Blockbuster online

[PortlandCardFan]

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

That's fine...

I personally didn't have to deal with it because I have been with Netflix from almost the beginning. If I would have read the fine print I would have walked out. Because IMO nothing had changed.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

That's fine...

I personally didn't have to deal with it because I have been with Netflix from almost the beginning. If I would have read the fine print I would have walked out. Because IMO nothing had changed.

WHY would you have walked out??? I don't get it...how would that piss you off?

You rent a movie, it's now due back in a week, but no fees will be charged if it's late. If you take too long, 2-4 weeks after the due date, you'll be charged for it.

Why is that such a bad system? It HAD changed...now, if I return it a day late, or two days, I don't pay a $4 late fee.

 

[PortlandCardFan]

WHY would you have walked out??? I don't get it...how would that piss you off?

You rent a movie, it's now due back in a week, but no fees will be charged if it's late. If you take too long, 2-4 weeks after the due date, you'll be charged for it.

Why is that such a bad system? It HAD changed...now, if I return it a day late, or two days, I don't pay a $4 late fee.

I think BIM was trying to give us a hint.

But to answer your question.. The way they marketed the whole thing and then turned it into a restocking fee seem dishonest. If that is what they said in their whole marketing campaign then.... well yeah that might be different.

I am bad at turning movies in on time so I do not have to worry with Netflix or "BB online". I choose Netflix..

different strokes....

 

[Russ Smith]

FYI I think I discovered the problem with getting Fantastic Four. They list it twice, once as WS(widescreen) and once as 4:3. Apparently I had checked the latter one which is fairly rare and thus they have few copies. I discovered this after they sent me notice they had shipped Madagascar. So I took the 4:3 version off my list and added the WS and hopefully now I'll get the thing to ship.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Does anyone here use Intelliflix?

I am thinking about joining one of these services, but am not sure which is best for me. I'm not really a movie fan, but there are some things I should see, like Hotel Rwanda and movies of that genre.

Any recommendations for someone who would want to see some of the less popular movies? I would also like to rent some documentaries, some television shows and classic sports games (06 Rose Bowl, e.g.). Thanks!

 

[abomb]

http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/060404/media_netflix_blockbuster.html?.v=1

Netflix sues Blockbuster to shut online service
Tuesday April 4, 5:48 pm ET


PASADENA, California (Reuters) - Online DVD rental company Netflix Inc. (NasdaqNM:NFLX - News) on Tuesday sued rival Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE:BBI - News) for patent infringement, asking a federal judge in Northern California to shut down Blockbuster's 18-month-old online rental service and award Netflix damages, according to a copy of the filing.

A-Bomb

 

[joeshmo]

http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/060404/media_netflix_blockbuster.html?.v=1

Netflix sues Blockbuster to shut online service
Tuesday April 4, 5:48 pm ET


PASADENA, California (Reuters) - Online DVD rental company Netflix Inc. (NasdaqNM:NFLX - News) on Tuesday sued rival Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE:BBI - News) for patent infringement, asking a federal judge in Northern California to shut down Blockbuster's 18-month-old online rental service and award Netflix damages, according to a copy of the filing.

A-Bomb

It took them 18 months to realize this.

 

[Ryanwb]

http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/060404/media_netflix_blockbuster.html?.v=1

Netflix sues Blockbuster to shut online service
Tuesday April 4, 5:48 pm ET


PASADENA, California (Reuters) - Online DVD rental company Netflix Inc. (NasdaqNM:NFLX - News) on Tuesday sued rival Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE:BBI - News) for patent infringement, asking a federal judge in Northern California to shut down Blockbuster's 18-month-old online rental service and award Netflix damages, according to a copy of the filing.

A-Bomb

Now that's just sour grapes. Competition is healthy for the consumer.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

sure is

I wonder what patent they are suing over?!

you can have a similar service without using identical technology (although interface, etc is very close)

 

[abomb]

It took them 18 months to realize this.

Yeah, I concur. What gets me is how a company can truely patent such a process. It's not like they are using the same code or exact same technology.

A-Bomb

 

[abomb]

Blockbuster accused of patent infringement
MICHAEL LIEDTKE
Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO - Online DVD rental service Netflix Inc. on Tuesday accused Blockbuster Inc. of illegally copying its ideas in a patent infringement lawsuit challenging the video store chain's recent Internet expansion.

The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, focuses largely on the online wish lists that prioritize the DVD desires of about 5.4 million people who subscribe to either Netflix or Blockbuster's Internet service.

Netflix also believes its patents cover perhaps its most popular feature - the option of renting a DVD for an unlimited time without incurring late fees.

That change, introduced by Netflix seven years ago, became so popular that Blockbuster last year stopped charging late fees for tardy rental returns to its video stores. Dallas-based Blockbuster once pocketed hundreds of millions of dollars annually from those late fees.

Both Netflix and Blockbuster's online service charge $17.99 per month to rent up to three DVDs at a time. When subscribers return a DVD in a postage-paid envelope, the rental services automatically send the next available movie on their wish lists.

Blockbuster initially denigrated the flat-fee concept, but then reversed course and launched its Internet service in 2004 after scores of customers defected to Netflix, based in Los Gatos, Calif.

"Blockbuster has been willfully and deliberately copying Netflix's business methods," Netflix spokesman Steve Swasey said.

Blockbuster spokesman Randy Hargrove declined to comment Tuesday because the company hadn't yet seen the suit.

Netflix contends it first patented the process for managing DVD wish lists - known as queues - in June 2003.

A second patent issued Tuesday to Netflix apparently triggered the lawsuit. Netflix believes the additional patent covers an even wider range of automated interaction with its customers.

Netflix hopes to obtain a court order that would force Blockbuster to change the way its online rental service operates or require the company to pay patent royalties - a potentially huge bill, based on other recent patent disputes.

For instance, the maker of the popular Blackberry e-mail device last month agreed to pay $612.5 million to settle a long-running patent infringement case.

Because patent cases often delve into highly technical issues, they can take several years to wind through the legal system.

If Netflix prevails, it could thwart its biggest competitor in the steadily growing field of online DVD rentals.

Netflix began the year with about 4.2 million subscribers. Blockbuster has signed up about 1.2 million online customers so far. Netflix's success already has hurt Blockbuster, which lost $585 million last year and expects to continue to close stores as more DVD renters turn to the Internet.

In contrast, Netflix earned $42 million last year. But its service has been recently fending off a backlash triggered by a class-action lawsuit that focused attention on a scoring system that penalizes its most frequent renters. Netflix is awaiting court approval of a proposed settlement that would give free DVDs for a month to millions of former and current subscribers.

 

[Pariah]

Yeah, I concur. What gets me is how a company can truely patent such a process. It's not like they are using the same code or exact same technology.

A-Bomb

They can't patent a process, I don't think. From that blurb we don't know what the patent allegedly infringed upon was for. Could be anything from the technology platform to the envelope used. I dunno.

 

[nathan]

Netflix also believes its patents cover perhaps its most popular feature - the option of renting a DVD for an unlimited time without incurring late fees.

This is the exact type of idea that our IP system should not be protecting.

 

[Ryanwb]

This is the exact type of idea that our IP system should not be protecting.

Even if we're using IPsec or SSL certification?

 

[NEZCardsfan]

Even if we're using IPsec or SSL certification?

No VPN is safe from NM132....none.

 

[Djaughe]

....Netflix's success already has hurt Blockbuster, which lost $585 million last year and expects to continue to close stores as more DVD renters turn to the Internet.....

 

[nathan]

Even if we're using IPsec or SSL certification?

IP=Intellectual Property

 

[thirty-two]

:djaugheisstillstingingfromblockbuster:

 

[D-Dogg]

Since this lawsuit won't be settled in our lifetimes, I'm not too concerned either way.

 

[Bada0Bing]

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 am starting to get slightly annoyed. When I signed up a few weeks ago I specifically made an effort to put a specific movie #1 on my priority list. I have now received 9 movies from them, none of which is my #1 movie. Do I need to delete every other movie from my queue?

They need an option that allows you to select “this movie first, no matter how long the wait is”.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

I am starting to get slightly annoyed. When I signed up a few weeks ago I specifically made an effort to put a specific movie #1 on my priority list. I have now received 9 movies from them, none of which is my #1 movie. Do I need to delete every other movie from my queue?

They need an option that allows you to select “this movie first, no matter how long the wait is”.

Well, if you'd rather waste your money waiting for 1 DVD when it takes weeks or months to get, I guess they could do that.

Unless you are watching a TV series (maybe you are) it's a waste of money to just wait on the next money that's number 1 on your list.

 

[Bada0Bing]

Well, if you'd rather waste your money waiting for 1 DVD when it takes weeks or months to get, I guess they could do that.

Unless you are watching a TV series (maybe you are) it's a waste of money to just wait on the next money that's number 1 on your list.

But it says "available now", and has since my first day.

 

[jenna2891]

But it says "available now", and has since my first day.

netflix, baby.

 

[devilalum]

netflix, baby.

word

 

[abomb]

But it says "available now", and has since my first day.

It's happening to me to Bada. I'll prolly send a note to customer service. Here is my queue;

1 High Noon [Collector's Edition] Available Now

2 Rashomon Available Now

3 Rebecca NR Long Wait

4 American Psycho [Rated] R Available Now

5 Big Shots: Confessions of a Campus Bookie R Available Now

6 About Last Night... R Available Now

7 Bridge on the River Kwai Available Now


My #8 movie, London, just shipped.