on-line rentals Blockbuster, Netflix

[LCHIEN]

I wanted a DVD that none of the stores carried but was available at BB-on-line, so i signed up for a free two week trial of the $8/month plan for
3 disk per month, 1 at a time, plus two free store coupons.

The first disk I got and returned by return mail the next day, they got it back and shipped my second disk exactly 7 days after shipping the first. I won't get it they say until what it actually 8 or 9 days after I got the first one.

So it looks like the minimum turnaround time for a disk is about 7-8 days.

Is that what you guys are seeing for Netfllix and Blockbuster On-line?

If I went to the $10/month option "unlimited" disks/mo, one at a time I'd be hard pressed to get four disks due to the turn-around time. Thus unlimited=four disks, one more than my current plan.

having 2, 3, or 5 disks out at one time costs significantly more ($15, 18, 30 per month).

I guess the two free store rental coupons per month almost pays for it though.

OTOH Some days we walk thru the stores and can't find anything we want to rent.

I read that Netflix is "slowing down" some of their prolific renters. They have admited their computer is programmed to give priority on hot movies to those who rent less often.

What do you guys think of on-line rentals? What plans do you use?
satisfied? or not?

[JTimmons]

I am not too crazy about Netflix or Blockbuster. I have heard that on the popular titles you sometimes have to wait for awhile to get them. I am off on Tuesdays so I usually get my pick at the rental place down the street when the new releases hit the shelves.

[JR]

Loring,

I don't know if you're in SBC/ATT territory, but they are planning to roll out their IPTV service this year. I understand their pay per view has a huge selection, comparable to video/DVD rentals. Might be worth investigating along with these rental services.

Here in California there is a legislative fight underway in which the local municipalities are trying to retain some control over their franchise revenues. They are fighting to delay authorization for ATT to proceed while a state-wide franchise scheme can is being discussed. The net of this, to me, is that beurocrats are impeding a new, competitive tv service, which doesn't seem to have any technical reason for being delayed. It's delivered on DSL over existing wires, but they seem to think they can block it.

ATT has been trialing the service in Austin, with good results if the stories are true.

JR

[rickd]

hi loring,

i was a member of zip.ca here in canada for a few months late last year. zip.ca is pretty much the same as netflix in the states. i found it great for turnaround time, convenience and older movies.

but, i ended up cancelling because i found it to be literally impossible to get a new release. i don't know how long the wait would actually have been because i never did get a new release.

so, i've just gone back to renting from the local video stores - blockbuster etc.

[jwaterdawg]

We were subscribed to Netflix for a while and then BlockBuster for a while mainly due to the pricing war between them we switched. We got pretty good turn around times in both systems, averaging about 10 discs per month, sometimes 12.

[PJC]

I use Netflix and LOVE IT!!!! Turn around time for me is excellent. For example, if I mail a movie back Monday, 99.9% of the time they recieve it on Tuesday and ship my next movie which I recieve on Wednesday. Occasionally a movie takes and extra day to recieve, but that only makes up the .01% of the time. Also, if I mail a movie back on Saturday morning or Monday morning and have a movie that is scheduled to release that Tuesday, 99% of the time, I get the new release movie. This only works for the occasional user.

If you rent a lot, Netflix does not always send you the new releases right away. They reserve them for new users and "light" renters first. So, if you have a 3 out at a time subscription and constantly return and recieve like 20-40 movies/month, you are less likely to get the new releases right away even if it's at the top of your queue. If you do rent that much, well, you need a life. I have had the 3 out plan for almost 3 or 4 years now and on a busy month get about 15 movies for the month and I have never had a problem with new releases.

I did use a free trial of blockbuster online because I thought the 2 free in-store rentals was cool, but I had the same turn-around that Loring described. I cancelled after the 2 weeks.

[Tequila]

I bought my wife Netflix for our anniversary this year. She's seeing turnaround time of about 2-3 days. (Mail it on Monday, get a new disc Wed or Thurs). I think a lot of it has to do with how close you are to their facilities, and Netflix has one within about 30 miles of us.

[jAngiel]

I've used Blockbuster and the turn around time was horrible. I think it's true what others have said about being close to the distribution centers. I think the closest one to me is Dallas and I had three out at a time and would have to constantly wait for movies. If I timed it right, with three out at a time I could space everything out and get one in every couple of days but something would always happen. It seemed like someone in the post office would take the movies and watch them for a couple of days before sending them on. I have no proof but it shouldn't take a week or more to get a flat piece of mail from southwest Oklahoma to Dallas, even it you take into account the processing side of Blockbuster.

My BIL has Netflix and seems to be happy with it although he has experienced the "overuse" syndrome. He says all he has to do is call them up and talk to someone and they "clear the flag" and everything is okay for a while. I may try it but the prices aren't as good as they once were when the price war was hot and heavy. I don't think it's worth it to sign up for a program that only allows one out at a time and their prices for multi movies at a time is, as stated previously, way more.

I AM an movie person, but with all of my kids I don't have the time sit and watch that many movies. And when I do get the chance I have a hard time staying awake to watch the whole movie... It's either age or too many kids (5 and one on the way)... Or maybe both...

[PJC]

I bought my wife Netflix for our anniversary this year. She's seeing turnaround time of about 2-3 days. (Mail it on Monday, get a new disc Wed or Thurs). I think a lot of it has to do with how close you are to their facilities, and Netflix has one within about 30 miles of us.

To ammend to my other post, it also depend for me on when you mail the movie back. My town's mailboxes have an 11am pick up and a 4pm pick up. My turn around described above is only if I mail the movie before the 11am pickup. after that, the turn around is more like Tequila's. Still very good though.

[brooks]

Forget the monthly fees - go with http://dvdovernight.com/home_dvdo.asp -- rent when you want, at the same prices and with similar selection compared to Netflix - but no monthly fees.

They've been fast and easy for me, once the first-delivery delay was over with.

[DUD]

I can't help on this, I've not rented a movie probably in 7 or 8 years. I'm just not into them. Bill

[mschrank]

I started using Netflix as soon as I heard about it...probably a couple of years now. I love it! As others have mentioned, turnaround is amazing (I wish my online tool purchases could be so quick!). Drop a DVD in the mail on Monday afternoon, and usually have the replacement on Wednesday...don't know how they do it.

I haven't experienced the problem others mention about not getting the latest movies...guess I'm not a high user. Wouldn't bother me, as we only have two podunk rental places in town (no BB or Hollywood chain), and they are always out of the latest releases anyway.

With 2 little ones at home, we don't get the chance to go to the theatre very often. So whenever a new movie comes out in the theatre, I add it to my Netflix queue. That way, as soon it comes out on DVD, I'm high on the priority list.

Also, I like the idea of browsing and loading my queue up with 20-30 movies. Beats wandering around the video store trying to find something.

Give Netflix a try...I think you'll like it.

[bfrikken]

I use Netflix and LOVE IT!!!! Turn around time for me is excellent. For example, if I mail a movie back Monday, 99.9% of the time they recieve it on Tuesday and ship my next movie which I recieve on Wednesday. Occasionally a movie takes and extra day to recieve, but that only makes up the .01% of the time. Also, if I mail a movie back on Saturday morning or Monday morning and have a movie that is scheduled to release that Tuesday, 99% of the time, I get the new release movie. This only works for the occasional user.

If you rent a lot, Netflix does not always send you the new releases right away. They reserve them for new users and "light" renters first. So, if you have a 3 out at a time subscription and constantly return and recieve like 20-40 movies/month, you are less likely to get the new releases right away even if it's at the top of your queue. If you do rent that much, well, you need a life.

pretty much describes my experience with netflix. my wife said the cable goes before netflix if we ever need to cut bills...

[MilDoc]

Love Netflix! Never got a disc that wouldn't play, unlike BB. They must check them very carefully when returned, and clean them too. Never even see a fingerprint!

Turn-around time is good but, yes, if you rent and return a lot, they will slow you down,

[Ken Weaver]

We use Blockbuster and its been great. We may be on a different plan though. I think we pay $19/month for unlimited selections (3 at a time) plus free coupons for the store each month. Turn around is usually 2 days. Having 3 selections active seems like we're never without something to watch. I especially like the ability to get some of the older titles not usually in the stores as well as season long TV shows. We'll watch an entire season of a show within the space of a couple of weeks.

BTW- we're not movie freaks necessarily, but enjoy watching at home rather than the crowds and expense.