Blockbuster. Or _____Buster ?

[MegalosSkylaki]

Last week, before the Labor Day weekend, I tried to take out two DVDs under a monthly plan I've been under for some where you can take out up to two movies at a time for a flat monthly fee.

I was informed that my Credit Card had "expired" or "no longer valid" and I could not. Of course, this was not so. I checked my Bank, nevertheless and there were no problems with my card.[Edit>]this as it develops was misinformation.

A week ago, I was told that Customer Service could not address Credit Card issues and that I would be contacted by a District Manager on Tuesday. Today is now Friday and I was just advised by Customer Service that "it was still being reviewed". In other words, nothing was done.

Again, they would now email the District Manager. Being that this is New York City, with 20,000,000 people in the greater area, one wonders why "maybe he's traveling" should be an issue in simply verifying a Credit card.

Then I remembered something similar that happened several years ago when it used to be three films you could have out at any one time. A problem was "discovered" and since I was cancelled out, "nobody could re-enroll me in the 3-Plan as it’s no longer offered". Ah! But then there is this 2-Plan -for more money still offered. Get the picture?

So today I looked at ResellerRatings to see what Blockbuster's Rating is. Ah! 2.61 where the Average rating is 7.8.

And guess what I found:

...then they canceled us and said that plan is no longer available. would you like to sign up for our new plan? its the same thing you had but the price has increased by 39%.

at the second post down.

Now I made my position clear to Customer Service and I am awaiting a call from the "District Manager" to "investigate" my Credit Card. [Edit]At this point, I don't want to be reinstated in the 2-Plan but in the 3-Plan I was in before this was pulled on me several years ago.

[Edit-->]The question of the plan remains open as my card had ben cancelled because it was part of a group of compromised numbers. The mailorder online Plan has had its problems (see reviews at ResellerRatings) so I'd just as soon be reinstated in a walk-in plan.

MegalosSkylaki

[frostbitetwice]

Perhaps this company should change their name to Planbuster..

[Steve R Jones]

Or perhaps, your CC expired and renewed but BB's records don't indicate it.

[MegalosSkylaki]

Originally Posted by DOOOOG

I checked my Bank, nevertheless and there were no problems with my card.

Originally Posted by Steve R Jones

Or perhaps, your CC expired and renewed but BB's records don't indicate it.

A subsequent visit to the bank --and a different employee --advised me that my CC had been cancelled because it was part of a group that had been compromised.
It would appear that this had done both myself and Blockbuster a disservice as this may have been the cause of the cancellation.
I have still not heard from BB so let's give them the benefit of the doubt regarding what they will do with my account.

MegalosSkylaki

[MegalosSkylaki]

Originally Posted by frostbitetwice

Perhaps this company should change their name to Planbuster..

Like I said, Lets give Blockbuster the benefit of the doubt --until the District Manager calls me, as I was advised by Blockbuster Customer Service on August 29th he would do the next business day, September 2nd. Odd though, this was still within Business hours I called and Customer Service was still open, yet the District Manager was.err...gone for the day. Ah! Manager. Must have left the workers behind on the Friday before Labor Day to "solve"(?) problems...

I waited--no phone call. Called Customer Service again. Told he would call next day. Several days later still no return call. Called Customer Service again and was again told they could not handle a matter like mine--but would e-mail the District Manager and I would again hear the "next day".

It is now September 22nd, 2008, about 15 "next days" and still no District Manager surfaces. Beginning to sound like don't buy. com's Customer Service blow away practice.

Ah! But what I did wonder....if this was a prelude to "Gee whiz, you are no longer in that Plan. Would you like to sign up for our new XXXXXX plan?"

Customer Answer, "No".

BB: "Sorry, we can't enroll you in that Plan...Ah! It no longer exists/it exists but at a higher price. How about that?”

So today with a spanking new Credit Card I went to Blockbuster. Guess what happened?

MegalosSkylaki

[Atomic Rooster]

I don't subscribe to any of their pre-paid plans. Seems like a waste to me. I've been enrolled in their "Gold Rewards" plan for years now:

* For every 5 movies or games you rent, you'll receive 1 FREE rental, including New Releases and games, up to 2 a month.
* Rent 1 movie or game Monday through Wednesday, and receive 1 FREE Non-New Release Movie rental.
* Each and every month, you'll receive a FREE Non-New Release Movie rental coupon.
* Plus, when you provide your e-mail address, you will receive your FREE monthly rental coupon instantly via e-mail.

[MegalosSkylaki]

Originally Posted by Atomic Rooster

I don't subscribe to any of their pre-paid plans. Seems like a waste to me. I've been enrolled in their "Gold Rewards" plan for years now:

Sounds kinda complicated to me..checking on wheher a film is new release or not.. what day of way..how many freebies one has etc.

Whether a prepaid plan is in your interest is according to your rental habits.

There is at some point--whether you are in your "Gold Rewards" plan or Rent at will some "break even point"
In theory, someone could rent 2 films a day for 30 days = 60 films at aprox. $30 that an avarage of 50 cents a film.

Of course no one probably will. But I wonder if the PlanBusterComputer keeps track of the avarage price per film for pre-paid members and keeps in those for whom it's overcostly --like some who rents 4 X $5 films =$20 vs. someone who rents 14 X $5 films =$70 and dumps those who are in the latter catagory.

I plan to ask the "District Manager" who Customer Service will probably tell me has to call me the next day about that. That is if he ever calls me !

Anyhow, before I break the surprising (!) news, check out this:

http://www.state.nj.us/lps/newsrelea...omplaintag.pdf

MegalosSkylaki

[Atomic Rooster]

Have one of these in your local grocery store?

DVDPlay - DVDPlay movie rental kiosks

[MegalosSkylaki]

Originally Posted by Atomic Rooster

Have one of these in your local grocery store?

DVDPlay - DVDPlay movie rental kiosks

We're lucky if we have groceries in our local Grocery Store !
Real Estate here is leased by the sq. centimeter.

Yeah, I've seen $1 rentals in some towns across America outta machines like that. Most are about $3.

But here the movies come from Time-Warner, Internet, --and Blockbuster or Netflix. A few Mom-n' Pop stores still exist and rent movies that Big compnies won't rent. Some specialize in older or foreign movies. Libraries can order films for you from a listing on Library-net. Gotta know what you are looking for.

Blockbuster closed down many and coordinated location of a lot of its stores.
I'd just as soon NOT see the local Video Store go out of business.

Personally, I like to see what I'm renting and also check for scratches that will mess up the movie just when you got into it.

Err.there is also "the Principle of the thing".

ThanX for the suggestion, though.

[RobRich]

I have not rented a movie from a brick-and-motar store in many years. Instead, I am more inclined to use television pay-per-view or an online service like CinemaNow.