I was offered a shop with "generous" reimbursement for two tickets, which really doesn't mean squat. The tickets should be reimbursed, regardless. The fee is only $5, and they want names and descriptions of all employees I encounter, plus the manager. Not only that, they want me to perform a cleanliness/maintenance check of the halls, auditorium, bathroom, lobby, concession, ticket sales, etc etc, and count how many theater checks are done and oh yeah, buy popcorn and a soda.

It sounds about as extensive as some of the $30 pay shops I've done.

Anyone else take an extensive shop for this low, just to take a significant other or close friend to the theater? I personally can't imagine doing it, based on what I'm seeing.

When I first started I did one of those. I mostly did it for the experience not because I made a profit on it. I won't be doing another one as they seem to fly off the shelves here at the base rate and it's just not worth my time.

What's the value of the 2 tickets?

At most $39 according to the description, but around here it's more like $20 unless you get the loveseat lounge/VIP. That doesn't look like it's accepted anyway.

I do them when I want a movie night as I get reimbursed for the tickets but the ones I do only either require a name and description of the usher and ticket taker OR a concessions visit... not both. Yes, they do require you to check the bathroom and ask about the condition of the outside as observed when you walk in but it's nothing that any other shop wouldn't require.

The report takes about 3 minutes.

The concessions visit gives you $15 to spend and the usher/ticket taker gives you an additional $6.50 (for a drink if you choose) and, as I said, it's good when I want to go to the movies. Saves me about $11.50 ($23 if I bring someone) and I get to use my card to collect the rewards.

$11.50 - $23 ticket
$6.50 (refreshment)
$5.00 shop pay

total $23 - $34.50

Or (and these are my favorites)

11.50 - $23 ticket
$15 concessions
$5 shop pay

total 34.50 - $43

And they pay fast too!!

I'll do it for a night out!!!

I enjoy those "lifestyle" shops, but we go to the movies all the time. The report only requires narrative for "no" answers, so it's a super easy report. We don't go on a Friday or Saturday night and try to see a movie that's been out a couple weeks so it isn't too crowded. Makes the shop easier to complete.

I think the op is doing the same shop I did. If so, one of the two people will not fully enjoy the movie, so it takes away from being a lifestyle shop IMO. The one I did required a patron count 15 minutes into the movie and bathroom and concession visits both before and during the movie. On top of that you had to identify a manager and have a conversation with him/her.

Personally, I prefer the bowling ones because you get a meal out of it, I guess. But this shop did want names of each:

- Ticket sales
- Concession
- Usher
- Manager on duty

and the regular property inspection seemed to be more like an inspection to me than a casual theater-goer would be doing.

Griffin, that sounds about right. If it paid more, I would absolutely do it.

Here is MA, you can go to costco and get movie tickets for like $17 for two

We're not picky about the few times we might go see a movie, and we can go to a closer theater for cheaper. That one I mentioned is just the ritzy one in town.

I'm just as comfortable watching a dollar movie, actually.

You are clearly doing it "wrong". I used to do the trailer
checks at a large theater near me. The theater manager
allows me and whoever I bring to see any movies we want
at no charge now : )
Still have to pay for food if we want it.

It's all about the relationships you develop sometimes.

Considering they make more of their money on concessions and two empty seats would generate no revenue, that sounds like a smart manager.

One of these days I'm going to call one of the trailer check companies and have them explained to me. From the directions I've read I don't see how to make more than about $2.50 an hour from them. Maybe I'm dumb.

Did you mean to supply us the perfect straight line?

It's not so entertaining when you have to ask....

LisaSTL Wrote:
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> Considering they make more of their money on
> concessions and two empty seats would generate no
> revenue, that sounds like a smart manager.


only if we actually bought food there. Having a starbucks,
two fast food restaurants, a steak house and an italian
restaurant in the theater parking lot within steps of the entrance
doesnt help them. But I would have to think they have a stake in those places
otherwise it makes no sense to cannibalize their own sales.

I've done many movie shops. I enjoyed them. You get paid (reimbursed) for the movie and snacks.

Speaking of theater checks......is checkerpatrol.com still doing them???

They never have any in my area.

Thanks Much

Just my 2 cents................sneak a flask full of vodka into the movies. It makes it much more enjoyable!!!!

Isn't that what those mini bottles were invented for?

Oh? I thought they were for family reunions.

I do it just for the large popcorn. The last movie I went to was the new one with Hallie Berry and only 17 of us were in there. I sit right beside the stairway and everyone has to pass me to get in. Wish I could do them more often.

No Lisa, a flask holds more than those small bottles. Also, it is flatter, so it sits in a purse more inconspicuously.

I did a huge bonus trailer check once when I was new to all this. It was OK, but I had to go to each of four showings that day. There was too much time between to just hang out at the theater. Also, the instructions explicitly said that I couldn't stay to watch the movie after the trailer. Don't know how they would've known if I had, and the manager who signed my sheet invited me to go ahead and stay, but I didn't. I had a sickly dog at the time and went home between to check on him. After the last showing the manager gave me two free tickets to come back. (I had to get manager's signature at the beginning and at the end.) It was OK, but I certainly wouldn't do it again except for another huge bonus.

The movie shops I've seen around here are the ones that ask a whole heck of a lot, like some here have described... including getting up and leaving in the middle of the movie. And the reimbursements don't mean a lot to me, because going to the movies isn't something I'd usually be paying for anyway. (I like reimbursements for stuff I actually need, and would actually be spending my own money on anyway.) Unless maybe the movie is one I really, really, really want to see. But usually if that's the case I'm still happy to wait til I can see it in the comfort of my own home.

Now, the easier ones people are talking about, especially ones which don't require you to leave in the middle of the movie, and don't require excessive name collection; I'd go for. If the movie was one I really wanted to see.

I don't understand those shops where you have to count patrons/check ads/etc....if I'm reading it correctly, you have to attend each showing (usually 4-5 showings) for $30 total. How is this even worth it? Who has all day to go back and forth checking these, and then filling out the reports?

Yeah, I don't understand it either.

Theater checks: They are conducted by the movie studio to see if the theater chain is under reporting their ticket sales.

Some of these checks are done by the theater chains themselves to see if employees are reselling tickets.

This age old scam works like this: The ticket taker palms your intact ticket and hands you back a discarded stub. He then gives the full ticket to the cashier to resell and they both split the money.

I agree with the above postings, these checks are not worth it unless you live next store to the theater and have too much idle time in general.

Phoebe70 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I don't understand those shops where you have to
> count patrons/check ads/etc....if I'm reading it
> correctly, you have to attend each showing
> (usually 4-5 showings) for $30 total. How is this
> even worth it? Who has all day to go back and
> forth checking these, and then filling out the
> reports?

One of the theaters in my area is located within walking distance from two universities. I heard those theater checks get snatched up quickly by the college kids because it gives them something to do between classes. Or some of them live nearby so they could go home between movie screenings.

Our nearest theater is 12 miles away, with only a pizza place nearby. No way am I doing all that driving back and forth for $30.