Top-notch service

I love good service. There is something about happy people who enjoy doing their job and serving others that makes me feel the need to "pay it forward." Over Christmas break I scheduled a girls day out with Grace. We took the little girls to daycare for an afternoon, and Grace and I snuck away for a lunch date with daddy and a movie. She had been excited for weeks about seeing "Wreck it Ralph" and I was excited at the chance to spend an afternoon just the two of us. We headed to the theater.  We were the first ones there, grabbed the best seats in the place, and snuggled in for our relaxing afternoon. The previews began, but there was no sound. 10 minutes into the movie a few other patrons went out to complain. Still no sound. The movie stopped playing, we sat, we waited, until finally an hour had passed. In order to pick the little girls up from school on time, it was becoming obvious that we weren't going to be able to stay for the whole movie, so we decided to leave and see if we could come back another time.

The manager scoffed at me asking for a refund and told me that the sound was fixed, so I should go in and finish watching. I explained our situation and with a scowl he returned my money. I didn't expect red-carpet treatment, but was a little surprised that I had to put up a fight to get my money back. I figured I was promised a service that was not provided, so at the least a refund was appropriate. With most businesses it would have warranted a complimentary ticket to come back, or a complimentary treat at the snack bar on our next visit or something for the hour that we spent waiting. I didn't think much of it until on the drive to get the little girls from school, my rear-view mirror reflected a girl fighting back tears and disappointment.

Fast forward a few weeks. Saturday after church we headed back to a DIFFERENT theater - Collins Road Theatres - and I fulfilled my promise to Grace to take her to see "Wreck it Ralph." We took the whole family to a evening showing for $6 less than what it cost for Grace and I to go the first time to a matinee. We scored 2 for 1 tickets and had a gift card so we had a fun night of - essentially free - family fun. When we went to buy our tickets the employees at the front made small talk with the girls and told us there was no need to pay for Norah...she was so little, she might not make it through the whole movie anyway. Before the movie, the owner came down front (as he does before EVERY showing) and raffled off free movie passes and welcomed us to the theater. The workers were all friendly, the owner was amazing, and the place was clean. No sticky theater floors here! The girls loved the movie and I'm glad that we could have a family night at the movies without breaking the bank. If you haven't been to Collins Road Theatres, I cannot recommend it more highly. For a family on a budget, or anyone searching for top-notch service, it's the place to be.