Wendy Ballard, a company spokeswoman, said the card gives buyers a chance to win a week's free rental from Avis.

There is a limit of one free rental to a customer.

"Now we're trying to get the film into the Blockbuster stores to be available for free rental," she added.

My neighborhood video store is having a food drive: bring in four items for the food bank, get a free rental.

I feel a little guilty accepting the free rentals, but not enough to ask him to stop.

The real edge that Blockbuster has over Netflix is that it offers a coupon every week for a free rental from its stores.

"They were giving property away downtown - free rentals."

I am not 'giving' this convention other than free rental on the land for the Big Top.

Whether the option to return movies in-store for a free rental will help close the gap between the two services remains to be seen.

Blockbuster's online offer is unique in that it comes with two free in-store rentals a month.