Pricing Rip-Off via Cineplex & Airmiles

It's not often that I will bash a business on my blog but this is a case of big business that should absolutely know better.

I recently cashed in some airmile points for Cineplex movie packages. 2 admissions, plus one popcorn and 2 drinks. Seems simple right?

My daughter and I chose bottled water for our drinks, for health reasons as well as the fact that she stopped drinking pop and juice while on her medical treatment through Children's Hospital last 2 1/2 years.

The cashier then proceeds to charge us a "surcharge" for NOT ordering pop. I hesitated for a moment looking at the menu board.

Smallest pop there is $3.89

Bottled Water is $3.19

When I do the math, I calculate THEM owing me money, not me having to pay a surplus!

I politely explained the math to the cashier, that in fact water was CHEAPER than pop and that a surcharge on top of the credit that should be in my favour, made no sense at all.

He took it to his Manager who was clearly baffled by the realization that my math was right. I was then told that it was an Airmiles policy that if you don't order the pop, you are surcharged...... Even though it's cheaper!

I am sorry but this is a monumental rip-off of huge poportions not to mention another ploy to keep people making poor diet choices based on price alone.

Shame on you Cineplex and shame on you Airmiles. Feel free to contact me!