While rushing back to Blockbuster to return my movie before midnight, I neglected to take the time to rewind it. However, I noticed that there’s no mention of an obligation to rewind the video on the tape, unlike the days of yore when videos rented (from independant places, mind you) warned of all sorts of fines and charges against those who negelected to rewind. Now granted, I’ve yet to rent another movie, so maybe I have a fifty cent fee waiting for me, but I wonder: Do video stores still require rewinding? If not, why not? Did they find a quicker way to do it? To compete with large chains that don’t require it? Just because rewinding is largely ingrained in us by this time? This was probably the first film I’ve returned in years without rewinding.
“I guess it is possible for one person to make a difference, although most of the time they probably shouldn’t.”
I called my nearest Blockbuster for ya, to my best recollection of the conversation:
BB Guy: “Hi, thanks for calling Blockbuster, where you can win 19 million this week, how can I help you?”
Me: “Just a quick question, do you guys charge folks for not rewinding videos?”
BB Guy: “Nope.”
Me: “Did you ever?”
BB Guy: “Nope. It’s not allowed.”
Me: “Not allowed? Why not?”
BB Guy: “It’s against the law.”
Me: “No way, a law against rewind fees? When did that happen?”
BB Guy: “It’s been a few years back… some video chain lost a lawsuit about it. It’s not good for VCRs… they’re only supposed to wind one way.”
Me: “Then what the heck is the reason for having a rewind feature on my VCR?”
BB Guy: “Well, you know…”
Me: “Yeah, I know, so that would be the reason you guys keep 10 tape rewinders behind the counter, huh?”
BB Guy: “That’s it.”
Me: “Well, thanks for your time!”
BB Guy: “No problem.”
So Blockbuster won’t charge you any sort of rewind fee. But now you know it’s against the law, so if any other company charges you, you can sue their butts off.