Comparing Blockbuster to Netflix shipping & etc.

[Sharon Kay]

Shame on Netflix! :thumbdown:

I have been so happy with how fast I get the disks from Netflix ... put a dvd out in my mailbox ... they get it the next morning ... they ship out the new one same day ... the following day I have the new DVD. I was really happy with the service.

...until...they didn't have two of the seasons of Dallas ... and I had to go to Blockbuster for those ... and realized that Blockbuster has 2 sided DALLAS dvds and so for a season with 5 disks ... I get 5 from blockbuster.

Netflix has disks that say "turn over" but they are NOT double sided dvds (for Dallas) ... they reecorded them and they would be 10 disks (instead of 5) ... so taking longer rental times then to view a season.

Shame on Netflix ... I see that as deceptive. Blockbuster takes longer to get to me ... so now I am trying to decide which service to keep and which one to give the boot too. My local BB is closing in 3 days so would have to drive further to turn in locally if I want to get it credited as "arriving" faster by dropping it off at a location.

For example BB sent me a movie on July 8th ... and it arrived July 12th ... Netflix sent me one on July 8th and it arrived July 9th.


Hard to decide what to do here ... thinking maybe staying with Netflix because I would get 2 dvds in that same time frame??? They are also very quick to answer their phones ... and I like their customer service. ...but I don't like the way they did their dvds in that series. I am mainly watching TV on DVD series through the rentals.

[heathergw]

we ended up canceling our BB because even with dropping off it still took forever to get our new movie... we had major problems with them... oh, and the biggest turn off for us was when we dropped off a movie and they never put it in the system so when we called to find out why we weren't getting a new movie they told us that we still had the old movie... we had to call the store and they spent 20 minutes telling us that we never brought back the movie until Mark finally told them to put him on hold and go check the shelf... sure enough it was on the shelf... he was TICKED!

We've just been much happier with the shipping and customer service with Netflix.

[lovely1m]

I have Netflix and have been very happy with it. Think about how many movies you have had from them with no problems, compare that with the little problems you have had and that's a pretty good rate.

[Traci Reed]

hmmm, I don't see that as deceptive, just a misunderstanding, so I would stay with Netflix :)

[MichaelsMomJo]

I use Netflix because I like the ability to stream to my TiVO HD as part of my regularly monthly membership. That being said, I also use DVDs when the movie isn't available for instant streaming, and I always get movies very quickly. As Traci said, the issue with the Dallas DVDs doesn't seem really deceptive to me. Given that, as a whole, Netflix seems to have better service, I'd stay with them.

[maryinaz]

We always had BB because one is right down the street and they were fast shippers and I always used my online ones for coupons to get them in the store. But now that they are closing a lot of them and eventually ours, we will probably switch to Netflix so we can do the Wii and streaming thing.

[sprauncey1]

See I've had no problems with Blockbuster. I'm really an impatient person when it comes to movies sometimes and love the option of exchanging at the store. Plus I'm such a visual person sometimes just seeing them helps me decide. So as long as my local BB stays open I'm going to stick with them!

[Misty Cato]

From what I've read Blockbuster as a company is trying to fight back from the verge of bankruptcy. I think I'd stay with Netflix.

[Sharon Kay]

we ended up canceling our BB because even with dropping off it still took forever to get our new movie... we had major problems with them... oh, and the biggest turn off for us was when we dropped off a movie and they never put it in the system so when we called to find out why we weren't getting a new movie they told us that we still had the old movie... we had to call the store and they spent 20 minutes telling us that we never brought back the movie until Mark finally told them to put him on hold and go check the shelf... sure enough it was on the shelf... he was TICKED!

We've just been much happier with the shipping and customer service with Netflix.

About a year or so ago I got counted late on a return on a local checkout ... it was still sitting in their inbox the following day ... so knowing that ... I have returned several movies to the local store but asked them to check it in right in front of me. ...I would be ticked too!

I might just keep the membership until I get through all the Dallas DVDs lol

[Sharon Kay]

Well the Netflix Dallas DVDs have printed ON THE disks ... turn over for the rest of the episodes ... and the other side is blank ... I called to ask and they told me they copied them to additional dvds to spread them out. .... something like for customer convenience or something like that ... I thought maybe that all companies did that and found out that BB did not. Strange. I guess I will keep them both for a month and hopefully I will get the Dallas DVDs finished and I can then stop my BB subscription ... I really do like the speed of Netflix.

[d2vasquez]

I love my Netflix account and only wish I had more time to watch the dvd's when I get them right away. With summer here, the girls have been watching the instant downloads to keep them busy - what a win-win situation for me. You can only watch disney channel so long!;)

[nikkiARNGwife]

From what I've read Blockbuster as a company is trying to fight back from the verge of bankruptcy. I think I'd stay with Netflix.

I just read an article yesterday that BB will probably shut it's last door by the end of next year..it just can't compete with Netflix/itunes/etc.

we have been with netflix since almost the beginning..nearly 6 years and they've only gotten better..their on demand stuff itself is worth a monthly membership IMO and like you said their shipping time can't be beat.

[Stacey42]

We had Blockbuster originally but it was such a mess when we returned DVDs to the store with crediting & as I had told DH at the time, we hardly went to Blockbuster to begin with so why would that change with a membership? We still kept DVDs forever because he was 'going to drop it off at lunch' or whatever & never did. I switched us over to Netflix & have had very few problems with them. Very prompt delivery & love the streaming video option

[nonnie]

I guess I'm the rare duck - I have memberships to both - I don't have the mail service to Blockbuster, but I too am impatient - I want the movie right away - Netflix is great for streaming videos, but I can rent video games from blockbuster. I really hope they don't shut down here, they are the only video store in town since Movie Gallery closed.

[crecia27]

We love Netflix, but we rarely do the actual DVDs anymore because we can stream through the Wii. I'm tempted to give up DirecTv but my husband won't even consider it with football season on the horizon.

[Sharon Kay]

I don't have any movie channels on my TV ... why when I can rent what I want from Netflix? I like to watch movies from beginning to end ... not in the middle to the end or whatever ... dh will watch a movie 10 times starting in different spots ... oh that bugs the heck out of me.

Our closest BB is going out of business 1 or 2 days left ... last I saw the movies were down to $2.99 except the bluay were still really high priced ... they were down to just a handful of different DVDs. Shame...that big blue building on the busy corner is probably going to be empty for a long time ... new businesses just don't seem to move into the old buildings ... they keep building new buildings instead of occupying old ones.

[maryinaz]

The one thing BB has that Netflix doesn't is the video games - we will definitely miss that when ours closes. Can't even get those over online.

[~Julie~]

We have netflix and love it. I have the cheapest plan and Dave has the 8.99 plan. We love it. I would never switch to or use any other service.

[Darcy Baldwin]

For those of you doing games..have you tried Gamefly (http://www.gamefly.com/)? Sure it's subscription, and not cheap, but it's an option.

[DawnMarch]

We love Netflix, but we rarely do the actual DVDs anymore because we can stream through the Wii.

I've been wondering about this since I'd have to upgrade our Netflix account to get streaming (we have a very old and very cheap plan which I hate to change). The streaming seems great, but it also seems like there's a very limited selection of movies you can stream? Am I missing something?

[Darcy Baldwin]

Dawn...there aren't anywhere near as many to stream as to get the DVD's....you have to look, and new ones will never be there. There are a ton available to stream, you just have to look through the lists, and not everything is desirable. The selection of new-ish movies changes pretty regularly, too, so you'll have something come up now and usually disappears in 30 days or so. You just h ave to keep looking.

[crecia27]

I've been wondering about this since I'd have to upgrade our Netflix account to get streaming (we have a very old and very cheap plan which I hate to change). The streaming seems great, but it also seems like there's a very limited selection of movies you can stream? Am I missing something?

Honestly so far we've mostly watched TV shows on the streaming, and like Darcy said there are more by DVD than you can stream, but there are so many right now that stream that we haven't seen that it hasn't been an issue. We just have the 8.99 plan so 1 DVD at a time. My kids love the selection of kids movies and TV, they seem to have more time to watch than we do - funny how that works :p

Right now we are watching Lost - its like a sick addiction watching episodes back to back to back.

Does anyone know why some things are available to stream and others only DVD?

[Sharon Kay]

I haven't watched as many movies on the Wii as I would have liked ... the boys seem to think just because it's theirs that gaming comes before movies. :p

and I do have a long list now of what I want to watch ... sure wish Dallas, MacGyver, and the other TV on DVD were available for instant watching!

...the only reason I looked elsewhere is because Netflix didn't have all the seasons of Dallas .... and even BB has a few disks that are unavailable and a few others on a very long wait ... wondering if they were lost.

[nonnie]

The streaming is going to save us overseas, where there is no good tele - My niece come over and Netflix is a lifesaver with the kids shows. Better than buying the DVD's! We also have a sling box - Jay watches that overseas too and we are taking that with us - Gotta watch my stories!!!!

[jessica31876]

I have had both in the past...I had to put netflix on hold for like a month because we really could not afford it that month because my husband had switched jobs and it took a few weeks to get it all transitioned. Anyhow when I got netflix back active they had changed the price of the rentals on me and did not notify me of it. I was getting fewer DVD's for more money. So I cancelled netflix. Blockbuster I had five at a time and we were able to take the movies into the store and trade in five a month for in store rentals but they stopped letting you do that. We cancelled BB when my husband lost his job. Now if we want to get a movie we just go to redbox or BB and rent one every now and then. I personally prefer BB over netflix because they got the movies out to me quicker and I had fewer issues with scratched/damaged disks with them. Netflix also had a bad habit of sending the wrong dvd's out. Sometimes it would be the right title but wrong version of it (like there would be two movies with the same title and I would put them in my list and they would send the one I did not order). So I had a couple issues which makes me dislike netflix. Another thing I love about BB is you can almost always find free codes online for their BB Express. So alot of times we do not even have to pay to rent from them LOL

[laurabobaura]

i'd stick with netflix :) have you looked to see if it is available streaming online? you can watch it right on your computer, even if the kids are on the wii :)

[Sharon Kay]

The streaming is going to save us overseas, where there is no good tele - My niece come over and Netflix is a lifesaver with the kids shows. Better than buying the DVD's! We also have a sling box - Jay watches that overseas too and we are taking that with us - Gotta watch my stories!!!!

What is a slingbox?

[Sharon Kay]

i'd stick with netflix :) have you looked to see if it is available streaming online? you can watch it right on your computer, even if the kids are on the wii :)

No...none of the TV on DVD we want to watch is on the streaming ... was hoping especially since a few of the disks are unavailable from both Netflix and BB.

Rarely I have my computer on and not using it ... but guess I could watch through my netbook ... hadn't thought of that.

[JenTapler]

We have BB. We tried Netflix initially, but living in Hawaii it took FOREVER to get the disks for some reason. Not sure why - they're coming from Honolulu, same as the BB disks, but it took longer for us, by several days, than BB does. So we've been with BB for several yrs now and are happy with it. We have the plan that lets us have 3 out at a time, we get 2 free in-store rentals/month, and we can return the DVDs in-store and exchange them for a free in-store rental - this is unlimited per month and really what we like the most. I'm someone who doesn't know what I'm going to want to watch 2 days in advance. I'm more of an "impulse renter" when it comes to movies. So we normally just put a bunch of crap in our Queue that we don't really care to watch, then as soon as they get here, take them to the store, browse around and pick what we're in the mood for right at the moment and exchange the mailed DVD for a free in-store rental. Of course, they don't mail a new one to us until we return that in-store rental. We have had some trouble with them not crediting us for returning something in the store, but if it seems like it's been a few days and I haven't received a new movie, I just pull up my Queue and there's a place to check "already returned in store" and then they send the next movie right away. I've never had to prove that I returned the movie or call anyone or anything - just check that little box and "poof", the next movie ships.

So I'm happy with BB for now. I suppose if our local BB store ever closes I'll have to switch to Netflix, but I'll be bummed if that happens!

[Sharon Kay]

I'm on a 3 week BB Trial ... that expires on the 24th...but it's 3 disks at a time but it limits me to 4 in-house exchanges per month. I was surprised but all 3 BB disks showed up yesterday and they weren't due until Monday...so I have a lot of tv watching to do today. lol

[maryinaz]

So we normally just put a bunch of crap in our Queue that we don't really care to watch, then as soon as they get here, take them to the store, browse around and pick what we're in the mood for right at the moment and exchange the mailed DVD for a free in-store rental.

That's EXACTLY what we do and we can do the unlimited exchanges and 3 out at a time also. We really have a smokin' deal - they've never upped the price on us since we started in the beginning, so I'll be sad if ours closes too. We still get one free coupon a month (that's the only thing they changed, it used to be 2) and we only use those for games to get the most out of them.