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."
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."
