Towards the end of August, I wrote about our experience with Blockbuster Rewards. I’m sad to say that this has not improved much. But I do have some interesting news to report. I can’t yet say if I’ve cracked the code, but during the month of September, I was able to make some progress, and we came home with the coupon that allows us to get a free rental during the month of October. Now we just need to see if we can keep track of the thing and remember to take it back next month. So without further ado, a quick refresher, and then how you can try and get yours.
After our first four months in the program, we had not received a single voucher for a free rental. Each time we went back, we were spending progressively more time in the store. First because the rental choices are getting slimmer and second because they are obviously clamping down on freeloaders like ourselves who only spend the $10 to get a free rental every month and don’t actually get sucked into doing anything else while they are there. What’s worse, we’re obviously making a dent in the productivity of the entire store when it takes so much time to get our free rental.
For month number five, the kids didn’t get to choose – we did. This is for a variety of reasons, but mostly because the kids were in trouble and it came down to the last day of the month, and hey – we paid for it, they’re going to give it to us. So it was with a small amount of dread that we walked into the store and found a rental (Detroit Rock City, in case you were wondering). As we approached the desk, I saw that it was none other than my manager friend from last month.
Whether he recognized me or not, I don’t know. He didn’t seem to admit it, at any rate (at least, not at first). But after about ten seconds, and us not having our coupon, when he was the one who checked us out the last month, he figured it out pretty quickly. When he noticed the queue growing behind us, and that I wasn’t backing down, he actually picked up the phone and called someone to see if they could help him figure out what to do. So much for being helpful. He never faltered calling me his friend, however. In no time at all, we were on our way. And what do you know – at the end of the transaction, there comes our voucher for October.
According to Mr. Friendly Manager, if you participate in a transaction in the last four days of a month, then the voucher prints for the next month. This wouldn’t have happened in August because we were there a week before the end of the month. In July, it was the middle of the month. In June, it was sometime around the 29th, so either he’s blowing smoke, he figured out how to print the stupid thing, or they fixed a bug. I guess we’ll see this month – provided we get there at the end of the month. I think we’ll go in the last four days of the month, just to see if his words are correct.
Comments
5 responses to “The Elusive Blockbuster Rewards Certificate”
My wife signed us up for the Rewards program and used the token you get with the sign up. I have been waiting for a coupon to come in the mail, I just assumed that was the proceedure (I know – “assumed”). So I found the little tri-fold brochure that had the rewards cards and read through it. There was something that talked about getting your coupons faster by signing up for “Inside Blockbuster” which you could do in the store or online. The problem was that they don’t give an internet address or instructions for this online sign up. I came across this blog while trying to search for the online sign up instructions.
I see that in a prior post, someone had actually taken the time to read the “terms and conditions” section relating to the Rewards program. The version I found online is more detailed than the one on the back of my brochure, but it does seem to explain pretty clearly that unless you get signed up for coupons via e-mail that you will either need to make a purchase towards the end of one month to get the coupon for the next month, or you will have to request your coupon. Apparently that doesn’t mean at the cash register. They definately should spell this out more clearly. When they were questioned at the store, you would think they would be better prepared to give a clear explaination (and some highschool students I know are better communicators than a good amount of adults). I hope that the posts in this series will help people make a good decision about their entertainment programs. And hopefully they will know some good questions to ask before signing up. Thanks!!
Hey,
You’re making it out to be alot harder than it is. The next time you go in just ask if you can update your e-mail address and then they will send you your free rental no purchasing required…that’s how I get mine.
Wow… I was having exactly the same annoying problem with Blockbuster. I started a Rewards membership in January, 2008 using a half-price coupon from the winter Shrek 3 online game. The free rentals wen fine for the months wherein I rented something else; two other times, they either swiped the rental chit from another pack or scanned another membership pack to et my rental. No such luck on my last two visits, though. I just called 800-406-6843 and got signed up for email delivery of the coupons. I’ll be watching my inbox and “bulk” box for it. [Interestingly, the manager’s use of a new sign-up pack to get my last free rental may have renewed my membership, too.]
-Eric
Thanks for the note, Christi – we never actually set up our account for email, and according to the line where it says You may also receive your Free Monthly Movie Rental coupon at a participating BLOCKBUSTER store upon request and presentation of your BLOCKBUSTER Rewards membership card., we ought to have been able to pick up our coupon in-store. But that never actually happened. Apparently the Blockbuster employees weren’t informed of this little tidbit, at least while we were members of the program.
I went through some trouble also until I found this and called to set it up through e-mail. At first I couldn’t find it, but it was in my spam folder and does not specify anything about not be good for a new release.
Membership in BLOCKBUSTER Rewards® is valid for one (1) year from the date of activation and is not transferable. BLOCKBUSTER Rewards® membership requires payment of an annual fee, which may vary by location, plus any applicable tax. From time to time Blockbuster may offer complimentary or discounted memberships; these Terms and Conditions apply to all such memberships. Void where prohibited by law.
Free Monthly Movie Rental coupons, as well as other exclusive offers which Blockbuster may provide you from time to time, are an important benefit of your BLOCKBUSTER Rewards membership. One way of providing you with these coupons and other offers is through electronic mail. If you elect to receive your coupons and other offers via e-mail, you authorize Blockbuster Inc., its affiliates and franchisees, if permitted by Blockbuster, to send you e-mail marketing communications to the e-mail address or to alternative e-mail addresses you provide to Blockbuster. Opt-in to receive benefits and other communications by e-mail by: 1) providing your e-mail address in-store at the register and filling out an e-mail permission slip in-store; 2) calling the BLOCKBUSTER Member Service Center at 1-800-406-6843 or 3) signing up for e-newsletters at http://www.blockbuster.com. Therefore, when you elect to receive benefits by e-mail, you overrule any election you may have previously made to opt-out of receiving regular e-mail communications from Blockbuster. You must notify BLOCKBUSTER Member Service Center at 1-800-406-6843 if you change e-mail addresses. Blockbuster is not responsible for any e-mail not received due to inaccurate e-mail information provided or failure to update your e-mail address on your account, or for any other communications failures beyond Blockbuster’s reasonable control.
If you do not elect to receive your Free Monthly Movie Rental coupons and other offers through e-mail, you may receive them at a participating BLOCKBUSTER store. Beginning approximately one week prior to the applicable calendar month, your Free Monthly Movie Rental coupon will print automatically after your first rental or retail transaction during the applicable coupon period. You may also receive your Free Monthly Movie Rental coupon at a participating BLOCKBUSTER store upon request and presentation of your BLOCKBUSTER Rewards membership card. Blockbuster is not responsible for any coupons and/or special offers not received by a BLOCKBUSTER Rewards member who has elected to receive coupons and special offers from a BLOCKBUSTER store due to the member’s failure to request the coupons/offers or conduct a transaction with BLOCKBUSTER during the applicable coupon period.
In addition, Blockbuster may choose to send you certain offers or important information through the postal mail. Therefore, when you join BLOCKBUSTER Rewards, you overrule any election you may have previously made to opt-out of receiving regular direct marketing communications from Blockbuster via postal mail.