Why I Can’t Stand Blockbuster Much Anymore
Posted by Chris
Went to Blockbuster to rent a movie last weekend - something we really hadn't done in a few months, it seems. I've been avoiding going to Blockbuster much recently. Part of this lost desire stems from the whole "No More Late Fees" (but we're going to charge you anyhow because we're a franchise and we can do what we want) campaign that came off around the Super Bowl. No, I didn't get stuck with a mountain of late fees or anything like that. Just urks (sp?) me that they make this huge push and then I have to read a sign posted on the door of the local Blockbuster telling me how they are still charging late fees because they are a Franchise BB and can do what they want, basically.
Then there was the time we went to rent a movie at BB only to find that all they had in stock were the unrated versions of the movie! I couldn't believe it. It was for a very popular comedy that was PG-13, but if I wanted to rent it at BB I would have to get the 'everything goes' version - no thank you. I went to Hollywood Video instead, found plenty of selection of both rated & non-rated to be able to make my own choice, paid about the same rental fee & got to keep the movie for 5 days instead of 2. That's when the tide shifted. So, back to last weekend. I actually went to BB because I had found a "Rent One Get One Free" coupon on the Internet I was planning to use. The problem this time: everything good was all rented out! Not one new release that we were wanting to see was in stock! I turned around, headed out the door & down the street to Hollywood Video (coupon or no coupon, no matter). HV really wasn't much better - two out of the three movies we were wanting were all out of stock. The difference, though, is that Hollywood Video guarantees most of their big new releases. This one was guaranteed to be in stock so I got a free rental rain check because they were out - for both of the new releases that were gone! We rented the third (Ocean's Twelve) and were happy.
Really, I think the only thing Blockbuster has going for it is that they have decent prices on non-New Release DVDs. Hollywood Video charges the same for any DVD in the store - no matter if it is new or old. Of course, you get to keep all of them for 5 days. I did pick up a few 99 cent DVDs for the kids before going to HV to get Andrea & I's movie.
Tonight I stopped at HV on the way home from work to cash in one of our rain check free rentals and lo & behold - all of their copies of National Treasure were gone! I wasn't planning on renting it, but a asked for my free rental rain check anyhow since it wasn't in stock! That makes four New Release DVDs for the price of one in the course of two weeks!
I think we will probably try out Netflix or (God forbid) Blockbuster Online soon. Right now TiVo provides our monthly entertainment so we really don't get movies much. This summer will be the exception as all of our shows will lie dormant until the fall.
I'd like to hear some feedback from any of you who use either of these services to hear how they compare. You'll have to register to leave a comment (sorry - this is on the to do list to fix in the near future), but your input would be appreciated.
Gotta go now & give Emerie her bath. It's about time for the kids to go down & then we're going to sit & enjoy our free DVD!
Then there was the time we went to rent a movie at BB only to find that all they had in stock were the unrated versions of the movie! I couldn't believe it. It was for a very popular comedy that was PG-13, but if I wanted to rent it at BB I would have to get the 'everything goes' version - no thank you. I went to Hollywood Video instead, found plenty of selection of both rated & non-rated to be able to make my own choice, paid about the same rental fee & got to keep the movie for 5 days instead of 2. That's when the tide shifted. So, back to last weekend. I actually went to BB because I had found a "Rent One Get One Free" coupon on the Internet I was planning to use. The problem this time: everything good was all rented out! Not one new release that we were wanting to see was in stock! I turned around, headed out the door & down the street to Hollywood Video (coupon or no coupon, no matter). HV really wasn't much better - two out of the three movies we were wanting were all out of stock. The difference, though, is that Hollywood Video guarantees most of their big new releases. This one was guaranteed to be in stock so I got a free rental rain check because they were out - for both of the new releases that were gone! We rented the third (Ocean's Twelve) and were happy.
Really, I think the only thing Blockbuster has going for it is that they have decent prices on non-New Release DVDs. Hollywood Video charges the same for any DVD in the store - no matter if it is new or old. Of course, you get to keep all of them for 5 days. I did pick up a few 99 cent DVDs for the kids before going to HV to get Andrea & I's movie.
Tonight I stopped at HV on the way home from work to cash in one of our rain check free rentals and lo & behold - all of their copies of National Treasure were gone! I wasn't planning on renting it, but a asked for my free rental rain check anyhow since it wasn't in stock! That makes four New Release DVDs for the price of one in the course of two weeks!
I think we will probably try out Netflix or (God forbid) Blockbuster Online soon. Right now TiVo provides our monthly entertainment so we really don't get movies much. This summer will be the exception as all of our shows will lie dormant until the fall.
I'd like to hear some feedback from any of you who use either of these services to hear how they compare. You'll have to register to leave a comment (sorry - this is on the to do list to fix in the near future), but your input would be appreciated.
Gotta go now & give Emerie her bath. It's about time for the kids to go down & then we're going to sit & enjoy our free DVD!
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