Blockbuster Vs. Netflix

I remember the first time I tried to get a Blockbuster card to rent movies, and I remember not getting that card because I didn't have a credit card. Instead I had a Visa check card which wasn't good enough. Everyone I've ever spoken to has agreed that Blockbuster is not only difficult to rent from, but is notorious for late fees. They call them "restocking fees" now, but it's all the same. Suddenly Netflix appeared and I was able to rent movies, and more importantly I was able to do it without having to drive across town, search for movies I wanted to see, wait in line and then have to drive home. Instead I could make a list of the movies I wanted, put them in order, and sit back on my couch until they arrived.

Apart from days when the Post Office was closed I always got my movies in a day or two at the most. And if I kept forgetting to mail the movies back it wasn't a problem. There wouldn't be any late fees and I could hang on to the movies forever if I wanted to. Now Blockbuster has 'Blockbuster Total Access" and they try to show Netflix up by pointing out that they allow you to trade movies in at a local store instead of wait for more to be mailed. The catch being that if you do trade them in at a store you'll be subject to possible restocking fees if you don't return them within a specific time. Something a friend of mine found out the hard way when she rented some movies and they messed up by sending her the wrong ones.

Ones she didn't even have in her list. So she went to the store to exchange them, which they let her do. No one told her she had to bring them back within five business days or have to pay a "restocking fee" for each DVD. She had three of them at the time. Well work and the kids got her so busy she forgot about the movies for two weeks. When she found them she took them back to the store. The clerk stopped her and told her she had to pay the restocking fees. She asked what he was talking about and he explained it to her. Naturally she was upset. Restocking fees can be as high as $5 per movie per day for new releases. She argued with the clerk saying that she had Blockbuster Total Access which advertises itself as having no late fees and no hidden fees.

He told her that it's common knowledge that Blockbuster charges restocking fees when movies are brought to the store late. She ended up paying over $200 for three DVDs that she didn't even get a chance to watch due to a hectic two weeks at home. She immediately canceled her blockbuster account and switched to Netflix. And she's been happy ever since. When I called my local Blockbuster and asked them if such a thing could ever happen they put their manager on. Who proceeded to tell me that unless I was a registered blockbuster customer I did not need to know their terms and policies. After that she hung up on me. I got the number for the regional manager and was simply hung up.

After that I simply gave up. This wasn't the first bad Blockbuster Total Access experience I've heard since it started and I'm sure it won't be the last. As for Netflix I have to say with their new "watch movies instantly online" feature they've surpassed even my expectations. And I don't mind waiting one or two days, even three for more movies to come in the mail. It's easier and nicer than fighting traffic to get to a Blockbuster store. And even if there was no traffic I'd still rather just wait a few days for movies to come to me. It's called patience and yes I am a very patient person who isn't afraid of waiting for something good to come my way. Perhaps that's what people need to work on these days. Is it really that hard to wait a few days? Sit back! Relax! And take a breather from the fast paced world outside your door. Doesn't that sound nice?