WTF? How can they be that stupid?

I love my home state. If you want to claim "No Late Fees", make sure there aren't any. You can't just lie through your teeth!
http://money.cnn.com/2005/02/18/news...ex.htm?cnn=yes
NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - New Jersey Attorney General Peter Harvey sued Blockbuster Inc. Friday, claiming the video rental chain is deceiving customers with its new 'No More Late Fees' rental policy.
The lawsuit accused the movie rental chain of deceptive advertising and violating the state's consumer fraud laws.
"Blockbuster boldly announced its 'No More Late Fees' policy, but has not told customers about the big fees they are charged if they keep videos or games for more than a week after they are due," the attorney general said in a statement.
"There is no question about it – there is a violation of New Jersey's consumer fraud act," Harvey told CNN/Money.
Under Blockbuster's (Research) new policy, put into effect on Jan. 1, customers can keep a rental for one week past the due date at no additional charge. After that, they are charged a restocking fee of $1.25. And if the overdue item is kept for more than 30 days, Blockbuster will charge the customer the retail value of the item.
In a brief statement, Blockbuster defended the new policy, saying it was surprised and disappointed by the lawsuit.
"The fact is there are no longer late fees at Blockbuster," the company said. "We're disappointed he (Harvey) took this action, because we believe our end-of-late fees program is a terrific program and we've received tremendous feedback from both our customers and employees."
The company said it was "surprised" that Harvey did not contact company officials to allow them to explain the new policy.
According to the Attorney General, investigators from the division of consumer affairs began examining the matter as soon as the policy went into effect as part of a pro-active consumer effort.
"Our principal goal is restitution to the consumer," Harvey said.
When asked if he ever rents movies from Blockbuster Harvey responded, "my kids do."
Dallas-based Blockbuster (Research), with some 9,000 outlets in the United States, is reportedly facing growing opposition from antitrust enforcers over its hostile takeover bid to acquire Hollywood Entertainment Corp (Research)., its smaller rival.
Hollywood Entertainment's board on Thursday rejected Blockbuster's bid in favor of a lower bid from Movie Gallery (Research), saying the Blockbuster deal "raises significant antitrust issues" that could cause delays or a rejection of the transaction by the Federal Trade Commission.
Blockbuster shares closed modestly higher on the New York Stock Exchange Friday.
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
- John 13:34-35 (NRSV)
WTF? How can they be that stupid?

If you keep it for 8+ days past the due date, why shouldn't they mark it as sold?
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Do I understand Blockbuster's position correctly? If you're past the grace perid, they don't charge you a "late" fee, they charge you a "restocking" fee.But a fee is a fee is a fee.
Go gettem, New Jersey Attorney General Peter Harvey!!
Fah, anybody who bothers to read the stupid sign at Blockbuster knows what Blockbuster is doing. I guess the fine folks at the NJ AG office didn't bother (or care to) check out the details.

An AG looking to make a name for himself in the national media.

"No late fees" is very misleading though when it is not exactly true...they should have phrased it differently.
Speaking of Erith:
"It's not twinned with anywhere, but it does have a suicide pact with Dagenham" - Linda Smith
From what I understand, there aren't any fees... if you don't return it, they mark at sold (at "previously viewed" price if it applies) and you have a month to return it for your money back.
Rethink Refuse Reduce Reuse
Do It Ourselves
Originally posted by Zkribbler
Do I understand Blockbuster's position correctly? If you're past the grace perid, they don't charge you a "late" fee, they charge you a "restocking" fee.But a fee is a fee is a fee.
![]()
If they are charging restocking fees in addition, that still is quite different from a late fee. A late fee keeps adding up untill you return it, a restocking fee is for replacing the video which you have "bought" by not returning it.... what do people think, that you can check out a movie and never have to return it, basically buying videos for $2 (or whatever the hell they charge)?
Rethink Refuse Reduce Reuse
Do It Ourselves

Apparently people from NJ are that stupid.Originally posted by General Ludd
what do people think, that you can check out a movie and never have to return it, basically buying videos for $2 (or whatever the hell they charge)?
... and LA.![]()

Apparently the NJ Attorney General juuust beat three or four other state's AG in filing against Blockbuster for advertising fraud. I'm sure by the end of it, most states will be doing so.Originally posted by asleepathewheel
An AG looking to make a name for himself in the national media.
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
- John 13:34-35 (NRSV)

Yes, the should have said, "Read my lips: No new late fees."Originally posted by Provost Harrison
"No late fees" is very misleading though when it is not exactly true...they should have phrased it differently.
“As a lifelong member of the Columbia Business School community, I adhere to the principles of truth, integrity, and respect. I will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do.”
"Capitalism ho!"

**shrug** I'm not surprised about strings being attached. Heh. There was enough "fine print" in the commercials I read and saw to know that "No Late Fees" was just a marketing ploy, nothing more.
Gatekeeper
"I may not agree with what you have to say, but I'll die defending your right to say it." — Voltaire
"Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart." — Confucius
I use hollywood video![]()

I refuse to use Blockbuster after they decided to charge my credit card $125, without consent or notification, for not returning a video that I didn't rent. A fact they only accepted when I was able to prove I hadn't been nearer than 16,000km to the store in question in over 6 months.
Capitalisation - The difference between helping your uncle Jack off a horse, and helping your uncle jack off a horse
Grammar - The difference between knowing your $hit, and knowing you're $hit.
Spelling - The difference between being literate, and being Dinner.
Heh, this lawsuit sounds stupid enough to actually be true. But it is amazing, as Ludd pointed out, to think that some people would really believe they could just hold on to rented movies forever without any consequence. That has got to be one of the most retarded things I've ever heard.
You can blame Blockbuster for a lot of things, including their lack of porn titles, but this isn't one of them.

Which is in the midst of a hostile takeover attempt from Blockbuster. Enjoy!Originally posted by Dissident
I use hollywood video![]()
Tutto nel mondo č burla

You didn't read the article POSER!Originally posted by Boris Godunov
Which is in the midst of a hostile takeover attempt from Blockbuster. Enjoy!
Hollywood Entertainment's board on Thursday rejected Blockbuster's bid in favor of a lower bid from Movie Gallery (Research), saying the Blockbuster deal "raises significant antitrust issues" that could cause delays or a rejection of the transaction by the Federal Trade Commission
ACK!
"Foof." - Sasquatch.

This PR disaster for Blockbuster bodes well for Netflix. Who has experience using Netflix? Is it making sense?

Netflix
we've recently upped it to 5 at a time, so we're (wife and I) burning throughabout 25 or so dvd's a month.
they would own nearly every single video store in the country! You think the FEC (or whoever handles anti-trust suits) would allow this? Yeah sure republicans are in power, and we know they cater to big business. But I still don't think this will fly.Originally posted by Boris Godunov
Which is in the midst of a hostile takeover attempt from Blockbuster. Enjoy!

Netflix is nice. However I figure that I'd need to watch 4 or 5 movies a month to get my money's worth. I don't have that kind of spare time so it's not an option.

Do you understand what a hostile takeover is?Originally posted by Tuberski
You didn't read the article POSER!
The board recommended the shareholders say no, but that's just a recommendation. The shareholders might go with Blockbuster, because in terms of instant dollars, it's a far better deal.
And yeah, the regulators might nix the deal anyway, but with the GOP in power, who knows...?
Tutto nel mondo č burla

Netflix PWNZ![]()

Btw, the FEC is the Federal Elections CommissionOriginally posted by Dissident
they would own nearly every single video store in the country! You think the FEC (or whoever handles anti-trust suits) would allow this? Yeah sure republicans are in power, and we know they cater to big business. But I still don't think this will fly..
The Department of Justice deals with anti-trust issues.
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
- John 13:34-35 (NRSV)
I was thinking of the SEC actually. I put the wrong one down.
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