Blibble, I have 2-DVDs at a time unlimited online and a fixed in-store number of 3 per month. That means I can exchange only 3 online movies in store every month.

Similarly the people who are paying $17.99 for 3 DVDs at a time, can get only 5 DVDs in store per month. But this is where the confusion is. Some members (like you and my other friend) are able to get unlimited DVDs for the same amount. There is an identical(3 at a time online + unlimited instore exchanges) scheme available for new members, but that costs them $25! So you are among the lucky ones who joined the scheme at the right time. Couple of my friends and also Irishman who were in the unlimited scheme got an email some months ago mentioning that either they pay $25 to continue with their scheme or be happy with maximum of 5 DVDs per month of instore exchanges.

Geoff, has the netflix streaming movies collection improved in the last couple of months? When I started with Netflix trial a few months back, I found their streaming movie collection (which is their answer to the in-store scheme of blockbuster) to be not so good. They have too many copyright issues to get all the movies in the streaming format. So their collection sucks now. They have one or two great movies in each genre , which they put in their Ads. But a vast majority of the rest are either too obscure or total crap.

No, I don't have stock in NetFlix, but they did come up with the idea and BB just copied them to avoid going out of business. ...but I do LOVE my iPhone!!!


Y'know what, I don't know. I always forget about that feature. Despite being able to sit in front of this screen all freakin' day long, the idea of watching a movie in a computer chair doesn't thrill me much. But I suppose I'd do it if I needed to and couldn't wait the 1-2 days for the DVD...

Ok, looks like I'm switching to Netflix in the new year. I just received an e-mail from Blockbuster telling me they're going to jack up the price on my subscription plan again on my next billing cycle! They just did this not even 4 months ago. Before I was paying $17.99 for 3 online DVDs at a time plus unlimited in-store exchanges. When they originally raised their prices I switched to having to pay $21.99 for 2 online DVDs at a time plus unlimited in-store exchanges. Now they say they're going to jack up the price even more to $29.99 for that EXACT same plan! Are they nuts? Do they want people to switch to Netflix or what because that's exactly what I might do (unless I give up the whole online movie game together and just either pay per rental or set up a Blockbuster in-store movie pass).

I got an email as well, although I'm still confused as to why I still receive 3 dvd's with unlimited in-store exchanges for a lot less and yours was changed. Here's what they said in the email:

To continue to bring you the unmatched convenience of both online and in-store DVD rentals, your monthly subscription fee will change slightly from $17.99 to $19.99. This adjustment† will go into effect on your next billing cycle on or after December 27, 2007. The benefits of your subscription plan will remain the same...and it's a value of $34.99!

I particularly love the end where it says "...and it's a value of $34.99!" Like I'm supposed to get excited about that and not care they are raising the price by two dollars and not adding any features.

I may jump ship to NetFlix in the future as well, I don't blame you Irish. For what you are getting for $30 a month is ridiculous.

I just sent my two Bergman films back, which means season one of THE WIRE is on its way...

Time to get excited!

Took you long enough to realize your initial mistake....
click here

Here's what they wrote me:

To continue to bring you the unmatched convenience of both online and in-store DVD rentals, your monthly subscription fee will change from $21.99 to $29.99. This adjustment† will go into effect on your next billing cycle on or after December 27, 2007. The benefits of your subscription plan will remain the same.

Blockbuster is probably going broke with all the movies you watch. They can get away with charging me less because I probably don't watch enough movies to use up the cost each month. It's become personal between Blockbuster and you.

Does it take a MENSA convention to see that they've RAISED their rates, while NetFlix (the ones who've INVENTED this model) LOWERED theirs??

Sheesh.

Get with it already.

Netflix is king.

Or not. They sent out Little Dieter Needs to Fly and The Seventh Continent instead. Not to worry, I bought The Wire today.

I found this in the FAQ of blockbuster site. They again shipped a totally unexpected movie

Question

Why didn't I receive the Available movie(s) at the top of my Queue?

Answer

BLOCKBUSTER Online® is committed to keeping your rental experience uninterrupted. Because our goal is to ship movies as quickly as possible in order to meet an estimated shipping time of 1-3 business days for delivery, the system reviews all "Available" titles in your Queue and determines which movies are ready for shipment from your nearest distribution center. If the estimated shipping times for your top selection(s) fall outside an acceptable shipping window, they may be skipped over for other DVDs further on your list.

Even though some of your selections may get skipped, continue prioritizing your movies in the order you would like for them to be shipped. We do our best to continuously distribute copies among our distribution centers based on demand.

I finally made the jump from Blockbuster to Netflix this month and I am pretty happy so far.
* Their shipping speed is better than Blockbuster.
* Every movie I have added to my queue shows available (including the obscure foreign art movies).

Right now I am watching episodes of The Wire. So they have been shipping it in the same order as I have populated my queue. I have to wait and see how they ship my other movies. One of my main complaints with Blockbuster is total unpredictability of the shipping order.

We've belonged to Netflix for several years, and I can't think of one time we ever received a DVD out of order. I can also say that the speed of shipping has been consistent over the years. They are also quite possibly the only service that I subscribe to that has voluntarily lowered its prices over the years.

SB, did you get the "Netflix box" that lets you download "Instant" titles in your queue... well, almost instantly? Pretty cool, despite the fact that the titles aren't quite Top Notch. Great when you have no discs in hand and there's nothing on TV or On-Demand... (like that's possible... cuz cable is CHOCK FULL of wanna-see titles! lol) Pretty cool, despite the $100 one-time equipment fee... it's recommended when 3 discs/week doesn't quite cover your viewing habits...