Because you're "not allowed" to bring candy into theaters unless you buy it from them.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

People would sneak candy in a lot less if it was the same price, so they might get more money. Might. I am not a business person.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

It depends how many people the price turns away. If no one buys it because it is so expensive then they would probably make more money at a lowered price. If a decent number of people buy it anyways because it is more convenient then they may make more money at a larger price since they would make more than 5 times the net gain per box of candy more than supermarkets or other candy dealers.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

@1345374 (fangirl12): Most movie theaters make their profit from concession sales. The ticket prices they charge pay for the films they rent. On the other hand, theaters that have cheap popcorn and drinks have expensive movie tickets. The reason most theater movie tickets are cheap and concessions high is because the movie is the reason people are going to the theater in the first place. To make their profits, the theaters simply need to bring people in to watch movies and impulse buys from the concession stands will take care of the profit.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

I understand that, but she was questioning whether or not the candy would bring more profit if it was cheaper since more people would buy it. If the large price turns away enough people, then they would make a larger profit if the price was lower and more people bought it. How many people would need to be turned away in order for that to be the case though, depends on how much the candy costs for the theater to buy.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

There's enough people buying the candy that they're keeping it at a high price. I don't exactly remember what my economics professor said, but there's some sort of supply and demand formula or graph that can explain it. It's the same formula that goes with expensive hot dog sales at a baseball game. The fact that you can't bring your own food is only part of it.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

I'm not sure if my math is correct, but if I did it right: if a box of candy costs 50 cents for the theater to buy it and they sell it for 5 dollars, then they would be making 9 times more profit than if they were selling it for 1 dollar. So as long as they maintain at least about 11% of the sales for candy they would have if they sold it for 1 dollar, they would make the same amount of money. Any more would make a lot more profit. So if what your economics proffesor said is correct (which I'm assuming it was) then the theaters most likely make a way bigger profit from higher prices and slightly fewer sales.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Cheap movie tickets/concessions? I don't know if it differs by city, but in Louisville, the price for a ticket is $10.50 & a small popcorn is $5.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Everything is more expensive in bigger cities would be my guess.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

I always go to the supermarket by my movie theater to get candy. My friends thinks it's embarrassing though haha oh well, more for me

by Anonymous 12 years ago

same here, and apparently a bunch of people just buy it at the grocery store too because every time I go to check out they say "going to the movies?"

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Stupid retard, they don't let you bring it in!

by Anonymous 12 years ago

(h.p.): you hide it in your purse.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

What if h.p.'s a guy? He doesn't have a purse. Probably.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

In that case, guys have abnormally huge pockets most of the time :p "Is that a butterfinger, or are you just happy to see me?" ;)

by Anonymous 12 years ago

as ^ said. pockets, or friend's purse if it's available.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

I always get the stuff that you can't buy at the supermarket like those freaking delicious cookie dough things.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

They have those at the Dollar Tree here.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

I'm moving to wherever you live.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

No it's expensive everywhere. I live in a small town and it's about that price here too, going to the dollar store and buying candy for a dollar is soooo much cheaper.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

You're not allowed to sneak food or candy into the movies... but I totally do it anyway

by Anonymous 12 years ago