Question about Blockbuster.

[McCants]

Sorry that this is my first post on these forums, but this just happened today, and possibly changed my business strategy.

Ok, to make a long story short, I'm a filmmaker. I have a few movies I wanted to sell to rental chains, especially Blockbuster video. But today at a little past 10am, I was at Blockbuster looking around, and they called the police on me. Apparently I was looking suspicious, and they thought I was shoplifting. So I had to deal with the cops for a while. Please ask if you're interested in hearing more about this.

Ok, with that said, should I still do business with this company? I mean, yeah I felt a little wierd about the racial profiling (I'm a black male), and I don't think I'll ever give them my money again. But from a business standpoint, should I take their money? It was just one store and one incident, but some colleagues have been telling me that I shouldn't do business with them based on this.

Any thoughts?

[mastersmurfie]

based on your experience, maybe submit your movies to Viacom (which owns Blockbuster...)

then, when (if) they accept your material, tell them about your experience with the local store...

I mean, yeah I felt a little wierd about the racial profiling (I'm a black male), and I don't think I'll ever give them my money again. But from a business standpoint, should I take their money?

hell yeah!! If they offer it, take it!!! It shouldn't matter if you are a black male or a red elephant!

then, don't ever rent from or do business with them again...

I'm just ranting cause that racial profiling just pisses me off! and I'm a white male!

mastersmurfie

[tgpo]

Cool man. I'd love to hear about your movies, I'm also into film making.

Blockbuster is basically antiindipendent movies. They only accept crap. Plus they typically only put out what their distributor*gives them. Screw Blockbuster, goto a REAL movie store.

[Conquest10]

Blockbuster is basically antiindipendent movies. They only accept crap. Plus they typically only put out what their distributor*gives them.

As do most or all Viacom companies.

[pyrate83]

Where's Devanshu when you need him...doesn't he work for Blockbuster?

[offline]

McCants,

Tell us more. Which store? I'm not American but I think
that is pretty disgusting. Where I'm at, the police would
consider arresting the manager for racial vilification.

Mind you, in my Market Research days I would always identify myself
to the counter staff and let them know what I was
doing. Best consider this the next time you go
researching. Unless you are from a competitor, you'd be amazed
how friendly some chain store staff can be despite the pittance
they are given for working there.

[Craig Tucker]

You got some material there for a new movie. I can see the title now.

BLOCKBUSTERS THE RACIST BIGOTS

Do you think they would carry it

[Cobra]

That sounds ridiculous. You should make a complaint to Blockbuster and/or the authorities.

I work in a supermarket, and if I was ever going to stop someone for shoplifting (which I have done a lot of) I actually have to see them pocket whatever, follow them to the door and only then make my move. Causing trouble just because I suspect it is not acceptable in my opinion.

As for racial motivation, was there actually any evidence to support this? If there is, I think you should take this a lot further. If it was just a passing thought then maybe it wasn't stereotyping. Although, in a situation as stupid as that it is hard to come up with a better explanation...

Keep us posted, anyway!

[Conquest10]

Cobra, America is a very different place.

[McCants]

Heres basically the whole story. Might be kinda long when I get done.

I was out job hunting. Stopped at Blockbuster to take a look around. I don't know how long I was in there, couldn't have been that long. I looked at most of the kids section, then wandered over to the comedy section. I looked at most of those titles because I found it funny how lame and similar they all were. This is when I noticed an employee following me. Whenever I looked up from whatever I was looking at, he was there. I thought he was just doing his job.
Ok, I got enough of those repetitive relationship comedies, so I decided to skip the action section, and get back out on the job hunt. I walk out to my car, start it up, let the engine run for about 60secs, so it doesn't shut off on me when I'm at a light or something. I pull out, and there is a cop making a left turn into the strip mall. I'm heading her way, and she speeds into the parking lot, turning in front of me. I thought she just made a bad turn or something, so I tried to go around. I looked her in the face so I could smile and give a nod maybe, but she's pointing at me saying STOP THE CAR, STOP THE CAR.
Uh, ok. She hops out and asks me why am I sitting in the parking lot? I told her I was just leaving Blockbuster Video, and she asked if I got anything. I said no, then she asked for drivers license and registration. No big deal. Then she asked for my keys.
She pulls around to the back of my car, and I guess she runs my information through her computer. Then another cop pulls up. I guess its a normal thing to call for backup on a situation with a guy leaving Blockbuster Video empty handed? Anyway, the guy is watching me through the passenger window. Its not like I can go anywhere, the cop lady took my keys.
So, I'm waiting patiently in my car for a long time, and the two cops are talking about whatever, I guess maybe how somebody screwed up.
They invite me to the rear of my vehicle, to give me "the skinny on whats going down". Apparently the people at Blockbuster Video, or possibly the people at CVS Pharmacy(stopped in there for less than five minutes to look at the magazines), called the police and said I was shoplifting. Shoplifting?, I asked.
The lady cop then asks me why was I in there. Oh, I don't know, trying to find a movie to rent? I told her that I was interested in applying for a job though. Technically I was, just not there. Then the lady says I was in there loitering for 90 minutes. 90 minutes? Keep in mind that Blockbuster opens at 10am, and this happened at a little after 10am, maybe 10:20 or 10:30. So, if I were to be in there 90 minutes, I would have been there before the employees.
Then she asked if I was interested in applying for a job, why didn't I just fill out the application, and leave. I told her I felt like taking a look around first. I mean, it is a store afterall. The cop then says "let me offer you a piece of job hunting advice." She said the next time I want to put in an application somewhere, let the people know at customer service that I want to apply, but I would like to look around first.
Thats the part that just killed me. Basically, if I'm going to Walmart to buy some underwear, but feel like looking at other items at the same time, I have to go to customer service and make my intentions known. I couldn't believe she said that to me.
After that, I didn't want to argue, for fear of getting beat up, so I just calmly took back my information, asked for my keys, and left. I even told them to have a nice day.

So, what happened was, a black guy walks into a Blockbuster, does what everyone does, which is peruse the aisles trying to find something he likes, and gets the police called on him for possibly shoplifting. Then the police come, not one, but two, and tell me that the next time I enter a store, I have to let someone know that I will looking around, like I'm any different than the other thousands of people that go in and out of the shops and stores.
I guess a black guy just can't walk into a store and scare white people like I did, I have to let you know that I'm in here, so you won't be alarmed, and that I come in peace.

(sorry about that last part, its kind of the way I felt at the moment)

[Cobra]

I don't live in America, but is there not a higher authority who you can report this to? Those police officers should not have treated you like that, the staff at Blockbuster should not have called the police and you should not have to go and "make your intentions known".

I don't know what else to say. I feel angry reading that, so I can only imagine how you feel right now.

Cobra

[McCants]

I'm not really angry about it. I'm just saddened that people still see blacks as "most likely to commit a crime". And in this case, just blindly calling the police and falsely accusing me of criminal activity.

[mh2360]

Its not just Blockbuster in the US, that have issues... I once visited my local Blockbuster (Yorkshire, UK), I was considering becoming a member. As I entered the store, the assistant asked me to leave my shopping bags at the counter, and collect them on the way out. Needless to say I, politely (this is the UK after all ), told her what she can go and do with herself... I don't think it's a race issue (I'm white, light hair, blue eyes), I just think they're breathtaking-ly arrogant...

[Craig Tucker]

I have not been into a blockbusters in years, (In fact I dont think we even have one here any more) but what are you going to nick - an empty case ?

[lordsmurf]

Write to your local newspaper (letter to the editor, e-mail is best) and call your local news stations. Especially the TV news station. They eat stuff like this for breakfast. Follow up the newspaper letter by calling the Opinions Editor of the paper (leave a message, do it about 3-4 hours after sending the e-mail, but ON THE SAME DAY you send the e-mail).

Next, write a letter to Blockbuster, and follow up with a phone call in about a week. Then follow up with another letter. They are HQ'd out of Addison, Texas (Dallas area). You may very likely get some free rentals out of it. Be sure to include the name of the officer, the police department (phone and address), and a detailed story like you did here. Be sure to write down the exact date and time, as well as a description of the employee (so they can nailed his ass to a pike).

Finally, report the officers to his or her commanding officer. Every officer has a person to report to, and even the chief reports to the mayor or city manager. BE VERY SURE to tell them about that bullshit advice you got.

I walk around a video store for up to an hour sometimes, carefully seeing the used items for sale, new items for sale, video games, VHS and then finally. .. maybe ... the DVDs (already have Netflix, not really a DVD in-store renter). It's a store first and foremost. There is no need to tell anybody about applying until you're done shopping and ready to leave. That's pure bullshit, and I'd have told that to the cop as soon as she said it (my exact words probably would have been "those are the most absurd words I have EVER heard uttered by an officer" and probably followed up with a bit of "policing advice" saying that she should "stick to her day job, not try career counselling").

But that's just me.


FYI: I don't necessarily disgree with racial profiling, to be quite honest, but unless that exact Blockbuster has had a lot of theft from black males (and black males are unusual in the area), then it's ridiculous and unfounded. (Example: Middle eastern men are the only ones flying planes into buildings, so searching the 90-year-old woman in the wheelchair is beyond stupid. ACLU can blow me.)

[DVD_Ripper]

Wanna wig the guy out that was following you around the store... park your car and sit it in - in a spot near the entrance so when he leaves the store after work he would have to see you 'staring at him'...

When he leaves.. you leave to ... follow him for 30 seconds and then drive off.... He will shit his pants, run home and lock his house up like you wouldn't believe.


One day, 15+ years ago, while going home from work (suit and tie job back then) a coupla' of skin heads asked if I got my license in a cracker jack box (I had a 3 series beemer back then) ... I smiled and rolled my window back up and stopped at the store to get some eggs. They followed me into the parking lot. I had a 25" crescent wrench (one big mother) and pulled it out of my trunk as then approached... I told them to keep walking and they did (I'm not big but I'm 6'2")... however they followed me home later when I left the store... I drove around for 30 minutes not going near my apartment... they finally drove off... I wish I had a cell phone that day.

[pyrate83]

Heres basically the whole story. Might be kinda long when I get done.

I was out job hunting. Stopped at Blockbuster to take a look around. I don't know how long I was in there, couldn't have been that long. I looked at most of the kids section, then wandered over to the comedy section. I looked at most of those titles because I found it funny how lame and similar they all were. This is when I noticed an employee following me. Whenever I looked up from whatever I was looking at, he was there. I thought he was just doing his job.
Ok, I got enough of those repetitive relationship comedies, so I decided to skip the action section, and get back out on the job hunt. I walk out to my car, start it up, let the engine run for about 60secs, so it doesn't shut off on me when I'm at a light or something. I pull out, and there is a cop making a left turn into the strip mall. I'm heading her way, and she speeds into the parking lot, turning in front of me. I thought she just made a bad turn or something, so I tried to go around. I looked her in the face so I could smile and give a nod maybe, but she's pointing at me saying STOP THE CAR, STOP THE CAR.
Uh, ok. She hops out and asks me why am I sitting in the parking lot? I told her I was just leaving Blockbuster Video, and she asked if I got anything. I said no, then she asked for drivers license and registration. No big deal. Then she asked for my keys.
She pulls around to the back of my car, and I guess she runs my information through her computer. Then another cop pulls up. I guess its a normal thing to call for backup on a situation with a guy leaving Blockbuster Video empty handed? Anyway, the guy is watching me through the passenger window. Its not like I can go anywhere, the cop lady took my keys.
So, I'm waiting patiently in my car for a long time, and the two cops are talking about whatever, I guess maybe how somebody screwed up.
They invite me to the rear of my vehicle, to give me "the skinny on whats going down". Apparently the people at Blockbuster Video, or possibly the people at CVS Pharmacy(stopped in there for less than five minutes to look at the magazines), called the police and said I was shoplifting. Shoplifting?, I asked.
The lady cop then asks me why was I in there. Oh, I don't know, trying to find a movie to rent? I told her that I was interested in applying for a job though. Technically I was, just not there. Then the lady says I was in there loitering for 90 minutes. 90 minutes? Keep in mind that Blockbuster opens at 10am, and this happened at a little after 10am, maybe 10:20 or 10:30. So, if I were to be in there 90 minutes, I would have been there before the employees.
Then she asked if I was interested in applying for a job, why didn't I just fill out the application, and leave. I told her I felt like taking a look around first. I mean, it is a store afterall. The cop then says "let me offer you a piece of job hunting advice." She said the next time I want to put in an application somewhere, let the people know at customer service that I want to apply, but I would like to look around first.
Thats the part that just killed me. Basically, if I'm going to Walmart to buy some underwear, but feel like looking at other items at the same time, I have to go to customer service and make my intentions known. I couldn't believe she said that to me.
After that, I didn't want to argue, for fear of getting beat up, so I just calmly took back my information, asked for my keys, and left. I even told them to have a nice day.

So, what happened was, a black guy walks into a Blockbuster, does what everyone does, which is peruse the aisles trying to find something he likes, and gets the police called on him for possibly shoplifting. Then the police come, not one, but two, and tell me that the next time I enter a store, I have to let someone know that I will looking around, like I'm any different than the other thousands of people that go in and out of the shops and stores.
I guess a black guy just can't walk into a store and scare white people like I did, I have to let you know that I'm in here, so you won't be alarmed, and that I come in peace.

(sorry about that last part, its kind of the way I felt at the moment)

Man that's absolutely horrible the way you were treated. There has to be something you can do about it. I would consider that harrassment but I'm not a lawyer.

[Devanshu]

Where's Devanshu when you need him...doesn't he work for Blockbuster?

Right here...skipped over the thread somehow.

Anyway...that's absolute crap! I'd be pissed. I respect your tolerence level because I wouldve marched right back into the store and demanded to speak to the person who called the cops.

Recently a lot of the stores in my district have been getting hit for games(mostly) by some dude with a magnet. I assume(with this thread) that it's happening nationwide. I've been told to be on the lookout for anyone who makes their way into the games section and stays there for too long. Just last week when I did the inventory for games, 6 madden 2005 and 2 driver 3 were missing. This may be why the employee was following you everywhere. I think that what happened to you was wrong and disgusting.

Jeex had a similar problem w/ wal-mart...I'd ask him what to do.

[Conquest10]

Jeex had a similar problem w/ wal-mart...I'd ask him what to do.

Isn't he banned?

[Cobra]

Yes. He made his last attack on another member recently which resulted in a banning.

[Craig Tucker]

Yes Jeex is banned.

Are you telling me in the states that games and DVD's are actually in the cases on display - thats crazy.

Over here its just the empty cases on display, you take the empty case to the cashier, and they give you a blank box with a DVD in it.

[lordsmurf]

The Blockbuster near me has no games in the cases. They open up the locked file cabinet at the register.

[DVD_Ripper]

Yes Jeex is banned.

Are you telling me in the states that games and DVD's are actually in the cases on display - thats crazy.

Over here its just the empty cases on display, you take the empty case to the cashier, and they give you a blank box with a DVD in it.

Yes, in the states all the DVD's are in 'locked' DVD case on display... you check for one on the shelf and then take to cashier... they have a little tool that removes the locking doohickey. It is not the normal DVD cases ... they are also on display but for your review only... no DVD's inside.

[Devanshu]

It is not the normal DVD cases ... they are also on display but for your review only... no DVD's inside.

Too bad I get atleast 5 people everyday that bring me the empty cases instead of the movie right behind it.

[ViRaL1]

To the original poster...
I'd make sure you contacted Blockbuster HQ and spoke to someone to see what their take was, whether or not they tried to be helpful or just treated you like it was your fault. You may get something out of it, you may not. But I wouldn't base my decision to do business with an entire corporation on one isolated incident brought about by idiots at one specific location. I'd never shop at that particular Blockbuster again, but if you have other business, I'd get a better idea of the corporate stance first.

to LordSmurf...

...(Example: Middle eastern men are the only ones flying planes into buildings, so searching the 90-year-old woman in the wheelchair is beyond stupid. ACLU can blow me.)

Why not profile white men? Who else has blown up federal buildings or assassinated (or attempted to assassinate) presidents here in the US? A larger part of the conflict has less to do with race and more to do with religion. I agree that the bulk of Muslims are from that region, but not all those from the middle east are muslims and not all muslims are from the middle east. I say if you're going to watch anybody, watch everybody, because in the end, once that you're focusing on one group or another, you leave yourself wide open to everyone else even though their ideas may be the same as those who LOOK different. As an example, I had a buddy in High School who looked the part of your typical 'trouble-making' black teenager. He and a white buddy of his would go someplace together, coming in 5 or 10 minutes apart. He never had to do anything, he apparently just had that look that would draw the attention of Loss Prevention. When it was all said and done, his buddy would end up pocketing and walking out with whatever he wanted because they were all too busy watching my the black guy. They'd meet up later and split the spoils.

[Conquest10]

I agree that the bulk of Muslims are from that region,

You couldn't be more wrong. Its true that the majority of them in the US are from that region but they do not make up the bulk of the total population.

[Invader Bugs]

wow. thats just not right, i have been in blockbuster looking around for, actually, more than an hour, and i go there a lot, and no ones ever even payed attention to me. either way, blockbuster puts security devices on almost everything, did they think you stole some candy? also, my blockbuster, just doesnt care, me and one of my friends were there and i rented a movie, he bought a magazine. it was late, so we were waiting for a ride back home, so we were looking at the display boxes they leave out for dvds, just the box and insert, no disc, my friend forgot he was looking at it when we left, so he took it, no one stopped it, said anything, or even seemed like they cared. he brought it back though, but, still no one cared. i guess it depends where you are

[Capmaster]

I agree that the bulk of Muslims are from that region,

You couldn't be more wrong. Its true that the majority of them in the US are from that region but they do not make up the bulk of the total population.

How true. This litle tidbit was taken from the CIA World Factbook:

Indonesia

Population:
238,452,952 (July 2004 est.)

Religions:
Muslim 88%, Protestant 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 2%, Buddhist 1%, other 1% (1998)

[ViRaL1]

I'll recant that part of the statement. But I will firmly stand by the rest of what I said until other flaws are found!

[Capmaster]

I'll recant that part of the statement. But I will firmly stand by the rest of what I said until other flaws are found!

I'm right there with you brother. I had to admit I erroneously moved a thread. Ohhhh the humanity <gasp> I'll bet we'll both get over it