Crappy Subscription Ploy

The New York Times is locking its material behind a paywall. I get that.The free ride was nice, but now it's over.

What I think is crappy, however, is that this solicitation email does not anywhere mention what the subscription rate is after the introductory period. Oh, the asterisked fineprint tells you that you'll automatically be charged at the regular, higher rate, but it doesn't say what it is.

Pretty crappy move, Gray Lady.

-- NY Times solicitation email --

Dear NYTimes.com reader,
As you may know, The Times is now charging for unlimited access to NYTimes.com and our NYTimes apps. But as a valued NYTimes.com reader, you are invited to enjoy unlimited access at an introductory rate: just 99¢ for your first 4 weeks.*
Unrivaled coverage. Unlimited access.
Visitors to our site get 20 free articles a month, but that’s fewer than 1% of all the published articles on NYTimes.com each month. Subscribe now at our introductory rate and enjoy unlimited access to all the breaking news updates, video, audio, multimedia and more. The finest reporters in their field keep you informed 24 hours a day on your computer, smartphone and tablet.
Act now — just 99¢ for your first 4 weeks.
Subscribe today and choose from packages that include unlimited access to NYTimes.com, plus our smartphone and tablet apps. And enjoy access to the world’s finest journalism — any way you want.
Please note: At this time, we are unable to process orders for this special offer from smartphone and tablet (iPad™, Galaxy Tab, Xoom) browsers. When you are ready to subscribe, please place your order from a browser on your computer.

*New York Times digital subscriptions are sold separately from e-reader editions, Premium Crosswords and The New York Times Crosswords apps. Mobile apps are not supported on all devices. All subscriptions will automatically renew and the credit card will be charged in advance of each billing period unless canceled. If the subscription is canceled, refunds and termination of access will follow the Terms of Sale policy. Prices are subject to change. Other restrictions and taxes may apply. 

The Crappy Movie Theater Software of The Theatres (sic) at Canal Place

Last Saturday (3/12), while in New Orleans for the Society for Cinema and Media Studies conference, I attempted to attend a screening at The Theatres (sic) at Canal Place -- a "first class", elitist, ostensibly upscale theater that refuses entry to anyone under 18.

When I arrived at the theater, I went to the cashier to buy a ticket and she and the manager were tied up, trying to refund a woman's tickets and free the seats for them. You see, TTaCP is one of those stupid, crappy theaters that forces you to use reserved seats. What is this? The frakkin' opera? So, when the woman got a refund -- for what transgression by TTaCP I do not know -- they had to release the seats she had reserved.

I stood there patiently for 10 minutes while they fumbled with the computer. Eventually, I commented on the wait and the cashier referred me to a ticket-purchasing kiosk. As a final insult, the show I wanted to see was sold out. So, I left, angered by the incompetence of the theater's staff.

I am irritated by three aspects of this experience:

1. There is no obvious sign directing patrons to the ticket-purchase kiosk and the cashier did not think to refer me to it before I asked,
2. TTaCP's computer system is such crap (or TTaCP's employees are so poorly trained) that a simple refund transaction can gum up the works and
3. Reserved-seat systems in movie theaters are an abomination. Why would I want to choose my seat in the lobby? I'd much rather wait until I was inside the theater and could position myself as far away from potential noise/trouble makers. And what if someone beside/behind you takes a phone call? You're locked into your reserved seat and can't distance yourself from him/her.

I've managed movie theaters in New York and Chicago. I've been a professional film viewer/professor since 1980. This is one of the crappiest-run theaters I've ever seen.