I found this item in today's Post:
<<Despite Disaster, They Look to Profit
By Bob Levey
Monday, September 17, 2001; Page C09
Washingtonians have generally been wonderful about dealing with Tuesday's tragedy. But then there were the profiteers, scam artists and lunkheads . . .
Lisa Arnold had rented a movie from the Blockbuster outlet in McLean. It was due back by noon Tuesday. "But I didn't make it until 3 or 4 p.m.," Lisa told me.
Reason: She was "glued to visions of death and destruction on the television." And just a mite upset at what she had seen.
But the manager of the Blockbuster refused to waive her $4.21 late fee.
"He said that Blockbuster was not part of the government and the whole thing was not their problem," Lisa said.
Lisa notes that it's not the $4.21 that bothers her. It's the principle.
"I certainly hope that none of the dead, injured or grieving families have videos out, because their late fees are piling up," she remarked.
Asked for comment, Randy Hargrove,Blockbuster's director of corporate communication, moved to mend the damage at approximately the speed of light.
He saw to it that Lisa's late fee was refunded. He noted that Blockbuster has offered its 5,300 U.S. stores as collection sites for a $1 million gift to the September 11 Fund (it will help victims of the disaster). And he offered Lisa a public apology.
"I would hope that the personnel in all our offices, especially in our offices in the Washington, D.C., area, would be a little lenient in this situation," Randy said, by phone, from corporate headquarters in Texas.
If anyone else got the Lisa treatment at any Blockbuster store, please let me know. It will be a matter of moments before I call Randy and say, "You've got another manager who needs a bit of education in human relations.">>
Am I the only person in the world who think it's rediculous to expect Blockbuster to waive the late fee for this?
Karen |
