Blockbuster Video "Clean-Slate" promo

[imported_Pipeline]

Heard this on the radio.

For a limited time, Blockbuster Video will waive any late-fees you currently have.

Begin renting again, for the first time....

 

[superHARD]

WOW..is this true?

 

[lupi]

Probably. They've also got several new promos out for video game rentals and such. With DVDs and such really picking up steam on the retail shelf from consumers the video rental places are taking a bit of a beating from what I've read.

 

[Nemesis300]

I miss the good old days when you could just complain about the late fee and they would remove it for you.

Hot Deal for those who don't rent at certain blockbusters because they have late fines there.

 

[chuckyH]

I quit going to block buster when they started sending me notices in the mail for my $3 late charge that I should pay up. I just use netflix now heck a couple movies a month and its paid off better than Block Buster

 

[Cheesemoo]

For a few months now the local Blockbusters (Southern Louisiana) havent been charging late fees.... the problem is that after 8 days they will suspend your account.. they never tell you that ....

 

[jcwagers]

We did the "No Late Fee" thing last month. It was a royal pain. We waived the late fee one time during the month. If the person didn't have a late fee, they could get one free rental a week. And there had to be a fifth week in June.........hehe. Oh well, it worked out well I suppose. We *might* have lured back a few customers but it's really hard to say. The general idea was to bring back customers by waiving the late fee. Well, the customers with larger late fees weren't going to come back anyways.....so we took off their late fees so they could rent more movies. These movies will come back late and then the people will STILL not come in to pay for them. It's a genius idea. I could see taking off 3 bucks, 7 bucks, etc... There were a few people who had $50 or more and a couple that were over $100. If they rented something, it was to be removed. I don't even want to fathom how much money was lost during the month......it would've been quite a staggering figure I'm sure.

jc

 

[Spudd]

I stopped renting from them more than a year ago after I got sick of them charging me bogus late fees when I dropped the movies off through the window drop off/chute thing. I'd drop it off the day before it was due, and they'd let it sit there I guess until it was "late" then scan it. I called them on it the second time, and they admitted there "might have been a mistake." Mistake my azz.

 

[salsa086]

jcwagers, its a good thing the rest of the world didn't go to the "blockbuster school of math."

1. Based on real statistics, most movies that are rented are new releases or popular movies. Blockbuster realizes this, so their stock includes many multiples of those movies most likely to be rented. If you look through your "late fee" list, I'm sure the type of movies being rented predominately falls into this category of "likely to be rented" movies.

2. The type of renter with 0 common sense, and 0 responsibility, and who acquires late fees in excess of $100, typically is not going to be renting your only digitally mastered DVD of Citizen Cane, instead you'll find him renting one of 50+ copies of bad santa, or any movie with the Rock.

So where exactly is blockbuster losing this money that you can't "fathom" ?? Its certainly not from some joe schmuck renter who returns a late copy of Lord of the Rings, and prevents someone from renting it, because we all know there are 3 walls covered with Lord of the Rings.

And its certainly not losing money because it refunded some arbritary late fees it assigned to customers. Because the late fees exist as a means to make more money off of well meaning but sometimes forgetful customers behind a guise of legitimacy.

Blockbuster CEOs better take note, the customers have spoken with their feet and their stampede toward netflix

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Originally posted by: Cheesemoo
For a few months now the local Blockbusters (Southern Louisiana) havent been charging late fees.... the problem is that after 8 days they will suspend your account.. they never tell you that ....

Damn dude why not just give them back their movie?

 

[CWRMadcat]

Originally posted by: salsa086
jcwagers, its a good thing the rest of the world didn't go to the "blockbuster school of math."

1. Based on real statistics, most movies that are rented are new releases or popular movies. Blockbuster realizes this, so their stock includes many multiples of those movies most likely to be rented. If you look through your "late fee" list, I'm sure the type of movies being rented predominately falls into this category of "likely to be rented" movies.

2. The type of renter with 0 common sense, and 0 responsibility, and who acquires late fees in excess of $100, typically is not going to be renting your only digitally mastered DVD of Citizen Cane, instead you'll find him renting one of 50+ copies of bad santa, or any movie with the Rock.

So where exactly is blockbuster losing this money that you can't "fathom" ?? Its certainly not from some joe schmuck renter who returns a late copy of Lord of the Rings, and prevents someone from renting it, because we all know there are 3 walls covered with Lord of the Rings.

And its certainly not losing money because it refunded some arbritary late fees it assigned to customers. Because the late fees exist as a means to make more money off of well meaning but sometimes forgetful customers behind a guise of legitimacy.

Blockbuster CEOs better take note, the customers have spoken with their feet and their stampede toward netflix

How are late fees arbitrary? You rent knowing when it's due, return it under those guidelines and you don't pay a dime. Late fees exist so people bring things back in a timely manner. Netflix is great for people who don't want to worry about deadlines, but I prefer the instant gratification of walking into a store and coming out with something I can watch that instant.

 

[JRKIO]

so is it possible for blockbuster fuc k up your credit if you owe them late fees?

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: CWRMadcat

Originally posted by: salsa086
jcwagers, its a good thing the rest of the world didn't go to the "blockbuster school of math."

1. Based on real statistics, most movies that are rented are new releases or popular movies. Blockbuster realizes this, so their stock includes many multiples of those movies most likely to be rented. If you look through your "late fee" list, I'm sure the type of movies being rented predominately falls into this category of "likely to be rented" movies.

2. The type of renter with 0 common sense, and 0 responsibility, and who acquires late fees in excess of $100, typically is not going to be renting your only digitally mastered DVD of Citizen Cane, instead you'll find him renting one of 50+ copies of bad santa, or any movie with the Rock.

So where exactly is blockbuster losing this money that you can't "fathom" ?? Its certainly not from some joe schmuck renter who returns a late copy of Lord of the Rings, and prevents someone from renting it, because we all know there are 3 walls covered with Lord of the Rings.

And its certainly not losing money because it refunded some arbritary late fees it assigned to customers. Because the late fees exist as a means to make more money off of well meaning but sometimes forgetful customers behind a guise of legitimacy.

Blockbuster CEOs better take note, the customers have spoken with their feet and their stampede toward netflix

How are late fees arbitrary? You rent knowing when it's due, return it under those guidelines and you don't pay a dime. Late fees exist so people bring things back in a timely manner. Netflix is great for people who don't want to worry about deadlines, but I prefer the instant gratification of walking into a store and coming out with something I can watch that instant.

THe fees are arbitrary because their 'value' has no corelation with anything in particular. They pull the number out of their... rental chute.

 

[SoylentGreen]

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: CWRMadcat

Originally posted by: salsa086
jcwagers, its a good thing the rest of the world didn't go to the "blockbuster school of math."

1. Based on real statistics, most movies that are rented are new releases or popular movies. Blockbuster realizes this, so their stock includes many multiples of those movies most likely to be rented. If you look through your "late fee" list, I'm sure the type of movies being rented predominately falls into this category of "likely to be rented" movies.

2. The type of renter with 0 common sense, and 0 responsibility, and who acquires late fees in excess of $100, typically is not going to be renting your only digitally mastered DVD of Citizen Cane, instead you'll find him renting one of 50+ copies of bad santa, or any movie with the Rock.

So where exactly is blockbuster losing this money that you can't "fathom" ?? Its certainly not from some joe schmuck renter who returns a late copy of Lord of the Rings, and prevents someone from renting it, because we all know there are 3 walls covered with Lord of the Rings.

And its certainly not losing money because it refunded some arbritary late fees it assigned to customers. Because the late fees exist as a means to make more money off of well meaning but sometimes forgetful customers behind a guise of legitimacy.

Blockbuster CEOs better take note, the customers have spoken with their feet and their stampede toward netflix

How are late fees arbitrary? You rent knowing when it's due, return it under those guidelines and you don't pay a dime. Late fees exist so people bring things back in a timely manner. Netflix is great for people who don't want to worry about deadlines, but I prefer the instant gratification of walking into a store and coming out with something I can watch that instant.

THe fees are arbitrary because their 'value' has no corelation with anything in particular. They pull the number out of their... rental chute.

WTF? Are we in the elementary school of economics here?

So, they should charge a nickel per rental since 4 bucks is something they pulled out of their rental chute.

:roll:

 

[Nightfall]

I have to agree this is a hot deal if you rent at blockbuster.

I am not a movie renter personally. Now that I have had a Tivo for over a year, I have bought a couple PPV movies on my DTV system and just recorded them on the Tivo. Yes, it costs me $4 to get a movie via PPV on DTV, but Blockbuster charges almost $3.50 for the same thing. Plus, I have to pick it up and return it. Another thing nice about PPV is the fact that I can record it on my Tivo, and then burn it on a DVD. Thats very nice as well....course I don't do it that often since DVD movies are so reasonably priced.

Just my .02 cents.

 

[girishkr]

All thanks to McDonalds. The reason behind Block Busters move.

 

[commOdog]

i use walmart online rental service. $15 bucks a month, I get about 8-10 movies a month, works good for me. Netflix shouldn't have raised their rates to $22.

 

[PHiuR]

hmph... i work at the US's 2nd largest video store...and more than you think the workers do something wrong to allow for customers to get late fees...such as...not scanning the movie back in correctly, or thinking that they did scan it and just puts it back on to the wall so it sits there for days or weeks or months...then when they do find it they just scan in it and check it in allowing the customer to get late fees while they could have voided it. many of my shiftleaders dont really care and they just check the movie in when i told them to void the late fees...i look at em like WTF. but they just gimme a stare like 'so?' so warning guys...if you really want to be sure. make sure you go in and hand the movie to a person. but also...there are lots of @ssholes out there and make crap up about late fees not being theirs..there are defintely ALOT more of those than our mistakes.

 

[xarmian]

Originally posted by: SoylentGreen

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: CWRMadcat

How are late fees arbitrary? You rent knowing when it's due, return it under those guidelines and you don't pay a dime. Late fees exist so people bring things back in a timely manner. Netflix is great for people who don't want to worry about deadlines, but I prefer the instant gratification of walking into a store and coming out with something I can watch that instant.

THe fees are arbitrary because their 'value' has no corelation with anything in particular. They pull the number out of their... rental chute.

WTF? Are we in the elementary school of economics here?

So, they should charge a nickel per rental since 4 bucks is something they pulled out of their rental chute.

:roll:

I feel the need to express my two cents into this discussion..

The late fees that are being <b>voided</b> are arbitrary not because they are pulled out of the CEO's chute, but rather because they have no true value to the Blockbuster corporation. I'm not talking about the late fee that is accumulated by some poor guy who couldn't make it to drop off the film the day it was due because his son was sick and therefore brought it the next day and paid his $4.. I'm talking about the majority of these $50 or $100 voids, for people who were never planning to go back to blockbuster, never planning to pay the fee, and never planning to rent again. Blockbuster would never have seen a <b>cent</b> from those people.. By having this promotion, they therefore at least collect $4 extra for the new rental, and maybe earn back a customer, which means more rentals, and maybe more late fees, but those, again, are arbitrary if never planning to be paid.

This is comprable to the Federal Government giving breaks for payment delinquency on income tax, which happens every year. They lose the "late fee" but they aren't really losing anything because they save money by not having to pursue the millions of people who pay late, and maybe even squeeze a little bit of $ out of the people who fall through the cracks.

-Dave

 

[imported_KuJaX]

I don't rate from blockbuster because I have never had a good experience with them.... EVER.

 

[hansmuff]

I used to be a blockbuster customer. Late fees where I was like a day late, I paid. When I was 1 or 2 hours late, I kindly asked to overlook it, and they usually did. It's pointless to rent from Blockbuster, then categorically condemn late fees. You agree to the way they do business when you use their business to rent movies. What I find appaling is how people treat some of the clerks at BB. Yelling at them and cussing them out when late fees are due, etc. I wouldn't want that job.
That said, BB is too expensive for me, and the selection is outrageously bad if you want to rent good movies. For the 100 copies of Bad Santa, they could have 10 of them and then 2 copies each of 45 good movies. But nooooo.
Netflix has my business now, I watch 8-10 movies a month for $22 or so and I get a really nice selection. Mail is quick enough, I have a 3 day turnaround. Also no worries about returning the movies on time.
Blockbuster better get something like Netflix going.

 

[zlooop]

Originally posted by: Nemesis300
I miss the good old days when you could just complain about the late fee and they would remove it for you.

Hot Deal for those who don't rent at certain blockbusters because they have late fines there.

you can still do this at Hollywood Video

 

[Hork]

Are there any details on this deal? Where did you hear it on the radio?

I had two movies due at noon today! :-(

 

[jcwagers]

Originally posted by: salsa086
jcwagers, its a good thing the rest of the world didn't go to the "blockbuster school of math."

1. Based on real statistics, most movies that are rented are new releases or popular movies. Blockbuster realizes this, so their stock includes many multiples of those movies most likely to be rented. If you look through your "late fee" list, I'm sure the type of movies being rented predominately falls into this category of "likely to be rented" movies.

2. The type of renter with 0 common sense, and 0 responsibility, and who acquires late fees in excess of $100, typically is not going to be renting your only digitally mastered DVD of Citizen Cane, instead you'll find him renting one of 50+ copies of bad santa, or any movie with the Rock.

So where exactly is blockbuster losing this money that you can't "fathom" ?? Its certainly not from some joe schmuck renter who returns a late copy of Lord of the Rings, and prevents someone from renting it, because we all know there are 3 walls covered with Lord of the Rings.

And its certainly not losing money because it refunded some arbritary late fees it assigned to customers. Because the late fees exist as a means to make more money off of well meaning but sometimes forgetful customers behind a guise of legitimacy.

Blockbuster CEOs better take note, the customers have spoken with their feet and their stampede toward netflix

Well, what you say would be true if our blockbuster store was a CORPORATE store. But....our store and all of the blockbuster stores in our area are FRANCHISED stores. That means the owners....(A.K.A. the people who pay me) are losing the money. I'm not saying that it's going to kill them or anything as I'm sure they make PLENTY of money off of 8 stores. I'm just saying that I wouldn't want to fathom the amount of money that they told us to credit off during that month as it would have been quite a tidy sum. *shrug* I'm not here to fight with you.....I was only voicing my opinion and personal experience. I respect that you have the right to do the same.

jc

 

[nuonce]

Netflix > Hollywood Video > Blockbuster