AMC Classic Westdale 12

Reviews 4

JA

Jason Freeman

This is my latest experience here and I never plan on going back. it is not often that I get a chance to see a movie. I was particularly excited to go here because they serve delicious caramel corn. Ive had it many times in the past and it has always been very good. I walk up to the concession counter. There is a male and a female (M1 & F1) standing at one register helping a customer and another customer is standing in line behind her. One lane down there is another male and a female (M2 & F2) standing behind another register. So a total of four employees behind the counter. I walk up to the empty Lane, only to be quickly dismissed and told to join in the other line. I do so, not upset and also not in a hurry at this time. As Im standing in line, another group of people line up behind me. As I start to wonder why another Lane hasnt opened or why four people cant get their job done in a reasonable time. Then I realize that only two of them, M1 & F1, are actually putting forth any effort. Its at that point that I realize what was actually going on. F2 is actually eating popcorn from a cup and talking to M2. After M2 realizes Im watching he stops talking grabs a garbage bag, opens it up and walks over to the popcorn. This kid starts scooping popcorn into this bag like it was going to be his only meal until he comes back tomorrow. This is all fine and I would almost bet its one of the perks of the job. Then he starts scooping the caramel corn into the garbage bag, not just a little, but nearly half of what was left, which wasnt much. I actually started to wonder if I was going to get any. Luckily he stops just short of cleaning it out. He takes the bag, gives a spin, and ties a knot in it, waves bye to his friends and walks out the door. The whole ordeal took about ten minutes, by the time it was over I was still one back in line. it was during this order that I notice something else, F2 was loading her pop cup up with some cheddar and caramel, using her hands then tipping the cup into her mouth to eat it. the lady ahead of me is finishing up and although I know I want caramel corn I wanted to see the bucket sizes and prices. I dont notice any, so when it is finally my turn I order a large caramel corn. F1 tells me that the caramel corn only comes in one size and its a clear plastic bowl that wouldnt even fill a medium pop cup and its price? $6.99 no refills. After asking what happened to the tub they used to use all three of these kids started laughing and saying it was always in this plastic bowl. Disgusted I left the theater completely and will never go back. I have never seen such a lack of professionalism and low sanitary standards.

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KE

Keaton Young

Im rating this a 4 star even though it deserves 3 stars just to try and balance out the stupid reviews about previews and overpriced food. 1. Youre at a movie theater, the universally known 1st world joke is that movie theater concessions are overpriced, LIVE WITH IT or bring your own damn food. That being said they have a nice bucket you can purchase if you intend to return and only pay $3.75 for a large bucket of popcorn. Pays for itself in 5 movies and lasts all year. 2. Youre griping about 25 minutes of previews? REALLY? Maybe you didnt realize every other movie theater in the area is the exact same and AGAIN its universally known that you add 20-30 minutes to the showtime OR SHOW UP LATER. Did we live under a rock and then all of sudden come out expect the world from movie theaters? On to the rational Cons about going to this theater, they are either understaffed or terribly managed. My guess is both. Ive attended numerous free movies because of the theaters blatant disregard for checking tickets and while its understood that youll hire ages 16-20 you should also at least attempt some pressing questions about work ethic in your interviews because plenty of these workers clearly cant handle the basic tasks that are scooping popcorn, cashiering, sweeping, etc. FINALLY YES, They tend to have a habit of the movie going black during previews and you are to immediately report this to a manager because (contrary to popular belief) the workers dont magically know when your movies line cuts short. Its worth mentioning that I have been to this theater 100+ times and not ONCE has both sides of concessions been open even though there are plenty of occasions where they are necessary (Friday Night perhaps?). 7/10 WOULD RECOMMEND, ITS THE ONLY THEATER IN CEDAR RAPIDS THAT BOASTS NON-TOXIC POPCORN BUTTER AND NOT HAVING YOUR TICKET CHECKED 3 TIMES (Lookin at you Wehrenburg, this isnt an airport and you arent TSA agents.)

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AM

Amanda Ellenberger

We just went to see It yesterday and had a terrible experience. The box office wasnt open and there was a sign to buy tickets at concessions, which was fine, no big deal. But there appeared to be only one person taking ticket and concession orders so it took forever to get through each group while there were 3 other people behind the counter doing random things and a line started to form. Someone else behind us finally walked up to another employee and asked if they could take their ticket and concession orders and they look dumbfounded and say yes, like we were obviously supposed to do that. Why dont you offer to help? Once the movie started there was a row of teenage boys behind us that talked through the ENTIRE movie start to finish. My husband and I turned around a few times, I shushed them once and eventually said shut up. They did for about 2 minutes and started right back up. Frustrated, I walked out of the theatre hoping to find a manager to handle the situation. The lobby was very very busy and I didnt want to cut in front of a line of people to ask someone and instead saw an employee walking down the hall. I explained the situation and asked if anyone could help and he rolled his eyes, sighed and said I would have to talk to someone "over there" (pointing at concessions). I said I wasnt willing to be rude to the 20+ people in line and would apparently just handle it. Our experience sucked at it could have easily been preventable or helped if there was any customer service whatsoever. There should be an identifiable manager who can handle situations like ours and the most basic customer service skills should be required.

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ZA

Zak tan

I used to work there and let me clear some things up. First off, every employee is a young kid who has little inclination to put in more then the absolute minimum effort (some people make an art of this and can put in zero effort without getting fired). We are paid minimum wage and there are two types of shifts. 12-6PM and 6PM-12AM. They have no flexibility in this matter, and often people have to no-call no-show because they are scheduled on days they requested off. Our Manager has been working there for 40+ years, and has a tendency to snap at us when he is under pressure. Claiming we are lazy good for nothing whiny millennials, however, you cannot blame the employees alone. Our corporate has sent many e-mails and posted revisions to our working guidelines outright stating that we are to prioritize profits over customer service. We are often seen as understaffed because again, corporate wants as few people working as possible. fewer employees= fewer wages to pay out. This creates great stress for all employees/managers and as other reviews state, poor customer service. TL/DR: The employees are underpaid high school students, the manager is a man-child prone to temper-tantrums, and corporate would rather line their pockets than pay more employees to help run the theater efficiently

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