blockbuster: a series of rheotorical questions

[pookiethecat]

who else fucking hates this place?  

and why the fuck won't they hire me just because i'm not 17?!   those pricks...

and why the fuck is their foreign film section so limited?  i hear you guys talking about all these awesome movies, and i can't see any of them.

[Cecil]

up here in canada, the candian films are in the foreign section

[godardian]

When Blockbuster's all ya got, you've gotta go there, but... they also support a number of political causes I'm opposed to, if what I now about them still holds true. Plus, they won't carry anything unrated or NC-17.

I can't believe they won't make an exception for you, Pookie! You should request an application and write a letter explaining why they should. You are without question more mature and capable than any of the twentysomething slacker-dudes they always have working at video stores!

[Sleuth]

They wouldn't hire me either, but I sort of fucked up the interview.  I don't really hate them though

[pookiethecat]

thanks, godardian.  that's an excellent idea.  i'm gonna do that today.    

i've talked to them about applying, and they've always been like "we don't hire 15 year olds"  but...maybe an eloquent letter would do the trick.  maybe...hopefully...possibly?

[aclockworkjj]

I have nothing good to say about blockbuster....

I had an account, with a $10 fee...I moved, and didn't get the late fee card in the mail for about 3 mo.  next thing you know, I got reported to a credit agency....shit, I just figured I would pay it the next time I went in...

then while in my short stit in AZ, I got another account with them, as that was my only option and right across the street.  I actually applied for a job there, they offered me an assistant manager position for $7.50/hr...so I laughed and told them to go fuck themselves...anyways, I rented 2001 from them one day...I returned it on time, and in doing so, I always check to make sure that the correct DVD is in the case before I slid it into their death trap of a "quick drop".  A week later I get a call saying they recieved the case, but no actual disc, and I would have to pay then $90 if I don't come up with it....

"Put your Manager on the phone lady!!!!", I was shouting.  "She not in today, but call tomorrow."

I ended up speaking with the very same chick that interviewed me, and it just so happen, as soon as I called and got her on the phone...they somehow just managed to find the missin' 2001 DVD, go figure.  That was my last blockbuster experience.

I will never go back there, nor have anything to do with any film being rented there.  I am so set on this fact, though, I am sure it won't happen, but if I were to make a film, it would have to be a pre-req that it is never allowed on Blockbuster's shelves.

fuck them.

[pookiethecat]

clockworkjj- your story presents the disturbing extremes of blockbuster's shittiness.  
 
here's some fuel to the fire- an improvised list i made up of the worst things about blockbuster
-the unknowledgable surly staff
-the lack of unrated, nc-17 movies
-the lack of foreign films
-the fucking ridiculous prices
-the fucking ridiculous late fees
-they fact that candy, video games, and magazines get as much space as movies.  
-the fact that the clerks are always on your ass for some crappy "new deal" "rent (insert sucky movie) and you'll get half off the purchase of (insert another sucky movie) or something to that effect.
-the fact that the clerks announce the movies you rent.

[Sleuth]

Yo don't be hatin' on candy, whussup now

[Pas]

Don't. Work. There.

I'm telling you.

[pookiethecat]

why.

[Ravi]

-the unknowledgable surly staff
-the lack of unrated, nc-17 movies
-the lack of foreign films
-the fucking ridiculous prices
-the fucking ridiculous late fees
-they fact that candy, video games, and magazines get as much space as movies.  
-the fact that the clerks are always on your ass for some crappy "new deal" "rent (insert sucky movie) and you'll get half off the purchase of (insert another sucky movie) or something to that effect.
-the fact that the clerks announce the movies you rent.

Conditions vary from store to store.  One Blockbuster near me has some Criterion titles and a foreign section bigger than some locations.

"Lack of unrated, NC-17 movies" is an understatement.  It is a policy of Blockbuster specifically to not stock them, with a few exceptions like American Pie 2 and Y Tu Mama Tambien.  I've seen a few unrated softcore porn videos as well.

Late fees aren't a problem for me since I return videos on time.  I haven't paid for a movie rental in months, since I rent a lot of DVDs from the library and try to catch movies at the dollar theater since it is cheaper than renting a DVD.  If I do rent a movie, I usually go to an independent store with a better selection.  I rent at Blockbuster mostly if I have a "rent one get one free" coupon, but they seem to have stopped sending them to me.

They often stock only the fullscreen version of a DVD if there are dual WS/FS releases.

[Weak2ndAct]

I despise that whole "due back at noon" scam they have going now, especially because those dumbshits never check the stuff back in before noon, resulting in late fees.  One time, I rented a playstation 2 game and got up at 9AM to return the game before the deadline.  Of course, next time I go in, I have a 7.50 late fee.  They said I turned it in at 6PM.  I detonated (true story: I called the manager a 'fucking cocksucker' when he said he wouldn't take off the late fee and said I was 'mistaken and confused'-- the customer is never right here) and obviously haven't been back since.

[Alethia]

two words - hollywood video.

[Jeremy Blackman]

I worked at Blockbuster for more than a year. There are at least two other threads about this. Just know one thing: they are more evil than you think.

I despise that whole "due back at noon" scam they have going now, especially because those dumbshits never check the stuff back in before noon, resulting in late fees

Just so you know... They tell you it's noon, but it's actually 2pm. If your movie is due Thursday at noon, bring it in Thursday at 1:30 and have someone check it in. Literally go up to an employee and ask them to check in the movie. Watch them do it. It works.

At about 12:15, the employee checking in movies will take everything out of the drop box (which can be a lot) and make sure it all gets checked in by 2:00.

Putting your movie in the drop box is always risky, especially on a Sunday or Monday morning (when new releases from Friday and Saturday are due). Of course it shouldn't be, but it is. It's usually so overflowing on those days that there's probably going to be a movie misplaced or pushed to the side. It will eventually be found, but it could be hours (or days) later, when it's overdue.

Always contest late fees if you're sure they're not right. Be polite about it and you can probably have your justice. The best way to contest a late fee is to ask the manager or assistant manager to look up who checked in the movie (this is very easy to do). Next to the record of a movie being checked in is an employee number. The person who checked in your movie 5 hours late could very well be an unreliable employee.

Be nice to Blockbuster employees, though. They're truly oppressed people. It's completely the top level management that makes Blockbuster so corrupt.

[Weak2ndAct]

Be nice to Blockbuster employees, though. They're truly oppressed people. It's completely the top level management that makes Blockbuster so corrupt.

I left out the part of the story explaining why I blew up.  This sort of late-fee mix-up has happened before, but what made me go nuts was that before getting rung up, I had to hear the ten minute sales pitch about why I should buy the Games pass or whatever it is, and how there's no late fees, blah blah.  I politely declined several times, but the guy wouldn't let up.  Then when I get the late fee, he turns to me all smug and says "looks like you should have listened to me."  And this douche was the manager.