Evolving.
Published on April 12, 2004 By Angloesque In Consumer Issues
Dear Blockbuster video franchise,

How do I hate you? Let me count the ways.

I hate the way your movies cost $4.10, whether it's a new release or an old release for five nights.

I hate the way you gave me a scratched DVD last time I was at my parents' place and my dad and I decided to have some Bond-ing time, if you know what I mean.

I hate the way you gave me $1 credit when I explained to you how we could not watch the Bond DVD.

I hate the way you put the movie we returned to you right back on the shelf so you could shaft someone else.

I hate the way you carry over fines, so that my rental that was five minutes late cost me an additional $4.10.

I hate the way my $1 credit is only available in the store at which you shafted me, and not the one I usually go to, and yet the $4.10 debit has no trouble carrying over.

I hate your fascist, money-grubbing outlook on consumers.

Sincerely,

Me.

(Next: Dear Netflix, I sort of love you)

Comments (Page 2)
2 Pages1 2 
on Apr 18, 2004
I also hate blockbuster and have since cut up my member card.
on Apr 21, 2004
Blockbuster can kiss my ass. I had so many problems with them it's unbelievable. I went in one day and the store manager was being extremely rude and unhelpful. I basically took out my pocketknife, cut my card in half and told him that I was moving to NetFlix in spite of what he said. I also told him that he could take me to collections for the late fees that they were trying to charge me, and that I was going to contact the BBB about their store. Two years later, I have set nary a foot inside a Blockbuster store.

Did you know that they also edit their movies for content in some cases? Go Disney, feh.

-- B
on Jun 07, 2004
Could you get a job at Blockbuster?

Do you have the necessary love of weak action flicks and porn-that-isn't-really-porn?
Do you like wearing blue t-shirts?

Find out more at paper-jam.co.uk

or more specifically here
on Jun 07, 2004
ahh, no links

have a look at:

http://www.paper-jam.co.uk/features.php?feat_ref=52
on Jun 08, 2004
Our local Blockbuster has changed so much in the past month its damn near unrecognizable. Half the damn store is now dedicated to the buying and selling of games instead of movies, and another 1/4 of the floorspace is reserved for those movies they are trying to sell rather than rent. The rest is mostly new releases, they have to have a zillion copies of those, you know, god forbid anyone have to wait to see a movie, and there are VERY few older titles to rent. (Gotta save space to sell all those new releases when they arent new anymore, right?) They've also taken to approaching you the minute you enter, wearing an weirdly ultra cheerful and zombie like smile, to ask if youve heard of the new movie pass for 24.95 per month, which includes unlimited rentals and no extended viewing fees!!! This pitch is likely to repeated to you several times before you leave. Gimme a break.

I love the local library, though, the movies are FREE, (if returned within a week) they get plenty of new releases, though you may have to wait your turn to see them...(horrors!) and their selection of classic oldy but goodies is excellent. If they dont have what you want, chances are you can order it thru interlibrary loan. Yesterday, in preparation for our days off, I rented....A Beautiful Mind, My Cousin Vinny, Les Miserables, Fahrenheit 451, What about BoB, and the entire first season of Monte Python.

It didnt cost me a cent.
on Sep 30, 2004
I love this post! It captures exactly the frustration I have felt many times. We've given up on blockbuster and have moved on to Hollywood Video. We generally don't rent, though. They always have a great deal going on previously viewed DVDs that I want to see. Usually 3 for $25. It's a great way to get the DVDs I wasn't willing to pick up right after they came out!

Still haven't given netflix a try, but we've been thinking about it.

Thanks for sharing this with me.
on Sep 30, 2004
This is great, Angloesque . . . Blockbuster's almost the only game in town here, too. I don't know how many times we have gotten a scratched up DVD.

I can order movies off of my digital cable, but it takes several weeks for new releases to show up there and it's the same price as BB, so it's not that much help. Right now I have the Movie Pass, which is $30/mo and I can keep 3 movies out at a time and exchange them for other movies as many times as I want and keep them as long as I want. I am really digging that.
on Sep 30, 2004
One word...Netflix.

Best $20 a month I spend on entertainment.

-- B
on Sep 30, 2004
Yeah---has Netflix raised its prices? I thought they were up to $25 or something.

Unfortunately, we don't rent enough for Netflix to be worthwhile, but I roomed with a guy who got it and it was nice.

I haven't been to Blockbuster in months. Many months. I'd rather watch the DVDs I have over and over again than give them business. I notice now that they've taken a page from Netflix and are offereing DVD rentals through the mail....

-A.
on Oct 01, 2004
Blockbuster threatened to sue me one time over a $2.13 late fee that I didn't even know I had. I have not gone to a f*****g Blockbuster since.
on Oct 01, 2004
SInce I have never rented a movie at one of the large chains for the many reasons listed here, i will tell you about a nice place;
It was a little video store owned by one of my Korean instructors at DLI, Mr Lee. It was in pacific grove Ca. and when I would go in to pick up movies
with my 3 year old son in tow (now 16!!) my teacher would have him pick out a kiddie movie, carry it up to the counter, whereupon Mr Lee
would say, "put this on account! On account of young Mr N. not having much money!" It 's funny when you hear it, trust me.
We were loyal customers and not because he could have failed me out of class. (I wanted them to)

A small business owned by nice people!

What a concept
on Oct 01, 2004
A small business owned by nice people! What a concept


As I grow older, I frequent big businesses less and less. There's a city in Idaho--a resort town--that doesn't allow chains or conglomerates, for the most part. I think there's a Best Western (hotel chain), a Rite-Aid (doesn't matter--the local drugstore is better anyway) and a Subway (okay, we eat there sometimes). And I love being there and not giving my money to businesses that blemish my beautiful part of the world with their garish and obtrusive "Loot at me!" signs and bright colors. I'll take a Mom 'n' Pop store over them, any day.

-A.
on Oct 01, 2004
They really stink


on Dec 06, 2004
Dear Blockbuster, I hate you


Now I KNOW we have more in common than just orchids!

Netflix, I sort of love you


Ya gotta love 'em a little more since they actually LOWERED their prices!? I will NEVER step foot in another Blockbuster again.
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