Blockbuster Drops the ball - DPChallenge Forums

Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux M Aspherical MF - Black

08/27/2007 11:02:33 AM · #1

A lesson in capitalism?

For those who like to watch DVDs ... I was telling everyone about the great deal I WAS getting from Blockbuster. Now I'm telling everyone how they changed it and I'm canceling - I apologize if you don't care.

Unfortunately there isn't any real competition for Blockbuster video rentals at this point. So they drew me in by basically allowing me to get all the movies I could watch in a month for 7.99 (3 delivered movies to my mailbox which I could exchange at the store for 3 more rentals -- plus a coupon which I could use each month for a free movie or game).
This was a total of 6 movies + a game or 7 movies for 7.99.

This plan just changed and will automatically be the following unless I change it: 2 movies + 2 exchanges without a coupon (a total of 4 movies for 7.99). No longer a good enough deal since I already have cable.

If you're interesting in knowing how much plans cost:
The sorta hidden / hard to find link unless you give them your info

I guess the part that upsets me most is that I knew this was coming. Pretty much if someone is offering a great deal and has no real competition, the deal might become less great.

scarbrd

Leica M10

08/27/2007 11:07:01 AM · #2

Blockbuster will match whatever Netflix is doing. They did the same when Hollywood Video rental stores started opening up in out area. Suddenly, Blockbuster dropped the 1-night only renatals, late fees. ect.

08/27/2007 11:18:56 AM · #3

With Netflix now allowing you to stream a good amount of movies right on your computer instantly, Blockbuster will never keep up.

I spent $20 on an S-video cable to turn my 42" tv into a 2nd monitor for my laptop, so now I can watch all the movies on there instead of being contrained to a small laptop monitor.

08/27/2007 11:20:21 AM · #4

True. I would like to see a merge between netflix and Hollywood video to get some real competition for Blockbuster. I have watched more movies in the past 2 months than I had seen for years because of this deal.

The library might be a move attractive option at this point.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

08/27/2007 11:21:18 AM · #5

I heard that was Windows only - I'm a "rebellious" mac user ;]

Originally posted by ajdelaware:

With Netflix now allowing you to stream a good amount of movies right on your computer instantly, Blockbuster will never keep up.

LoudDog

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

08/27/2007 11:41:45 AM · #6

Blockbuster is a very aggresive competitor. Their business model originally was to open up stores in neighborhoods and lose money by offering great deals until they drove all the smaller rental places out of business, then re-coup their profit when they are the only game in town. Now they are clearly after Netflix with the same strategy.

Basically they are the Walmart of video rental. Netflix is pretty innovative though, I don't see Blockbuster winning a war against them.

And by the way, Netflix rocks!

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

08/27/2007 12:02:30 PM · #7

As consumers, I think it's important to know about the practices of the businesses around us. However, the effort involved to do this for most things is more than people will bother. Is a mac-user someone that should use netflix??

Originally posted by LoudDog:

Message edited by author 2007-08-27 12:05:58.

Canon EOS-20D

08/27/2007 12:09:12 PM · #8

From what I understand, the issue with Mac and streaming video is that there is currently no studios-approved DRM for Mac. It looks like Netflix will provide for the Mac users as soon as that's available.

That being said, I've been extremely happy with my Netflix service (which I subscribe to for the actual DVDs, not so much the on-demand.) Unless your primary goal is to watch as many movies on the computer as you can (which would be none if you have a mac and not too many if you have a PC because they are still unrolling), Netflix is definitely worth it. Turnaround time here is very quick although that can vary a bit depending on where you live. I've heard that the selection is better than Blockbuster although I haven't done a lot of research into that myself.

Tlemetry

Olympus E-300 EVOLT

Olympus 50mm f/2.0 Macro ED Zuiko Digital

08/27/2007 12:16:07 PM · #9

I got the same letter, but it also said as long as you keep your current account, it wont change. If you cancel it for any reason, You will go to the new program when you sign back up.

SDW

Canon EOS-60D

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

08/27/2007 12:32:09 PM · #10

My wife is a gold card member at blockbuster because she rents over 100 (more like 200) movies and games from blockbuster.

MY QUESTION IS:
Why has blockbuster now gone to no late fees but have a due back by date?

Why are they asking for a NEW Visa/MC (no prepay debit or bank debit with Visa/MC backing)?

You go in to rent a movie and it's out. They say 28 were due back today but only 2 was returned. I think that has to do with my fist question.

NOTE: This happened to us.
We returned Video Game and returned it on time via drop box which is located next to the out door of the store. Then received a notice 30+ days latter saying it was not returned and charged us a late fee for everyday plus the Retail price of the Game. This was before they started the no-late fee crap.

Message edited by author 2007-08-27 12:33:45.

08/27/2007 12:44:05 PM · #11

Everything Blockbuster has done is a reaction to Netflix. They eliminated the late fees, but if you have it for more then 30 days you get charged for it, but if you return it after that, you get credited, minus a restocking fee. The reason they still have a due back date is because individual stores can't hold the same kind of inventory a netflix warehouse does, therefore they encourage you to return a movie by a certain date so they can rent it to other people.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

08/27/2007 01:01:23 PM · #12

Out of curiousity, how much do you pay? (which plan do you have ?)

Originally posted by Tlemetry:

I got the same letter, but it also said as long as you keep your current account, it wont change. If you cancel it for any reason, You will go to the new program when you sign back up.

Creature

Nikon D70s

08/27/2007 01:12:01 PM · #13

Netflix is not only competing (and winning) against Blockbuster, but Netflix just dropped their monthly rate (for the usual 3-at-a-time plan) while Blockbuster is apparently increasing their effective rate (but putting additional limits on what you can get for your money).

I started out with Netflix and then switched to BB when they implemented the in-store exchange. After about a year I switched back -- I rarely used the in-store exchange, and it actually took longer for those movies to show as returned in my queue, so it took longer to get the next ones. With Netflix I can send a movie back on Monday and have a new one in my mailbox on Wednesday. In the meantime I can watch a streamed movie.

Blockbuster did have a couple of movies I really wanted to see, but they were never available. I had a couple sit in my queue for practically the whole year I was with them -- never got them. They were kind of rare ones, but if there was that much demand they should have been able to get them from somewhere else or order more. Unfortunately those few movies aren't even available on Netflix so I might never see them.

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

08/27/2007 03:48:55 PM · #14

Back in my day....... (no, I didn't walk thru 3 feet of snow, uphill, both ways)

Anyway, back when I first started Netflix, I thought it was the deal of a lifetime. Four movies out, $15/month, *no* tax! They gradually decreased the number, increased the cost, made it harder to get movies (by jury riggging the queue) that I finally gave up on them and any rental at all.

Perhaps it's time to wade back out into the rental waters again? It sounds like netflix has matured a lot over the years. However, I'm still too ticked at Blockbuster to ever give them another dime (story too long to tell here, but you probably have your own similar story).

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/27/2007 03:58:05 PM · #15

I get 3 movies at a time, I think it costs $17 a month, and the turn around for me is always 3 days total - mail on monday, new movies on wednesday.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

08/27/2007 04:27:30 PM · #16

I used BB for years before Netflix. Got Netflix within a year after they got started and haven't been to a BB since. Thought about BB when they offered in-store exchange, but I'm never that desparate to see a movie and if I was, I'm sure it would be a new release and they wouldnt have it. Netflix turn-around time: amazing - like aj said - 3 days total. Haven't tried on demand yet but now I read someone has hooked up their laptop using S-Video to a TV, I may just give that a try on my new 58" Plasma.

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

08/27/2007 04:45:05 PM · #17

Art - do it...its better then coked up sex with a barely legal hatian girl (i think.)

One thing thouhg - you only get sound out of the laptop, so if you have extras speakers, set em up. I have a surround sound system, so it was as simple as just plugging a wire from my laptop into the receiver and setting it to "AWESOME MODE VOLUME 12"

Kronus

Nikon D7000

08/27/2007 04:51:14 PM · #18

Get a subscription to Giga News $24.95 a month unlimited downloads, at .15 cents a blank disc. Burn Baby Burn. Never buy another movie or game again

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

08/27/2007 04:51:53 PM · #19

I might do that when I got my mod chip for my Wii. Save me $50 a pop on Wii games.

levyj413

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

08/27/2007 05:18:25 PM · #20

Originally posted by ajdelaware:

I get 3 movies at a time, I think it costs $17 a month, and the turn around for me is always 3 days total - mail on monday, new movies on wednesday.

Same here. Only I count it as two days. Quiz: what day is two days from today? ;)

bergiekat

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II

08/27/2007 05:40:35 PM · #21

Originally posted by levyj413:

...Quiz: what day is two days from today? ;)

In my world, Wednesday.

hyperfocal

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 105mm f/2.5 AIS

08/27/2007 06:00:01 PM · #22

I was quite happy with Netflix, and I guess I still am, but when I got the e-mail that they were lowering the price and providing online content I figured great. I didn't ask for it, and frankly I'm a movie quality snob and would probably never watch it. But don't tell that I'm paying for something and then not make the content available to all users, as the online content totally excludes all non windoze users.

It all most makes me want to drop them, but after September 12th (when my current satellite contract is up) I'll never have TV programming again, so I'll keep it to have some content. I still rent from my locally owned video Shoppe, as I'd never give blockbusters any of my money and the local Shoppe ignores the Weinstein blockbuster exclusive deal (although you can still get Weinstein movies from Netflix??).

Creature

Nikon D70s

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

08/27/2007 06:17:00 PM · #23

Originally posted by ajdelaware:

One thing thouhg - you only get sound out of the laptop, so if you have extras speakers, set em up. I have a surround sound system, so it was as simple as just plugging a wire from my laptop into the receiver and setting it to "AWESOME MODE VOLUME 12"

I bought a 25' SVGA cable with stereo cable attached to it for about $20 -- my LG LCD TV has an RGB input with an 1/8" phono jack, and I have the TV's variable audio output hooked to my receiver so I can play back the sound in simulated Dolby or 5-channel stereo. Works great as a mega-PC monitor or for streaming movies from Netflix.

Message edited by author 2007-08-27 18:17:33.