Video store late fees

dtbog · #1 10-17-2005, 04:36 PM

Blockbuster has reportedly 'done away with late fees', but I don't live near a Blockbuster anymore, so I don't care.

The nearest place around is a Hollywood Video, and they have a standard rental deal.. $3.99 for 4 days, or whatever. If you're late, they charge you for another 4 day period. I'm not a frequent movie renter, so I usually just drop the movies in the box when I return them. If they're late, I'll pay the fee the next time I go into the store.

Last time I did this, however, the girl asked me as she always does, "do you want to take care of this balance now, sir?" For shits and giggles, I said no. She nodded and rang up my purchase.

I asked her when they would send me a bill, and she told me that they would never send a bill or force me to pay the fees. Ever.

... so I asked her if the correct play on my part would be simply to never pay the fees. She unmistakably said 'yes'.

What's my line? Obviously the $4 isn't the issue -- an employee of the store told me that I didn't need to pay their fees. What is my current obligation to Hollywood Video?

point/counterpoint...

- if you brought the movie back 30 seconds late and the manager said "nah, don't worry about the late fee", you obviously aren't obliged to pay it anymore.
- if you didn't receive any sort of affirmation from an employee, you can't really make this decision for yourself.

gildwulf · #2 10-17-2005, 04:40 PM

I have a HW video around the corner from me in Chicago, and I actually stopped going and got Netflix so I wouldn't have to pay the late fees. But this is intriguing:P

tonypaladino · #3 10-17-2005, 04:41 PM

I'd say the most likely senario is the cashier is an idiot.

You had to give a credit card to sign up right? They will probably charge the balance to your card if you let it ride long enough. I've had blockbuster late fees that they let me carry for a while before I paid it, but I had to pay eventually and they reminded me every time I was in there.

tonypaladino · #4 10-17-2005, 04:42 PM

Oh, and blockbusters "doing away with late fees" is a scam. If you keep the dvd too long they just charge you an obscene amount to purchase it.

gildwulf · #5 10-17-2005, 04:45 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I'd say the most likely senario is the cashier is an idiot.

You had to give a credit card to sign up right? They will probably charge the balance to your card if you let it ride long enough. I've had blockbuster late fees that they let me carry for a while before I paid it, but I had to pay eventually and they reminded me every time I was in there.

[/ QUOTE ]

I didn't have a credit card when I signed up for HV. They just ask for two pieces of ID, I think.

dtbog · #6 10-17-2005, 04:50 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I'd say the most likely senario is the cashier is an idiot.

[/ QUOTE ]

Right, but this is sort of my point.

If you ask a waiter at a restaurant if you can have all of the flatware at the table as "souvenirs", and the waiter says yes.. you've received a verbal confirmation from an employee.

Obviously, if a manager saw you, they'd probably ask you what the hell you were doing... but if you pointed him to the employee who authorized it and he/she didn't lie, the manager wouldn't fault you one bit in the end.

[ QUOTE ]

You had to give a credit card to sign up right? They will probably charge the balance to your card if you let it ride long enough. I've had blockbuster late fees that they let me carry for a while before I paid it, but I had to pay eventually and they reminded me every time I was in there.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't mind paying it; as long as they don't charge me interest or anything, I will not be miffed in the least if they send me a bill or charge my CC.

dtbog · #7 10-17-2005, 04:54 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Oh, and blockbusters "doing away with late fees" is a scam. If you keep the dvd too long they just charge you an obscene amount to purchase it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I figured as much.

How long is 'too long'? A week? LOL

Thythe · #8 10-17-2005, 05:02 PM

I think one negative is having to be reminded every time you rent movies. You get that disapproving look.

tdarko · #9 10-17-2005, 05:11 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Oh, and blockbusters "doing away with late fees" is a scam. If you keep the dvd too long they just charge you an obscene amount to purchase it.

[/ QUOTE ]
but if you bring it back it doesn't matter they just erase the purchase fee too, they just give you the option to be an idiot.

tdarko · #10 10-17-2005, 05:11 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Blockbuster has reportedly 'done away with late fees', but I don't live near a Blockbuster anymore, so I don't care

[/ QUOTE ]
wow, where is this?