Complaint Review: BlockBuster - Denton Texas

Blockbuster does not have linking computer systems. Never had. We can call other stores, but I have no way of looking at other store's inventories. This is a common misconception. We haven't gotten new computers since circa 1992. They're not going to have some powerful database anytime soon. What has happened is someone has your card. Either that or your kids, when they were still on your account, rented at that location. Therefore your account was already in their computer and the kids were still on that account. Say you got your account at Blockbuster A, and has your child on the account. Then you go to Blockbuster B, and activate your acount and tell them to take your daughter off your account. Blockbuster A still has you in their computer originally as your daughter being able to rent.

All right, firstly many of the "free" services and even the DSL service mentioned in the previous report are not intended (and are illegally being used) for businesses. Individuals can use these products, but a business especially something as large as Blockbuster or Walmart would have to purchase a similar program for their terminals. Secondly, many of the stores in question are franchises and have nothing to do with the corporate, therefore even if a plan was implemented to view what each store has it would be impossible to see what the franchises have to offer. Thirdly, we are not talking about three stores, we are speaking of a huge chain and it would be too expensive to implement, but honestly I'm sure they'll eventually do it anyways. Fourth, if a customer is gungho about knowing which movie is in stock everywhere all the time, they could join a mail-in DVD program like Netflix, Blockbuster Online, WalMart Online, etc. Finally, the "NO MORE LATE FEES" is hardly a scam. The way I understood the commercials, ads and what I have been told by employees is if you need a day or two more keep it and no fees would be charged to your account. Who would need a movie 30 days late? To me that is purchasing the movie!!! I've never kept a movie more than three days!!! You watch it and bring it back. The No Late Fee policy, as I see it, is a service to people who for some reason need the movie a little longer and a bit past the due date; like if a kid gets sick and the parents haven't the time to watch the movie yet, they don't have to pay for it again, or if there is a HUGE snow storm and someone can't get out of their driveway. Who would actually take this NEW POLICY as a way to keep the movie forever or for a MONTH without having any reprucussions? I think it would be interesting to meet the fellow or young lady who actually would have that gaul. I guess I just don't understand the mindset of people who want SOMETHING for NOTHING. If someone has a valid claim against a corporation, any corporation, I think the ripoffreport is a fantastic outlet. I've personally used it many times, but more and more it seems that people come on here with outrageous claims that really haven't any validity.

So if Blockbuster was networked it would be so expensive it would run them out of business? I think NOT. If Blockbuster isn't networked then the manhours involved tracking sales and collections would be much higher than if they were. I have personally set up a 3 location mom and pop business with a DSL (29.95/mo each location) based VPN (VPN cost $0.00 due to use of IPCop linux firewall and OLD pentium PC's) I set it up where the owners can know exactly what is happening to the minute in each of their stores, to include viewing what is on each pc sales terminals (PCAnywhere $129.00) AND be able to view their security camera outputs (Microsoft Media Encoder 9, FREE). I set this system up using their existing equiptment and old pentiums from a thrift store, plus a couple of tv decoders ($50.00 each). I did this for them for $600 time and labor for setup. Their monthly outlay for this is $29.95 a month per location. How in the world can a big corporate monster like Blockbuster NOT afford to have across the board customer information nationwide? Sounds like a bunch of hewy to me! BTW, their new "NO LATE FEES" program is a bunch of crock. If you keep the movie for over 30 days they charge you for the movie, then you can return it and they charge you a 'restocking fee'. No wonder their test market on this concept ended up in increased revenues.... "Guaranteed In Stock"

I have no idea what store Chet shops in that can check invcentory in another store. No Blockbuster that I am aware of and certainly none of the thousands in my region have that ability. I have no access to any other store via computer. I can only pick up the phone and call another store for information (which is how we report our sales.) We do have access to a central database in Texas but all that can do is pick up basic customer information and it only works if we have the person's card. We can't even search by name. To link all stores would be so expensive it would run the company out of business.

I just want to say; Thank you, Blockbuster Video, for ticking sooooo many consumers off. In the early 1990s, people were ready for a glitzy, non-mom and pop video store experience. Consumers thought that getting movies would be a lot easier with a corporate giant than a small business, and they were right. Unfortunately, the mom and pops died when we all ran to Blockbusters and the like. Maybe I had to wait another week to get that 'gotta have it right now' movie at the mom and pop, but I dam well knew that they were glad to see me. Now we know what happens when whole industries are swallowed up by corporate goliaths. Some have told me that it is just survival of the fittest and the world is better off without all those independent video stores of the past. I think instead of an ocean full of various 'mom and pop fish', we now have one full of 'sharks and parannahs' ever devouring more 'market share'. I think I will try to find a mom and pop to rent from now on, if I can find one.

First off, my sister was not on my account. Secondly, I had asked them to remove my brother and daughter about a year before this incident. Therefore Blockbuster should be held accountable if they rent to someone they are not authorized to rent to. If your company was to give your paycheck to someone they were not authorized to who would you hold accountable, the person who received your check or the company who gave it away. And a company as large as Blockbuster, I am sure, can well afford a good networking system what with the business they do. That is unless they want more complaints and less and less business. And last but not least, I did make that phone call to the store. I was told "you are a liar" and in just those words. They need to deal with customers in a more professional manner. If not for the customer they would not have a business. To out and out call a person a liar is in no way good business. To have dealt with it in a more professional manner, regardless of the outcome, would have been much more preferrable. Maybe Blockbuster would have retained my business. As I said before, I have never been in the store on University, I will never be in the store on University, nor will I ever enter a Blockbuster Video Store again.

First, Blockbuster has a very robust network that connects stores for daily sales reporting. If they have not done so already, it would not be difficult to update it to connect stores. Actually, I have gone into Blockbuster looking for a movie and they have used their network to look at other stores to see if they had the movie so the ability exists. Also, yes, we should be responsible for our son/daughter, etc... who rent a movie however in some cases (my case) I have specifically asked that their names be dropped. I have sucessfully fought credit card charges for charges on movies that unauthorized people (even my kids) have incurred.

Did you read what you posted? Please explain to me exactly how Blockbuster "ripped you off" when your brother, sister or daughter rented something and didn't return it. Even if a mistake was made and they didn't remove people from your account as you asked they are still the ones who went in, rented the movie and didn't return it knowing you'd be the one held responsible. It seems to me that if anyone ripped you off it was them. There also seems to be a popular misconception customers like you have regarding our computer system I'd also like to address. Yes, we have a computer system,this does not mean that we have a massive network linking all stores allowing us to see every detail of every action made at every store. Do you have any idea how unrealistic that is? Blockbuster has over 8000 stores and to install such a network would just millions of dollars which for the most part would be worthless with the exception of perhaps checking the inventory of another store to find a title that is all checked out or to see the history of what another store has done to your account which really has nothing to do with us, both of which can be easily accomplished with a simple phone call to the store.