DVDs, Books and Credit Cards

Getting and returning DVDs here is somewhat different here. I am used to renting a DVD on either an overnight or a weekly basis and having to return them promptly or face a fine. Here it is a different model. It seems Netflix changed everything by developing a business model that did not involve due dates or late fees. With that system, you select you movie on line and it is sent to you (probably similar to what Foxtel has started doing in Australia). As a result places like Blockbuster have had to respond. You can get an overnight DVD and they 'request' you bring it back by closing the next day. If you do not, there may or may not be a fine, if there is it is tiny, especially when compared with what happens in Oz.

Then there is the Red Box DVD option at supermarkets. This is literally a large Red Box after the checkout where you can select DVDs. They seem to have a very large and up to date selection and it costs all of $1.00 to rent an over night movie. You have to put in your credit card and it records the details. If you do not bring it back the next day there may be a small fine but again it is minimal. They also seem to have movies on DVD much earlier here than what I am used to. Having said that, some films are just appearing in the movie theater here that were already showing when I left Australia, which was a surprise.

On that note, credit cards are used for just about everything here, including very small purchases. Whereas there is usually a A$10.00 minimum purchase in Oz, here they does not seem to be a minimum (there probably is for anything less than $1.00). As a result people use cards for even very small purchases. Such is their acceptance, for purchases up to US$15.00 you often do not even have to sign anything either.

That leads me on to how you sign when you have used your credit card. In most places you sign using an electronic pad and special pen. I noticed these just starting to appear in Aussie before I left, over here they seem to be very common although it is hard to make the signature look like what is on your card (not that many seem to check!).

Finally, I am used to recognising my favourite books by their covers when I go to places such as Borders. Not here as they all have totally different covers. It is quite strange for example seeing the Harry Potter books with covers that are nothing like those I am used to from both the UK and Australia. Whats more they do not seem to have the adult cover versions of the Potter books here either.

I am still finding lots of little things that are different...