Clark’s article on Blockbuster wasn’t accurate
I would like to respond to James Clark’s Business Pulse article from Sunday, Jan. 25, (“If there’s no late fee, the movie is mine”), and clear up some of the misinformation he supplied your readers.
While I appreciate the humor in his article and the silly situation he presented of a Blockbuster employee being powerless to enforce a movie rental’s return time, Mr. Clark should have done his homework had he wished his article to be based in fact. Despite Mr. Clark’s assertion that the promotion was not very well conceived, it in fact has been well planned, executed and enthusiastically received by McMinnville residents.
Had Mr. Clark visited the store, the employees at the McMinnville Blockbuster at 835 New Smithville Highway would have been more than happy to explain that we were celebrating our Customer Appreciation Week, during which – with any paid rental – we would expunge all past late fees, allowing you to start with a clean slate. Mr. Clark also would have found out that there are some rules to this promotion:
• All rented product is due back on time as always. However, if you’re a little late, you will not be charged a Late Fee during our Customer Appreciation Week.
• Our Unreturned Product Policy remains in effect: If product is not returned within 12 days of its original due date, your account will be charged the full retail price of the product and normal collection procedures will apply.
While the article portrays this program as a “license to steal” McMinnville residents knew otherwise and fully informed themselves of this great offer. Scores stopped by to take advantage of this special limited time rental promotion. And, yes, the movies did come back; and those that took a little extra time were not charged late fees.
Sincerely,
Thomas M. Barzizza
Vice President of Southern Stores, Inc, a Blockbuster Franchisee