3 ms·

No, this is complicating things. A physical ticket can also be refunded prior to show time. It's not an option at all, it's just a fee. They are charging you to

No, this is complicating things. A physical ticket can also be refunded prior to show time. It's not an option at all, it's just a fee. They are charging you to 1) pick your seat 2) not have to show up early 3) peace of mind knowing your spot is reserved - all of those things are conveniences in the purest sense of the word. In many cases, the fee is more closely related to a platform fee going to fandango or similar service.

n144q 2y ago
I think the "convenience fee" of online purchases is about the fact that if you want to buy a ticket days before showtime, you don't have to get a physical ticket at the box office in person. Not necessarily that I agree with it though -- in many parts of the world you have no such fees when you buy a movie ticket online.
- conductr 2y ago
  I'd categorize that under my "2) not have to show up early 3) peace of mind knowing your spot is reserved" points. I don't necessarily agree with them either. It seems mutually beneficial to the venue to allow me to buy tickets digitally. It made sense maybe 20-25 years ago when the move online was a significant update to the then status quo. Now, it's just a revenue stream they don't want to give up that consumers see as the status quo, so why remove it? (from their perspective)
currymj 2y ago
i guess it's technically true that you can go to the movie theater, buy a ticket, and then get back in line to refund the ticket and leave, but this seems like an odd thing to do. whereas buying a ticket in advance online, and then later refunding it (but losing the convenience fee), is common. "peace of mind knowing your spot is reserved" is what i mean by an option on the seat. now maybe i'm in fact wrong and all convenience fees are exactly passing through the credit card/fandango fees etc., but in practice it sure looks like an option.

n144q 2y ago

I think the "convenience fee" of online purchases is about the fact that if you want to buy a ticket days before showtime, you don't have to get a physical ticket at the box office in person. Not necessarily that I agree with it though -- in many parts of the world you have no such fees when you buy a movie ticket online.

conductr 2y ago
I'd categorize that under my "2) not have to show up early 3) peace of mind knowing your spot is reserved" points. I don't necessarily agree with them either. It seems mutually beneficial to the venue to allow me to buy tickets digitally. It made sense maybe 20-25 years ago when the move online was a significant update to the then status quo. Now, it's just a revenue stream they don't want to give up that consumers see as the status quo, so why remove it? (from their perspective)

currymj 2y ago

i guess it's technically true that you can go to the movie theater, buy a ticket, and then get back in line to refund the ticket and leave, but this seems like an odd thing to do. whereas buying a ticket in advance online, and then later refunding it (but losing the convenience fee), is common. "peace of mind knowing your spot is reserved" is what i mean by an option on the seat. now maybe i'm in fact wrong and all convenience fees are exactly passing through the credit card/fandango fees etc., but in practice it sure looks like an option.