Netflix vs. Blockbuster vs. ?

[Spiff]

I'm wanting to subscribe to an online dvd rental service. I've researched Netflix and Blockbuster. It seems their level of service is constantly changing. What are your (recent) experiences? Are there any other good services instead of those two? I'm looking for a basic plan. I don't watch a ton of movies. I could be satisfied seeing at most a couple each week.

 

[jft245]

I use Netflix and have no complaints. I have the $8.99 month plan which allows me one movie out at a time. With the speed of their turn around I could watch two per week. I usually only get one per week, I watch it on Sunday morning, mail it back Monday morning and get my next movie in Wed. mail

 

[simple-kinda-guy3040]

I use Netflix. Currently I am on the "1 at a time plan" where I have unlimited rentals for the month but I can only have one movie out a time. I pay about $10 bucks a month.

This works cause I don't really have time to watch a lot of movies.

With this plan, I can also watch movies online (which is a big plus for me) at the netflix website. This service is called "Watch Instantly". The selection of "Watch Instantly" movies is not as great as you would get with actual DVDs available for delivery but it is fast improving. The quality of "Watch Instantly" is remarkable by the way (and I assume that it is the same for everyone with a high-speed internet connection).

My experience with Netflix customer service has been great. Movies are always delivered on time (2 business days max) and if by the odd chance one gets lost in the mail, a replacement is shipped out as soon as you report it (I have made all my reports via their website). The same applies for DVDs that you report having technical problems such as bad sound or scratches - once reported a replacement is usually shipped out immediately.

Overall my experience with Netflix has been superb.

I am not sure what's up with Blockbuster. One advantage that BlockBuster may bring is that you have the ability to go into the stores for rentals as well as exchange problem DVDs at a store location instead of waiting for one to come in the mail. I have not had any personal experience with them so I really can't say one way or the other how service with them might be.

I think you should get some input from someone who has had experience with Blockbuster now and then should be all set to make an informed choice.

Let's know what you eventually decide...

 

[GL]

i have been a netflix subscriber myself for the last 2 years or so and i am 100% satisfied. one of the things that i have really loved about this service is that they have a pretty comprehensive gay/lesbian film library. that and sci-fi and godzilla flicks.

 

[Spiff]

I'm not really looking for the streaming service. I am guessing the quality of movies will not be as good dvd because of the compression they use to make streaming faster; similar to why HD movies on cable television often do not look and sound the best.

How's the Blu-ray selection? Are new titles mailed quickly or do those typically have a longer wait time?

 

[RobinGoodfellow]

HAH! I Love being different!

I'm on the Blockbuster $20 Plan (3 movies at a time), and usually don't have a problem (the biggest problem I've had is when I've turned movies in a weird order). The major plusses are that I can take the movies back to the store (for as many as 6-12 movies a week), and that I get access to Blockbuster exclusives. The minus is that I don't get free downloads (I'm hoping that they start a plan soon, however).

There are smaller plans available, obviously. If a Blu-Ray version is available, there's no difference in shipping time. Also, because the DVD's can be turned in by anyone, you can give them to friends to turn in (which can create problems if they take too long turning them in (you don't get the movies sent until they are returned)), but that can be a pleasant surprise for them.

Another service I was using for a while is Vongo; for $10/month you can download as many movies as you want, and it has a lot of its movies available for upload to media players (I have a Creative Zen); great if you have kids or a job where you do a lot of sitting around (I'm a security guard who has seen a lot of construction sites). However, the major minus is that it's Starz-powered (the only movies and series it has are those that have been on either Starz or Encore), so the selection is somewhat limited, and you'll find movies that you won't on other services (but it does have a lot of blockbusters, like Pirates of the Caribbean).

If it helps...
RG

 

[cyberelf429]

If you live near a Blockbuster, you can exchange you mail-in in store for a free rental instead of mailing it back. They ship the next movie out of your que right away. This means I can get new releases every week, sometimes faster through the mail, sometimes at the store. It is very convenient. And you do get the Weinstein movies that you can't get any where else.

If you don't live near a Blockbuster then I would just stick with netflix. They are actually faster at movie turn around and they have more independent, gay/lesbian themed films.

 

[HOT4MEN]

^^ Yep, I have Blockbuster too. I have the 3 a week and 5 in store exchanges a month. I like it! ^^

 

[willsboy84]

does anybody else experience REEEEEEEALLY slow loading time on the Netflix site? that's my one complaint about the service, but maybe it's my pc.

 

[simple-kinda-guy3040]

does anybody else experience REEEEEEEALLY slow loading time on the Netflix site? that's my one complaint about the service, but maybe it's my pc.

I have never received a slow loading time.... I just tried again and it loaded fine for me... It may be your system configuration... Hope you get it resolved soon good man...

 

[Crackberry]

I've used both plans, and Blockbuster is better for the simple fact that you can do in-store exchanges.

 

[Fucker29]

How much does Netflix cost?

 

[XYZZY01]

How much does Netflix cost?

They have various plans, from one movie out at a time to eight out at a time. But the "basic" subscription is three movies out at a time and it costs about $18 per month. Now assuming you see three movies in a week, return them and get three more the following week, you''ll see about 12 movies in a month. So the per-movie cost is close to a dollar. And you can see three movies, return them and see three more within the same week, if you push it, lowering the cost even more.

But the biggest appeal of Netflix is the enormous selection they have (way more than any local video rental shop) and the absence of late fees. So they don't care if you hold onto a movie for months without seeing it.

 

[gdude30]

My dad has been doing blockbuster online for some time now.

He likes it. He does like 3 movies at a time. We used to get free game rentals through doing that but the sluts changed it.

I loved that. Blockbuster freaking raised games to like $8.99

World Tour will be the last game I rent from them..

But it is somewhat convinent getting the movie in the mail and taking it back to blockbuster and getting another one cause we live close. My dad likes it but he loves going to a place to get something. He never does takeout or online shopping. Loves to just go and get something so for him it works.

He's never had a long wait. I remember he get Bender's Big Score for me and it took like a day or two to get here.


Then again we used to do netflix and it was a speedy motherfucker. The netflix place is in Atlanta too so that's why. I LIKE THE RED ENVELOPES.

I don't watch movies as much as my dad.

The only thing I hate with blockbuster online is that blockbuster has shit selection of movie rentals. Sure you can find whatever you want online. But still.

And sure it's easy for me to say I want a movie and he can order it. Or hell I can get on his account he don't mind that. But with the online experience I feel the store one should be the same.

In some ways I feel it's pointless becuase so what you return a movie to blockbuster. And your selection of getting another one there is zip. So it's somewhat disheartening unless it's a new release of something popular.

I wanna see Death Note Live Action movie damnit.

Also starting November 19th if you have an Xbox-360 and Xbox Live then you can download the new upgrade which will completely change the style and dashboard. But also a new netflix service. You can either sign up for a new one or use your current service and you can use that PC viewing thing on your 360. And I have a freaking nice tv that I got for christmas.

I'd love to be able to lie on my bed and either view movies on my PC or 360.

And then have the dvd rental as well.

The 1 dvd rental plan with netflix sounds good to me.

Oh wait blockbuster now has a download movie thing.

Oh but you pay extra for that. Netflix sounds better if you don't have a blockbuster close to you or if you all want it to be delivery and don't want to go to the store and exchange movies.

And the PC or Xbox-360 streaming thing which sounds better to me since that's actually part of the plan.

 

[LatinoSTAR]

i usually just buy my dvds from the used game exchnge store...im not really a movie or tv person, im a music person..music is the only thing i care about in this world sometimes..

 

[gdude30]

i usually just buy my dvds from the used game exchnge store...im not really a movie or tv person, im a music person..music is the only thing i care about in this world sometimes..

I know exactly how ya feel.

I barely watch tv but i have it on most of the time.

But there is always music playing over it.

Music just seems and feels right.

 

[doctorsun]

There's a Redbox at the Walgreens on the corner. I can walk up there on the weekends and get a movie. I used to have Netflix and I loved it, but I actually ran out of movies to rent. I'm fairly picky about the movies I watch and I don't have a lot of time to watch them, anyway, so pretty much, I was paying $10 a month to rent movies I didn't really want to see. By the end, I usually ended up returning movies without watching them. I like Redbox because given how few movies I watch and the fact that I'm pretty much only interested in specific new releases, anyway, it's really cheap and convenient.