I rambled about signing up for Blockbuster’s online movie rentals a few weeks ago. The selling point for me was that I could go into a store and trade in my mail-ordered movies immediately for in store rentals. For free! Plus a coupon for another one free every month!
I had something of a movie marathon this weekend, and decided it was a perfect time to try out this service. I printed out my extra coupon and took the two movies I’d received and already watched in hand and went on over to my local Blockbuster.
Well. First I made a wrong turn. While out and about in the neighborhood, I’d walked by a movie store many times. So when I went to find my Blockbuster, I just went right over there. As I was walking, I had a bad thought, “Wait a minute, isn’t that store a Hollywood Video?” Turns out it was! They all glom together in my head. I had to walk home and check out where the nearest store was. Turns out it wasn’t quite within walking distance (well, it was about 1.5 miles away. And I’d already run over 4 miles that day, combined with walking over a mile roundtrip on my abortive Hollywood Video trip. So I was due for a relaxing car ride). I drove on over and looked for parking. And looked for parking. And had an awesome spot stolen right out from under me. Darn, parking can be hard to find in the city. Finally found parking and headed on in.
It was pretty simple, all things considered. I picked out three movies, handed them my 2 mailers for returns and a coupon, and walked out free and clear. Of course, now I have to find the time to get back on over there and return the movies before they start charging me ridiculous late fees. Or whatever Blockbuster does now that they have claimed the end of late fees (they auto-charge you the purchase price of the DVD if you keep it too long! No more late fees. Pshaw).
Anyway, all in all, it’s a good deal. The turn around time is about 3 days between dropping a DVD in the mail at my office and getting the next movie in my mailbox at home. I’d say that’s great. As with the last time I did one of these mail-in movie things, I find that I immediately watch the short, funny, amusing movies and the long, intense, possibly upsetting movies pile up (March of the Penguins was watched immediately, The Departed clocks in at 3 hours+ … oh, excuse me, 2.5+ hours … and has been sitting here for a week).
2 Responses to “Enjoying my Blockbuster”
Go home and watch The Departed immediately. You won’t believe how fast it goes by and you will be sorry when it’s over.
Heh. I did. I watched it on Friday. It was quite good.