Blockbuster going back to having late fees.

[Papa Deuce]

FROM AP:


Blockbuster Inc. stores in several U.S. states are quietly resuming late fees for customers who keep movies too long, rejecting the video rental chain's national advertising of "No Late Fees!" because they can no longer keep popular movies on their shelves.

 

[bicker]

I'm not surprised. I wonder, though, how much of the reason for the reversion is due to customers preferring the old "Late Fee" policy over the "No Late Fees" policy. Remember, the "No Late Fees" policy provided:

After that grace period ends, the chain will automatically sell [customers] the product, less the rental fee. If the customers don't want to purchase the movie or game, they can return the product within 30 days for a credit, less a restocking fee.

So I bet that enough people got frustrated with having to buy DVDs they didn't intend to buy, that they made it clear to the store owners that they'd rather pay late fees.

 

[ZachnElli]

Ours never became a "no late fee" store. And I stayed a noncustomer of their's. I prefer Hollywood Video.

 

[Lorix2]

I will only go to Hollywood Video, in fact I have to drive right past Blockbuster. The late fee on a PS2 game only cost me $1.19 for one day, which I thought was very reasonable. Don't know about the movies, because I haven't been late on those.

How is it Hollywood Video always has movies, but BB couldn't provide enough? Never followed the stories...

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

I never rent movies anymore from anywhere. Our cable providers "On Demand" feature has solved the late fees problem for us once and for all. I'll never step foot in a video store again.

 

[Papa Deuce]

I never rent movies anymore from anywhere. Our cable providers "On Demand" feature has solved the late fees problem for us once and for all. I'll never step foot in a video store again.

Laugh O...... miss ya in football buddy. And ya might REALLY enjoy Netflix.

 

[summerrluvv]

I rent from the Library and they have all the new releases. I usually can't get my hands on them right when they come out, but eh, it saves money. The check out period is a week and late fees are only $1.00 no matter how late the movie is.

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

Our library late fees are 1 to 2 dollars a day. The late fees go the the "Friends of the library Fund" since they are the ones who purchased the movies so at least it goes to a good cause.
But sometimes they are worn out or scratched to pixelation.

 

[vivilasvegas]

I never rent movies anymore from anywhere. Our cable providers "On Demand" feature has solved the late fees problem for us once and for all. I'll never step foot in a video store again.

I also love On Demand, the only problem is that it seems to take so long for some movies to premiere!!!

But, especially if you have the premium channels (HBO, etc) there are soooo many movies to choose from. Your own little video store!!

 

[bicker]

I agree with your point about the premium channels, and what I've found, actually, is that I actually watch them more for their original series than for the movies! They're a great bargain, in my book.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Laugh O...... miss ya in football buddy.

Yeah...I'm definitely down for next season...I'm just so far out of it, what's the point of getting in the rest of your's way?!?!

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

As one who always returns stuff on time, Blockbuster's policy did me no good. It just made me frustrated because stuff was never in. I knew I was done with Blockbuster when I went into the local store THREE TIMES trying to rent "Guess Who". That was enough to make me sign up for Netflix... I am content with that service.

 

[Aidensmom]

I would say they probably changed it back because a lot of people did what I do: Just keep it the extra week. Not all movies, but movies I rent for my 4 year old, who wants to watch things over and over and over and over....I keep them for the whole rental period and grace period. I sure hope my store is not one of the ones changing back.

 

[Nik's Mom]

I do Netflix and love it. No more driving to the video store, no more forgetting to bring movies back on time. Love it!

 

[Terri C]

No surprises there!

 

[Free4Life11]

Blockbuster should really focus on their DVD mail-club. What I don't like, however, is that their selection is pitiful compared to Netflix. The service was great, but they just didn't have enough independent, lesser-known movies to choose from.

 

[Planogirl]

I like the "no late fees" policy. I liked keeping the movies extra days if I needed too and I never had a problem returning them before my week was over. Goodness, a week should be enough time IMO.

 

[PixieDust32]

We have the Blockbuster movie pass, and we have no issues with late fees, we love it! We do watch lots of movies and its worth it, we can keep the movies as long as we want it, but if we keep them too long, then we cannot watch as many per month, so we get the movies 2 at the time, watch them within 2 days sometimes 1 day, and we go back and switch them. We pay 23.99 per month.

 

[Cindy B]

I also have Blockbuster online. I do have to say, I think people are keeping the movies just a bit longer online because some things are taking a long time to get.

DH and I usually watch TV series on DVD. The kids watch movies. It doesn't matter when our TV series get here, because we dont watch them in order. (you dont need to keep track of Mad About You or Seinfield) Other series like West Wing and such you do need to keep in order.

Kids movies tend to take longer, but that makes sense. Kids tend to want to watch the same thing over and over and over again. My kids are the watch once and move on club.

 

[Molly Meow]

I'm a Blockbuster employee, and I have to say that I WISH my store would go back to late fees. You have no idea how many times a night I have to say "No we don't have Dukes of Hazzard/40 year old Virgin/The Island/Bad News Bears/Mr and Mrs Smith, etc. in stock."

This is a direct result of how late people keep movies. When I check movies back in, it's close to only 1 in 100 being returned even close to the due date. I'm tired of ticking off our customers and then having to suffer the abuse.

We're not going back, no matter how much all the employees beg. My manager says it's just the stores in large cities, like New York City and Chicago, L.A., etc.