Y’all told me I should say something about the smell that drove me out of my local movie theater. Since I always do what you tell me, especially when you are right, I spent an entire day on Monday following through with telephone calls. Besides that, I was still suffering from the headache that occurred when I got exposed to that awful stink. I figured that it really must be toxic.
We don't care, we don't have to.
Do y’all ever get the feeling that the operators at businesses are just clones of Lilly Tomlin’s character, “Ernestine?” My well modulated telephone voice didn’t seem to get attention for the problem of a possibly toxic theater, so I had to kick it up a notch. I raised a big stink … but I don’t know if it will get rid of the smell at the Cinemark!
Before I could even get started making telephone calls, I spent an hour trying to find a pair of glasses strong enough to read the microscopic print on those itty bitty phone books we get nowadays. Sure, I could have looked up the numbers on-line, but that would have taken twice as long when I got distracted by the internet … and I still had to find a pair of glasses.
My first four telephone calls were to the city of Denton offices. It took me that many calls just to find the right department to register my complaints! At last, I told my story to a woman in some branch of the environmental department who was very sympathetic. After I told her how toxic the smell seemed, she assured me that someone from her department would go to check the theater.
However, she told me I should call the corporate offices of the theater myself. She said, “Sometimes they listen to customers more than they listen to us.”
Pardon me? Businesses don’t listen to the Health Department? I don’t know about you, but I find that a bit disturbing.
After a great deal of searching I found the number for the corporate offices of Cinemark and gave them a call. I reached a bored young woman who “tsk tsked” while I told my story of the stink in the movie theater and my subsequent headache. I think I was keeping her from catching up on her soap opera on her iPad. I could see that this discussion was going nowhere. Then, I mentioned that I had called the Health Department and wondered out loud if I should call the newspaper.
“Let me transfer you to Operations,” she said.
Three voice mail boxes later, I finally got a return call. The woman I reached assured me that the problem would be resolved. In fact, she asked if the theater manager could call me. Sure. Why not? I’d already wasted the day.
Late that evening, the manager of the local Cinemark called. He had me give him a full accounting of our trip to his theater (this was my 10th time to tell the tale). He told me that he didn’t believe the smell came from the carpet. That was reassuring … until I realized from the questions he was asking that he thought that the smell of ammonia was coming from the air conditioning ducts. They may have to start issuing gas masks along with the 3D glasses at the door!
He asked if he could give me free tickets to a movie, once the problem was resolved. I told him, “Sir, I wasn’t trying to get something for nothing. I think the smell you have in the theater could be harmful to the health of your customers. I don’t want free tickets, but I’d love to hear from you that you have discovered and eliminated the source of the odor. I won’t come back until you do. Will you call me?”
With promises that he would alert me as soon as the problem was solved, the manager ended our conversation. That was Monday. I expect I’ll never hear another peep out of him. I won’t hear the cause of the odor at the Cinemark, and I won’t be attending that particular theater anymore. Fortunately, I live close to other theaters.
I just wanted y’all to know that I followed through with a consumer complaint. I’m not sure it did a doggone thing. And, I still haven’t seen Robin Hood! Is it good?
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{ 10 comments }
Way to go, Shelly! I occasionally (far too often, if you listen to my wife) go tilting at windmills, knowing full well the only result will be an increase in my blood pressure. But you never win the battle you don’t fight. I believe the manager will work on the problem, if for no other reason than fear of bad publicity should this information somehow get to the local media (just an idea).
.-= Van Sutherland´s last blog ..What is art? =-.
Good for you, Shelly!!! That smell coming through the air conditioning is scarier to me than just some stinky carpets! I hope the Health Dept follows through. I can’t believe you would be the only one to complain if the smell is that bad. eeewwwwww!!!
I haven’t seen Robin Hood, but it doesn’t look like my kinda movie.
Your commentluv isn’t picking me up. I wonder why?
Van, “tilting at windmills” is what I thought I was doing … or “spitting in the wind.”
Jessica, air conditioning problems ARE scarier than carpet issues. At least they can replace the carpet…
And Comment Luv? I have no clue why it doesn’t work. When I get time to deal with the blog back end again, I’ll see what I can do
WTG Shelly! I certainly hope that someone follows up on your complaint; hopefully the City Health Dept. I completely understand that you weren’t trying to get something out of it, but rather, trying to protect other consumers.
We recently had a very bad experience at a restaurant. I emailed the corporate offices, who contacted me via email and sent my complaint to the restaurant manager. He personally called me, asked for many details, and offered much apology. Then, I received a $100 gift card in the mail, to their chain of restaurants – not just the one we had the problem with! So, it does pay to complain. Unfortunately, not many of us take the time to do so any more.
Well, Becky, I don’t even want their doggone tickets. I just want a local theater where you don’t have to wear a gas mask
I’m as quick to praise as I am to complain, probably quicker, but this was just unacceptable.
Well, I’d much rather be “spitting into the wind” than not trying to get anything at all done! Who knows but maybe the manager will try to get to the bottom of this odor problem. I’d like to at least think he will and also, to know that I did something to try to get things corrected. If they shut the theater down, I betcha the newspapers will do an article then on that and there would be your answer, ya know. Here’s hoping it works out in a positive manner for all concerned.
.-= Jeni Hill Ertmer´s last blog ..Great Delivery! =-.
You did a good service to the public’s well-being. What is baffling is that they still had patrons at the theater despite the toxic fumes. I know that the sugar, salt and fat in junk food has paralyzed many taste buds, so maybe their sense of smell is shot, too. But then there’s the headaches and blurry vision. Anyway, well done, good and faithful citizen.
Wow Shelly, that could have been a disaster. If it was indeed ammonia, it could get you very sick before you die from it, depending on how much you ingested. I delivered ammonia for refrigeration and installed ammonia systems, (another one of my 78 jobs) . It is very volitile. I’d still write the paper, and I’d get the Federal government involved simply because the manager mentioned ammonia. He said it, you are not saying it was ammonia. Good luck. And keep up the good work.
Peace.
.-= Spadoman´s last blog ..Shadow Shot Sunday, May 23, 2010 =-.
Thanks to all for your comments (even the little kid who was trying to stir up trouble). I don’t know the outcome of this yet …and, as I said, probably never will. But, meanwhile I’m attending the theater at Movie Tavern. It rocks!
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