Video renters always have an excuse when they return late

"Most people are just a day or two late, and it's because they didn't have time to watch the movie before it was due," said Hill, who works at Family's E. Court Street location. "But then you get the more unusual stuff, like the guy yesterday whose dog ate the movie. The sad thing is, the dog got to it before the guy even had a chance to see it."

In the six years she's worked for Jumbo Video of Flint, Michelle Toby has seen her share of mangled and misplaced videos.

"Some customers have returned videos that have totally melted in the sun," Toby said. "People with kids return movies with Juicy Juice all over the tape. One lady came in with three smashed videos that her daughter accidentally ran over with the car."

"One customer was 51 days late returning a video because she had lent it to her boyfriend, and then they broke up," said Scott Siekierski, who works at Hollywood Video in Flint. "That stuff happens a lot."

Karri Kuzma, Hollywood Video store director, remembered a customer whose movies were returned by the state troopers who arrested him while he was en route to the video store.

"The police stopped by with the movies and said, We're just dropping this off for him so he's not late.' "

One woman came in Toby's store wearing a hospital wristband to prove that she'd been ill and couldn't return her movies on time. Her late fee was waived.

Toby isn't as forgiving when people return movies late because they've been on vacation.

"They have the nerve to walk in here with a tan," she said with a laugh. "I tell them, At least you could have brought me back a souvenir.' "