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Blockbuster.com has their online rental service $10 for your first month, then $19.99 per month. You get unlimited online rentals (3 out at a time) with free shipping, no return dates. You also get 5 in-store movie exchanges/month.
This deal is not as good as used to be. Used to be one for one exchange
you're right #1, they are taking advantage because of the fact Hollywood video is going out of business
Is this deal front-page-worthy? How much is the service normally?
I used the service and wasnt too impressed
Jeremy lesser choices at blockbuster
I have used the service for a few years and have been happy with it. I have never tried NetFlix, so I have nothing to compare it with... but we have enjoyed being able to watch movies while we travel and mail them back whenever we want.
I used to get 3 out, unlimited in-store swaps and one printable coupon a month for like $17.99. The coupons went away, the in-store swaps got limited, the price went up, I love netflix now.
It's faster, better selection and cheaper. No swaps, but also no driving.
Also, Netflix lets you watch (some) movies online. It stores your place if you stop so you can pick it back up later even on a different computer.
They send out the occasional email asking when you sent something back or when you received something to gauge their shipping which says a lot to me. BB never did that.
I was with Netflix at first and they started "throttling " me so I switched to BB which has been great but lately they have slowed up somewhat and most of the movies I want are or never become available so I'm thinking of switching again altho the 5 free instore is worth the $20 a month alone, so I don't know what to do.
I like it, I live close enough to a local Blockbuster I can pop in and swap my movies when I need to. They just raised my price tho in January $5.00...So if they go up again I will quit and go to Netflix.
I've been using this for about 2 years now. Like #6, I am disappointed by the price hike and lack of coupons that I used to receive. It also seems that more movies report "Small Wait" in my queue. I'm not a big fan of dropping off my movies at the local blockbuster because then I find myself more prone to getting late-fee's thus making the blockbuster service too expensive. One more price hike and I'm outta here.
#6 BB does check their shipping speed by email. They have done it to me for at least the last year.
As to throttling. Netflix did it to me after a few years of being with them. For the last 16+ months BB has yet to do it to me. I ONLY rent new release DVD and Blu-Ray. Rarely do I ever not get my Tuesday release by Thursday.
As for the deals for BB lately. Yeah they suck. Fortunately I am grandfathered in on the 3-2-1 Plan. $20+tax gets me:
3 out at a time (unlimited in-store exchange)
2 coupons for in-store game or movie rental
1 coupon for one free previously viewed DVD to keep($9.99 or less)
So yes with all I get for $20 I am a fan of Blockbuster. Netflix may be faster for many, but I live less than a mile from a BB store that I have to pass everyday to go anywhere.
#9 BB has eliminated late fees for the most part. Do you really need more than 30 days to watch a 2 hour movie? As long as they get the in-store movie back by 30 days or less. They won't charge you anything for it. Although, at about 2 weeks they may put the charge on your account, it will be removed if the movie is returned.
They raised the prices on plans not one but twice last year in the last quarter. I canceled and will not be going back. Do not be surprised if they start coming up with crap like contracts and more price increases this year.
F@
Oh yes watch for changes...With the problems at Movie Gallery/Hollywood Video...BB has purchased Movie Link...The heat is on for the streaming future...BB is trying to bulk up its base as it makes the move...I doubt there will be a BB bricks and mortar store in 5 years.
Wow the new plan does suck!!! I have three unlimited at a time online and unlimited exchanges in the store. I used to have 3 unlimited rentals at a time in the store but they upped the price from $26.99 to $39 a month. Times must be tough for Blockbuster.
if you use facebook there's ads every couple weeks to get a 3 out at a time free for a month, same goes for netflix
more and more supermarkets are getting vending machines to rent dvd's for $1/day. I may go this route in the near future for if hikes go up once more, would eliminate the older library but would br cheaper overall.
Had both Netflix and BB for a while, but eventually canceled Blockbuster because they simply could not get me the movies in my list in a reasonable timeframe. Sometimes, I would get my 7th or 8th choice, while my top picks would sit there labeled "long wait" indefinitely. Not sure if it has improved lately, but it got to the point where it was worthless to me. Trading in-store was the only worthwhile feature, and they've cut that back now.
I joined Blockbuster.com not even 2 months ago. I get 3 movies out at a time, unlimited returns at the store, and a free coupon per month for $20.00 a month. When I drop off the movies at the store new movies arive in 2-3 days. BB did send me an email asking when I received my movies. I use the online part of the service for movies they do not have in the store and use the store for recent releases.
Been with Blockbuster since they started the home service...back when it was around $12 a month I think. Now I'm at $20 with the latest price hike. 3 movies at a time, free rentals for returning them in-store and the next movies are on their way before the returns leave my online que. I still get 2 free movie or game rental coupons each month and 1 free used dvd movie every so often from a select bunch of current overstocks. Delivery times are quick, usually 2 days, after dropping off dvd's in store.
Used Netflix for a while but once BB went to the in-store exchange program i dropped Netflix and stayed with BB. I hope there isn't another price increase though or I might consider dropping BB also.
My 2 cents FWIW...
I don't get how some of you have been "grandfathered in" I've been using BB service for over a year and a half and BB took my coupons away first, that was probably 7 months ago, then they raised my rate and only allow me 3 in store exchanges.
I used to get unlimited in store exchanges as well as two free coupons a month. Just this morning I was thinking about how many company's would not only raise my rate (that's pretty normal) but then take away so much from my plan. And I never once got an e-mail from them telling me what they where doing. I only found out when a friend of mine that works at the BB where I go, told me. I went online and sure enough. BB is now charging me more and giving my LESS!
I'm also seeing a lot more of my top of the wait list movies saying "Long Wait". And get this I just got an e-mail from them a couple of days ago telling me because so many of my movies had "long wait" times they where unable to sent a movie right away!!
I e-mailed them and asked them what the hell are they taking about! I have 111 movies on my list, just got down five movies and there's one available. Nice way to slow down the shipping time. That was the first time I've ever got that message. Netflix is starting to look pretty good.