Heat

To make a long story short, I rented a movie on Wednesday from Hollywood video that turned out to be fullscreen (I rented the widescreen version, plus they don’t even carry the fullscreen version of that movie) and it wouldn’t play. I took it back on Thursday, the manager looked at it and told the clerk that it was a VCD.

Apparently, somebody had a bad bootleg of the movie, so they rented it from Hollywood video and swapped the disks. I don't think that they thought it was me, I rent there on a regular basis ($1 all DVDs, even new releases, for 5 days).

Can they tell who rented that particular movie? I told the manager to check out the person who rented it right before me, but can they do that?

Also, the label looked real, is it really that easy to make fake labels?

legend42

Yes they can. Each DVD has its own serial # there.

Gizmo

Yes and no. If a movie is returned, and the employee see's its fake, then yes, they can pull up who rented it LAST. BUT once its rented again, and the customer spots something wrong (VCD), then no, the history is erased as soon as you rented it.

EDIT: This is true as of last year. I havn't worked there since April of 04

U6C84

I worked at Hollywood Video from Oct. 2003 to July of 2004.

Yes, you can check who rented it before you.

You are able to see the previous 3 people who rented it.

I vaguely remember how to do it, but if I was at the computer I know I'd be able to.

Heat

Cool, it had to be the person before me because the disk was not playable.

Of course, since this video store will be raising their prices next Tuesday from $1 for all movies (including new releases) to something like $3.78, I won't be renting from them after next Monday. It's been kind of a movie marathon in my house as I wrap up watching all of the various movies I've been meaning to see, though since I've been renting two or three movies per week from there for the past couple of years, I've pretty much picked over their selections.

BSpielbauer

Actually, this is not necessarily accurate.

When it comes to the area of "burned DVDs," or VCDs, there are several reasons why a disc may play on one DVD player, and not play at all on the next. First, some DVD players are manufactured to handle them, and others are not. Second, some DVD players can handle CD-Rs, but not CD+Rs. And, vice-versa. Third, some DVD players can handle CD-RWs, while others can handle CD+RWs. And, vice-versa. Fourth, some DVD players can handle the data in CD-Rom and even DVD-Rom discs, and others cannot. These same things are true for DVD-Rs, DVD+Rs, DVD-RWs, DVD+RWs...

Then, the issue is compounded by the actual quality of the media. Many dealers are selling bargain basement blank media (both DVDs and CDs) which might work in one DVD player, but not the next. The quality of the dye, the quality of the seal used at the outer edges, etc. Ironically, it is often the cheaper, no-name brands of DVD players which can handle almost any quality of DVD or CD thrown at it. The higher quality players (Panasonics, Pioneers, JVCs), are often manufactured to such stringent standards that they choke and lock up, or error out when presented with this "junk" media.

I have six different DVD players (including the Playstation and the one in the wife's van), and I have seen this repeatedly when I used "lousy" media, early on.

Because of all of this, it is possible that two or three or even more customers might rent a VCD and find it plays fine. Then, the next customer will have a player which coughs it up.

-Bruce in Chi-Town

wewantflair

LOL I need to find me some CD+R and CD+RW...