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Blockbuster Taking On Netflix

News You Could Do Without

from the not-good dept

Wed, May 29th 2002 12:44am — Mike Masnick
I guess this isn't a huge surprise, but Blockbuster has had enough of watching Netflix slowly eat into their market. It seems the Netflix IPO may have been the last straw, as Blockbuster is getting ready to launch their own all-you-can-eat DVD rental plan. However, instead of doing it through the mail, you can just go down to your local Blockbuster and pick up the DVDs you want. Of course, some people seem to like the convenience of just doing everything through the mail - but at least with Blockbuster, you get more instant gratification. I imagine that both models work for some people.
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10 Comments

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  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 29 May 2002 @ 5:47am

    Netflix vs Blockbuster

    Major advantages of Netflix are.
    Its there when I want it.
    Nearest Blockbuster is 20 min away.
    They send what I want not what they have in stock.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Jared, 29 May 2002 @ 3:47pm

      Re: Netflix vs Blockbuster

      I agree. Sometimes you feel like watching some really obscure piece of junk movie (like any Ed Wood title). Blockbuster (and most other major players) don't carry anything but the stuff that is currently being mass consumed. Netflix claims that they have practically any movie ported to DVD and I've found this to be true. It also lets you build you queue in spurts. Spend 20 mins. browsing at your own pace, set the movies you want to see and in what order and sit back and let them come. Also as a sidebar, I queued a movie when it was released in theaters and got in in the mail the day that it was released on DVD. Blockbuster can't do that.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Avid Movie Watcher, 8 Jul 2002 @ 2:49pm

      Re: Netflix vs Blockbuster

      Ah, you guys used to be right. Being a Netflix customer since February 2002, I initially enjoyed getting the movies I wanted, and fairly quickly. Unfortunately, Netflix seems to be getting overbooked, at least where I am. I now get movies way down in my list sent way before what I want. All popular movies take forever. By the time I watch the non-popular movies, ship them back, and get the popular one, several weeks passes from when I put the popular one the top of the list.
      I'm very bummed with Netflix's "Very Long Wait". I think I'll go down to Blockbuster and rent the movie I want that's "Guaranteed" to be there.
      Bummed

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 11 Jul 2003 @ 10:27pm

        Re: Netflix vs Blockbuster

        I USE TO WORK AT BLOCKBUSTER AND THE ONLY REASON THEY GUARNTEE TO BE THERE IS TO GET YOU THERE AND IF ITS NOT THERE YOU WILL GET SOMTING ELSE 90%OF THE TIME NOT TO CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT NETFLIX BUT IT IS ALL A SCAM BUT I STILL CHOSE NETFLIX
        SORRY THIS RESPONSE IS A LITTLE LATE

        [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    MeV, 29 May 2002 @ 10:19pm

    But Blockbuster can charge you for movies you alre

    They were even sued by the State of Texas for it. Now when I return videos, I ask the flunky behind the counter to sign and date the rental receipt saying I returned them. It freaks them out but so far, I haven't had a problem.

    My mother, however, has been hit three times by this problem and refuses to rent at a LackLuster. It just galls her that they accused her of something that's their fault then were real twits about taking it off her record.

    Maybe now, LackLuster will switch to a frequent renter plan like Netflix. Their current model doesn't seem to be growing very much.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Dingnacious, 29 Jun 2002 @ 8:14am

    Blockbuster stinks!

    Put me as another satisfied customer in the Netflix column. I'm buying a healthy dose of Netlfix stock as soon as I get the chance. I despise Blockbuster with its long lines and greedy late fees. Even as a "gold member" the rats behind the counter would never cut me a break even if I was a tiny bit late with a movie. No more. Bring on the netflix baby!!!!

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      robbie, 11 Jul 2002 @ 11:36am

      Re: Blockbuster stinks!

      If Netflix doesn't fix their new release availability problem (1-2 month wait on some titles) they're going to be hosed.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      robin, 7 Jul 2004 @ 12:47am

      Re: Blockbuster stinks!

      At first I thought Netflix was great. I got on the 3 plan and due to my close proximity to Atlanta I could sometimes get 6 movies in a week.

      Then I got on the 8 plan and things went rapidly downhill.

      I could see when they shipped, movies arrive the next day, but returns could take a week!

      Then I started to see a pattern of messages from them that they had received the movie back - yet I'd never received it. I've contacted them repeatedly on this and they refuse to respond.

      Lately all I get is damaged DVDs, and messages that they receive movies back, but I've never received them.

      I have sent numerous e-mails to them with nothing but canned responses.


      I think the idea behind what they offer is a great, but I find them to be dishonest and completely non-customer orientated.

      I thought it was just me. A single google search on “Netflix Sucks” found thousands of topics. The first page alone led me to many like this one – numerous stories about Netflix screwing their customers.

      I’m canceling my account end of this month.

      [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Mike, 1 Apr 2003 @ 7:33am

    Forget Blockbuster Go NETFLIX!

    Finally, after years of literally getting "raped" by blockbuster and their late fee's, there is a solution. Netflix rules, blockbuster sucks.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Paul, 29 Oct 2007 @ 9:59pm

    Blockbuster Stinks

    BB publicized a new program designed to take customers from Netflix. But they were very sneaky in a bait and switch kind of way. For $17.99 they offered to mail 3 movies just like Netflix, but they also allowed you to return the movies to a BB store and swap them for another movie, and still have another replacement movie mailed to you. Also you would get an e coupon every month for a free movie. Of course i signed up for this, just like thousands of other people. The trick was that after a few months, BB determined who the most frequest users were and switched them to another subscription plan without their permission. The new plan had fewer priviledges. The net effect was to take netflix customers and only allow their new subscription plan to be used by people who did not rent that many movies. Very sneaky, possibly illegal, could be a class action issue before long. Either way, I don't like being tricked. Blockbuster stinks.

    [ link to this | view in chronology ]


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