Do you find checkers to be:
1) helpful
2) annoying
3) necessary
4) useless
5) no opinion

Checker just walks in today without identifying himself. When asked if he needed to purchase a ticket, he responded "I don't need a ticket." Finally, he produced a generic, printed at home document which was not signed nor did it indicate that he was to check my theatre. I found out he was legit after contacting Certified Reports. He has now watched all of HP5 and I am just waiting for him to attempt to watch something else. I vote for "annoying" because that's what most of them are.

#4

Wow! I just made him leave Chuck & Larry and then leave the theatre after he threw a fit. Some of you may not mind this but CRI stated on the phone that this is not their policy and that this guy would not be returning.

I was very impressed with CRI's handling of the situation. Call them (or other companies) if you ever have an issue.

#4 and it's CRI's and the like's fault. They do ZERO training of these poor slobs, and the poor slobs don't really have any clue as to why there are even there.
I've kicked out many of the dorks for stunts like that. And refused to sign their paper work to boot.

CRI and such place ad's in the local paper, the first person that repsonds, has a job no questioned asked. They receive a packet in the mail a day or two before they are to arrive at your theatre. That's the training.
Wait til you have one come in one time, then inform you that they will CALL YOU the rest of the wkend to get your numbers. Uh no you won't.

And these bozo's hold your livelyhood in their hands.

I agree. But now CRI allows for the documents to be emailed, downloaded and printed which makes it look even more suspicious. There are no qualifications or background checks. I may be stretching but total strangers end up knowing what you do (on at least one movie) and this information can easily be passed on and entice someone to rob you.

I've had the callers in the past and treated them as such. It's a ridiculous system when money and numbers are involved. Let them check trailers or the number of urinals or something else important. That guy can look in the mirror and check my shoe size because it's stamped on his behind hehe

CRI and their competitors are completely ripping off the film co's.

Don't know how many checkers I've had over the years that couldn't count, and when I questioned their numbers, they just wrote down what I had.

But..but..but...these checkers know everything about the theatre business.

Up until this year, our experiences with checkers were reasonably good. This year however, we're running into some of the things described above. One of them recently told me they get paid $10 plus their gas. Basically, the attraction for them is they get to see the films (that they check) for free.

I've had them bring their families and their friends. They try to watch other shows. They ask questions about films they weren't sent to check. They sometimes arrive late and leave early. One guy spent more time, chatting it up with my boxoffice help than counting customers.

I've also seen the generic intro letters. Because of that, I ask for ID, which I copy and attach to the letter. I establish what show they're checking, and send them to where they can do their job. They do ask to see the checker sheet for that movie, which is easy enough, though it does mean they have to stay 'til the end of the show.

Given the way it seems these things are working, I'd guess you do need to accept their "intro letter". However, getting their ID does let you turn in any problems. They're there to check a film. Technically, they're not supposed to bring people in with them. If they do, there's no obligation (or good reason) to let them in free.

I had one sitting in the back on the theatre playing games on her cell phone.....

She got the boot real quick and I have never allowed her in the theatre again.

When I get a call asking why - I pull the orig report and ask for their fax number - I never get a call back about her again for that movie.

It can get unbelievable sometimes.

We can be annoyed by checkers because film companies don't trust us but can't accept a free pass for certain movies, have a discount night, etc, etc. Makes me wonder sometimes.