{Avoid} Sinemia unlimited movie subscription from 6 euro per month

Joseph

Incredible offer if you use the cinema regularly

• 1 movie per month = 6 Euro
• 3 movies per month = 11 Euro
• 30 movies per month = 34 Euro
• 2 movies per month incl. 3D & IMAX = 15 Euro
• 3 movies per month incl. 3D & IMAX = 20 Euro

Here are the Cinemas in Dublin, you can search other locations in Ireland

• Dublin - ODEON Charlestown
• Dublin - ODEON Point Village
• Dublin - Light House Cinema
• Dublin - IMC - Savoy Cinema
• Dublin - Cineworld - Dublin
• Dublin - Irish Film Institute
• Dublin - Vue Cinemas - Dublin
• Dublin - Omniplex - Dublin - Balbriggan
• Dublin - Omniplex - Dublin - Rathmines
• Dublin - Movies @ Dundrum

Former Former

That sounds too good to be true.

Every cinema in the country is on board, with no restrictions on what you can see and when??

Hmmm

Joseph

Former Former wrote: »

That sounds too good to be true.

Every cinema in the country is on board, with no restrictions on what you can see and when??

Hmmm

Not every cinema is on their list, see Dublin list I posted above. You can request theatres. I just did.

There are restrictions, from the plans I outlined above

Give it a Google

long_b

Joseph wrote: »

Not every cinema is on their list, see Dublin list I posted above. You can request theatres. I just did.

There are restrictions, from the plans I outlined above

Give it a Google

So it's one ticket a month for like a fiver. It's not unlimited visits?

Quackster

Hmm, I can only find UK as an option for taking out membership and they seem to have all of Ireland lumped in with the UK when it comes to cinemas. I'm not entirely convinced. Anyone actually used it?

"unlimited" = 1 movie?

is this a p1sstake

Former Former

Joseph wrote: »

Not every cinema is on their list, see Dublin list I posted above. You can request theatres. I just did.

They all seem to be there, just for some of the Dublin cinemas you need to search by suburb name.

Joseph wrote: »

There are restrictions, from the plans I outlined above

Give it a Google

I said there are no restrictions on what you can see and when. If you have the 11 euro pass, you could see three new-release blockbuster movies on the day they're released, for less than the cost of a single ticket to one of them? And both the cinema and Sinemia have to get a cut of that and turn a profit on it??

Oh, and you have to pay for the year up front. Alarm bells.

Snotty

This is similar to MoviePass which is huge in the US, there it's about 10 dollars for 3 movies per month. They did research and people using movie pass spend more on the concessions and the cinema ends up making more by increased traffic at discount for the actual movie ticket.

Former Former

Snotty wrote: »

This is similar to MoviePass which is huge in the US, there it's about 10 dollars for 3 movies per month. They did research and people using movie pass spend more on the concessions and the cinema ends up making more by increased traffic at discount for the actual movie ticket.

MoviePass is on the verge of collapse because its business model was totally unsustainable. One million euro invested in MoviePass six months ago is worth zero today.

Again, if you could pay by the month then it's worth a lash at 11 quid. Paying for a year up front? Caveat emptor.

Basq

A "Fall Promo"? Yeah, I'll pass..

Jet Black

If you look at it, I don't think it's worth it.

If you are only going once or three times a month you could go on certain days at a reduced rate or I think it's 3 that offer 5 euro a ticket for most of the week.

Odeon have unlimited for €22 a month so the €34 deal is overpriced.

Del2005

Snotty wrote: »

This is similar to MoviePass which is huge in the US, there it's about 10 dollars for 3 movies per month. They did research and people using movie pass spend more on the concessions and the cinema ends up making more by increased traffic at discount for the actual movie ticket.

MoviePass business model is to sell the tickets below cost and try and get a cut from the concessions, but the movie theatres have told them no. So they will not be around much longer. Similarly most hotels not advertise on their sites that they'll beat the likes of Booking or Expedia. The disruptors are being disrupted.

vectorvictor

Basq wrote: »

A "Fall Promo"? Yeah, I'll pass..

Thought that too. If it's a genuine offer they have managed to make it look very scammy.

Good deal on groupon for Odeon at the minute - 3 tickets for 16.50 or 5 for 25 that can be used individually

Wheety

I'll have a read but if it's 3 movies for €11 with no other restrictions I think that would be worth it. I wouldn't go every week but I'd easily go 3 times in a month if it only cost €11. It's that much for 1 ticket on a regular night.

Quackster

Wheety wrote: »

I'll have a read but if it's 3 movies for €11 with no other restrictions I think that would be worth it. I wouldn't go every week but I'd easily go 3 times in a month if it only cost €11. It's that much for 1 ticket on a regular night.

I agree, but would you take the risk of paying a year up front?

JaMarcus

Wheety wrote: »

I'll have a read but if it's 3 movies for €11 with no other restrictions I think that would be worth it. I wouldn't go every week but I'd easily go 3 times in a month if it only cost €11. It's that much for 1 ticket on a regular night.

The threat here is that you have to pay for the year up front. So 12 x €11 = €132 up front. To a company operating what looks like a thoroughly unsustainable business model. If they last the year, then great and you've got a good deal. If they last.

It looks like there is a monthly option, but you have to pay an "Initiation Fee" up front if you're going monthly instead of yearly.

Wheety

I've contacted VUE to see if they know about this and if it's genuine.

Wheety

They're going since 2014 in the States.

This is on their Wiki

Sinemia works via a smartphone app (iPhone, Android and Windows Phone) and a specially designed, reloadable debit card (MasterCard infrastructure), which is shipped to new members after they sign up.

In order to purchase a ticket, members must be within 500 feet of the chosen theater. The members must check into the theater via the Sinemia smartphone app and select their preferred movie. Once they check-in, their debit card is automatically loaded with the exact amount for a single ticket at the chosen theater. The card can then be used like any other form of credit or debit card to purchase a ticket at the ticket counter.

Not sure how they're making money if you're paying full price at the cinema. Someone on Google mentions personal data. I imagine you have to give them a lot of information and they probably sell this. Plus some people won't use it every month.

I'm not liking it now tbf.

Wheety

Hey! We can see on the website that it shows what venues are in the local area, the offer of tickets is separate to this on the page. We can only advise to follow the instructions on their website, it should provide you with some Movie Money vouchers to use. - Lewis

This is what they say on Twitter.

I suppose it has nothing to do with the cinemas themselves? They just load the prepaid debit card with the price of the ticket/s.

shardylan

Dreadful reviews
https://ie.trustpilot.com/review/www.sinemia.com

Quackster

Wheety wrote: »

This is what they say on Twitter.

I suppose it has nothing to do with the cinemas themselves? They just load the prepaid debit card with the price of the ticket/s.

Reading the reviews for their app on the Play Store, it seems many people haven't been able to get the card and if you book using the cardless system, they charge you $/£1.99 per booking.

Former Former

Hang on there til I get my barge pole.

MOH

Former Former wrote: »

Hang on there til I get my barge pole.

So in summary: they're offering a "Fall season promo" for Dublin in the United Kingdom, priced in Sterling, you have to pay up front for a year, and can only buy tickets physically at the cinema itself.
Their privacy policy page is full of weird grammatical errors too. If this is an established company they look incredibly scammy.

Niska

Reviews are abysmal, and the terms and conditions and faqs are less than clear.

From the looks of it, on top of the monthly fee (that needs to be paid annually upfront), there is a processing fee per ticket, and the amount of the fee is not disclosed on their website:

What is processing fee? Why do I pay?
Sinemia covers the cost of your movie ticket. Everytime you purchase a ticket using your Sinemia plan there are transaction fees imposed by the payment processors. Sinemia may reflect these processing fees to your payment method on file if such fees are involved.

So, for the 3 trips / month package, there is a 132 fee upfront (11 x 12), and on top of that a 'processing fee' per visit - unsure of amount.

jamesozzie

Wheety wrote: »

I've contacted VUE to see if they know about this and if it's genuine.

And?

Sabre0001

Seems odd that Cineworld would cannibalise its own Unlimited offering (which costs ~€22 a month). Try to get to 3 movies to cover that as is so half the price would be nice. Paying for the year up front is a drawback, but there are people who already do that (thanks to discounted rates).

Former Former

Sabre0001 wrote: »

Seems odd that Cineworld would cannibalise its own Unlimited offering (which costs ~€22 a month). Try to get to 3 movies to cover that as is so half the price would be nice. Paying for the year up front is a drawback, but there are people who already do that (thanks to discounted rates).

Apparently they're not - these Sinemia guys just give you the money to pay Cineworld (or whoever) the full price for their ticket. The cinemas are not involved on any level.

It seems to me like it's the EXACT same idea as Moviepass - burn loads of cash building up a big subscriber base of loyal customers, then try to turn that base into something marketable and get your money back.

Unfortunately, as Moviepass found out, the more successful they become, the faster they'll burn through the money, like an inverse pyramid scheme.

Sabre0001

Former Former wrote: »

Apparently they're not - these Sinemia guys just give you the money to pay Cineworld (or whoever) the full price for their ticket. The cinemas are not involved on any level.

It seems to me like it's the EXACT same idea as Moviepass - burn loads of cash building up a big subscriber base of loyal customers, then try to turn that base into something marketable and get your money back.

Unfortunately, as Moviepass found out, the more successful they become, the faster they'll burn through the money, like an inverse pyramid scheme.

Very strange. I'd love to see the business plan

vectorvictor

Sabre0001 wrote: »

Very strange. I'd love to see the business plan

Always wondered where the Hoover free flights marketing guys had ended up...

Wheety

jamesozzie wrote: »

And?

Posted it earlier

Hey! We can see on the website that it shows what venues are in the local area, the offer of tickets is separate to this on the page. We can only advise to follow the instructions on their website, it should provide you with some Movie Money vouchers to use. - Lewis

They send you a prepaid debit card. You use the app when you're near the cinema, it actually says check in, so I presume you use your social media for that to advertise the service, pick your movie and they top up your card for the exact amount. Then you go to the counter to buy a ticket. Maybe you can use the screen, I prefer to look and pick my own seats.

I don't think the cinema gets a cut of your subscription so they must be relying on people not using it fully. But if you have the €11 deal and go once a month they can't be making money. Go at a peak time in VUE and it's €11.24 per adult ticket.

vectorvictor

Wheety wrote: »

Posted it earlier



They send you a prepaid debit card. You use the app when you're near the cinema, it actually says check in, so I presume you use your social media for that to advertise the service, pick your movie and they top up your card for the exact amount. Then you go to the counter to buy a ticket. Maybe you can use the screen, I prefer to look and pick my own seats.

I don't think the cinema gets a cut of your subscription so they must be relying on people not using it fully. But if you have the €11 deal and go once a month they can't be making money. Go at a peak time in VUE and it's €11.24 per adult ticket.

Bit convoluted but worth it if the savings are real. What's to stop me telling them I want to go to cinema and actually buying an €11 meal deal or something? At alot of the cinemas you can buy tickets and goodies from the same till so ...

Quackster

Wheety wrote: »

They send you a prepaid debit card. You use the app when you're near the cinema, it actually says check in, so I presume you use your social media for that to advertise the service, pick your movie and they top up your card for the exact amount. Then you go to the counter to buy a ticket. Maybe you can use the screen, I prefer to look and pick my own seats.

Actually, no, if you read recent reviews you'll see that they havn't been sending out the prepaid debit cards and instead you have to book your tickets though a third-party app/website with a one-use virtual card number they provide you with and pay $2/£2 a ticket on top of your monthly subscription for the privilege.

Wheety

Quackster wrote: »

Actually, no, if you read recent reviews you'll see that they havn't been sending out the prepaid debit cards and instead you have to book your tickets though a third-party app/website with a one-use virtual card number they provide you with and pay $2/£2 a ticket on top of your monthly subscription for the privilege.

Yeah that seems to be people's experience alright. I was going by their website.

vectorvictor

Wheety wrote: »

Yeah that seems to be people's experience alright. I was going by their website.

Either way it seems to be a model of get the cash in and worry about it later.

If I as an unknown entity offered €30 in exchange for €10 each month you would know it was either a scam or that I was very dim and it wouldn't last long. Put a shiny brand on it and some people will be convinced.

Anybody who hands over a years worth of subs in advance for this deserves to lose their money. On a monthly basis it might just be worth the punt even considering the initiation fee and using a disposable card to pay.

A very low level of full use of the offer will tear the model apart.

Quackster

Mr.S wrote: »

Isn’t the odeon limitless 20euro a month anyway?

Yep, if you're lucky enough to have an Odeon convenient to you.

Conversely, when you've a choice, it can be irritating tied to one when other cinemas (IFI, Lighthouse) could be showing some more interesting stuff.

Del2005

Wheety wrote: »

Posted it earlier



They send you a prepaid debit card. You use the app when you're near the cinema, it actually says check in, so I presume you use your social media for that to advertise the service, pick your movie and they top up your card for the exact amount. Then you go to the counter to buy a ticket. Maybe you can use the screen, I prefer to look and pick my own seats.

I don't think the cinema gets a cut of your subscription so they must be relying on people not using it fully. But if you have the €11 deal and go once a month they can't be making money. Go at a peak time in VUE and it's €11.24 per adult ticket.

The cinema gets nothing and their main business plan is to get a cut from the cinemas concession stands. Can't see the benefit to a cinema to sell its tickets cheap and loose out on the profits from the concessions to a 3rd party company.

The amazing thing is that people are actually paying money to back these companies when their business plan has such an obvious flaw.

Quackster

Del2005 wrote: »

The cinema gets nothing and their main business plan is to get a cut from the cinemas concession stands. Can't see the benefit to a cinema to sell its tickets cheap and loose out on the profits from the concessions to a 3rd party company.

The amazing thing is that people are actually paying money to back these companies when their business plan has such an obvious flaw.

It has nothing to do with the cinemas. They get paid the normal ticket price and are none the wiser that a person used this company to pay for their ticket. There's no way Sinemia could possibly get a cut of any ancillary spending.

Wheety

Them getting funding just doesn't make sense to me. Surely anyone can see it's unworkable. I don't even know how someone came up with this idea. You're paying people to go to the cinema?

Del2005

Quackster wrote: »

It has nothing to do with the cinemas. They get paid the normal ticket price and are none the wiser that a person used this company to pay for their ticket. There's no way Sinemia could possibly get a cut of any ancillary spending.

Their business model is to get ancillary spending though and that's never going to happen so the company can't survive once the venture capital dries up.

Former Former

Wheety wrote: »

Them getting funding just doesn't make sense to me. Surely anyone can see it's unworkable. I don't even know how someone came up with this idea. You're paying people to go to the cinema?

There are two ways to make money:

1. Build a critical mass of subscribers so that you can go to the cinemas and say "look, we have <X> members, let's make a deal on ticket prices and revenue sharing or we drop your cinema from the scheme and you lose their business".

2. Build a critical mass of subscribers and harvest their data on what films they see, where they go and when, and then sell this to cinemas/distributors/film studios.

But both of these require you to stay in the game long enough (burning cash) to reach critical mass.

The third way is to collect an annual subscription fee and hope that your customers don't use the service...

NikoTopps

"Country: United Kingdom

City: Dublin"

Fúck off.

alanbk

Just to keep people in the loop re this deal. STAY AWAY. A complete scam. I signed up and have had nothing but hassle trying to get a ticket for the cinema. Their support just keeps sending you the same old bs about looking into the issue etc. Looks like I’ve lost my £119 at this stage. Trying to claim my money back through card. You have been warned.