Which video stores are evil?

[UserNameUndecided]

I have been hearing a lot about how Blockbuster Video© is a spawn of Satan, because of their rental pricing, and just plain evilness. Although I have never liked them even before I had even heard of such a thing as rental pricing, I just hate how they send you nagging legal notices in the mail whenever you've got a video a day over do.
anyhow...is it the same with Hollywood Video©? Should I stay away from them as well? I don't live near any mom and pop rental places unfortunately, and I like to rent DVDs often (from Hollywood©). But I started getting a little ticked off with them, when I realized that they only have the edited version of Requiem for a Dream available to rent, but then have the director's cut available only to buy. Hell, I was planning on applying for a job their soon (I am 16).
What am I to do?? Is there no way to avoid these evil corporations?!?

[TheJeffy]

I've been renting from Hollywood® for several years now and don't have a single complaint.

I avoid Blockbuster because of some bogus charges they tried to get out of me in the past. Unless I'm really desperate ( for example, only one rental there last year, zero so far this year )

[Eye]

For "live action" flims/movies, I rent from a small Mom & Mom video shop by me. 3 bucks for 3 nights rental on all DVDs, and their DVD selection blows away BlockBuster's. Huge selection of DVDs & Laser Discs for rent & purchase.

For most of my Anime rentals, I have to use online sites such as Cafe DVD and Rent My DVD (dot com).

Is there no way to avoid these evil corporations?!?

Well, they're not _all_ evil. Just a few here & there.

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..:: Eye | Moderator | Rats.

[This message has been edited by Eye (edited 06-16-2001).]

[Taxi]

If I rent, it's usually from Hollywood video. However, since they're a local company, there are tons of them around here. (Portland, OR.)

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Taxi - DVDFile Forum Administrator
Eleven plus two = Twelve plus one

[1138]

At least when renting from Hollywood, you're creating competition for BB.

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1138 - DVD File Forum Greeter
Christ. Seven years of college down the drain. Might as well join the fucking Peace Corps.

[Miggy]

My vote is you're safe renting from Hollywood. I like them because you get 5 days instead of 2. And with Blockbuster's new BS noon policy, you don't even get that!

Miggy, the Thief

[UserNameUndecided]

Ok then. It is good to know that I am not plaguing a small country with an incurable virus everytime I rent from Hollywood then.
Thanks for everyone's help. And keep the comments coming!, it is good to know how others feel on the topic of rental pricing, what evils Blockbuster has cast, and...I just want something to read.

[BraveSirRobin]

The only complaint I have with my local video store is that they never have enough copies of Videos and DVD's in stock for certain new releases. For example, I wanted to go rent a DVD copy of "O Brother Where Art Thou", and there was not one copy left on DVD or Video, which made me mad.

[Damian]

We usually don't rent from Hollywood or Blockbuster, only because they never,and I mean NEVER have what we want to see in stock.

Crapbuster touts a "Guarenteed To Be In Stock" marketing lie on television and radio. Never are the newer movies in stock when you want them. You basically have to be standing at the door on new release day in order to get the guarenteed title or your S.O.L. (But they'll give you a free rental coupon since their guarenteed movie ISN'T THERE) You know what they can do with that free rental coupon.

Hollywood Video just simply has crappy employees. I've gone into detail about in previous posts about how bad the employees are at Crapbusters, but Hollywood Video has some of the worst.
The exception to this is the Hollywood DVD store in Concord, California. There the woman was very nice and very informative about how their new store was doing. I'd go back there again and again.

But for rentals, we actually rent from our local Albertson's grocery store. They will hold movies for you, they have a very small selection but they almost always have the ones you want. And they actually carry as many DVD's as VHS.

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"They're us....we're them!"
-Damian

[egman]

Before moving from California, I lived near a very nice mom and pop named Awesome Video. Though individual stocking would vary, the actual selection blew Ballbuster out of the water.

While BB was trying to catch up with their DVD selection, Awesome already had a nice selection. They also had a real anime section. And for the adults, a porno section.

The only disappointing thing was the games. They didn't get video games in very often unless it was an highly anticapted game. But I guess games did not matter too much to them because they did a real good job catering to the ADULTS.

Now, I live by a crappy BB that does not give anybody a chocie in what they want to view. I find it damn hypocritical when I can find the latest slasher there while I can only find the edited version of Requeim for a Dream, a movie that really has something to say and probably should be viewed by kids. Hmmmm, what a family friendly establishment.

I've had to pay late fees even though I was damn sure the movie was returned way before the noon deadline. Plus, as many of you have mentioned, their selection is shit and that little gaurentee of theirs is not true.

Neddless to say, I found the money I have saved from not renting from them has allowed to increase the size of my DVD collection.

[haveapez]

I usually use MovieGallery, but it seems like they are getting more and more like Crapbuster with their notices in the mail about movies being overdue...sometimes sending two in two days when you've already taken it back.