Ice2SeeYou wrote:

Fuck Blockbuster. I've been bitter toward them ever since an incident where they accused me of not returning a movie. I got the manager on the phone and swore to him up and down that I returned it. I even said to him that I knew the exact time I was there, and if he would show me the surveillance footage of the return slot, I'd point myself out on camera returning the movie. He declined that offer, and assured me that he had his entire staff "scour the entire store" and my movie was nowhere to be found. They insisted I give them a credit card number so they could charge me (I denied them). Long story short, I went to the store to search for myself, and found it within 30 seconds. They apologized, but it goes to show that if they "lose" something (read: the clerk misplaced it and can't be bothered to look for it) they were going to try to take it out on the customer. Had a similar experience. They annoy the shit out of me. On a semi-unrelated note, I actually ditched five years with Netflix to give Blockbuster online a shot, when they first started. The thing--the only thing--that attracted me was the fact that you could exchange your mailed videos for in-store videos, and the next mailed one would automatically come to you. It was a great system, and they made a ton of extra money off me because I was in the store every couple days and always picked up candy or soda or bought a movie or something. Eventually they started charging a ton of money to get the privilege of in-store exchanges. Right about the same time Netflix started allowing free unlimited movie streaming from their site. I switched back. Sucks when you have a good thing going and get greedy, doesn't it? Sorry for the rant, but whenever I hear the name Blockbuster, I've gotta tell that story.

I had almost the exact same experience a few months ago.

^ Well, here's the issue I have with Blockbuster (and I'm speaking here of their mail rental service; I still occasionally patronize the brick-and-mortars near me.)

I was Netflix customer for...well, almost literarally ever since they came out. The only failing I found was that when I wanted a movie *that day*, I couldn't get it except by going to, guess where, Blockbuster. Which seemed like a waste while paying for Netflix too.

Then Blockbuster launched its mail business. I was skeptical at first, until I head that you could return your mail movies into the store for a store-movie with no charge. Better yet, your mailed movie instantly registered as returned, so you didn't have to wait for the mail to get it to their office. It was an awesome system, and I switched right away. I was in that store at least twice a week, and they always made extra money off me because I'd always end up buying candy or soda or buying a movie or game or something. It seemed perfect.

Then they decided to take away the in-store exchanges. Then they brought them back, but you had to pay a lot more if you wanted in-store exchange privileges vs. mail-only. This was about the same time Netflix launched its unlimited streaming movies on your computer service. I wouldn't have cared if I could have still exchanged in-store at Blockbuster for the same price, but it was a difference of almost 15 bucks a month. So I went back to Netflix. *shrug*. I'll be back to Blockbuster whenever they decide to realize they got a little too greedy with the good thing they had going.

EDIT: Out of curiosity, I checked out Blockbuster's site again (hadn't in quite a while.) It seems like their rates for in-store exchange privileges have gone down. Its still not as cheap as Netflix, which offers the streaming videos at no extra cost, but its enough to *almost* be tempting.

^ Nah, I understand. That's why I'm always super nice and respectful to the employees (of any store or whatever) unless they're actively disrespectful to me. Which rarely happens, so I rarely have occasion to get angry at them, even if I'm pissed as heck.