Telford film fan's cinema grumbles go viral on Facebook
It started off as a simple complaint about a trip to the cinema. But Telford teacher Matt Pledger was amazed when his Facebook comments to the Odeon were viewed by thousands and thousands of people.
It started off as a simple complaint about a trip to the cinema. But Telford teacher Matt Pledger was amazed when his Facebook comments to the Odeon were viewed by thousands and thousands of people.
Mr Pledger, 31, from Telford, visited the town’s Odeon last Thursday to watch the comedy Ted with his fiancee and two friends.
His experience there led him to write a comment on the cinema’s official Facebook page, which went ‘viral’ and has attracted more than 210,000 ‘likes’ and more than 18,000 comments.
Mr Pledger said: “I wrote on their Facebook purely because we weren’t happy with the service we got. The staff couldn’t be bothered to be there and the ticket office was closed so we had to get our tickets from the food stand.
“I didn’t realise it would get so many hits to be honest. I couldn’t speak to anyone at the end of the film because all the staff had gone because it was a late showing.”
In his comment, Mr Pledger said he his friend, Lee Ellis, had to shut the cinema door and complained that they could hear the sound from another film through the wall. He also complained about high ticket prices.
He said: “I posted it on the Friday and didn’t hear anything until Monday, when it went ballistic, but I don’t really know how. My brother phoned me to say he was looking at it and it was getting 10 likes a second.
“I don’t know why it was my comment that so many people liked and commented on, but I suppose that experience is endemic at the moment because so many people have commented saying the same has happened to them.”
Mr Pledger has since received an e-mail from the duty manager at Odeon Telford, offering him and a friend free tickets to another film.
He said: “My friend who I went with also complained on the Facebook page on the same day and I don’t think he has heard anything back from them.” Lee’s comment got 81 likes and 20 comments.
Mr Pledger said: “They’ve offered me free tickets but if that’s the case there’s about 13,000 people commenting on it saying they’ve had the same experience, are they going to give free tickets to all of them?”
Many of the comments on the page agree with Mr Pledger and call for cheaper prices at cinemas.
Odeon has insisted that the ticket prices offered are competitive.
A spokesman said:“We take our customer feedback very seriously and as part of our ongoing commitment to offering a great value cinema experience, would like to thank the individual and the community for bringing the issues raised to our attention.”
He added: “Odeon would like to reassure our other customers that we are committed to providing local film fans value for money in a number of ways.”
Comments for: "Telford film fan's cinema grumbles go viral on Facebook"
Michael Wilkinson
Odeons Spokesperson is wrong.
Their prices are not competitive, they are indeed excessive.
Mr Pledgers letter summed up perfectly what thousands of people think.
Ive only been going to the cinema on Orange Wednesday when the tickets are half price for years because of their prices.
Telford+Wrekin council are also constantly plugging the building of a new cinema complex at the Southwater development I dont know how more overpriced cinemas are going to be sustainable in the town and when you add in parking charges its clear that home entertainment is a very competitive option.
Andrew
“Odeon would like to reassure our other customers that we are committed to providing local film fans value for money in a number of ways.”
A number of ways? What on earth does that mean?
monkey
Andrew I think it means you can watch 1 film and listen to 2 thats what they call value for the money you pay, as it goes with rip off GB
Gooders
No, the Odeon spokesperson is right: when compared with the other chains (Cineworld, Vue etc) they are competitive. It is simply that they are all rip-offs. I took my son to Cineworld in Shrewsbury to see The Bourne Legacy and didn't get much change out of £30 with popcorn, soft drink and an ice cream. It is outrageous.
John
They should perhaps look at re-imbursing car parking prices for all Cinema goers.
Dexter
Odeon don't own the car park, it's owned by the town centre so why would they reimburse you?
AC
The film industry moans all the time about piracy and no wonder when people face the choice of paying through the nose for a slightly rubbish experience.
For me, the price of a cinema ticket would need to be dead cheap for me to regularly visit the flicks... I would have to really, really want to see a film before I willingly paid for a ticket; I'd rather hire a film (albeit one that's a few months old) and watch it at home, with my own creature comforts, the ability to pause or rewind, and without scummy, noisy teenagers ruining it by talking all the way through. I wonder if the film industry might make more money if they made their new releases available via internet streaming etc, thereby pipping the pirates at the post. The industry needs to accept that the market is changing/has changed and think hard about their insistence on charging people £8 a ticket to see a film in a cinema.
The quality of the films in question also needs to be taken into consideration... I find it perplexing that the consumer seems to have little or no statutory rights with regard to watching a film; my understanding is that even if you walked out of a film halfway through because it was rubbish, you wouldn't be entitled to a refund or even if you were, you'd be hard-pushed to exercise that right?
Luke Davies
I agree with the dude, Staff are not good at all, Some are very rude! Films cost alot for personal rubbish! 2 Tickets for £20 that £10 per ticket you could wait for the dvd to come out & buy it brand new for £15 these days saving £5. It's wrong thats why orange wed is better as you only have to pay £5 each for 2 people much better but like food & drinks cost alot. Can go to Tesco or Asda and buy 3 bottles for the price off 1 large drink will cost £3.48 its wrong! & best you have to pay for parking its bad!
Thank you
Luke
Andy H
A couple of weeks ago, I took my 5 yr old to the Telford Odeon to see his first ever film at the cinema. Taking advantage of the Orange Wednesday deal it still cost me nearly £30 for a 3D film including glasses, a single large popcorn, large and small cokes and a few pick n mix. The ads seemed to go on for ever. Over all, we both enjoyed the visit but it won't be repeated on a regular basis and I can't see how I'd be able to take my wife and youngest as well.
When I was young, it cost 25p to get in, not much even then and my friends and I went most weeks. It built up a certain cinema going habit. I can't see that happening these days and by charging so much for so long, the cinema chains are killintg off their future business.
TADLOP
As an alternative why not go to Oakengates theatre for a great night out. Free parking, live entertainment and no adverts to sit through. Check out www.tadlop.com to find out what this local group are up to in October.
ZeroTime
That's the best idea:
Spend the money at the theatre and give them the support they need, have a great time and then get the DVD when it comes out and watch it as often as you like with drinks and snacks that don't cost an arm and a leg.