Blockbuster
I went to my local Blockbuster Video yesterday to rent a couple of movies. Certainly seems like they renovated the store, and when I went to pay, I realized where the money for the renovation had come from.
“$9.19 please.”
$9.19! For two movies? Part of the absurdity is the Florida state sales tax (6%) and my counties tax on top of that (another 1%). But still, the vast majority of the increase in rental fees to $4.29. That’s ridiculous. Netflix charges $17.99 a month for 3-at-a-time rentals. If, say, I want to watch four movies in a month or more, I’m better off going with Netflix.
But here’s the problem with Netflix or Blockbuster Online: If I want a movie, say, right now, I’m pretty much screwed. I either eat the $4.29 (which is, yes, still cheaper than the movie theater) or I ship back a movie today, wait 1-2 days for processing, and then wait another day for them to ship it out to me. We’re talking 4-5 days minimum there. (Blockbuster Online does allow for free rentals from Blockbuster brick stores, but only two a month. Use them wisely, I say.)
I guess $4.29 isn’t terrible for a movie rental. I suppose it’s on par with Pay Per View rentals. But, looking deeper, I rented one semi-new-release (Shaun of the Dead) and one older movie (To Kill a Mockingbird). They were both $4.29. I remember when Blockbuster Classics (a low-cost pricing scheme for older movies) were a $1.99 each. Sigh. I guess because they were both on DVD, Blockbuster Classics don’t apply. Then again, the whole freakin’ store is DVD, so I guess Blockbuster Classics is a thing of the past.
Still the fact that I used to get five movies for $20 and now only get four does tick me off. Paying outrageous prices to fuel a brand name and/or company motif is absurd.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go to Starbucks and get a venti.
