It was quite a pleasant shock to receiving money back when one handed over a large note for 2 tickets at a nearby multiplex.

Whilst I guess there are numerous reasons for the price reductions & why not? If everyone can do it.

However I have always been curious to know, why do the multiplex chains not weave in the loyalty factor, so to speak.

A couple of examples may illustrate this point -

A couple of friends are always keen to either watch a movie on thursday night (paid preview) or friday night i.e before any review clutters the mind. It is painful to find out if there is a paid preview, when would booking open (thanks to yashji undecided whether to release in multiplex etc) amongst other. Can there not be a card with the prefixed seat number for a month/quarter/year that one could buy (this could be for 1/2/4 seats) so that one is assured of the seat, the multiplex is assured of income in advance, which overcomes the problem of discount being offered. Here there can be variants…..such as days; combos etc. that could be introduced.

And now cutting prices - at 40% why not try out the 1:1 for people, movies, timings what have you. Take a leaf off the pizza guys.

And yes I know, some of them do have offers, unfortunately the conditions are so constraining that you just decide to give up.

AND MY FAVORITE - Just like the airline, pizza, mcdonald etc. Why can you not offer the add on/Up sell in the beginning, when tickets are bought - Sir would you also like to order your coke, popcorn, samosa to be brought to your seat…..this can work on internet, tele booking & of course the counter.

This keeps customers happy; allows logistical planning & more important adds revenue!!

Multiplex owners write into me for more nuggets:)

Multiplexes cut movie ticket prices by 40%

One of my favorite places to watch movies. Close to home, good seats, air conditioning, good service, decent (only veg) snacks, what more can one want.

Went into a limbo when due to the fire at infiniti, was shut for nearly a month. Saw a movie at Fame next door, which is another story. Read the rest of this entry »

The return trip was extremely eventful to say the least.

Carrying a WL (wait list) ticket, reached the station early! Having been ordered to carry a lot a of stuff back…..had two large bags along. Negotiating with the coolie was smooth (probably because I agreed to his demands).

Went to the center to check on the ticket confirmation, since the lists were not visible anywhere. Pushing through the crowd, managed to ask, nay shout my query in gujarati, promptly came the reply in English (think this is the NRI hangover), handed over the printout & was informed C1- 64.

With coolie, bags in tow walked to the end of the station. The train pulled in right on time….and our man rushed in with the two bags. A thought at the back of my mind resurged, so looked for the list on the door, but of course there was none! The pantry attendants cheerfully told me that the lists were on the other side, since at Ahmadabad the platform was on the other side….No matter that at Baroda & all subsequent stations it was a different side. Read the rest of this entry »

With time hanging on & the wife wanting some time without interference for Divali cleaning, shopping pushed me into visiting Baroda (Nay I refuse to call it Vadodara & there is no MNS there).Since I was travelling alone, decided to travel by train after a long time (7 years). Booking thru the irctc site was easy & with a confirmed ticket was all set!Reached Borivali station on a Saturday afternoon, the crowd waiting for local as well as upcountry was spilling all over.The train came in just 10 minutes late & got in. Even before I could put my bag in the rack & identify the seat, a NRI said, please sit on the other side so that I & my wife can sit together. Mind you this was not a request tone, but wearing a shorts, university T shirt & keds, with pouch hanging screaming (NRI/NRE whatever) gave him the right. Having booked my ticket, specifying a window seat, since the aisle always ensures you get banged into every couple of minutes, I respectfully declined. Immediately the NRI started speaking to his wife in Marathi (whilst I am not a complete marathi manoos, can definitely understand & make myself understood:)) “India will never change”; we should have flown; there are no manners, so on & forth. Finally in disgust, a gentleman commented that you should have flown & if you have a litany of complaints, why have you come back to India!!! Bravo….. Quiet went the couple…. Read the rest of this entry »

A month ago, Bela a dear friend, who runs Spink Marketing a retail consultancy invited me for coffee at the TiE office early morning to meet some entrepreneurs, learn from them & her presentation and try to provide some inputs also.

Since the time was early morning, this was really tough, but decided to go!

The topics covered Global Retail challenges versus Local current challenges. Improving Services offerings in Retail context… creating more moments of “WOW”… Read the rest of this entry »

April 2005 –

Finally decided to take a plunge into an Industry that is around 70,000 crores (according to various studies & reports). Out of this only 3% is the branded segment, though the industry as a whole is growing at 20% + year on year. Read the rest of this entry »