Netflix vs. Blockbuster Online

[wesbed]

With the recent online competition from Blockbuster, I was thinking Netflix might lower its monthly fee. The Netflix fee hasn't changed. At the same time, Blockbuster is offering its online rental service at $2.00 per month less than Netflix. Also, Blockbuster offers two free in-store rentals per month along with the regular online rental service.

I've never used an online rental service but am considering trying Blockbuster's service due to the lower price and the two free in-store rentals. Sometimes you just want to be able to go to the store, now, and get a DVD rather than waiting for it to arrive in the mail.

Does anybody here have any experiences to share in regard to these services? Is one preferred over the other?

Edited September 20, 2004 by wesbed

[Dan Gould]

Haven't compared as my wife and I have been satisfied with Netflix. Our only problem has been dawdling on seeing what shows up. If you keep watching them as they arrive, the monthly fee is not bad. But if you end up going a month and only getting three DVDs, then $20+ is overpaying for your rentals, big time.

I can understand the urge to go to the store and get something NOW, but I'm not missing the line at blockbuster one bit.

I'd give Netflix some time before they figure out if their price needs to come down, but either way, I've seen the future, and its DVD rental via online ordering and USPS delivery!

[Chrome]

Does Blockbuster Online rent NC-17 or unrated movies? My recollection is that their "real" stores do not ... that's the kind of thing that would keep me away from Blockbuster. Not only does the censorship aspect make me uncomfortable, but, from a practical standpoint, it would mean missing out on some movies.

[wesbed]

Does Blockbuster Online rent NC-17 or unrated movies?

I don't know the answer to this question but it's a good question to get an answer to. I don't like to be censored either. For the monthly fee, I want to be able to rent what I want to rent, regardless of the rating of the film.

[ejp626]

I've been fairly happy with Netflix, though there are a few titles they should have but don't. I usually manage to turn the DVDs over in two days, so I am usually able to get about 35-40 DVDs a month (I'm on the three at a time plan). One nice thing is that when DVDs are damaged, Netflix hasn't hassled me about them and just sent replacements. They have only a few NC-17 movies, the ones that have some "artistic merit" to them, so this isn't the place for hardcore. Don't know how Blockbuster will stack up, but I've never been impressed with the selection at the store, so I don't see how their on-line selection will be any better. (I think I watch 40% foreign film, 40% anime and 20% mainstream Hollywood films, so Blockbuster hasn't been worth it at all.)

[Dan Gould]

I'm pretty sure Blockbuster isn't planning to offer store-level depth of selection for their online members. They're certain to try to match Netflix for breadth and depth, perhaps with the NC-17 restrictions mentioned earlier.

[alejo]

I've also been very happy with Netflix's service and selection. What I really enjoy is not getting in the car and driving to the video store only to spend hours combing the racks for a movie that wasn't a "Blockbuster" or that my wife and I could agree on renting.

Also, like ejp626 if you're sent a defective DVD they'll send you a replacement hassle free.

Whatever service you choose, I recommend renting the Sledgehammer series.

Edited September 20, 2004 by alejo

[wesbed]

It appears, since I initially posted in this thread, that Netflix and Blockbuster have lowered their prices.

Netflix has dropped its price to $17.99 per month.

Blockbuster has dropped its price to $17.49 per month.

Ahhh, the merits of competition.

[cannonball-addict]

One of my housemates uses the Blockbuster service and we all love it! I never jumped on the Netflix bandwagon but now that I live with someone who does the Blockbuster one, I would definately consider it in the future for myself.

The online service does rent titles that are NC-17. No porn or anything. But the selection is great. Their online "warehouse" selection is much better than any real Blockbuster I've ever seen.

The discs come really quickly. I have been watching whole seasons of "The West Wing," with him and his girlfriend whenever I have a few hours. We were also trying to watch the whole "ER," from first season to now. But that would take months so I gave up on that. Both these shows have compelling plots that really keep you wanting to watch the next episode because they are at your fingertips.

Also, the two in-store rentals are really nice because occaisonally the local warehouse will be out of what you want and one of your local stores will have it.

Matt

[MartyJazz]

I am a convert to the Netflix way of providing DVDs for over 6 months now and I've yet to visit a Blockbuster in that time. Since I average about 12 films a month, the $18 monthly charge is a bargain especially in that it is door to door and there are no postal charges. I additionally like going through the Netflix database for film synopses as well as critiques by viewers like you and me which I supplement, if warranted, with professional reviews available from the Internet Movie Database (IMDB.com). Since Netflix was the service that came up with this novel and efficient method of doing away with film rental fines, especially the high fees associated with Blockbuster overdue rentals, I feel that my loyalty will always be with Netflix. (Of course, they probably will be acquired or merged with Blockbuster in due time, I'm sure).

[Brandon Burke]

I must be missing something but I've never run across a profesional review on IMDB. They offer plot synopsis and user comments but nothing approaching an oficially sanctioned review (i.e. opinions are not asserted).

Not that I'm complaining. I never judge a film based on reviews anyway but I do rather like knowing the general style of a work--details about cinematography, editing, etc--and these kinds of details usually show up in a review and not plot synopsis.

If I remember right, IMDB also does not credit as many off-camera participants as All Movie. In particular, and I'm going from memory here, there are no cinematography credits for individual films.

I never use IMDB.

Edited December 13, 2004 by Brandon Burke

[chris]

I find IMDB invaluable, but it is just one resource amongst many. If I want reviews, I usually start with rottentomatoes.com and go from there...

[MartyJazz]

I must be missing something but I've never run across a profesional review on IMDB. They offer plot synopsis and user comments but nothing approaching an oficially sanctioned review (i.e. opinions are not asserted).

You are missing something. Once you've located the film you want within the IMDB, click on "external reviews" in the left hand column. Depending on the recency of the film, you'll get anywhere from one to 100+ links to "professional" film reviews, e.g., Roger Ebert, New York Times, Film Comment, etc.

[take5]

I've been with NetFlix for a while and love it. Starting next week I'll be on the 8 discs/mo plan. Besides films for myself, I'm getting 24 for my sister so that she can catch up before the new season starts and Hollywood blockbusters for my dad.

I like supporting a company I like with my business, and since NetFlix pretty much invented this business, I'm going to stick with them.

[Brandon Burke]

I must be missing something but I've never run across a profesional review on IMDB.  They offer plot synopsis and user comments but nothing approaching an oficially sanctioned review (i.e. opinions are not asserted). 

You are missing something. Once you've located the film you want within the IMDB, click on "external reviews" in the left hand column. Depending on the recency of the film, you'll get anywhere from one to 100+ links to "professional" film reviews, e.g., Roger Ebert, New York Times, Film Comment, etc.

Okay. I'd never noticed that before. I'll give a look later on today.

Cheers,

Brandon

[MartyJazz]

I find IMDB invaluable, but it is just one resource amongst many. If I want reviews, I usually start with rottentomatoes.com and go from there...

Again, if you click on "external reviews" within IMDB once you've located your particular film, Rotten Tomatoes (which, in itself contains a slew of short reviews) will be listed among the review sources available. As such, IMDB serves as an intermediary to all the online film reviews available.

Edited December 14, 2004 by MartyJazz

[Leeway]

I'm a Netflix member, and I really like it. I mostly rent European films, like Godard, Truffaut, Antonioni, et al; these are impossible to get locally. I also rent a lot of older films, film noir, etc. In fact, Netflix has really got me going on movies again, as I can now easily obtain these sorts of films. I have no idea how they do with "blockbusters," and currently popular films, although I would think they are pretty good on that; however, that might be a factor in which service to pick, as Blockbuster has always been a, well, "blockbuster" type of supply house.

Netflix service has been excellent. One of their distribution centers is near me, so returns take 1-2 days, and I get the next title in 2-3 days. My only limitation is time-- I wish I had more time to watch.

[wolff]

Have not compared, but I'm happy with Blockbuster. They get the DVD's the next day and mail out my new ones the same day, which I get the next day.

They notify me every step of the way.

[garthsj]

I am VERY pleased with my Netflix service. Here in Houston, the fourth largest city in the country, we do not have a large number of venues for "furrin'" films, so as a professional film watcher, this service is a godsend for me. Their selection of foreign films is not perfect, but it does provide me with an opportunity that previously only the Sundance and IFC channels provide. We also have a Netflix distribution center here, so I return things on Monday, and have my new set on Wednesday ... I go through about 12-15 a month ... I asked my postman, and he says that his deliveries of Netflix is increasing ever week!

[Leeway]

Have not compared, but I'm happy with Blockbuster. They get the DVD's the next day and mail out my new ones the same day, which I get the next day.

They notify me every step of the way.

Not trying to "convert" anyone, but Netflix does the same, with e-mail notification upon sending, receiving, etc. The turnaround is really fast.

In a sense, every customer that Netflix has was "taken" from Blockbuster, as B. was the leader in the field, but they reacted too slowly to the DVD boom, and are now playing catch-up to Netflix.

[take5]

But last I heard, they're catching up successfully. There are a lot of people who didn't jump on the NetFlix bandwagon and the potential customer base is still huge. Blockbuster is grabbing by underpricing and relying on their brand name, that's why NetFlix had to drop their prices. Like Tivo, they're facing tough, potentially fatal competition from bigger companies who reproduce their original ideas.

[Leeway]

Netflix made a tactical error by increasing their monthly price recently. I think that lasted for only a few months, until they realized what a bonehead move that was. That probably gave Blockbuster some acceleration.

How does Blockbuster do in the foreign and classic film departments?

[wesbed]

It appears that Blockbuster has just dropped it's monthly rental fee to $14.99.

[BFrank]

Are multiple-disk sets counted as a single rental?

For example, the SCTV sets are 5 disks each. With the "3 at at time" plan I could rent all 3 sets at once?

[Guy Berger]

Are multiple-disk sets counted as a single rental?

For example, the SCTV sets are 5 disks each. With the "3 at at time" plan I could rent all 3 sets at once?

No, you have to rent the discs separately. I've been pretty satisfied with Netflix; they have a variety of plans so depending on your viewing rates you can adjust accordingly. They just introduced a 1-at-a-time, unlimited/month for $9.99. Depending on how close you are to a distribution center this could be six or more movies a month.

Guy