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AMC Theatres review: not allowing water. 4

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3:12 pm EDT
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I was stopped for a bottled water at an AMC theater. It was a simple half liter bottle, and I happen to live in a city where water conservation is very important. (San Diego, California.)

I got really angry, and honestly figure it's (or should be) illegal not to allow a person to bring in one bottle of water. I don't need popcorn, I don't need candy, and I don't need soda. I certainly wont spend $5 on an iced tea or on water. (I do not drink soda.)

So, then I offered to spill out the water in the bottle and fill it at their fountain. They still wouldn't let me in, even though it would be one empty water bottle I brought in. It was very hard for me to get my mind off this, but I decided to comply and threw it out. (A plastic water bottle, in the trash. Still quite full with water.)

The next thing I know, I see AMC advertising going green and conserving water. It completely ruins my experience in the end, and they're hypocrites to add insult to injury.

Why the hell should AMC be forcing people to use their oftentimes questionably sanitary ... Communal... Water fountains? With tiny cups that make it so you only have a few gulps of water for an entire movie if you don't want to miss anything?

Lets make things a bit worse and say it's flu season, or even if they clean them... They spray the fountains with lysol or something that leaves a chemical residue? Perhaps some kid was sticking his mouth all over the spout or spitting on it. What?!

So what are my points?

1) Water is a necessity for sustaining human life, and particularly here in San Diego should be conserved. There are laws in place limiting our use at home already. If AMC wants to say they're green and want to contribute to the water conservation effort, they shouldn't be hypocrites and force everyone who comes in to throw away their water bottles... Or at the very least give people the option to put them in a recycling bin!

2) Water fountains are not particularly sanitary and people shouldn't be forced to choose between dehydration and using them. During an epidemic or the flu season, using them can be even worse. People don't have to have been keeping themselves hydrated prior to a film, either.

3) Empty water bottles should not be considered outside drink. If people are desperate enough to use their public fountains, what's the difference to them? We get a little more water?

Update by Raishiin
Dec 27, 2012 12:08 am EST

They might sell water but you won't see Starbucks, Burger King, any fast food restaurant, any grocery store, any department store, walmart, target, etc, taking it away from their customers if they bring some in with them. Water isn't a commodity you should be forced to buy at a certain place in order to drink it. And the fact they give out water just like any other place (albeit in small cups) is precisely why it shouldn't even matter in the first place. So, they sell bottled water? Please Melissa.

Update by Raishiin
Dec 27, 2012 5:27 pm EST

I never argued about candy, stay on topic or get out please. :)

Update by Raishiin
Dec 27, 2012 6:26 pm EST

Your point is irrelevant because I don't care and this is a special case.

Update by Raishiin
Dec 27, 2012 6:27 pm EST

You also failed to acknowledge or even dent my point.

Update by Raishiin
Dec 27, 2012 7:29 pm EST

Oh for goodness sake, corporate greed lovers don't read do they? I even offered to spill it out and fill it from their fountain. It's pointless in the case of WATER for them to have this rule. And if you can't accept that you're just posting on behalf of the company to try and troll me. Guess what this is? It's a complaint forum. I have a complaint, you don't have the right to tell me I can't complain. You don't have the right to say it isn't the least bit legitimate just because you don't care to think about it. I'm not making up stories or telling lies about the company.

There is no legitimate reason they shouldn't allow people to have water in movie theaters when they offer it themselves for free anyway. I'm not talking about candy, I'm not talking about soda, I'm not talking about coffee or snacks or food of any kind. I'm talking about water. Kindly leave your trolling "they sell that there" and "outside food and drink signs" nonsense at the door.

Update by Raishiin
Dec 27, 2012 7:32 pm EST

I might also note, "Why The Long Faces" - your post history seems to be nothing but slapping people in the face for having complaints. All you seem to do is browse these and act haughty to try and further upset people on this site. People like you shouldn't even be on here.

Update by Raishiin
Dec 27, 2012 7:42 pm EST

Why are so many people sheep who can't understand I'm protesting it when it comes to water and have a legitimate rational for why it's pointless in the first place? -_-

Update by Raishiin
Dec 27, 2012 7:46 pm EST

I also posted this years ago. I was more angry at the time, but I still stand by my premise. Then again, I suppose ever since AMC got taken over by China they might just be paying people to go on sites like these and try to ridicule anyone who has a complaint against them. Could be paranoia, could be true. There's not much reason an old complaint like this one would be commented on so long after I posted it anyway.

Update by Raishiin
Dec 28, 2012 11:45 am EST

Heath, you're just a sheep, troll, and idiot undoubtedly posting on behalf of AMC on an over two year old complaint thread without even reading what I have to say in sufficient detail to get the point. And I even said that I would do that to demonstrate that even if I tried to play by their rules, taking something that wasn't defined as food or drink in, they wouldn't let me. I don't have to go to AMC if I don't want to, and if unreasonable people like you are the ones they have in charge now that Dalian Wanda took over I don't want to.

Update by Raishiin
Dec 28, 2012 11:49 am EST

No, I already had someone agreeing with me and for all of two and a half years that sole comment was on this post. They have rules for all end of story? Spoken like a sheep, spoken like someone used to China, spoken like a Dalian Wanda Group troll who doesn't understand America. Because here, if something sucks and doesn't make sense, we have a right to complain about it. Especially if it's just a theater trying to rip you off.

They even GIVE you water inside, so why the hell can't you bring some water? It simply does not make sense. I also offered to spill it out to see whether they'd properly interpret their own rules. Which they didn't, because an empty bottle is no longer drink. You however, clearly can't read anything or be bothered to fully understand my very specific point.

Update by Raishiin
Dec 28, 2012 12:10 pm EST

"Thanks for coming to AMC, now give us more money for an overpriced drink or go thirsty in the theater or miss part of it! We won't even let you have water in here because we really want to force you to buy stuff. The tiny water cups we give you won't last long and you'll go thirsty if you don't leave in the middle of the movie." Cue evil finger pyramid, 'Yes, yes, forcing people to spend a minimum of $5+ on a small bottle of water if they want to enjoy their movie they already spent $12-17 on. Perfect business model, especially during economic strife...'

Oh right... "And by the way, don't bother trying to complain. We make the rules here and most of our customers will go along with them. We might even pay people like Heath2011 to do nothing but going around stifling complaints for PR! Or maybe he'll even do it for free because he's an angry, most likely conservative person who likes seeing people get ripped off for a profit and blindly worships the rules we make! What a wonderful business model, one where we can get away with being nazis if we want."

Now if only most of the movies coming out weren't a waste of time to begin with~

Update by Raishiin
Dec 28, 2012 4:18 pm EST

Nope. I'll just sneak some water or a cup in my backpack if I ever bother just like everyone else. Almost every woman I see with a purse does that anyway. I think I'm done here either way, it's an old story and you're all trolls anyway so I really shouldn't ever have bothered to respond past my initial argument since none of you can read, logically process an argument, or even realize this is a complaint board and your opinion on the rules doesn't matter because I have every right to complain.

I'll reiterate it once more. It's a stupid rule if you extend it to water, they're forced by building codes to give us water at the fountains anyway. All I need is a container and I can have something to drink during the movie if I'm willing to use the fountain. Nonetheless they also offer the silly cups if you're willing to wait in line. Which none of you idiots have bothered to acknowledge, as either way they don't get a dime from me. And I, like many people, think they're greedy and just trying to force people to cough up more money when tickets already cost enough. You guys however, side with them because you're either a blind, opinionated sheep that seems to worship the ground they walk on or just dense.

Update by Raishiin
Dec 28, 2012 4:28 pm EST

Your opinion on the rules doesn't matter, and almost everyone breaks those rules anyway. It's called a backpack or a purse. This is a complaint board and I'll kindly ask you stop acting like their rules matter in this context. I would also appreciate it if you told me why it matters in the case of water, since I can just get it for free inside anyway. Albeit in smaller quantities than I'd like for a two plus hour movie. Wait a minute, you've been completely ignoring that and blathering on about how I have to respect their rules.

People like you don't belong on this board, you don't bother to evaluate my complaint or empathize. You empathize with the company, like any money-grubber with bad business ethics. If you treat your customers poorly, they will not like you. If you make rules that make it difficult for people to go see your movies without spending over $20 a person just to be comfortable, you won't have as many customers. AMC has been losing business for ages, and unless that Chinese company can turn things around and make them more affable I don't see any of us caring when they lose customers. Movie theaters need to change if they want to stay in business and you know it. Trying to force people to buy overpriced concessions, is it working? No.

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/business/2011/03/amc-theaters-incredible-shrinking-ipo/35828/

Update by Raishiin
Dec 28, 2012 4:51 pm EST

I'll be blocking myself from getting emails on this thread in the future. You guys can troll me all you want but it's not going to get AMC any more customers. And if I ever found out one of you worked for AMC, I would make sure I never went there again and tell all my friends and family. Suffice to say whether I snuck "outside food or drink" in to spite you or not, I'll just go regal. The theaters are nicer and at least they never told me I couldn't have water. They have the common sense to know water should always be acceptable.

Have fun, make as much of a mess as you want here as if it isn't already one.

バイバイ ~

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Why The Long Faces
Why The Long Faces
, US
Jan 02, 2013 2:42 pm EST

Why are people like us not good enough for this board? Because we disagree with you wanting to break the rules? You still do not get it. Which is no surprise reading YOUR posts.

Why The Long Faces
Why The Long Faces
, US
Jan 02, 2013 2:40 pm EST

People like me Raishiin? You mean people who actually read and follow the rules and do not ### about it? Those people? How about you grow up and stop being a baby? How about you go out and buy yourself a business and you can run it any way you choose? Either way, if you do not like the damn rules do not go there anymore. No one is going to think you are so special to change the rules for you, your highness.

Why The Long Faces
Why The Long Faces
, US
Dec 27, 2012 6:54 pm EST

They clearly have signs that say NO OUTSIDE FOOD OR DRINK. You are not special enough to warrant being the exception. You are just like everyone else. A great big nobody who has to follow the rules. Boo hoo.

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fly2neverland
Bellingham, US
Feb 17, 2011 8:15 pm EST

Wow. I think that has something to do with the specific theatre, because at my AMC I'll often smuggle an entire meal in (without doing much to hide the sodas and sub sandwich in my bag) and I've never been stopped before.
Did you make a formal complaint to the manager? Because that is absolutely ridiculous. I understand them not wanting people to bring in a lot of food, but WATER?