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  • Report:  #186259

Complaint Review: Blockbuster - Eastlake Ohio

Reported By:
- Willoughby, Ohio,
Submitted:
Updated:

Blockbuster
blockbuster.com Eastlake, 44095 Ohio, U.S.A.
Web:
N/A
Categories:
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I have been a faithful customer of Blockbuster for many years. Even with all the complaints about late fees and such, I have always found them to be reasonable with me and very friendly.

Then, Monday night I went to my local Blockbuster in Eastlake, Ohio to rent a video game for my fiance's X-Box 360. I had never rented a 360 game there before because when he first got his system, they weren't carrying any 360 games yet.

So, I stopped in on my way home from work and found the game I was looking for. I stood in line behind two other people. The girl up front was getting a membership card, there was a gentleman behind her with movies waiting to check out, and me. There was a young man waiting on the girl and another employee standing there doing nothing.

After standing line for about 10 minutes, the guy finally finished with the girl up front and then proceeded to yell at the me and the other guy in line that we were in the wrong line. The line we were in was for new memberships only. There was no sign indicating this, and he was the only one up front waiting on customers, so naturally, why would anyone think we should be standing in another line.

He then rang out the gentleman in front of me and I took my game up to him and handed him my Blockbuster card. He then asked me if I had a major credit card. I wondered why he wanted it but I handed him my Mastercard which is also a debit card. He then threw it back in my face and asked me if I had another credit card. I told him I did not because I had cut up all my other credit cards to pay them off. He then pulled out a sign that was sitting on the counter, shoved it in my face, and told me that I needed to have a major credit card that isn't a debit card to rent X-box 360 games. I asked him why that was when I had been renting here for years and never had anything like this happen.

He then proceeded to tell me that it's their policy that you must have a credit card to rent an X-Box 360 game and it can't be a debit card. I asked him why that was when a debit card is considered a major credit card; its a mastercard. He told me that they cannot charge money from your checking account. I advised him that my blockbuster card was already tied to my debit card and that they had deducted money from my account once before when they thought I hadn't returned a game when I in fact had (they were very nice about it then and reversed the charges immediately).

All he kept repeating is that it is their policy. He then had the nerve to ask me if I wanted to rent a regular X-box game. I told him if I came here to rent a 360 game, why would I want a regular one. He then practically threw my blockbuster card at me and I advised him that I was going to cut it up and they have now lost my business.

What kind of policy do they have there!! I have rented X-Box 360 games from three other game rental places and have never been told I need a credit card to rent one. I liked going to Blockbuster because it is the most convenient location for me out of all the other game rental places in my area. I guess I won't be going there anymore though.

For all of you who have an X-Box 360 but don't have a credit card, don't go to Blockbuster to rent a game because it's their policy not to rent with those without a credit card. Also, their customer service lately has been very poor. I will be telling all my family and friends not to use Blockbuster anymore.

Jennifer

Willoughby, Ohio
U.S.A.


1 Updates & Rebuttals

Derek

Urbandale,
Iowa,
U.S.A.
Explaination of the policy

#2UPDATE Employee

Sun, April 30, 2006

Hello, firstly let me say I apologize for the poor customer service you received on your visit to Blockbuster, I work as a customer service rep. in Des Moines, Iowa and everyone I work with provides excellent customer service. Now, to explain this credit card policy. Xbox 360 games are much more expensive for Blockbuster to rent out than dvd's or other games, also being in such high demand there is a risk of people not bringing them back. Thus, we're required to get credit card information simply to cover our losses should you keep our merchandise. The policy is that you get your 7 days on the rental, plus an additional 7 days grace period. If you do not return the game after the 7 day grace period (the 15th day) the game will be charged to your credit card and you then have 30 days to return the game, if you do the money will be returned to your bank minus a 1.25 "restocking fee". The reason the credit card cannot be debit is because we cannot overdraw a customers account. We were sued for this in the past, and are no longer allowed to take debit cards. I realize there is poor customer service around the country but I also realize people will tend to treat you with as much respect as you treat them. The condescending way in which you speak of the CSR's such as myself in your post lead me to believe you may not hold us in high regard. Either way I apologize for the minor inconvenience and poor service you encountered at your local Blockbuster, come out to Des Moines and we'll treat you right.

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