Online Booking Disaster - Do not support Ster-Kenikor!

I booked tickets online on Sunday 28 April 2018 for the new Avengers movie at the prestige cinema @ Cradelstone mall for Tuesday @ 17:30 because it was the only day available that they had the love seat for row D. I paid over R 300 for the 3d glasses and the payment went off my account instantly.

However I was greeted with a screen saying one moment just processing your reference number. I NEVER got the reference number but I took a screen print and a bank statement to show the money went off.

Arrived at the cinema on Tuesday at 16:00 (early so that we could resolve the issue). After about 45 minutes of dealing with the manager and been told that the tickets were in fact not booked (despite the money coming off my account) they then tried to help and put us in the only available seats in the "normal: cinema. I declined this request due to the following;

A: I book online because I am fussy where I sit (spending R 300 plus on a movie I like to sit where I like to sit - hence I book 3 days in advance if need be!!!) B: I paid for prestige now you want to put me in the normal theater! C: I booked row D in the middle, now I must sit in the back row in the corner?!

After declining the **** seats I was told I need to now phone ticket line and ask for a refund. I am so disgusted with the disappointment of not being able to watch the movie I waited 3 days for, the time to try and sort out the mess (an hour) at the cinema and now I get to be on the phone with a call center and waist more of my time.

I will not be contributing to Ster-Kenikor shareholding profits in future and I will tell everyone who will listen what a complete let down you are regarding customer service. P.S There were 2 other couples who has the same experience. (this was not our first either at about a year ago I booked online and same issue). You guys are well aware of your online booking issues yet you do nothing about it.

Disgusting!!!