Hamilton / Niagara areas and both have the amazing & comfy reclining seats (no additional charge). However, Pen Centre in St. Catharines has one row of Premier Seats (for an additional fee) that includes semi-private walls, shoe/purse storage, coat hooks, your own side table, reclining seats with adjustable headrest and heated lumbar (we get these seats for special nights). The way I go on, you’d swear I work for them but we just like it that much. Cineplex is trying to up their game with 4DX (smellovision, misting water, etc.) but they really need to do something with their awful seats (even VIP’s don’t come close Landmark).
Premier sounds nice! Haha well if you didn’t rave about it, I probably would have never even considered going. I will have to try it whenever I’m near one.
Premier sounds nice! Haha well if you didn’t rave about it, I probably would have never even considered going. I will have to try it whenever I’m near one.
So, in order to encourage people to use online booking, so they can further invest in it, they are making it more expensive? For the privilege of doing their work for them, saving them staff costs of having more people selling tickets on site, they charge more…
Exactly! I’d expect them to do this if you choose not to use online or self-help kiosks and choose to buy tickets with a real person (like banks do).
Imagine if grocery stores forced you to pay an extra fee to do the self-checkout…
The only place I’ve seen that charges more for self serve/online is Costco, but obit because they have an interest in getting you into the store instead of online.
Coming soon to a store next to you.
Thanks for the valuable suggestion.
Sincerely,
The Loblaws Group
Another reason for me to avoid self checkouts. Hate those things.
Keep in mind though that the cost of shipping is built into the price of each item. A lot of the items I’ve received don’t even come from a Costco warehouse and come straight from the brand’s warehouse (unless it’s food)
That’s what I thought! It literally costs more to have a minimum wage worker stand at the theater to wait for you to swipe your credit card.
What a dumb idea!
They must be following the TicketMaster model and probably come out with ‘cancellation insurance’ next. Landmark will follow next because other “exhibition counterparts” are doing it.
Just get the membership
Well…since the government services get away with the “convenience surcharges”…why not. After all you spent money on NOT hiring people to staff the office spaces YOU DON’T RENT anymore. 🤣
I think it was the banks that really pioneered this. Roll out ATM, saving them millions in payroll as they were able to reduce the number of tellers, then add on monthly or pay per ATM fees for the privilege of saving them money.
Top Gun: Maverick is the only movie in the last few years that I felt was truly worth seeing on the big screen. All this move does is make me go “meh” and wait for the digital release. I don’t have a home theatre but F this nickel and dime-ing, they want to shoot themselves in the foot just as they’re getting back up after the pandemic, go ahead.
It time to rise up and say HELL NO…. We will no longe allow our pockets to be picked.
Rise up and show Cineplex we will not stand for this. Stop supporting cineplex for 30 days and see what happens.
Instead stay home or if you want to go go to Landmark cinemas as an alternative experience. The stronger the stand the louder the message.
But for this to work everyone that supports Cineplex must say no more and walk away for 30 days and see what happens.
When their theatre’s are empty and no one shows up that $1.50 charge will go away and it will prevent other companies like Landmark from trying the same thing.
Prices are already too ridiculously high to go see a movie. This is just insulting and shows how tone deaf these people are. I haven’t gone to the movies in years for two reasons. I’m tired of the nonsense unoriginal crap they’re putting out and equally, the prices. Oh, one other thing, I have zero respect for these actors that insist on preaching to the public when the ones preaching typically have no idea of what it’s like to go through life as a normal person.
Wow, charging us to do their job. insane!
they know if you want to see a movie, you’re going to see a movie. 1.50 wont stop you. its wrong but there’s really nothing we can do until they go out of business and a new cheaper movie theatre arrives. im honestly surprised there no competitions; must be expensive to buy movie rights and putting it on a screen.