Blockbuster being sold

[monkeyboy]

Story



Actually I stopped going to blockbuster and choose to instead go to a mom and pop video store that is closer.

Between that and "pay per view"

 

[hawke]

I once had a really bad experience and never went back to blockbuster

 

[KarenC]

I've been angry with Blockbuster ever since they changed their late fee policy. Instead of $ per day/they started charging you for an entire new rental period. I'd rent a bunch of movies during the week (get some with a coupon, some rent one/rent one free) for $7 or so and end up remembering I had them an hour after they were due and end up owing $25 in late fees.

A new Family Video opened up in our neighborhood and they are so much cheaper than Blockbuster, I haven't been back since.

 

[Micca]

Our neighborhood Blockbuster has always been staffed with friendly, helpful people, and a good selection of movies. What I have found is that during the past couple of years, our DVD collection at home has grown to the point where I would just as soon watch one of the discs we own, rather than drive to the store, rent a movie, and return it the next day.

 

[Beauty]

I agree....it seems like Blockbuster as well as other things are just way to transparent nowdays.

 

[Planogirl]

We like to check out new video games at Blockbuster. It saves us lots of money by weeding out the games that don't work for us.

 

[Bojangles]

Our Blockbuster is very expensive and the store smells bad.

Our cable company is always sending us coupons for rent one/get one free PPV movies.

 

[MeanLaureen]

The way I'm habitually late returning videos it's just cheaper for me to buy the DVD at Sam's or Target..lol

 

[CyranoJones]

The way I'm habitually late returning videos it's just cheaper for me to buy the DVD at Sam's or Target..lol

That's why I like Netflix. No late fees. Now my problem is remembering to mail them back. It's always something, lol!

 

[Grog]

I very seldom go to Blockbuster. We used to have the greatest "mom and pop" video store in our neighborhood. The owner and his family knew everyone by name, they had large screen TVs and really comfortable couches and chairs where they would show a different movie every night. The place even had a really nice coffee and snack bar. On top of all that, late fees were only a dollar a day. Plus, being a foreign film fan, they had a much better selection than Blockbuster ever had.

They were there about ten years when a new Blockbuster opened. Loyalty went out the window as the sheep in my neighborhood flocked to the shiny new store. If you went there on a Saturday night (normally very busy) it would be almost deserted. Six months later the old place was out of business. A couple of months later I ran into the owner working at a convenience store. I told him it was a shame about what happened. He just smiled and told me that things like that happen for a reason, and that he was sure that God had a plan for him. I haven't seen him since (this was about five years ago). I really hope things worked out.

I actually don't blame Blockbuster as much as I do his former customers who abandoned him.

 

[AirForceRocks]

NetFlix is the way to go for us. There is a Blockbuster not far from where we live, but I've decided that there is no movie worth risking death to rent.

 

[mommytotwo]

We had problems with returning a video once and it was because the staff didn't input our video into the computer on time. We had to take to the manager and even write a letter. We had to end up paying the fee. The prices are high here.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I do like Blockbuster and I am a habitual late returner. I have never heard of NetFlix.
What is it?

 

[Tina]

I gave up Blockbuster more than a year ago for Hollywood Video. I hate Blockbuster's high prices, short rental periods, and I too got hit with an erroneous late fee (I'm never late). I refused to pay it and just stopped going there. Hollywood Video is great. Everything is 5 days and the prices range from $1.99 to $4.29. I've been very happy with them.

 

[ByTheSea]

I love NetFlix. You order your movies online, they come in the mail with a return mailer - when you mail one back, they send the next one. We have the 3-movie plan, we can have 3 movies out at one time, no late fees ever, and it's a monthly fee the same no matter how many you rent. Since I travel, I bring two movies with me, watch one on my flight out - put it in the mail at the airport, watch the other one on the flight home (and a new one is waiting for me)

We only go to Blockbuster when DS get's gift certificates from his Aunt, we have a Mr. Movies and Hollywood much closer and more convenient, but I've never had any complaints. I guess we dont live near any area where I fear we risk death to go there, if I did I would probably move.

 

[SoonerKate]

I gave up local stores a while ago for Netflix. There used to be a locally-owned video store in town, but they closed when a Blockbuster moved in next door. (Imagine that...)

I've been much happier with Netflix's selection, plus not having to pay late fees has probably saved me a ton of cash.

 

[02bBarbie]

I also had a neighborhood mom and pop video store put out of business by Blockbuster so I'm not reallly fond of them. Plus, their selection is kind of crappy compared to the the old store. They had lots of little known films. Alas, if you don't have 4 billion copies of Gigli when it comes out, your just not good enough

 

[momm2four]

When I went into my Blockbuster two weeks ago, they were serving pizza, cookies and cokes to celebrate their new "No Late Fees" policy. He said that it was something the Chattanooga stores were doing, but I've seen a commercial on TV for that policy. Is it a locally run commercial or has anyone else's BBuster done this too?

Their new policy is that you still have a due date, but that if you don't return it right on the due date, they don't charge you late fees. The only penalty is if you keep it one week past its due date, they consider it a purchase and charge your account for the going price of the movie. Even then you can return the movie and have your money refunded (with a $2 restocking fee taken out).

They said they were doing this b/c in customer surveys, Late Fees were the #1 customer complaint. It'll be interesting to see if this works out for them or not.

Lori P.

 

[02bBarbie]

I have no doubt it was their #1 complaint..I also don't doubt it was a huge moneymaker for them as well

 

[KarenC]

Originally posted by 02bBarbie
I have no doubt it was their #1 complaint..I also don't doubt it was a huge moneymaker for them as well

I think I remember reading that Blockbuster earned $750,000,000 in late fees in, I think, a year. That seems like a huge amount of money. If they've dumped the late fee policy, no wonder Viacom wants to dump them. BTW, haven't heard the no late fee commerical here.