In recent years Growball Cinemax in Centrepoint neglected their facilities, equipment and customers.
But competitor cinemas have forced Growball to take action.
Dropping the Ball
The start of 2010 was a low for Growball. Customers were complaining, new cinemas were popping up and Kota Kinabalu got its first 3D Cinema, courtesy of GSC.
Growball, with their low prices, previously enjoyed loyal patronage from Kota Kinabalu’s budget conscious movie goers.
But with the newly opened GSC Suria offering a high quality experience and a 3D Cinema, and Mega Long Cinemas offering an option in Donggongon, Growball’s customers were soon whittled down to the hardcore budget hunters willing to tolerate the old seats, hearing the next-door karaoke through the cinema walls, and the poor quality audio visuals in some of the theaters.
After a series of particularly bad experiences, SabahBah, and many others, finally had enough and stopped going to Growball. Growball, more than likely, noticed the increase in complaints and the decrease in customers.
Getting Back on the Ball
Fast forward 8 months and we found ourselves back at Growball to watch a movie that only showed there.
Much to our surprise we noticed that Growball had undergone extensive renovations. For one, the stairwell leading up from the 6th to the 8th floor have been carpeted and padded, immediately lending a quality feel to Growball’s foyer.
So far we’ve watch movies in cinemas 5 and 7 and both cinemas are like new (others might also be, but we can’t confirm).
The bare cement floors have been carpet, the walls have been neatly padded with acoustic materials, all the seats are newly upholstered, solid and comfortable, and the sound quality has significantly improved.
24 Oct 2010: SabahBah saw Buried in the notorious Cinema 3 and unfortunately no renovations have touched this cinema. Not sure if the sound has been fixed, but it was certainly not 100%, the floors are still bare cement and, because the movie was relatively quiet, the next-door karaoke was annoyingly audible through most of the movie.
Growball’s partial response to their customers have been noted, and in doing a little bit, have probably saved their business from certain demise.
Growball can once again offer a wide selection of movies at the most competitive prices in Kota Kinabalu – and in quality in the cinemas that have been renovated.
3D Coming Too
The restaurant/function area opposite the entrance to cinema 8 has closed down and is currently being converted into a 3D cinema.
This edition might actually help Growball to give GSC a run for their money (assuming all theaters will be renovated).
We won’t be holding our breath, but will keep a keen eye on Groball Cinemax in Centrepoint.