Blockbuster Rates

[Atropos]

I just got back from Blockbuster where I rented Ravenous and Dark City, two "old" movies.

The total was $8.  That's $4 for an old release!! I'm not used to renting video's in Detroit (or at Blockbusterr), but where I come from the stores charge $3 for a NEW release and $1-$2 for an older title.

So what's up?  Is Blockbuster really this expensive?  Am I paying for renting in a high population area?  Or did I just get screwed?

[Jeff]

BB is $4 each here, too. In short, they're a ripoff. Go to Netflix.com and sign up and you'll never use BB again.

[AgtFox]

$3.49 per New Release and I think older ones are cheaper, although I don't remember off-hand.  Games cost $5.99 to rent for 5 days until it becomes a weekly rental.  Those are my BB prices here.

[Atropos]

Netflix sounds cool, but I don't rent movies hardly ever

[disarm]

hmm...sounds like you guys are getting kinda screwed.  my local BB has been doing 1-day rentals for $2 on any release for a while now.  rent a movie any day of the week, and it's due back by midnight the next day...keep it longer, and you pay $1 for each additional day.  you also have the option of paying the old rates up front if you know you want something for more than a day or two ($3.49 for a duration dependent on age of the movie).  i live so close to a BB that i never need a movie for more than one day...pick one up the day i plan to watch it, then drop it off when i go out the following day.  i've actually found myself renting more often now that it's a little cheaper.

[Jeff]

I assume the differences in policies and pricing has to do with franchised vs corporate owned BB's. Or could just be local market competition.

I haven't rented a movie from BB since 1999, when I discovered Netflix, but yeah, if you don't rent too many, it's not worth it.

[AgtFox]

I think their rates depend on the type of competition around them.  When Hollywood Video first opened up, Blockbuster dropped their DVD rental to $1.99, but now that HV has been around a while and BB is probably trumping it, they raised the price back to $3.49.  The $5.99 for games is actually cheaper than when I first started going there.

So, does your BB have any video store competition disarm or is my theory completely off the rocker?

[Atropos]

Well I'm *right* outside of Detroit, so I assume there are quite a few video places around.  

All I know is that BB has gotten it's last rental from me.  $4 for 4-5 year old movies is nuts

[Jeff]

All I know is that BB has gotten it's last rental from me.  $4 for 4-5 year old movies is nuts

If you don't rent too many, I'd look for a 'mom & pop' type video store. Usually, you can find some that let you rent pretty cheap.

I just got a card in the mail from BB today, offering me as many $1.99 rentals as I wanted from now till the end of the month.

[dangerballs]

I just got back from Blockbuster where I rented Ravenous and Dark City, two "old" movies.

I bought Dark City from Walmart for 5.50 a couple of weeks ago  

[Hamlet3145]

I go to Hastings.  New releases are 3.49 and old releases are 1.99.

[disarm]

So, does your BB have any video store competition disarm or is my theory completely off the rocker?

i live in a pretty densely populated area right along a strip of shops and restaurants, so there is some competition.  within 5-10 minutes drive of my apartment, i think there are 2 BBs, one Hollywood Video, and a couple Family Video stores.  the BB stores might be trying to compete with FV...i've never been there, but i think they do have pretty low rental rates.  i know that HV still charges about $3-4 for a rental.  i guess that could be enough competition to drive rates down...

[CeeKay]

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