Regal’s New Refillable Containers: Are They Worth the Hype When You Still Have to Pay for Refills?
Regal Cinemas is releasing refillable popcorn and drink containers, but are they worth it?
Regal Cinemas is introducing new refillable containers.
Starting on December 22nd, Regal Cinemas is offering customers the chance to buy refillable drink and popcorn containers. Unfortunately, the high price tag is making some customers wonder if this is much of a deal at all.
To score the refillable containers, Regal Club Crown (RCC) members will need to fork over between $32 and $36, depending on if they purchase the containers separately or as a bundle.
If RCC members are purchasing separately, the refillable popcorn bucket costs $22 and the refillable drink container costs $14. Buy both together as a bundle to save $4 for a total of $32 (Regal Unlimited subscribers can save an additional 10% off these Regal Club Crown member rates).
If you’re not a Regal Club Crown member, you can join for free to score the discount. Otherwise, you’ll need to pay $26 for the refillable popcorn bucket and $16 for the refillable drink container. Or, buy both together to save $4 for a total of $38.
You still have to pay for refills…
If this was all you had to pay to get free refills, this might be a good deal. Unfortunately, the Regal Refillables are not actually refilled for free. Instead, they are refilled for a reduced cost.
Regal Cinemas has a reputation of having expensive concessions so you’re going to need to go to the movies A LOT to get these refillable containers to pay for themselves.
Regal has not yet released if the Regal Refillable containers are equivalent to a large container. Let’s assume for a moment that they are. According to MovieFoodPrices.online, the average cost at Regal Cinemas for a Large Popcorn is $8.89 and a Large Fountain Drink is $6.89. That’s $15.78 total.
With a refillable bucket, you’ll only pay $10 to refill both containers at the same time. If you only bought one of the containers, you’ll pay $6 to fill the popcorn and $4 to fill the drink.
Refill once per movie and you’ll save a little under $6 if filling both containers (the exception is Regal Unlimited subscribers who can save an additional 10% off their refill).
In what scenario are the Regal Refillables a good deal?
The Regal Refillables are a good deal only if you are an RCC member or Unlimited subscriber, go to the movies over 10 times per year, and buy a large drink and/or popcorn every single time you go.
If that sounds like you, you’ll need to go to the movies 6 – 9 times just for the savings to pay for the upfront cost of the refillable buckets (and that’s assuming the refillable containers are equivalent to a large).
These refillable containers are only around while supplies last. If they are the right deal for you, scoop them up while they’re still available.
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