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Sun, May 28, 2023 | 21:42
-------------------------
CGV's new seating system angers moviegoers
"CGV 좌석별 차등 관람료는 꼼수 인상"
Posted : 2016-03-30 17:44
Updated : 2016-03-30 21:43
Kim Se-jeong
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By Kim Se-jeong

Moviegoers are continuing to complain about the introduction of a new pricing system for seating at CGV multiplex cinemas.

An Internet user, who did not disclose his name, said that he watched a movie in a nearly empty theater at a CGV outlet at Haeundae, Busan ― only four people including him were there.

"We had seats at the front. As soon as we saw there were no other customers, we moved a couple of rows back to the middle so that we could see the screen better," he wrote.

The seats he and the others had bought were in the cheap "economy zone" according to the tiered pricing system that CGV introduced on March 3. The seats they moved to were in the "standard zone," where the seats are mid-priced.

As they were leaving the theater, a staffer approached them and checked their tickets, and told them they had to pay more, he said.

"I know what I did wasn't correct. But, the seats were empty, and I knew I would not annoy anyone by moving there," he wrote. "I was not informed in advance that I would have to pay extra if I moved to a seat in another zone. I feel annoyed that I was treated that way."

The complaint spread quickly, drawing mixed responses.

Some criticized CGV.

"CGV is a robber," an Internet user wrote. "The theater was empty anyway. CGV is greedy. If this is the way the customers are charged, they should get their money refunded if they leave in the middle of a movie."

Another wrote, "They didn't bother anyone. What's wrong with taking another seat if the theater was empty?" Some others complained that although the prices of the good seats in the "prime zone" have gone up, the quality of the service remains the same.

But the person who made this complaint also received some backlash. "If you paid to be seated in the economy section, you should stay where you are, not move. Okay?" one person wrote.

Whether they sided with the moviegoer or with CGV, many agreed that CGV should have notified customers about penalty charges in advance, not after the movie was over.

CGV said it does inform its customers in advance, contradicting the claim.

"We train our staff at the ticket counter to inform guests about the possible extra charge, and the staffer at the theater did that," a CGV official from the public relations department said. He also refused to admit that they were forced to pay extra. "The staffer didn't ask them to pay, but they did."

The official said that despite the criticism and complaints, the tiered pricing policy will stay because it was "customized to the needs of customers who can choose the ticket that is right for them."


"CGV 좌석별 차등 관람료는 꼼수 인상"

소비자단체협의회 '좌석당 430원 인상 효과…공정위 조사 요청'

CJ그룹의 영화관 CGV가 좌석 위치에 따라 영화 관람료를 달리 받고 있지만, 이는 결과적으로 관람료를 인상한 것과 마찬가지라는 소비자단체의 분석이 나왔다.

CGV는 이달 3일부터 영화관 좌석을 이코노미존, 스탠다드존, 프라임존 등 세 구역으로 나누고 이코노미존 관람료는 1천원 싸게, 프라임존은 1천원 비싸게 책정했다. 스탠다드존의 경우 기존 가격과 같다.

30일 소비자단체협의회 물가감시센터에 따르면 지난 3~9일 영등포·용산·강동·구로·왕십리 CGV에서 상영된 영화 가운데 '귀향', '주토피아'의 예매 현황을 조사한 결과, 오히려 가격이 인상된 프라임존의 예약률이 이코노미존보다 높았다.

두 영화의 이코노미존 예약률은 영화관별로 주중 0.6~1.1%, 주말 5.3~19.5% 수준이었고, 종합적으로 이코노미존 전체 좌석수 1만9천376개 가운데 예약(구매)된 좌석은 870개에 불과했다.

반면 비싼 프라임존의 경우 3만4천825개의 가운데 1만535개가 예약됐고, 주중 15.1~22.0%, 주말 45.5~60.3%의 예약률을 기록했다.

이처럼 소비자들이 1천원이나 더 높은 가격에도 불구하고 프라임존에 몰리는 이유는 이코노미존 좌석이 관람에 불편하기 때문으로 소비자단체협회는 분석했다.

소비자단체협의회 관계자는 '실제 예매 현황을 보면 이코노미 좌석은 1천원 싸지만 여전히 비선호 구역이었다'며 '결국 소비자들은 관람의 편의를 위해 1천원을 더 내고 '울며 겨자먹기'로 프라임 좌석을 구매하고 있는 셈'이라고 지적했다.

소비자단체협의회는 이처럼 좌석별 관람료 세분화가 사실상 관람료 인상 효과로 나타나면서, CGV가 막대한 추가 수익을 얻고 있다고 주장했다.

이번 조사 기간에 이코노미존을 예약한 관객은 총 870명, 프라임존은 1만535명으로 두 구역의 관객수가 약 1만명에 이르렀다. 이들이 불가피하게 1천원을 추가 지불했다면 모두 1천만원(1만명×1천원)을 CGV가 기존 좌석제를 운영했을 때보다 더 가져간 것이고, 전체 관객수로 나눠보면 점유 좌석당 약 430원의 가격인상 효과가 있다는 게 소비자단체협의회의 설명이다.

소비자단체협의회 관계자는 '소비자 선택 확대를 구실로 자리마다 가격을 나눠 놓고는 실질적으로는 가격인상 효과와 수익 증대를 꾀한 것이 아닌지 의심스럽다'며 'CGV의 편법 가격인상에 대해 공정거래위원회에 조사를 요청할 계획'이라고 밝혔다. (연합뉴스)
Emailskim@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
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