Blockbuster foolery

[crackersjacks]

I was wondering if anyone could help answer this question and help settle a debate my friend and I are having about Blockbuster. We were talking about the law suit against Blockbuster and we were talking about the whole shady thing of changing the return time from midnight to noon and all the late fees they take in because of it. We were wondering if at any point, Blockbuster had a three-day rental due back at midnight before the whole change over to the due at noon thing. They've been around since 1985 so this might be way back, but we can't seem to find any proof about it. At one point, we thought they used to have a three-day and a five-day rental. Then perhaps they cut the three day down to two at some point. And then when they changed the return time to noon, they added twelve hours but in actuality they just took twelve hours off the three-day and added it to the five-day. I'm not stating these things as absolute facts, I just want to know if any of this is true, especially whether or not they ever had a three day rental.
Also, I don't want to hear any nonsense about calling it an "extended viewing fee" instead of a late fee. If it's called extended viewing then I should be able to go back and watch it again seeing that I paid the extra fee, but that isn't always the case. Thanks in advance.

 

[b0mbrman]

Yeah, I thought I remembered something about that...Of course, I wouldn't be able to find any proof either

 

[crackersjacks]

Yeah, my friend and I were having some argument with a kid that is apparently a Blockbuster employee and he was giving us a hard time about us calling it a "late fee" and stuff like that. I doubt the kid is that old or that he has been working there for that long, but he said there never a three-day rental. I can remember renting Blockbuster movies in high school which was a little while ago and I swear there were three-day rentals, but I just can't get any evidence to back it up.

 

[StageLeft]

BB sucks pig penis. I seem to recall a 3 or a 5 day rental (in canada), but I stopped going there about 6 months ago. They charge $5.71 for a rental in Nova scotia! Most other stores are still $4 or $4.50. Block buster should be run out of business but suckers keep renting there when there are normally cheaper alternatives :|

 

[crackersjacks]

Unfortunately, at some times, there are very few alternative. Especially when the movie you're looking for is somewhat uncommon. I do have to give Blockbuster that, their selection is pretty good. But when you have to pay as a late fee the same price you had to pay to rent it, and then you don't even get to have it for that amount of time again, then there's definitey something wrong.

 

[Kitros]

I worked there a few years ago, got to know the history, and no, I do not recall there ever being a 3 day rental. Also, it is NOT a late fee, but simply "rechecking out" the video. Late fee sounds too detrimental.

As far as I know, they have always been next day by midnight and five day by midnight until they changed.

I could be wrong.

 

[crackersjacks]

I love the "rechecking out" or "extended viewing" fee. The only problem here is that you don't get to keep it for the same amount of days as if you rechecked it out. I have returned movies a couple hours late only to find out that I had to pay the extended viewing fee. I was told that the fee is the same as if you checked the movie out again. Then I asked if I could take it home with me again seeing that I paid the money to check it out again. I was told that I couldn't because it was already checked in. When this happens on a five day rental, they get me for taking it out again, yet they still get to hold on to it and rent it out again that very same day. That's just ridiculous.

 

[MrDingleDangle]

i hate blockbuster...last year i went to rent a movie and hadnt used my card for a while, so i figured there was a late charge on it...sure enough it came up $12 due...Doh...i asked for what?...Mario Tennis...of course. So we decided to use my friends card who was with me. flashes up $10. he was like, whats that for!?!?!...she looked at him and said, "Mario Tennis"...then she told us they have it on sale if we just want to buy the damn game...

late fees suck

 

[dman]

Well, block buster's been around for a while and I'm 99.9% sure they had a 3day rental. Of course, the first day most people rent movies starts at 8-9pm when they get to the store. Thus, you get it for 2 nights (due back by midnight of the 3rd "day").

Later they came out with the "new release" wall and changed the policy so it was "1night" rental. Regular movies were still "2nights". Then they came out with "favorites" which got the 5day ("4 night") rentals.

Blockbuster is very creative with ways to get you back into the store. My biggest pet peeve is the no-drive-by returns. It would not be difficult (in the standalone stores) to have a drive up return window, but, they always make it so you have to get out and walk. Hoping you'll decide to go inside and rent another movie. I wonder how many folks (like myself) just don't go as often because it's a pita to return the movies. (Or break the law and use the 'ol flashers-in-the-fire-lane-dash-there-and-back-before-the-cop-writes-a-ticket routine.) In any event, I wonder if they've done studies to see how many people go inside and rent another movie when they return them?

 

[brxndxn]

I'm looking forward to arguing with them.. I rented two PSX games and turned them in at 1:00pm instead of 12noon on the due date.. The late fees would be about $15 I'm guessing. Needless to say, I'm not fvcking paying it. Instead, I plan to argue like hell while the store is busy. They said 5 day rental - and I only had it for 4 3/4 days. Plus, the guy behind the counter said they had to be back by Thursday at 12:00.. I thought he ment midnight.

 

[dman]

Did you count the day you rented them as a day? Just because you got them at 10pm that night doesn't mean it wasn't a "day". There are signs all over the damn store saying back by "noon". I agree that the late charges suck, but, don't blame them for your mistake. That said, I agree that for 1hr $15 is rediculous. I would fight it myself, but, I wouldn't blame them.

In fact--They'll usually forgive you once if you ask nicely. No need to make a scene unless they insist on being jerks. Then say you'll stop doing business with them because they are being rediculous. And then stand by your word. If enough people stop renting because they charge too much they'll either lower prices or go out of business.

Boycott Blockbuster! (Just as soon as I finish watching this movie... I have to get it back by noon tomorrow).

 

[EagleKeeper]

They had a two day rental which wa a pain, because it was calendar days. The problem was you could get the tape at 11PM and have to return it by midnight the next day. Did not give much of a chance to watch it late at night. So many complaints occured and the threat of false advertising, forced the "noon" system to go in effect last year.

From 1991-present I can not recall a three day. It always seemed a two or five day rental period.

 

[Aihyah]

ah joy, any word on the class action suit?

i got sent a late fee or something which was bogus a while ago, havn't been there since cuz of that guess i'll go bitch at em or something.