Going back to Netflix

[darien87]

Well, I just found out that Blockbuster has decided to raise the rates of their online rental service. To keep the current plan that I have, (2 DVD's at a time and unlimited in-store returns), the price is going from $14.99 a month, to $21.99 a month! What the hell!?!?!? I guess Blockbuster found out that letting people return their movies in the store to get movies right away, was putting too much of a strain on their DVD supplies. But that was the whole reason why I switched in the first place!

They make an attempt to appease by offering a $13.99 a month plan, but with that one you're limited to 3 in-store returns per month. Lame.

I wasn't totally happy with Blockbuster anyway. I was always getting screwed by the site telling me movies were "available", but they wouldn't get shipped to me because they were more than 2 mail days away from me. I NEVER had that problem with Netflix, because there is a site literally about 1 mile from my house. Netflix movies ALWAYS get to me within a day. Blockbuster sometimes takes 2 days.

So, sorry Blockbuster, I'll be going back to Netflix. You're basically taking your one advantage over Netflix and making me pay more for it. No way.

 

[avaserfi]

I tried both netflix and BB at the same time with their trial period a while ago and thought netflix won hands down. Unfourtunatly, I don't have a BB nearby so at the time I didn't get to try out that feature. With the recent BB price increase and Netflix's strong showing with their watch now feature I am very happy with my choice.

 

[j_garcia]

Netflix is right here in the Bay Area for us to boot...If you have any problems, just drop by and complain LOL There is only one Hollywood Video near me that rents Blu-ray and only one Blockbuster period, and both are driving distance for me and BD selection isn't that great at either of them. I may be trying Netflix out here in the near future myself just for BD.

 

[jimfitz]

I have 3 Blockbuster stores within three miles of my house. The closest is a couple blocks away. I have the $9.99 plan for one movie at a time and two free movies with return to the store. I can also rent movies for $1.99 from the store. Is this plan going up in price? I just got it last month.

 

[darien87]

I have 3 Blockbuster stores within three miles of my house. The closest is a couple blocks away. I have the $9.99 plan for one movie at a time and two free movies with return to the store. I can also rent movies for $1.99 from the store. Is this plan going up in price? I just got it last month.

Blockbuster e-mailed me with the new rates. If you didn't get an e-mail from them that might mean that your plan is staying the same.

 

[Audioholics]

I tried both and found Netflix to be the best service for people who actually want *gasp* movies sent to them in the mail.

Of course, every time I say that all the people come back and say "BlockBuster rulez, dude, cause it's on my way home and I can get movies instantly with no wait by dropping by the store..."

Yes, but again, if you want an ONLINE RENTAL BY MAIL service, Netflix is your company. I live in Central FL (not Orlando) and I get my movies in literally one day. I can't believe how fast they are.

 

[jimfitz]

I get my Blockbuster movies in one day. I usually watch them the night they arrive and drop them at the store. The next day they ship me another one. So, I am getting a new movie every two days.

 

[darien87]

I tried both and found Netflix to be the best service for people who actually want *gasp* movies sent to them in the mail.

Of course, every time I say that all the people come back and say "BlockBuster rulez, dude, cause it's on my way home and I can get movies instantly with no wait by dropping by the store..."

Yes, but again, if you want an ONLINE RENTAL BY MAIL service, Netflix is your company. I live in Central FL (not Orlando) and I get my movies in literally one day. I can't believe how fast they are.

I had Netflix first and thought it was fine. I just switched to Blockbuster for the in-store thing, which was definitely cool. I would usually end up returning 2 movies at a time at a nearby store on the weekends, while returning the others through the mail. So I was getting about 8 extra movies per month with the Blockbuster service. So it worked out great for me. It's just not worth an extra $7 a month. $15 a month is pretty much my limit for movie renting, and even that seems a bit expensive to me. I only rented movies once a month or so, before trying Netflix.

 

[stratman]

Living in Miami you want to stay off the road as much as possible, so even though I have a BBuster less than 2 miles from my home I use Netflix, I get my movie every two days, so I don't mind. And like Clint said the purpose is to have a mail service, not to drive.

 

[jimfitz]

My purpose was to have access to a good supply of Blu-ray movies at a reasonable price. I may try Netflix if my Blockbuster price goes up.

 

[jake5717]

My BB subscription has stayed the same $17.99 for 3 at a time and unlimited exchanges. BB’s are about as common as Starbucks around here so finding a store is no issue. Plus you get 2 free in store game or movie rentals, Nintendo games are something like $7.99 to rent so that pretty much makes all the movies I watch free. I had Netflix and it was a very good service, until I had an issue that went unresolved for about a month so I canceled.

 

[emorphien]

Netflix has been great for me, much better selection than Blockbuster and they have a location nearby so everything moves in about a day.

 

[jinjuku]

I tried both netflix and BB at the same time with their trial period a while ago and thought netflix won hands down. Unfourtunatly, I don't have a BB nearby so at the time I didn't get to try out that feature. With the recent BB price increase and Netflix's strong showing with their watch now feature I am very happy with my choice.

I did the same ~2yrs ago. Netflix was a much better experience. It seemed that I was always waiting with BB. I never looked back. I love the fact that I can now watch movies on demand with Netflix. I just wish they would increase the current library from the 3000 titles they have. Netflix also just REDUCED the pricing plans by $1 each.

 

[Adam]

This thread reminds me that I need to look back into my Netflix account. I suspended it back in June because I ran out of things to rent, but I think it's becoming active again in September if I don't do anything.

I really liked Netflix. I had them for a little over a year before I took a break, and near the end of that year I was getting more and more cracked DVDs. Maybe I just got a new mail person or something, but it got to be a little annoying if I waited until the weekend to open them...then it was too late to get a replacement to watch that weekend.

I have a Blockbuster about two miles away, but my mailbox is only about 50 yards away...so I'm a big fan of getting movies in the mail. Anything that lets me spend more time with my pooch is a good thing.

 

[darien87]

I love the fact that I can now watch movies on demand with Netflix.

Blockbuster has this also, but I don't see the point. My home theater isn't hooked up to my computer. Plus my computer only has a 19" screen. No way would I want to watch a movie on my computer.

 

[Bryce_H]

I do have a computer in my HT (for the Watch Now option), but frankly it looks like crap on 106" screen. Due to a top bandwidth of 1.5 mbs I usually get med quality. In 2-3 months they are upgrading the service to 7mbs

Anyone watch netflix Watch Now on a large screen on high quality? What does it look like?

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

I received a letter recently from Netflix stating they're lowering my monthly rate.....LOL I figured they're starting to get serious competition from those "Red Box" things that are popping up all over the place. ($1 rentals for new releases)

I've been real happy with netflix. I went through a rough period when I felt I was being throttled, and it seemed like the good movies were always on a "Wait list", but that has time has long since passed.

My entire queue is comprised of future DVD releases. Whenever I hear of or see a good movie.... I drop it into my que so I'll be sure to be aware as soon as it's released on DVD. Everything else is emptied into a WORD doc..... so the only available movies in my queue on a weekly basis are the three to be mailed. Now the service is great I generally get my titles of first choice, and get them fast!!

Blockbusters are closing like crazy around these parts!! My local BB went up and vanished on me...LOL Netflix must reaaaaaaly be killing their business. ( I know I quit renting there nearly 3 years ago)

 

[jinjuku]

Blockbuster has this also, but I don't see the point. My home theater isn't hooked up to my computer. Plus my computer only has a 19" screen. No way would I want to watch a movie on my computer.

When did BB get this feature? Do you get an hour of viewing per $ spent a month? That is how Netflix works. Plus I have been doing so since they rolled it out.

I have a MS Vista MCE HTPC that I built all connected to my 5.1 and 37" LCD.

 

[darien87]

When did BB get this feature? Do you get an hour of viewing per $ spent a month? That is how Netflix works. Plus I have been doing so since they rolled it out.

I have a MS Vista MCE HTPC that I built all connected to my 5.1 and 37" LCD.

Ya know, I don't know where I got that. I just looked on the site and I don't see anything about it. Maybe they sent me an e-mail that said that service was coming.

 

[darien87]

When did BB get this feature? Do you get an hour of viewing per $ spent a month? That is how Netflix works. Plus I have been doing so since they rolled it out.

I have a MS Vista MCE HTPC that I built all connected to my 5.1 and 37" LCD.

Just figured it out. BB has a link to Movielink on their site. So I guess it's not included in the BB online service. Lame.