# WTF do people do to rental DVD's?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-do-people-do-to-rental-dvds/601594>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [November 2, 2011, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-do-people-do-to-rental-dvds/601594 "2011-11-02T05:57:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-do-people-do-to-rental-dvds/601594/41 "2011-12-02T01:24:37Z")

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> [@joebuck20](#):
>
> DVDs from the public library can be especially bad. I’ve checked out some that look like they were mauled by a belt sander.

That’s why I examine the disks I’m borrowing from the library before I leave with them.

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**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-do-people-do-to-rental-dvds/601594/42 "2011-12-03T21:25:04Z")

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> [@Broomstick](#):
>
> That’s why I examine the disks I’m borrowing from the library before I leave with them.

Please tell me you don’t do that while still standing in line. And please please tell me you don’t lecture the librarians if you find a scratched one.

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**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\
**Post date:** [December 4, 2011, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-do-people-do-to-rental-dvds/601594/43 "2011-12-04T02:26:54Z")

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No, if there’s a line I step to the side so as not to interfere with traffic flow. Minor scratches I ignore, but if something major is visible I might point it out to them. I don’t know why I’d “lecture” the librarians, I’m pretty sure _they_ didn’t do the damage. I might inquire if there are any notes on file, or if there is an undamaged copy.

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**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\
**Post date:** [December 4, 2011, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-do-people-do-to-rental-dvds/601594/44 "2011-12-04T10:35:35Z")

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> [@MeanOldLady](#):
>
> So I just got a DVD last week that I’d been eagerly awaiting _forever_ (not really – I added it to my Netflix queue then forgot about it, but still!) and when it finally arrived, it wouldn’t play because **someone had apparently tried to clean the disk with sandpaper.** People, please, DVD maintenance is not that hard!

Maybe steel wool works better.

Reminds me of [this](http://www.datadocktorn.nu/us_frag6.php). Actually, this is a site showing how to defraggle your computer’s hard disk, but this link goes to the step where he polishes the disk surface with steel wool. Looks like it ought to work just as well on CD/DVD too, ya think? 😛

(ETA: If you’re interested, the actual defraggle happens on pages 4-5 of that site.) 😛

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