Greenwashed Theater Charges for Being "Green"

Looks like they need to take the "excellent customer service and well trained employees" part off of their list. Sounds like that wasn't really the case. I also like how they charge an even higher fee during prime time weekend movies times. Somehow the theater must be even greener at those times! I'd definitely stay away from this place.

Many advertising words are regulated. "Reduced" and "Low" have a legally well-defined meaning, so anyone who sees them should know what they mean. "Organic" is also regulated, although of course it is a more complex term.

I hope that in the near future, the most oft-abused greenwashing terms will also be given well-defined meanings. "Green," "Carbon-neutral," even "natural," these terms should all mean something we can all agree on- and can amend as needed. Most people, of course, probably won't have any idea what, in a technical sense, these terms mean, but at least they could be sure they weren't being made a fool for paying extra for compostable utensils and reclaimed building materials that probably cost less than the usual materials.

a little harsh and inaccurate.

they don't claim that their facilities fee is a "green" fee, but that parts of it are for sustainable practices. the cashier was inaccurate in her description. that's bad service. the source you cite (their page) even lists things like no ads and free wifi as part of it. hardly "green washing"

degradable bioplastics *can* be more sustainable than washable goods when their life cycle is taken into account. if they are going to be replacing utensils thrown out with food waste (into compost, adding separation costs) before their mfg costs are paid out it'd be far worse. until you actually *use* a reusable item a certain number of times it's less green than a "green" disposable.

is the solar theatre in your town comperable in size, scope and ameneties? if you're running one 1000W projector a few times a day is a lot less solar need than 8, and extensive lobby space is a much greater lighting load than an entry way. please make accurate and supported comparisons or you're just appear to be whining.

melanie, then you're probably staying away from every concert, sporting and major theatre in the country. many places demand price to cover less profitable peroids, and most of those charge a facility fee that will vary by demand. i.e. lunch specials at restaurants may only break even, but it's cheaper to be open and breaking even at lunch than being closed for lunch.

part of the higher tix price at Sundace K. theater is that you get to reserve your seat. I luv it. I can show up 5 minutes before the movie and know where I'm sitting; if anyone is in my seat they just have to move.... and, as far as movie theaters in SF are concerned, they offer a far more civilized experience...and, they got a bar in the mezzanine lobby!

I think they should drop the Matinee pricing as it is confusing when overlayed with the Amenity pricing. One or the other, but both are just redundant and deceiving. Like your phone or cable bill when then split out all the surcharges and blame them on the government or other taxes. as pass-through.

I kind of agree with Anthony. The web site hardly makes it seem like they are focusing on the green aspects. Perhaps "as green as possible" should be changed to something like "recognizing that we need to take steps to ensure the sustainability of our industry we" But it hardly seems like this is a green fee.

That said, it sound like the theater has a staff training issue..there staff needs to be able to answer the question more correctly...rather then focusing on the greenness they should focus on the benefits overall (wifi, no ads, etc) they dont have to get specific on this unless asked.

Really i think that what they should do is just role those costs into the ticket, and make it so that everybody knows it is worth paying a little more to go to that theater because it is the best in town , then its not an issue. All those things just become part of who they are.

I think that what that theater ment by "green" was all money they would be raking in by saying they were "green"

Okay, i'll bite, Jaymi. Wnat is this solar powered theater. Got a website?

@ JeffConn,

You bet. It's Palm Theater: http://www.thepalmtheatre.com/

Yes, it's much smaller than the theater I'm berating, but all that means is more room on the roof of the Sundance Kabuki to install solar panels so they can utilize alternative energy sources. :)

- Jaymi

Sephora is running inauguration PR that says: "Pledge Allegiance to the Green Party" and I don't think they mean the political one.

I agree with Anthony, too. I think what you have is probably a lapse in training, rather than true greenwashing. Or maybe they have a manager who is trying to do the greenwashing, saying, "Oh, if anybody asks, just tell 'em it's a green thing, they'll love it." Or maybe the employee decided to start saying that because people didn't ask so many questions when they thought it was a green thing, or she could possibly not even have known the answers to your questions in-depth enough to answer them.

Having been a supervisor at Wild Oats (now Whole Foods), I can tell you with certainty that the people who are hired into supposedly 'green' places (or any kind of place that is a little more upscale and requires people to have ready answers for questions) aren't always people who are interested or good workers; before I became supervisor, people I worked with would lie to customers' faces about things just so they wouldn't have to do any extra work. (As a supervisor, I put a stop to that immediately--knowing that my employees had little to no interest in basic integrity, I said that if they didn't feel like doing the 'work' of being honest, redirect the customer to me.)

I think the lack of ads is probably the biggest reason that they charge the extra fee, and they should concentrate on that.

When was the last time anyone used utensils, of any kind, at a MOVIE theater?

Save green - carpool your friends over for a potluck, and watch the movie at home.