Don't Be Late Returning Movies to Blockbuster

[jsalba]

DALLAS (AP) -- Blockbuster Inc. said Thursday that a judge in California ruled in the video chain's favor in a lawsuit over late fees.

The Alameda County Superior Court judge found that Blockbuster's late fees were not a penalty and it's up to consumers whether to keep rented videos beyond the initial rental period, Dallas-based Blockbuster said.

The ruling by Judge Ronald M. Sabraw came in a lawsuit filed by Sharon Pickens objecting to Blockbuster's late-fee policy.

Blockbuster has been hit by many class-action lawsuits accusing it of making unfair profits with late fees, which account for about 20 percent of its revenue.

Edward B. Stead, Blockbuster's general counsel, said the ruling confirmed that challenges to the late fees "have no merit and are being driven by the plaintiffs' lawyers."

In a separate case, a state district court judge in Beaumont approved a settlement in January 2002 that called for Blockbuster to issue discount coupons to more than 38 million customers, but lawyers for some plaintiffs are appealing that ruling.

Blockbuster has more than 8,500 stores around the world. The media giant Viacom is its major owner.

In trading Thursday, Blockbuster shares rose 43 cents to close at $15.80 on the New York Stock Exchange.


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[Juliannaluv]

No kidding!!!

DH & I used to rent from Blockbuster but won't even walk past one now!

We rented a movie & returned it the very next day because we were packing to move and didn't want to lose it or accidentally pack it. 6 weeks later we get a bill in the mail from them for $68.00. How could we prove we returned the movie??? Well, to make a long story short, we could prove nothing to them and ended up paying the stupid fees. That was over 8 years ago and I have not done business with them since. Not only that, but I got a CG for Blockbuster as a Christmas gift and I gave it away. I refuse to give them my business in any way!!!

[luvmetender]

I agree with their late fee policy.

Julianna, what happened to you is a different story, and I'm sorry that happened to you.

But in general, how else can they get their movies back unless they impose a late fee?

Our local blockbuster has waived the late fees for me before because of snow or because I was sick. But otherwise, when I return the movie late, it's my fault and totally expect to pay a late fee.

[Juliannaluv]

I agree that late fees are okay, but how about charging late fees up until purchase price. So whatever they paid for it is recovered and they can purchase another.

I am sure that the movie that DH and I "allegedly" didn't return did not cost their company $68.00. Notification a little sooner than 6 weeks after the due date would have been nice also.

I can also see their point. They are losing revenue on a movie that they had planned on renting out but could not because it wasn't in their posession.

Oh well. Doesn't much matter to me because I still don't give them my business


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[luvmetender]

I guess they all have different policies since they are franchises. Ours does not charge more then the price of the movie in late fees. I know this because my daughter rented Footloose and brought it back to college and forgot about it. Blockbuster sent numerous reminders by mail, and finally we ended up buying it for $19.99.

I totally agree with you that you shouldn't have to pay more than the price of the movie.


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[ghostie79]

Originally posted by Juliannaluv

I am sure that the movie that DH and I "allegedly" didn't return did not cost their company $68.00. Notification a little sooner than 6 weeks after the due date would have been nice also.

Actually, if I'm not mistaken, the videos that rental stores buy do cost a significant amount of money (think around $100). Something about the videos being higher quality to withstand all the viewing? I might be wrong, but I thought I read something about it somewhere before. Anyone know??


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[Mouse7088]

Originally posted by ghostie79
[b]

Actually, if I'm not mistaken, the videos that rental stores buy do cost a significant amount of money (think around $100). Something about the videos being higher quality to withstand all the viewing? I might be wrong, but I thought I read something about it somewhere before. Anyone know??

Ya know, for the life of me I can't remember where I saw it, but I know I saw a price list before and the movies WERE in upwards of $100 PLUS...the earlier releases of course being cheaper.


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[StrikeFighter18]

I suggest using NetFlix ([Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]) for videos. For 19.95 per month, you have unlimited movies on DVD, and can keep them for as long as you want, with no late charges. And they come with prepaid mailers to send them back. One was lost in the mail on its way back, and it cost me nothing. I just notified them on what day I mailed it back. Plus I can pick the movies I want to see, not just what the store has in stock when I walk in.


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[billsmrs]

Well I know what you mean about the late fees. Hubby went around and around with the blockbuster here. He finally won but it wasn't pretty. For several months he REFUSED to go back there. Even now it is RARE but sometimes he will go if there is something he is wanting to see that noone else has in stock.

The one here tends to not check the boxes like they should......you know the drop off boxes. Hubby dropped a movie in there that was due back that day.....it was ON TIME. (they won't take them over the counter.....you have to place returns in the box ) Anyway......the next day he goes to rent a movie and they tell him he has late fees?! Of course he argued with them. Then come to find out that it was THEIR fault......they did NOT check in the movies until closing time and because of that it showed it was late. The only reason we found that out was because one of the employees who was working that day came forward and told us that he remembered seeing hubby returning a movie and then he also told us that it didn't get checked in on time.....it was not our fault but theirs. Upon the manager being informed of this the account was credited and we also got a free rental but it still made hubby mad. Mad enough to where he didn't go back for several months!!

[cata5]

This is not whether they should charge a late fee so I don't get this verdict. This, I thought, was about them charging fees that were not supposed to be charged. Like billsmrs said they were not checking their boxes by the "time" of day that was specified for returns so people were getting charges right and left when it was not their fault. They were in the wrong, but it was difficult to prove so customers were ripped off. We never go there anymore because of this. We DID have late fees that we did incur because we forgot to return some movies and those we paid for. We also had charges for movies we returned on time. Also, like billsmrs, we weren't contacted for months after on the bogus charges.

I don't necessarily think that Blockbuster was out to scam people. I just can't believe that sooo many people had the same problems with them. Where was their customer service on this??

I have netflix now which I love. If for some reason we want to rent a movie in town I go to Hollywood video. We had a problem there once, too, but the manager cleared it up quite quickly to our satisfaction. It was only once in all the time we rented from them unlike the numerous times Blockbuster tried to nail us with charges that didn't apply.

The real issue here is not whether they should charge a late fee. Yes, they should...or noone would bring the movies back. Should they ignore their own time limits by not checking the returns and thus charge people for movies in the box, but not yet checked in? I don't think so.


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[3tbear]

We used to go to Blockbuster, then discovered Netflix. We saw soooo many movies from Netflix, that we finally cancelled their service. We were all movied out.


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[stking]

I agree that they should be able to charge late fees. What I don't like is the way they charge an entire rental period again. In other words, you can return it 3 hours late but have to pay the fee equal to renting it a whole week again. I think it should be more staggered such as- a day late = $1.00 or something like that.

[kells3]

stking I agree with you. It would not bother me if they pro-rated the amount. I hate to pay for the whole next 5 days when I return it the next morning.