Infiltrating Blockbuster Video – What it takes for a quad to rent a video.
Every few months, I would go out with a couple friends from work, Chris(tine) and Diana. We usually go out to dinner after work, and sometimes catch a movie also. This time, however, after dinner, we decided to rent a movie and go back to Chris’ house since her husband was out of town.
We swung by the local Blockbuster video, and, while Chris was renting the movie, I decided it would be a good time to get a video card of my own. Diana was nice enough to help me fill out the application. As we were walking to the counter, she informed me that I needed a driver’s license. We just laughed about it, saying that we were sure they’d let me slide on that, for obvious reasons. Well, we get to the counter and Diana handed the application to the teenage girl behind the counter. Sure enough, the girl asked Diana, “Does he have a driver’s license?”
Diana knows I hate being talked over and, pointing to me, said, “Don’t ask me, he’s sitting right there.”
Ignoring the video girl’s transgression, I smiled and said, “No, I don’t have a driver’s license, but I do have a credit card.”
Obviously uncomfortable, video girl replies, “But you need a driver’s license to get a video card.”
“Well,” I said, “we’re going to have to do it without one, because I don’t have a driver’s license. I do have a credit card. If that’s not enough, I also have a college ID, a Social Security card, and if you really need it, my work ID is out in my van.”
“Mmmm, I’m going to have to get the assistant manager. We really need a driver’s license.” She said as she walked away from the counter.
Diana and I just looked at each other, shaking our heads and smiling. Meanwhile, Chris found the movie and was getting in line to rent it. “What’s up?” she asked.
“Good thing you have a video card.” I said, “I’m having a little trouble getting one.”
A moment later, what seemed to be the assistant manager returned to the counter. He looked to be about seventeen, and a little scared. “Hi,” he said (I think his name was Bob), “Can I help you?”
“Sure Bob,” I replied with a smile, “you can give me a video card.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, “we really do require a driver’s license.”
I said, “Do I really look like I need a driver’s license?” (actually, in retrospect, I shouldn’t have said this, because I’d be annoyed if someone just assumed I didn’t drive, but I was getting pissed) Then I proceeded to tell him about all the alternative identification I had with me.
“But we need a picture ID.” He said.
“Great,” I replied, “my college ID and my work ID both have pictures on them.”
“But they need to be state issued IDs.” He retorted.
“Bob,” I said, starting to get a little annoyed, “I’m not trying to get access to the Pentagon, I’m trying to get a lousy Blockbuster card.”
“I know, but you can’t get one without a state issued picture ID. The computer needs it.”
“Bob, first of all, I’ll never need any other ID than what I already have-I’ll never get a driver’s license. Second, I know that you can get around it in your system. I know a little about computers. Do you mean to tell me that if you’re unable to drive, Blockbuster won’t give you a card?”
Persistently, he replied, “You can go up to the Department of Motor Vehicles, and they can issue you a ‘non-driver’s’ picture ID.”
“There’s no way that I’m going all the way up to the DMV to get an ID, just so I can rent a movie at Blockbuster Video.”
“Well, I don’t know what we can do then…”
“I’ll tell you what you can do Bob.” I was pretty hot now. “You can go over to the computer and do whatever it takes to get me a video card, because I’m not leaving without a video card.”
“O-OK,” Bob stammered, “I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thank you!”
Bob wandered over to the computer, and as he was putzing around with that, Diana, Chris, and I in total disbelief about what I had to go through to get a video card. Even though I was pretty annoyed, we just stayed at the counter and joked at Bob’s and Blockbuster’s expense.
After about ten or fifteen minutes, Bob returned and announced, “OK, it took some doing, but I got you into the system without a driver’s license, so I can give you a card.”
I had cooled down a bit and said, “Thank you Bob. I really do appreciate this, and I don’t mean to take it out on you, but you really need to speak with your manager, or home office, or whatever, and get this system changed. This is ridiculous. What happens when someone like an elderly person can’t make it to the DMV to get a picture ID? Does that mean they can’t rent a video?”
“Well,” replied Bob, “I don’t think that they’ll be able to change the computer system. That would be really hard to do. And that’s why I said you can get a non-driver’s photo ID at the DMV. After all, you need a photo ID for other things, don’t you?”
I didn’t feel like arguing with this kid anymore, so I just said, “Guess what Bob; I just purchased a house, got Homeowner’s Insurance, and obtained a mortgage, all without a driver’s license or a non-driver’s photo ID. And, as I said, I work with computers every day, and it would be very easy to change the system. Please tell someone about it.”
“OK, I will.”
Chris, Diana, and I left with our video, and I with my shiny new video card. We laughed about it that night, and this story has been a source of humor for quite a few people since then. The thing I regret is that I never wrote a letter to Blockbuster to let them know about the problem I had. I kept meaning to, but never got around to it. The funny thing is, I’ve never used that card, and so it still hasn’t been activated. Someday I’ll try, and I’ll be sure to write the story about it.
Update: I’ve since been back to Blockbuster, and had absolutely no problem renting a video. To active my card, the clerk did ask me for a driver’s license, but when I explained that I only had a college ID, she happily accepted it without any more discussion. In fact, she was very helpful and courteous. There was no sign of Bob.