Netflix vs. Blockbuster a hands on journal.

I will be posting multiple posts in this thread.
This is my journal of my experience of Netflix vs. Blockbuster.

Blockbuster Online Total Access
The pro’s:
Blockbuster is a few bucks cheaper
If you choose to return dvd's in store you can sign up for a Blockbuster acount and get a free rental each time you return a dvd.
When you return a dvd to a Blockbuster Total Access store they update your queue imediatly. Which eliminates the time it takes for Blockbuster to receive your dvd in the mail.
The cons:
Movies take 2 days to arrive, and 1 extra day to ship.
Queue doesn't go in order.

1/10/07
After reading endless advertisements and even seeing that Netflixfan has both blockbuster and Netflix services I wanted to see what Blockbuster online was all about.

I started off by reading in forums about the service, I actually read more negative feedback then positive. The only positive feedback I read was from people who returned their rentals in the store.
The closest store for me is 7.2 miles away so sticking to the convenience of online renting, I am going to null and void the in store returns for my comparison of the two online rental sites.

I have been with Netflix for almost a year, I did experience some throttling issues after a while but they have seemed to disappear for the most part. I rent on average about 30 movies a month from Netflix and I am signed up on their 8 at a time plan.

My reason for signing up for Blockbuster Online is my queue has grown to over 800 movies on one account and 100 on the next. Yes there used to be a trick to building your queue up beyond what you were allowed, they have since fixed that but haven't removed movies from my queue. That’s besides the point, my problem was that I had too many movies in my queue and I wasn't getting as many as I would like. I watch a lot of movies.

The negative feedback about Blockbuster Online always revolves around their queue management. They ship random movies in your queue, nothing seems to come in order. I figured sense I was going to use their service to get older movies I wanted to watch this wouldn't be a problem for me, I like being surprised!

I am officially signed up this is my second day into my 4 week trail, I have a few complaints already. I signed up at about 2 am on the 9th of January. I put about 60 movies in my queue. I wake up to check to see how things are going with my queue and nothing had been shipped, I figured by 6pm they should ship something. But I got nothing. They waited until the 10th to ship any of my titles.
They are expected to arrive on the 13th! My Netflix account shipped out 4 movies on the 10th as well, I am sitting here looking at them!

And this myth about Blockbuster sending random movies from your queue, its completely true! Not that it bothers me any but to those who are using this service and nothing else I am sure they aren’t impressed.

1/13/07
I just grabbed my mail, I received everything from Netflix that was supposed to be coming today. 2 of the 3 movies Blockbuster was supposed to send came, Where is my 3rd one and why does it take them 3 days to get a movie to my house!

It is clear to me that Blockbuster Online isn't a value compared to Netflix. They did send me 2 envelopes that claim I can return them at the store they will automatically ship out my next movies in my queue and I will get a free movie per envelope. So that’s 2 movies today and 2 being shipped tomorrow. Unfortunately like I stated before the closest Blockbuster is 7 miles away. I work as a bartender all weekend so I wont be able to try out Total Access until Monday. I am debating whether or not I will actually use the in store system. We shall see. I will keep updating this thread and let you know when my 3rd Blockbuster movie arrives.

Thanks for the posts.

That's pretty much exactly my experience. Anyone who uses BlockBuster Online will come to the conclusion that they are beta testing on consumers and simply dn't have the infrastructure - unless you live right near a store or one is on your way home from work and you don't mind stopping.

Their queue is not really random - except to the consumer. They will ship products from a closer distribution center if it is available vs. something farther away that is pending. So here's the catch: If there is a DVD that has only 1 copy (very common with older but popular films) you may NEVER get it. I had the Muppet Show with Mark Hamill in my queue for over 6 MONTHS - top position. It never came. Finally I dumped ALL of my movies and left only that movie in my queue - for a WEEK. Just to see what happened. It NEVER shipped.

That's when I cancelled the service.

Yeah I know that one, Luke meets Darth Kermit.

I have a question about these services (I use neither).

Is it supposed to send you the movies in your queue in order? I don't see how they could guarantee that they ship in order. As in Clint's example above, what if the particular movie next in your queue is in short supply and isn't available? Would you rather they pick another one that is available and ship it or wait until the current head of the queue is available?

A 'queue' is First In First Out but that can't be guaranteed unless they have an unlimited number of copies of every movie they offer - so it sounds more like a priority queue. They would ship the first available movie in the queue, not go down the list in order. Maybe they should rename it a 'set' as that would be more accurate.

MDS said:

I have a question about these services (I use neither).

Is it supposed to send you the movies in your queue in order? I don't see how they could guarantee that they ship in order. As in Clint's example above, what if the particular movie next in your queue is in short supply and isn't available? Would you rather they pick another one that is available and ship it or wait until the current head of the queue is available?

A 'queue' is First In First Out but that can't be guaranteed unless they have an unlimited number of copies of every movie they offer - so it sounds more like a priority queue. They would ship the first available movie in the queue, not go down the list in order. Maybe they should rename it a 'set' as that would be more accurate.

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Hey MDS,

I use Netflix, if a title in your queue is going to take a while they post it on your online account and give you an approximate time of availability. You can have your next choice mailed or wait. And you're right, it's a priority queue, but you make the call, and they do go down the list in order.

The other difference is that Blockbuster can have a #1 item in your queue that says "available" and you'll still get the third or fourth item down in the list. You simply don't know. Netflix goes in order (and they stock higher inventory).

I've not met one person who prefers BB that doesn't live real close to a store.

Clint DeBoer said:

The other difference is that Blockbuster can have a #1 item in your queue that says "available" and you'll still get the third or fourth item down in the list. You simply don't know. Netflix goes in order (and they stock higher inventory).

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Overall, I'm very happy with the service and I'll recommend it. For me and my wife its less expensive than Direct TV pay per view and so far it's worked out fine .

Clint hit on the biggest thing, when it says Available and its in the number one queue position, it might not send. So to me thats random sending. Yes the queues are more priority queues with both services but thats perfectly fine. Netflix is pretty good about sending you movies you want.

Side by side Netflix pwns blockbuster.

I have Blockbuster and I like it, and I haven't had any queue issues and I like being able to swap them out for in-store movies, that way you get twice as many movies for less.

Well, this just aparently isn't a good week for both Netflix and Blockbuster.
1/14/07 Returned Troy, and The 13th Warrior.
1/15/07 Returned Urban Legend and Pulp Fiction to Blockbuster. Returned Kingdom of Heaven, Edison Force, and Wicker Park to Netflix.

Taking into concideration the 15th was Martin Luther King day and the post office was closed. But usualy Netflix tells me they have received my movie the day I send it back. Grrr they arn't helping me prove my point Netflix is beter!

Sorry it hasn't been going your way. I've had NETFLIX for about 5 months now, still no complaints.

The reason I started all of this meyham is because I simply watch too many movies, and I am signed up on the 8 at a time plan with Netflix. So I am looking for a side service.
I am a dvd addict.

To finish off my trial of Blockbuster Vs. Netflix. I can honestly say that right now for ONLINE rental services Netflix appears to be the best service.
Turn around time for Netflix on average is 3 days. Blockbuster on average for me is 6 days.
Blockbuster clearly doesn't have the amount of shipping centers Netflix does. This in turn creates a longer turn around time for their subscribers that are not located near a shipping center.

The Total Access Program looks like a great deal. I unfortunately do not live right by a Blockbuster.

Oddly enough Blockbuster has been sending me 4 movies at a time. I am using a 3 at a time month long trial. They clearly know they are being put to the test by their new subscribers. I have read elsewhere that this is not uncommon for Blockbuster to do.

So for those considering signing up for a online rental service and don't live near a Blockbuster, I would like to suggest Netflix for the win. You can always sign up for both trail periods and try them both out yourself. Use Google to find promo codes for Blockbuster. You can get an extra week out of the deal.

I've been using BB for a couple of years. I have had very limited problems with them, mostly due to movies lost in transit which I have heard happens on both sides. But, beyond that, the service has only gotten a bit better IMO.

The ability to return a movie to a store and pick one up, in person, is awesome. Period. You finish watching your movies on Sunday, then head over to a store Sunday night or Monday AM and you can go home with three replacement flicks to watch anytime that week.

Add to that, at least for me, I get the 'free in store rental' coupons that are actually good for either movies or video games. So, I can rent a PS3 game and try it out before I buy any of them. Definitely worth it considering the current price of games.

Some people seem to be very proactive about saying how bad BB is and how great Netflix is, but it just hasn't been a bad experience at all for us with BB Online. Plus the added benefit of returning to a store is a huge perk. The idea that their hundreds of stores may be ramped up to leverage titles going out against titles coming in is a very serious benefit to BB down the road if they do things correctly. That is, any store that gets a movie returned, instead of pushing it to a shipping center, could actually just stick it back in a new envelope and ship it directly to the next customer. It improves availability and turn around time if done properly.

Anyway - no complaints here, and high praise for the stores.

FYI: I'm about 2 or 3 miles from a BB store. Opposite direction from my office. But, the few minutes it takes to drive down there so I can pick up a movie has always been well worth it. Especially when that Friday night special movie craving kicks in.

BMXTRIX
That all makes sense to me. If Blockbuster was close I would be giving it great reviews. But I am simply comparing the online part of the two companies. You drop a movie in the mail box it gets to Netflix the next day, they then say shipping today, usually they actually get the movie to you the day after that. 3 Day turn around. Blockbuster Online takes 2 days to get the movie then they say shipping and for me its always a 3 day expected delivery. So thats a 5 day turn around.
Netflix blows them out of the water in turn around times = P.
But if you include the in store return then its a 3 day turn around for Blockbuster as well. And a Free in store rental. So if the store is close to you, Blockbuster for the win. But thats not entirely a online rental service then = P.

I will say I am jealous of anyone with a Blockbuster close to them.

f0am said:

BMXTRIX
That all makes sense to me. If Blockbuster was close I would be giving it great reviews. But I am simply comparing the online part of the two companies. You drop a movie in the mail box it gets to Netflix the next day, they then say shipping today, usually they actually get the movie to you the day after that. 3 Day turn around. Blockbuster Online takes 2 days to get the movie then they say shipping and for me its always a 3 day expected delivery. So thats a 5 day turn around.
Netflix blows them out of the water in turn around times = P.
But if you include the in store return then its a 3 day turn around for Blockbuster as well. And a Free in store rental. So if the store is close to you, Blockbuster for the win. But thats not entirely a online rental service then = P.

I will say I am jealous of anyone with a Blockbuster close to them.

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I have a Blockbuster less than a mile from my house, I'm still using Netflix, my point being I don't want to drive, not even a mile in Miami traffic, it makes LA look a walk in the park.

Now if I could walk.....?

You cant walk?