Update 07/12/18: Surge Pricing is now in effect for some users. Keep in mind that not everybody is affected and annual plan holders will not have surge pricing applied to them. If MoviePass is able to demonstrate that they can can send members to off peak time slots then they will have better footing to negotiate (lower ticket prices, percentage of concession sales etc). Hat tip to MtM.
Original Post: Movie subscription service MoviePass has told Business Insider that by July they plan to add surge pricing, effectively charging customers an additional fee for seeing movies that MoviePass deems popular. CEO Mitch Lowe is calling this high demand pricing and users will be charged an additional $2 per movie that is deemed ‘ very popular’. The article then goes on to talk about other benefits that MoviePass plans such as bring a friend and Premium Screening (for an additional fee of $2-$6 per screening again) that have been previously revealed. MoviePass will be adding this fee in the face of increased competition with Sinemia and recently launched AMC A-List.
I don’t really have an issue with MoviePass adding this new fee, especially as customers that have signed up for annual plans will be exempt from this fee. I understand that MoviePass wants to drive traffic to movies either during off peak periods (e.g not opening weekend) or for smaller films.
Surge pricing actually does affect annual members, of which I am one. You do not get charged more for popular movies on opening weekends, this is true…because you cannot use MoviePass to see them at all. Yes, my app shows all Mission Impossible showings as “this Premium screening is not available”. This is for any showing time throughout the day, for 2D, 3D, IMAX…all showings.
So since MoviePass was legally required to give monthly subscribers notice ahead to time of the changes and a chance to cancel their subscription to avoid being charged for a different product of less value then waht they were paying for previously, isn’t MoviePass required to do the same for annual members? That is offering the option of refunding the pro-rated amount what would have been the rest of the year’s subscription. Otherwise that would be a “bait and switch”, wouldn’t it?
In the headlines today: MoviePass ran out of cash to pay their payment processing company on Thursday (yesterday), causing their system to be unusable last night. They rushed to get a $5 million dollar loan to get back online by the next day, though apparently some people are still having problems today.
https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/27/17621670/moviepass-down-ran-out-of-money
Showed almost all movies and all shows surge pricing of $3.5 today (Sunday) for me. Even shows that were completely empty.
At this time I am evaluating moving to AMC’s new offering which allows online booking, 3d and imax shows, etc.
time to say bye bye to movie pass.
You all are complaining about one of the greatest things of of 2017/2018. Still a great deal – get in while it lasts if you see movies.
the main reason i didnt sign up for movie pass was because they keep changing their plan and fees every few months.
MoviePass’s parent company (stock HMNY) is hemorrhaging money. The stock price is now in penny-stock territory, and the company is about to quadruple the number of shares in an attempt to raise more funds. Not really sure how longer this company can last. It’s certainly possible that the hemorrhaging will stop, but I doubt it.
MP just sent an email saying subscribers are exempt from surges once a month. I guess if you’re only going to watch one hit movie in a month, you really won’t see the difference.
$89 1 yr pass holder member since 11/17.
In short typical bait and switch. All businesses do it we should all know that here at DOC. Capitalize while it lasts then leave.
Most if not all of the value will be stripped away. Basic plan build the user base at a loss then try to recover once you have the users.
The only reason I got the movie pass in the first place was the deal was to good to pass up. I hadn’t gone to the movies in years they are a waste of time and money. I got the pass and tried to use it I went to a handful of movies just enough to pay for itself.
I still don’t like the movies. Better things to do in life. Like taking care of your responsibilities and improving your life. Meeting new people trying new food. Traveling to another country or figuring out how to take that trip. Life is short make better discussions on what you decide do with your time.
I laugh now I stopped going to the movies even when they were free. I wouldn’t renew the old offer even if it was still available. Let alone sign up for what ever they are offering when my pass expires. Movie pass is crazy to think people are going to deal with all there under handed changes. They are so far in the red they are trying to figure out how to dig themselves out.
Example:
My pass allows 1 movie a day for a year which is now not possible.
New restriction was added that I couldn’t see the same movie more than 1 time.
To get the 1 movie a day I would need to see 365 different movies.
I ask you are there 365 good movies a year let alone were there even that many released.
Point is I cant watch the same movie 2 times that’s a major restriction.
It’s either this or they go bankrupt so good on them for trying.
Their T&C changes as frequent as Trump’s tweets.