Netflix & Blockbuster

[jmw1137]

I was just going to post today about the ad from the Super Bowl promoting Blockbuster giving a free in-store movie rental every week to see if it made anyone switch from Netflix (I'm a Blockbuster subscriber myself). Then I read this article today about Netflix not really being fair to their longtime & loyal subscribers which I thought was pretty interesting: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060210/...x_throttling_2

[ehh]

Re: Netflix & Blockbuster

BB Oline sucked for me, I'd return all three movies the same day and I'd get confirmation e-mails from BB that they got them back like 3 days apart.

Then I'd get an e-mail saying they shipped a movie on X date, and it'd get there 5-days later. I cancelled after my free trial was up, it was shady and terrible customer service. Basically I was in the same boat as that Villanueva guy in the article. Total BS.

[billmatic]

Re: Netflix & Blockbuster

I had BB Online for little less than a year, and never had any problems with it. Every time I sent something back, it got there the next day, or at the latest, the day after that. Same with receiving stuff.

[aukevin]

Re: Netflix & Blockbuster

I've had Blockbuster for a while now. I switched from Netflix because of the in store rentals. Blockbuster I think changed it for the new customers. I pay $14.99 and get two free instore movies or games in addition to the unlimited mail rentals. I think the plan now is $18.99 with a free instore movie only rental each week. They asked if I wanted to get on the new plan but I wanted to keep the lower price and the game rentals.

[jmw1137]

Re: Netflix & Blockbuster

I've had Blockbuster for a while now. I switched from Netflix because of the in store rentals. Blockbuster I think changed it for the new customers. I pay $14.99 and get two free instore movies or games in addition to the unlimited mail rentals. I think the plan now is $18.99 with a free instore movie only rental each week. They asked if I wanted to get on the new plan but I wanted to keep the lower price and the game rentals.

The new plans are movies only? That sucks. I really liked using my 2 free in-stores for games. I actually cancelled my BB about a month ago due to lack of good movies out. I'm planning on signing back up again around the end of the TV season since everything will be reruns. I hope there's some way to get free game rentals.

[aukevin]

Re: Netflix & Blockbuster

The new plans are movies only? That sucks. I really liked using my 2 free in-stores for games. I actually cancelled my BB about a month ago due to lack of good movies out. I'm planning on signing back up again around the end of the TV season since everything will be reruns. I hope there's some way to get free game rentals.

yeah, I got an email wanting me to "upgrade" to this new plan and all the ads in the Super Bowl mentioned the per week rentals. But the email I got from Blockbuster said that those rentals are for movies only.

Here's a rundown of the old plan and new plans:

[Jimplication]

Re: Netflix & Blockbuster

I just signed up for Blockbuster Online's $17.99 plan last week.

It's almost worth it for the free rental coupons alone. 4 weeks in a month, $4 or more to rent a DVD... That is $16 a month, and makes the $17.99 worth it considering the bulk of the movies will be acquired via mail anyway.

I've only been with them a short while but have no complaints so far. I get the movies, watch them in a day or so, and send them back. Blockbuster sends emails confirming the arrival and departure of new DVDs, and they seem to be fast enough for me.

I saw the article above yesterday, and it certainly won't help NetFlix. Companies that don't reward their longer, and more devoted, customers, and instead hurt them, don't appear to have a solid future ahead of them. Because at some point, they will run out of new customers to cater to.

[bball_1523]

Re: Netflix & Blockbuster

I've been thinking about signing up with Netflix, but now I'm thinking twice. Would you guys recommend blockbuster over netflix?

[aukevin]

Re: Netflix & Blockbuster

I've been thinking about signing up with Netflix, but now I'm thinking twice. Would you guys recommend blockbuster over netflix?

I sure would. I've had both. Netflix's movies would always get to me the next day, BB takes 2 days. But BB always receives my movies faster, so it evens out. With the free instore rentals, BB gets the edge.

[Zer0xray]

Re: Netflix & Blockbuster

I've been thinking about signing up with Netflix, but now I'm thinking twice. Would you guys recommend blockbuster over netflix?

depends if theres a distribution area around u. if not, it might take a couple of days for them to send and get movies. when i first started using BB online, it took like 2-3 days. nowadays, its like a day. so it really depends.

only thing that blockbuster has the edge over netflix is that they give in-store coupons. pretty good if u can get a new release online, but just hop in the store and get it from there. for a 4 dollar rental free? sounds good to me

[jmw1137]

Re: Netflix & Blockbuster

Blockbuster will probably eventually edge out Netflix due to the in-store rentals. BB has been around for years and has fought off the mom & pop stores, Hollywood Video, West Coast Video and other chains. Netflix might be around for a while but in time BB will start to into their market share. If the FTC would allow it I predict BB buying Netflix in a few years.

[roadman]

Re: Netflix & Blockbuster

Anyone heard of gamesnflixz of something like that. I'll try a link in a minute.

http://www.gameznflix.com/default.asp?kbid=1004&sub=rrgzfx

[bball_1523]

Re: Netflix & Blockbuster

I know there is a netflix distribution area nearby and my friend has used it and said it comes fast, but the blockbuster in-store rental thing sparks my interest moreso than netflix.

How can I find out if there's a distribution area nearby for blockbuster?

[Jimplication]

Re: Netflix & Blockbuster

I know there is a netflix distribution area nearby and my friend has used it and said it comes fast, but the blockbuster in-store rental thing sparks my interest moreso than netflix.

How can I find out if there's a distribution area nearby for blockbuster?

A list of Blockbuster distribution centers can be found HERE.

[RubenDouglas]

Re: Netflix & Blockbuster

they make PROFITS of a few hundred MILLION and there worried about a few customers throttling?

something shady is up.. imo.

if only 500,000 people throttled, losing the company $10 dollars.. that is only 5 million dollars of their $960 profit... thats a definition of a scumbag in my book.