Random Question For Americans

[deird_lj]

Okay. I've got to ask.


American flist people: when you hire a video from Blockbuster or similar, do you pay the store when you leave with the video, or when you bring it back?

*starting to suspect the world has differences I never knew about*

Comments

[washa-way.livejournal.com]

When you leave the store with the video.

If you brought the last one back late, you have to pay the late fee before you can rent a new one.

[deird1]

Hmm... that's what I thought. But I keep seeing Americans talking about paying for their videos when they return them.

How very odd...

[immer-am-lesen.livejournal.com]

maybe they're talking about paying for overdue fees?

[deird1]

That's what I thought the first few times, but then it started sounding less and less likely, from the way they described it.

Maybe I'm just going insane?

[immer-am-lesen.livejournal.com]

going?

[immer-am-lesen.livejournal.com]

I think if people only paid when bringing back the vid...the stores would never see their vids/ DVDs again...
Honestly, would you return them if you didn't have to?

[taiba.livejournal.com]

That's easily fixed by "if you don't return it by this date, you can't rent again".

People only pay late fees upon return, and yet people still return videos that are late.

People aren't as dishonest as you think :-p

[immer-am-lesen.livejournal.com]

Weeeell...I've known people who've happily rented a heap, then never returned them. Easier to do when you move suburb or town and then you can start it all over again...
Takes all sorts.
But yes, I'd hope most people would be more honest.

[deird1]

Hey!

[immer-am-lesen.livejournal.com]

Oh come one....left yourself wide open.

[angearia.livejournal.com]

There's this new thing called RedBox where you can rent DVD's from a machine and you just swipe your card. When you return the DVD, the machine charges your account for however many days you've had it out.

[dreamincolor.livejournal.com]

Yep, what washa_way said.

(PS: Hiiiii Mez. -waves enthusiastically-)

[deird1]

Hi! *waves back*


(Watched far too many Bones episodes this weekend...)

[dreamincolor.livejournal.com]

SCORE!!

I mean..-cough- How nice for you. -glances around-

How far did you get?

[deird1]

About halfway through season one? I think?

'Twas very fun and interesting - but unfortunately is due back today, so I'm going to have to hire it again to keep watching... *grumble*

[dreamincolor.livejournal.com]

Ooo, you are speedy.

Yay for renting it out again. Be sure to keep me posted on what you think, I'm interested to see. (I really liked season one, I think it's one of the best.)

-cackles evilly at having dragged Mez into a new fandom-

[immer-am-lesen.livejournal.com]

...that's why God invented DVD rippers and burners... ;-)

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

Another thing that might be different here is that we dont't "hire" videos, we "rent" them. Typically, we only hire people (or cabs).

[immer-am-lesen.livejournal.com]

Heh- 'rent' is for houses here...and also for videos. I've seen both, though I think 'video rental' is more common than 'video hire'.
'Hire' is used more often for services or people than things, I'd agree.

[neutralalienist.livejournal.com]

It might depend on the place?

[deird1]

So... some places do have you pay when you return the videos?

[neutralalienist.livejournal.com]

It's...possible, I suppose? If people are recounting this happening.

[snowpuppies]

Every time I've rented a vid I paid upfront, before I left.

[samantilles.livejournal.com]

the policy really depends on the chain. The larger the chain the more likely you pay for it before walking out of the store. At blockbuster (I worked there on and off for five years in secondary school and college) it's paid for in advance for 1rental cycle. Your acct then is charged for a second cycle when returned late (whenever that is now--I have no idea since I found iTunes) but smaller chains in the past have sometimes gone with one payment upon return when they decide just how long you kept it. This way works better for stores that might use a less advanced rental system (the store in my memory kept index cards and the membership card ransom until it was returned). Owadays some of the largest chains have a netflix like system-a monthly fee for unlimited rentals (x amount of simultaneous rentals at the salt time usually being the limit) without due dates.

In terms of how they protect getting their property back, rental places will put charges and nonreturns on your credit report which could damage your ability to get credit cards, a mortgage, or even a job. Scary stuff to be honest and not that many people realize it until it's too late.

[washa-way.livejournal.com]

I've never gotten a video without handing over money unless I checked it out of the library.

There is NetFlix, of course, which allows you to get DVDs sent directly to your house. You pay a flat monthly fee and can have three DVDs out at any given time. The faster you watch them and send them back, the faster new ones get sent to you, and the more viewing you get for your money.

We joined NetFlix around five years ago and I don't think I've been to a video store since. Admittedly, we live in a small town and our video stores suck.

[lavastar.livejournal.com]

When you leave. Anyone telling you otherwise is yanking your chain, as far as I know.

random commenter

[rowanda380.livejournal.com]

You pay when you take it, and if you take it longer than you should you also pay afterwards.

[lyr]

When we leave. Why, is it different for you?