Cineplex Cinemas Seton and VIP — Local services in Calgary

I’m sure we can all agree that one of the worst things that can happen while visiting the VIP section at a movie theatre is forgetting your ID, right? Now I’m sure this would be a much larger problem if you looked underage or were joined by an underage looking crowd. However, this was not the case while my partner and I visited the VIP Cineplex Cinema in Seton, accompanied by several others in our party ranging from 25 to 45 years in age who, did in fact, have their ID’s present on them. Given such a scenario, one may think it would be a minor issue to navigate, ultimately ending with an honest mistake and a positive resolution, especially when you live 15 minutes from the theatre. Instead, after desperately presenting proof of age via covid vaccine receipts and finally and painstakingly being allowed entry into the VIP theatre by an employee who had the better judgement to infer that a 25 year old looking male with facial hair was not, for instance, a 17 year old with a much older group, my party and I were blatantly lied to. After taking our seats, we quickly gathered that the employee who allowed us entry had lied to both us and their manager, fabricating a story where a party of - and I believe this fact should be made well aware - racially mixed members ranging from 25 to 45 years in age had forced entry into the theatre. While my party and I remained calm and simply questioned the motives of the employees and manager, we were shown no respect nor sympathy despite having already been given the direction that we were allowed to enter the theatre. Ultimately, my brother-in-law and I were forced to drive 15 minutes to and from my home, miss the beginning of our movie, and be unable to order food and drinks within the theatre to retrieve my wallet which was mistakenly located in the pocket of my lighter-weight jacket. While the entire situation was over-dramatized and could have been easily avoided with a simple “please remember for next time,” what makes this experience much worse is the disrespect and dishonesty shown to my party and I. We were harassed, tricked, lied to, and shown what seemed to be a power-hungry display of authority given that the 5 other times my party and I attended this theatre, ID was not necessary nor asked for yet tonight it became the most crucial law in the constitution. Truly a “VIP” experience I would not like to experience again at the VIP Cineplex...

The staff were great the place was clean but supply shortages are effecting everything. Fantastic service from the concession staff but they were out of “Large” popcorn bags… and not just an over site they just can’t get them in. Pro there is excellent parking. Pro the chairs are very nice recliners and powered at that. Pro the staff would not let us in early to the specific theatre we had because they were not finished cleaning it, Howe once they were they came and found us to let us know we could go in and sit down… and I would have eaten off the floor!!!!! It was clean and not just clean but you could tell it was freshly mopped and all the seats had been wiped down!!!

Con: as with every theatre the concession is.. expensive, however staff did help me find the best way to supply snacks for three at the lowest possible price!!! Con: no refills (but it is Covid season still🙁 Con: ordering seats online was much more difficult then it needed to be to get an account, however after having an account very streamlined. Con arcade is not used because it is so overpriced!!!! I could purchase a new video game for the cost of likely ten min of playing ( the entire time I was there I witnessed NO ONE PLAYING!!!) now the games are powered and there is some cost to the setup but once it’s there the cost to not have anyone play is the same as someone useing them… also I know in Lethbridge we go back early to the movies to play and inevitably have credits leftover as an incentive to go back…. Here not so much

At the end of the day clean and well staffed building and management should be proud of there staff. Thanks for a good outing...

Nowadays at most theatres, tickets may be purchased right at concession stand with popcorn to avoid having to wait in two lines. Not knowing this, we waited in line at concession to make all one purchase because it’s convenient, meanwhile at least 12 employees stood around socializing with each other while one guy helped the 3 people in front of us and we stood there for over 10 minutes waiting. We even asked two of the girls standing by a register if they were open and of course they were not. After standing around not being acknowledged whatsoever, we approached another 3 employees to ask if any of the dozen of them were actually working. One girl said no and one guy said he would help us. Then he was approached by another co-worker to say he couldn’t. When someone was finally able to take time out their busy chat group, we’re then told we can’t purchase our tickets there and sends us to the box office register. There, we had the pleasure of being helped by someone who spoke to the screen instead of actually speaking to us. And after all this fun, come to find out the movie we wanted to see said online standard seating but this employee told us it was only showing in VIP and we couldn’t get seats sitting together. And yes, as far as that goes, shame on us for being old school and not booking online in advance but seriously the amount of young millennial staff standing around minding themselves instead of helping customers was absolutely and completely...