No more late fees from Blockbuster! But...

Admiral Ackbar

Admiral Ackbar

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Blockbuster is eliminating late fees entirely. That's right. If you rent a movie or game, you have an extra weeks grace period to return the movie with no late fee. That's an extra week after the one week rental for games, two day rental for new releases, or one week for older movies.

But there's a huge catch If you ar still late after that period, they will charge you their list price for the game or movie. So, if you rented the Bourne Identity, and forget to return it after nine days, you will be charged $20 bucks. If you rent Halo, and don't return it for two weeks, you'll be charged fifty bucks. (Or maybe it would charged the used price, which is less than retail)

You're only recourse after being charged is to return the "product." You'll only receive store credit, not a refund. Further, you'll be charged the obligatory restocking fee.

I think this is just a gimmick to extract $20-$30 a pop from custiomers. Now, I've never had a rental go a week past due. But you know that customers, knowing they have extra time with no charge, will delay in returning their rentals. Basically they've extended their rental period to two weeks for games, nine days for new releases, and two weeks for old.

But if you're late, they will charge you a bundle! This sounds like a scam to me.

Blockbuster drops late fees
 
[quote name='Admiral Ackbar']Blockbuster is eliminating late fees entirely. That's right. If you rent a movie or game, you have an extra weeks grace period to return the movie with no late fee. That's an extra week after the one week rental for games, two day rental for new releases, or one week for older movies.

But there's a huge catch If you ar still late after that period, they will charge you their list price for the game or movie. So, if you rented the Bourne Identity, and forget to return it after nine days, you will be charged $20 bucks. If you rent Halo, and don't return it for two weeks, you'll be charged fifty bucks. (Or maybe it would charged the used price, which is less than retail)

You're only recourse after being charged is to return the "product." You'll only receive store credit, not a refund. Further, you'll be charged the obligatory restocking fee.

I think this is just a gimmick to extract $20-$30 a pop from custiomers. Now, I've never had a rental go a week past due. But you know that customers, knowing they have extra time with no charge, will delay in returning their rentals. Basically they've extended their rental period to two weeks for games, nine days for new releases, and two weeks for old.

But if you're late, they will charge you a bundle! This sounds like a scam to me.

Blockbuster drops late fees[/quote]

So you get to keep the rented product for the MSRP + rental fee, and are able to return the product and receive store credit (minus restocking fee). Thats awesome
 
Awesome?

rent for -5.99
keep too long, get charged -18.99

return and get +5 store credit for used merchandise.

-----------------------------------

= you lose
 
This great for rare games, rent it and make them sell it to you. Your store has Gitaroo-man rent it, keep it, oops I cant find it, and buy it. This good in a few cases. Bad in all others.
 
What is the problem?

Why is blockbuster evil because people can't be responsible and return a damn movie on time?

:roll:
 
Interesting. I heard this on a teaser yesterday and figured it was just talking about online rentals via blockbuster.com (their Netflix like service)

I wonder if this new policy will end up as part of a class-action suit. I can see the in store signs for this now "NO LATE FEES" Then in 1 point font "see associate for details".

Pretty shady policy. I assume the hope is that customers will drop their way overdue games/DVDs in the overnight return slot and then BB's computer will automatically credit them back the trade-in value. (It would have already pinged them for the retail charge I assume.) So they'll get the game back after let's say 17 days, charge the customer $40 over all and get to keep renting the disc.

Story also doesn't say what the charge will be based on, I think I've seen in the past where they quote some crazy amount you'll have to pay if you lose a DVD (like $80 per) But I could be wrong on that.

I don't think I've ever returned a rental late yet... *knock on wood*
 
whoa..that's not cool. I usually keep my games for 10-15 days if it's a 5 day rental and just pay the difference (usually 6-13 bucks) but now if your late after the 2nd week they want you to pay full price of the game. yeah fucking right, BB can buy a spoon and eat my ass (guess I won't be keep my games an extra week). But the fact that theres no late charges after the first rental period is pretty cool, but since I keep my games 2-3 weeks at a time kind screws me over..ah well.
 
[quote name='Admiral Ackbar']Blockbuster is eliminating late fees entirely. That's right. If you rent a movie or game, you have an extra weeks grace period to return the movie with no late fee. That's an extra week after the one week rental for games, two day rental for new releases, or one week for older movies.

But there's a huge catch If you ar still late after that period, they will charge you their list price for the game or movie. So, if you rented the Bourne Identity, and forget to return it after nine days, you will be charged $20 bucks. If you rent Halo, and don't return it for two weeks, you'll be charged fifty bucks. (Or maybe it would charged the used price, which is less than retail)

You're only recourse after being charged is to return the "product." You'll only receive store credit, not a refund. Further, you'll be charged the obligatory restocking fee.

I think this is just a gimmick to extract $20-$30 a pop from custiomers. Now, I've never had a rental go a week past due. But you know that customers, knowing they have extra time with no charge, will delay in returning their rentals. Basically they've extended their rental period to two weeks for games, nine days for new releases, and two weeks for old.

But if you're late, they will charge you a bundle! This sounds like a scam to me.

Blockbuster drops late fees[/quote]

You are not entirely correct on this one. Blockbuster will not charge the MSRP price, but the -used- price, as it is illegal to take payment for something as new when it has been opened, which all rentals are opened before they are even received. Average price for an average new release at a -used- or PRP price: 14.99. If the movie is brought back, the PRP price is refunded and the restocking fee is as well. Games will move from 5 and 7 day rentals to 7 and 9 day rentals. If you want to avoid the trouble of paying for the game, just fucking re-check it out...

Lastly, in all bolds, you DO, in fact get a refund, NOT store credit.
Just wait until it rolls out, then make judgements...
 
wow. you guys are some slackers. is it unreasonable to try and return a movie/game on it's designated due date? and if you want the movie/game longer, why not just return it and take it back out? the new "fee" doesn't seem that unreasonable... an extra week is a LONG time to return something.
 
It's better than before. One extra week is nice, but just be sure to return before the one week grace period to avoiod the penalty.
 
I rarely rent anymore, I'd rather put the money towards my collections. I do occassionally when they send me coupons, but I guess this isn't really a bad thing. We can all get real busy sometimes and having the week long buffer zone is more than enough to get it back on time.
 
Well, its good and bad. Good, it basically means you are getting a two week rental for $7 or whatever the price is now. There are games I might rent knowing I get them for 2 weeks. Lots of games you can play out and return in that time.

What is the late fee now, $1 a day. So, you would have already paid $7 by a week. Now you pay more, but you can keep it for a month, and if you bring it back, they'll give you credit and you only lose $1.25 restocking. For a month and a half rental for $8.25 isn't bad on paper.

Though, the store credit for your $50 is a killer if you don't rent often. I rent maybe twice a year (usually if my fiance is having some kids (her family) stay the night, then I might rent something to keep them entertained. So, $50 in store credit would last me a really long time.
 
[quote name='Scrubking']What is the problem?

Why is blockbuster evil because people can't be responsible and return a damn movie on time?

:roll:[/quote]

:applause:
 
you know this sounds great and all but if it hasnt come out i would let it come out first....i've never trusted Blockbuster myself, i normally try to go other places.
 
[quote name='Scrubking']What is the problem?

Why is blockbuster evil because people can't be responsible and return a damn movie on time?

:roll:[/quote]

not only that but when i just got an xbox when it first came out i rented a game from there and i put it in and about 5 seconds in the middle of the game it crashed so in that case yes they are evil but then I got them to pay for another xbox so it evens out
 
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