Now months distanced from these decisions, I’ve begun to question my actions, as, whether I enjoy admitting it or not, Netflix offers the far superior business practices, overall customer interaction and reliability. In fact, I’m quite baffled by just how incompetent Blockbuster Online truly is; if ever a company has compelled a consumer to “cheat” or commit piracy, it’s BBO, as no one enjoys waiting weeks on end to view a highly anticipated film, especially when there’s no legitimate reason for the wait.
Having signed up with the service months ago I’ve already accumulated numerous examples of shoddy business practices, but I’ll keep it real simple and just provide you with two facts that should leave your head spinning faster than Regan MacNeil’s. I signed up for the service on October 5th; I’ve received three DVD’s since. The last disc to land in my mailbox was Jim Gillespie’s backwoods monster flick, Venom. I shipped the film back to my providing distribution center (I use those last few words very loosely here), which just so happens to be located in Sacramento, California, 40 miles south of my current position, on December 20th; Blockbuster reports that they got their hands on the DVD December 22nd. In my queue sits a handful of horror features, all of which have appeared as ‘Available’ (sans Bereavement, which changed today from ‘Available’ to ‘Short Wait’, though it’s not even the next film slated to be shipped) since I added them, yet nothing has been shipped in my direction. For 12 days my account activity has sat stuck in a strangely one sided two step, and I’m not on the favorable end of this obnoxious affair.
I’m all for extending expected room for error and time off, given the holidays, but it’s been nearly two full weeks, and Blockbuster can’t manage to get a disc 40 miles in that time? I’m not going to say our postal service is exactly top notch around these parts, but Blockbuster (like most other companies offering the same or similar services) provides customers with an up to date tracking system (apparently the only one that works) that allows me, the consumer to see every date in which a disc is shipped or received. They’ve unraveled their own brand of ironic proof, as the system designed to make things convenient and current have proven the same means with which to examine their complete and utter ineptitude.
All the unprofessionalism I’ve experienced over the last few months got me to thinking: Perhaps there is a hidden agenda at the heart of this project. Perhaps, this apparent incompetence is merely a guise, applied with the intent of frustrating the public to the point of rage, prompting many to march their asses right down to their nearby BB distributor. Yes, Blockbuster may indeed have very little to do with actual film itself, and everything to do with (get ready for it)… weight loss! This must be a ploy to get the broke, frustrated, flustered overweight individuals off of the couch and into robostomp mode.
You clever SOB’s: you got me… I’ve got to give you that. But I’m officially on to your scheme. I see your intent, and I won’t deny the nobility in it, but I didn’t sign up for this either; I’m okay with my broke obese ass. In the end you’d better believe me: I do plan to invest more time in alerting the public to your true intent. For the time being however, I think I’ll cancel my membership, walk to the nearest Netflix distributor (also in Sacramento; never had any significant issues with shipping, not even during the holiday seasons may I add) and apologize for parting ways with them to begin with.
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