Irresponsible use of Blu-ray rental discs

[Bobby Henderson]

It shouldn't be a hassle to rent movies on Blu-ray Disc, but sometimes it is -largely because of people who have very poor habits in handling discs. They either don't know how to handle discs properly or, more likely, they just don't care.

I'm pretty sure I'm "preaching to the choir" in making this complaint. But what gets into the heads of some people that compells them to take all sorts of stupid chances with a disc they don't own?

I encounter Blu-ray rental discs soiled with finger prints fairly often. Some careful cleaning usually solves that problem. Still, any optical disc should be handled only on its edges (and perhaps a finger on or through the center hole to have a more stable grip).

I rented The Lookout on BD from our local Hollywood Video store. The disc just wouldn't load in my PS3. It turned out the disc had a few little scratches on it. That was enough to render it unplayable. I had to go back to the store and exchange it for a different movie. They had only 1 copy of The Lookout on BD and that copy was ruined.

Blu-ray has a more scratch resistant surface, but I wonder if some people are taking that as a cue to be extra abusive to the rental discs.

To involve others in the conversation, what sort of bad practices have you seen in disc handling?

I've seen lots of people just leave bare CDs and DVDs laying around outside of the case. That alone can do a great job of damaging discs.

Those CD albums and other disc holders with pages of clear plastic sleeves do a fantastic job of scratching and ruining discs of all types.

I've also observed some of my own relatives doing really crazy things with CDs and DVDs, such as letting their infant kid play with the disc and try to load it into the machine as if it is some joyous family moment. Sure, let the baby put the disc in his mouth, drop it on the carpet or slap it on the coffee table. How dare anyone have any problem with that! Anyone who does automatically hates children! So don't be a meanie and let Junior give the same treatment to that pricey new BD!

Sometimes I wonder if people are using optical discs as an SOS pad to scrub their walls clean.

It would be a really sad thing for a video store to need to install a sign or poster preaching to customers proper disc handling practices. Unfortunately it seems like we're headed in that direction. Or some stores may actually start doing like they did in the hey-day of VHS and actually check returned movies for damage and bill negligent customers accordingly.

[Kuraudo]

Of all my years using optical discs, I can't remember scratching one.
My whole cd collections I have had over 12 years has no scratches.

The thing that messes up discs are leaving them on tables then when people come up to grab them, they slide it against the surface, and sometimes dropping it on the ground, sliding it on the ground again to try to pick it up. Thus this leaves 2 opportunities for the disc to be scratched against very rough surfaces. You can then also add the fact a persons hand is trying to pick it up, leaving fingerprints.

The person realizes they put fingerprints on that disc and tries to find something (usually harsh) to wipe it off because they don't have a cheapo Microfiber cloth. (3x it gets scratched)
I've then witnessed people dropping it again then yet another time repeating the whole cycle over

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by Bobby Henderson

It shouldn't be a hassle to rent movies on Blu-ray Disc, but sometimes it is -largely because of people who have very poor habits in handling discs. They either don't know how to handle discs properly or, more likely, they just don't care.

I stopped renting movies years ago. I'd go to Blockbuster, and learned to have them open the case before I left. Usually, the movie was damaged, or dirty, and I'd have to get another copy - if it was available.

I got tired of the aggravation. I have no idea what happens at Netflix or any of those, but I'm just not interested in fooling around with it.

[ManUtd]

So far my rentals from Blockbuster online have very few or no scratches at all...oops maybe I've jinxed it.

[Heart&Soul]

You won't find a single scratch on any of my discs.

[Kaldaim]

most of my discs are scratched but i actually take care of my netflix movies. they're either in my drive or in the sleeve

[IvanDrago]

Wait, you mean I'm NOT supposed to use my NetFlix discs as drink coasters?

[TheEnd187]

The amount of scrathes and damage to rental disks, sometimes it seems like people do it intentionaly

[Jacobisthe]

people don't care about rentals on anything.

[blu-ray fan002]

Jacobisthe is right. I work at Hastings and everyday a customer comes up saying that their copy didn't work and I inspect the disc, and as usual, it's scratched. I know people don't care about the condition of the rental discs because it's not their disc. I love idea of checking each disc and if it's damaged, bill the previous customer. However, I know many customers will argue about it saying they didn't scratch it or they will say, "Do you have proof?" Of course we could say, "Yes, the disc is scratched." But we can't prove it was from them. Besides, if we did bill customers for damaged discs, they will get annoyed by it and stop renting from that business. I can't think of a way to prevent it, except for protecting our own and what we can of the rentals.

[dpomp]

to be honest i think the reason is that people don't care about other people's property (i.e. blockbuster, netflix....) but if it was there's i'd like to see if they did the same thing.

[WickyWoo]

Blu-ray has a more scratch resistant surface, but I wonder if some people are taking that as a cue to be extra abusive to the rental discs.

I think a lot of people have sandpaper coffee tables

[MOONPHASE]

Originally Posted by dpompeo

to be honest i think the reason is that people don't care about other people's property (i.e. blockbuster, netflix....) but if it was there's i'd like to see if they did the same thing.

+1

[MOONPHASE]

if you checked my discs you wouldnt even see a smudge or even a hair on them for that matter