Blockbuster online

[Russ Smith]

Anybody else notice the massive dropoff in service recently? I've had Fantastic Four at the top of my queue for probably 4 weeks now, it says available now, and today they shipped the 7th movie since then INSTEAD of FF. I emailed them last week when the total was at 5 and was told available now means you get it in 2 days, if we can't guarantee that, we ship another movie. SO I replied and said but I want that movie, that's why it's at the top of my list. You say it's available, but you never ship it.

This morning I got an apology email saying bear with us, we are having problems, we're aware of it, we'll resolve it. And 4 hours later, they shipped
Into the Blue instead of FF.

Thinking of switching to Netflix if the problem persists.

 

[jenna2891]

Anybody else notice the massive dropoff in service recently? I've had Fantastic Four at the top of my queue for probably 4 weeks now, it says available now, and today they shipped the 7th movie since then INSTEAD of FF. I emailed them last week when the total was at 5 and was told available now means you get it in 2 days, if we can't guarantee that, we ship another movie. SO I replied and said but I want that movie, that's why it's at the top of my list. You say it's available, but you never ship it.

This morning I got an apology email saying bear with us, we are having problems, we're aware of it, we'll resolve it. And 4 hours later, they shipped
Into the Blue instead of FF.

Thinking of switching to Netflix if the problem persists.

i highly recommend netflix. i switched from blockbuster to them and it was worth it. i noticed the availability is greater with netflix, and they are fast, too. never had one problem. they are slightly more expensive, and you don't get the two free rentals a month, but i don't mind the price difference.

 

[Divide Et Impera]

Anybody else notice the massive dropoff in service recently? I've had Fantastic Four at the top of my queue for probably 4 weeks now, it says available now, and today they shipped the 7th movie since then INSTEAD of FF. I emailed them last week when the total was at 5 and was told available now means you get it in 2 days, if we can't guarantee that, we ship another movie. SO I replied and said but I want that movie, that's why it's at the top of my list. You say it's available, but you never ship it.

This morning I got an apology email saying bear with us, we are having problems, we're aware of it, we'll resolve it. And 4 hours later, they shipped
Into the Blue instead of FF.

Thinking of switching to Netflix if the problem persists.

I suppose the only reason you want to watch FF is for Jessica Alba. That would be the only reason for any sane person to watch that movie. So why are you complaining about Into the Blue?

 

[Mike Olbinski]

I haven't noticed much of a dropoff...and I'm not sure how you can choose Netflix over Blockbuster, when you get two free in-store rentals a month on top of the 3 you get in the mail...

Mike

 

[Russ Smith]

I suppose the only reason you want to watch FF is for Jessica Alba. That would be the only reason for any sane person to watch that movie. So why are you complaining about Into the Blue?

Well in a perfect world they would have shipped both. But the main reason is I just like to get the movies in the order I rank them when they all say available now.

I never use the free rentals instore because the 2 stores closest to me closed.

I will give them a bit longer, but I can't understand how my girlfriends sister got FF right away in Sacramento from Netflix but I'm on my 4th week of waiting on it in Cupertino.

 

[Chaz]

I haven't noticed much of a dropoff...and I'm not sure how you can choose Netflix over Blockbuster, when you get two free in-store rentals a month on top of the 3 you get in the mail...

Mike

My goal was to never have to go back to a Blockbuster store again.


I have had no problems with Netflix.

 

[nathan]

Depending on how often you rent you could have problems with Netflix too. It is well documented that Netflix gives preference to new customers and infrequent renters. Your first month with them will be great and then you'll start to get shipping delays.

 

[Ryanwb]

Depending on how often you rent you could have problems with Netflix too. It is well documented that Netflix gives preference to new customers and infrequent renters. Your first month with them will be great and then you'll start to get shipping delays.

They got sued and reached a settlement for this:

http://www.netflix.com/Settlement?mqso=60178549

 

[UncleChris]

I've had nothing but good luck with Blockbuster.

 

[Stout]

Wow, I have NEVER had that problem with Netflix. I've always received the next movie in my queue. Of course, I didn't select Netflix myself; a friend got me a free trial for my birthday, and I simply kept it, but still.

 

[nathan]

Wow, I have NEVER had that problem with Netflix. I've always received the next movie in my queue. Of course, I didn't select Netflix myself; a friend got me a free trial for my birthday, and I simply kept it, but still.

How many movies to you watch per month? I didn't have any problems to begin with, but during the summer when I started to watch a lot of movies the shipping delays started coming.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

I had Netflix and had no problems with them either.

But still, I don't see how you can beat Blockbusters' deal...same number of DVD's per month, same cost, two free in-store rentals and occasionally free DVD's, buy 1, get one free, etc...

Never had a problem with either, but Blockbuster is waaaay better.

 

[PortlandCardFan]

I haven't noticed much of a dropoff...and I'm not sure how you can choose Netflix over Blockbuster, when you get two free in-store rentals a month on top of the 3 you get in the mail...

Mike

Because Blockbuster tried to scam their customers at first!!

Netflix has never done me wrong and I aint gonna change.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Because Blockbuster tried to scam their customers at first!!

Netflix has never done me wrong and I aint gonna change.

Scam? How?

 

[joeshmo]

Never had a problem with Blockbuster online yet. Only 2 times I have had to contact them via email about a movie didnt show up according to the date they had on my list, most likely a post office problem and within 2 hours they sent another movie out without question. Another time it took a long time for them to get my movie back and again with out question they sent another movie out. Those have been the only problems to date and I have had quick resolutions to them without any bother what so ever.

Plus my turn around time compared is super fast. I just turned in a movie this morning in the mail box, I should get my next movie by Friday. I have noticed it being 1 day slower with the holiday traffic at the post office and all, but its back to normal now.

Plus I dont need a certian movie right away so I dont care if they skip over my #1 on the list, although that has never happened if it has said available now, never had your problem Russ. Every movie is on my list becuase I want to see it, I dont care which ones I see first. But thats just me. And if I do want to see it right away, thats what the 2 coupons are for, they are also for boring days, movies that you just got to see but have a long wait on them ect. Plus it only takes me 5 minutes to go in and ot of the blockbuster store on my way home from work so it really isnt an incoveniance.

Never tried Netflix though so I cant compare.

 

[PortlandCardFan]

Scam? How?

You didn't hear about how Blockbuster started the whole marketing ploy 'NO late fees'. Didn't tell anyone if you didn't return it within the given time frame they would assume you wanted to purchase the movie and then when you finally did return the movie they would charge you a restocking fee!!!

 

[jenna2891]

I had Netflix and had no problems with them either.

But still, I don't see how you can beat Blockbusters' deal...same number of DVD's per month, same cost, two free in-store rentals and occasionally free DVD's, buy 1, get one free, etc...

Never had a problem with either, but Blockbuster is waaaay better.

my main problem with blockbuster was availability. it seemed like everything i wanted to rent had a huge wait for it. and i'm not talking main stream movies, either. indie flicks would have a very long wait. also, netflix sends me the movies faster. i'm sending back two today and i'll get two new ones on thursday.

 

[jenna2891]

You didn't hear about how Blockbuster started the whole marketing ploy 'NO late fees'. Didn't tell anyone if you didn't return it within the given time frame they would assume you wanted to purchase the movie and then when you finally did return the movie they would charge you a restocking fee!!!

actually, this is awesome. i would kept forgetting to return one movie for like a month and a half. when i brought it back, i only had to pay $1.50.

 

[PortlandCardFan]

I think it just boils down to your experience... duh!!
Netflix has been good to me and I haven't had a reason to change. My turn-around for movies is 3 days and I have only had one movie not available but they sent me an extra movie to compensate (4 movies checked-out instead of 3).

I have lost a few movies as well and they are understanding and do not charge me anything extra. Because of this when I found the movies (Kids put things in the darn-dest places!!) I sent them back.

 

[NEZCardsfan]

Russ,

I own Fantastic Four..........too bad the law says I can't burn you a copy so you can view it.

 

[PortlandCardFan]

actually, this is awesome. i would kept forgetting to return one movie for like a month and a half. when i brought it back, i only had to pay $1.50.

Yeah but they would charge your account the full price of the movie until you returned it. Movies from Blockbuster are what $24??

 

[jenna2891]

Yeah but they would charge your account the full price of the movie until you returned it. Movies from Blockbuster are what $24??

oh, i guess i never got charged, because that didn't happen to me. but yeah, i guess that would suck if all of the sudden there is a huge charge for a used movie.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

You didn't hear about how Blockbuster started the whole marketing ploy 'NO late fees'. Didn't tell anyone if you didn't return it within the given time frame they would assume you wanted to purchase the movie and then when you finally did return the movie they would charge you a restocking fee!!!

Bah, they didn't scam anyone...I read the fine print and new all of that before it happened...those that didn't just didn't care to read all the writing.

And I think they refund the money if you bring it back.

Mike

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Yeah but they would charge your account the full price of the movie until you returned it. Movies from Blockbuster are what $24??

I think they refund it if you bring it back...

And why shouldn't they charge you for keeping a movie due back in a week, over a month?

Mike

 

[Brian in Mesa]

You didn't hear about how Blockbuster started the whole marketing ploy 'NO late fees'. Didn't tell anyone if you didn't return it within the given time frame they would assume you wanted to purchase the movie and then when you finally did return the movie they would charge you a restocking fee!!!

Blockbuster has been discussed in detail on here, including the "No late fees" issue. Most people read the requirements and understood how it worked. Some didn't and got upset.

Blockbuster thread