Blockbuster is either incompetent or malicious
 

Take your pick, either way, I sure as hell ain't going back.

Last December I get a call saying that some movies I rented were going to be late and I was going to be charged for them. I hadn't rented a movie from there for about a month by that point (IIRC). So, being rather angry, I drove down there to have them reverse the charges. And they did and and they put all the super duper security on my account and I left. I haven't been back since because I still haven't gotten over it, but tonight I got another call regarding the same problem.

So, now I'm super pissed because its gotten through their super duper extra special ID checking security. I'm basically figuring that they are either incompetent or malicious and I decide to drive down again. Last time, though, they told me I could just call them up instead of showing up in person, but I find its much more productive to visit in person.

Well, I went through the spiel again, and this time emphasized the fact that this happened 3 months ago. I also made it a point to say that they should have a talk with the employee who rented out the movie. I said I didn't want to know the employee's name, but it slipped out of his mouth anyway (oh well). Anyway, I still had them cancel my Blockbuster account since I wasn't going to use it ever again, and that now its a serious liability if their employees can't restrain themselves from renting movies on my account like its 1999.

Well, turns out there is another Nick <insert my semi-full last name here> in the area and has an account there (and, strangely enough, was an acquaintance of the poor sap who had to deal with me). So, who knows how many times movies have been rented under the wrong account? I still had them cancel my account though. But I guess it is nice to know that they aren't malicious there.

Actually, now that I've calmed down, I do kinda hope a specific employee doesn't take the brunt of this. Sure, at least one employee there fucked up, but this kind of problem is really indicative of a need for a policy change because it does sound like a small error at the register (that manifested itself in me potentially getting charged ~$100 for movies I never rented out).

And, to their credit, they did reverse the charges after I talked with someone at the store.

But still, fuck them.

I'm going to start downloading movies again.

The only place I go to get movies anymore is my mail box. Thanks netflix for always being a loyal friend.

I hope one day all BlockBuster stores could just be converted into giant Redbox machines.

Yeah, I tried it (and Blockbuster's one too), but I felt like I was wasting my money. I don't watch nearly enough movies to make it worth it.

Blockbuster is teh suck. Way too expensive, and I've had fraudulent charges there too (probably 10 years ago in another state, but whatever).

Hollywood Video scammed me once. I don't do rentals anymore. OnDemand or go buy a DVD.

I just got an account like 3 months ago to rent a movie here and there, they have not screwed me yet, but they have in past.

Hollywood Video late charged a few times until I asked them to print out return reciepts when I took the movies back. I got word from the manager that if I could present a return reciept that was not late and I still got charged for I could have 5 free rentals. Needless to say I got my free rentals in under 2 weeks.

Then the police show up: "Mr. Koan, we know what sort of movies you've been watching..."

With that last name, too.

I get Amazon Unbox directly to my TiVo (hoping they roll out HD content soon), and I subscribe to Netflix. If Unbox had more selection I might be tempted to cancel my Netflix; I get them much faster, and I love their $0.99 specials. A plan with all-you-can-eat would be pretty sweet, though.

Other than that I can download movies to my PC and use pyTivo to stream them to my TiVo boxes. I plan on testing out the HD streaming sometime soon (not sure if my PC is strong enough to do that and do other things at the same time).

I also obviously use the HD TiVo and my Series 2 DT TiVo to record movie channels, since I have pretty much all of them (Showtime, HBO, Encore, etc).

TWC is supposed to be rolling out HD Movies On Demand that are day and date releases with DVDs here soon. I still use netflix for the better quality though.