[jcmanson]

Isn't netflix $9.99 a month if you get one rental at a time? I don't see why not going for that.

[Libertine]

I've got the 4-at-a-time no monthly limit deal going. And, yes, we use it. If they offered a higher limit, I'd be all over that, too.

[LUconn]

I had the movie pass at blockbuster for about a year. I serioulsy watched a movie almost everyday. It was the greatest thing ever. But now I don't live near a blockbuster so I discontinued it. I would do netflix but I like having the extra money now that I've lived without a movie everday.

[ALUmnus]

Netflix is for the irrational Blockbuster haters. There is absolutely no rational reason to choose Netflix over Blockbuster online. With Blockbuster you get the same services, you can turn your movie in to the store and get a free rental right on the spot, and you get a coupon every month for a free in-store rental, movie OR GAME. And it's the exact same price as Netflix. I'm honestly suprised Netflix can compete with that.

[Libertine]

For starters, Blockbuster Online only exists in the first place b/c of the competition from Netflix. Blockbuster also does not have the selection that Netflix has, particularly inside the local store. Add in Blockbuster's shady business practices (see above), the resulting bad publicity/loss of consumer trust/creation of Blockbuster haters along with the added bonus of never having to set foot inside a Blockbuster (ugh!) and hello, Netflix!

[badger74]

I believe Netflix has their own shady practices--like telling heavy users movies are out when they are not.

[LUconn]

you're right, I believe they were caught delaying the shipping of the movies on purpose. I don't understand how somebody could catch you doing that, though.

[Libertine]

you're right, I believe they were caught delaying the shipping of the movies on purpose. I don't understand how somebody could catch you doing that, though.

When they first started out a few years ago, they didn't have enough copies of everything to fill all their orders so there would be unannounced delays in shipping them out. This obviously made a lie out of their "unlimited rentals" price plan. A customer did the math on how long it was taking to receive and return his movies and found that he was only getting about 8 copies a month and took them to court. Since then, however, the company and their resources have grown dramatically and the delay problem has gone away. I tried the free trial offer 3 years ago and turned it down b/c of the delays but I've had no problems this time around.

[LUconn]

That's very similar to Gamefly. Has anybody done this? It's very pricey so I didn't do it for very long, but it took forever for them to receive it and then send out your next one. You'd get a game, and obviously you keep it way longer than you would a movie. So say I get 2 games at once I keep them a week, and send them back, You get your next 2 games like a week later. I had to staggar the returning just so I had something to show for my $20-30/month or whatever it was. And then if you get a game that sucks and return it right away, that's like a week down the drain of your monthly fee. They have a great idea but need some serious help. I think they should merge with netflix or make it way cheaper.

[ALUmnus]

with blockbuster online the selection is not limited to what's in the store, they have just as good a selection as netflix, and you never have to step foot in an actual store if you don't want to, it's all done through the mail, unless you want the free rentals, which I don't know why you wouldn't. I just think you're throwing your money away with Netflix when blockbuster is such a better value.

[Libertine]

That's very similar to Gamefly. Has anybody done this? It's very pricey so I didn't do it for very long, but it took forever for them to receive it and then send out your next one. You'd get a game, and obviously you keep it way longer than you would a movie. So say I get 2 games at once I keep them a week, and send them back, You get your next 2 games like a week later. I had to staggar the returning just so I had something to show for my $20-30/month or whatever it was. And then if you get a game that sucks and return it right away, that's like a week down the drain of your monthly fee. They have a great idea but need some serious help. I think they should merge with netflix or make it way cheaper.

I tried Gamefly and they've had the same problems starting out that Netflix did. Unfortunately, I don't think the market's large enough to give Gamefly long enough to solve its problems.