Blockbuster cuts deal with WB, DOESN'T have to wait 28 days

[j_garcia]

That is kind of BS to me. I guess Blockbuster really needs this right now since they are warning of bankruptcy, but it still seems unfair IMO.

Blockbuster Inc. scored a coup today by announcing a new agreement with Warner Bros. to provide immediate availability of DVD and Blu-ray titles from that studio. Thus, The Blind Side will be available on March 23, in Blockbuster stores and by-mail. And on March 30, Blockbuster will have Sherlock Holmes available for immediate release.

www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=4337

 

[speakerman39]

That is kind of BS to me. I guess Blockbuster really needs this right now since they are warning of bankruptcy, but it still seems unfair IMO.



www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=4337

Thanks John for the info. It is a significant change, but not enough to save BB imho. The question is if other production companies will do the same. My guess is, they will as a means to remain competitive. Like all things, only time will tell.



Cheers,

Phil

 

[GlocksRock]

They shouldn't have had to cut a deal, and nobody else should have to be delayed either. I'm sick of these studios being so greedy, it's just going to hurt them even more in the long run, especially since pirating movies is so easy.

 

[j_garcia]

The funny thing is, this won't make me go to Blockbuster any more that I already do, and that isn't a lot (maybe twice a year?)

 

[oppman99]

I don't think this will save BB either, but it might get me to switch from Netflix.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

another post about it:
http://arstechnica.com/media/news/2010/03/blockbuster-gets-deal-that-netflix-redbox-couldnt.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

It's working for me because I cancelled Netflix and went with the local store Blockbuster movie pass. Now I'm getting some brand new BD releases every single Tuesday.

As patient as I am, screw Netflix.

 

[darien87]

Hopefully this keeps BB on life support for a while. Screw Netflix and their throttling!

 

[GlocksRock]

Hopefully this keeps BB on life support for a while. Screw Netflix and their throttling!

Blockbuster throttles as well, so they really aren't better in that aspect.

 

[j_garcia]

When you guys say throttle, at what point do they start doing it?

 

[GlocksRock]

I'm not sure what causes them to throttle... they never said that if you get more than x movies in any specified time frame they will throttle you. They (blockbuster) already started limting rentals a while back by stating that if you do an in store exchange, the next movie will not ship from your online queue until your in store rental is returned. Whereas they used to let you exchange a movie, then your next online movie would ship out right away.

 

[j_garcia]

I haven't experienced this with Netflix, though I am in a situation right now where everything in my list is on WAIT. So I added something that wasn't and they sent it right away.

 

[alphaiii]

Hopefully this keeps BB on life support for a while. Screw Netflix and their throttling!

What do you mean by them throttling?

 

[Jack Hammer]

I just saw something on Highdefdigest.com that their for Bluebox kiosks they'll still have to wait the 4 weeks just like Redbox and Netflix.

 

[Richard Kim]

nvmd... red box doesnt have blue ray yet...

 

[j_garcia]

nvmd... red box doesnt have blue ray yet...

Yes they do; only at select locations but coming to all.

I just saw something on Highdefdigest.com that their for Bluebox kiosks they'll still have to wait the 4 weeks just like Redbox and Netflix.

I saw that too. Kind of strange. Probably a concession for Redbox so they didn't get pissed off at the deal they just signed.

 

[alphaiii]

What do you mean by them throttling?

Nevermind... found it basically means they intentionally delay shipping your movies.

Netflix hasn't done this yet... but Blockbuster was definitely doing it. I complained about them not shipping movies for 2-3 days after others were received, and they gave me bs about not having available movies in my queue...which I did, and the first two of which were skipped over for blu rays at the bottom of my list on several occasions over a few weeks. Customer support gave me a coupon for a free rental, but didn't seem to care about my subsequent complaints about the same issue, even when I said I'd discontinue their service and go to netflix if they didn't remedy it.

Nothing was done, so I canned blockbuster and have netflix now...but if they pull the same bs, I guess I'll go back to Redbox only.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I think if I can find some Red Box that carry BDs, I would just cancel all my other rentals.

 

[skizzerflake]

"Blockbuster Inc. scored a coup today by announcing a new agreement with Warner Bros. to provide immediate availability of DVD and Blu-ray titles from that studio. Thus, The Blind Side will be available on March 23, in Blockbuster stores and by-mail. And on March 30, Blockbuster will have Sherlock Holmes available for immediate release."

Interesting. I went to BB today and wondered why everybody was trying to sell me a copy of The Blind Side. I wasn't sure they were going to let me out of the building until I bought it. I got out anyway.

 

[markw]

Blockbuster has other problems.

I found out, the hard way, that after their big public spiel about no late fees a while back, they quietly reinstated them starting 3/1/2010. Oh yeah, they printed it on the bottom of one of the three receipts they gave me when I rented the movie. ...and it wasn't a just released/two day rental either.

I mean, it's only $2.00, but geez.

Now, I have both a Blockbuster and a Redbox in a Pathmark equidistant to BB, both walking distance from where I live. So, I may be walking east instead of west when I want a movie, not to mention a better selection of lower priced munchies to booy