BlockBuster lowers price again

[AlecWest]

So I doubt they ever charge anyone for the damage since they couldn't tell who was responsible.

NetFlix charged my buddy's credit card for the full retail price of "Dances With Wolves" when they received it back, damaged. I think he'd disagree with you.

[samijubal]

BB and Netflix turnaround times are the samewhere I am, so the 2 free rentals make BB the choice for me. I can use them once at BB and as many times as I want at the Hollywood 2 miles away, Netflix can't beat that. Plus BB is cheaper.

[Sabro]

Something else interesting is that at some Blockbusters, maybe all, they are "price matching" Hollywood Video. For ages Hollywood Video has had their used DVDs 3 for $25. Just the other day I saw at a local Blockbuster that they were selling used movies 3 for $25 "for a limited time."

Prolly because BB is attempting (if they haven't already done so) to buy out Hollywood Video. I hate to say it, but if that occurs then mostlikely over time HWV will become another BB....BLAH.

But from what you have seen, it sounds like BB is trying to trend itself to HWV more then the other way around.


Sabro

[Madz]

I quit all the mailorder things and just go to local stores when I want to rent something. In the last few months, it seems that my local BB has hired two dudes who seem to do nothing but reshelf films & stuff (as I've not seem them behind the checkouts, at all). Every time I go in there, one of them comes up to me after I'm three feet in the door, "Hi, c'I hellllllp yoooo?" I reply, "no thank you." Then I get, "Well yooooo knowwwwwww therzzz no late feeeeeez?" Hey, I think I know the store layout and its limited selection better than they do. Lately, I've been going to the other store, West Coast Video (smaller local chain) just to avoid those annoying BB dudes.

[lordsmurf]

And, I expect they dinged his credit report.

Unlikely. They are a merchant, not a credit issuer.

And defrauding a merchant doesn't make it to a credit report? THAT is unlikely.

No. It does not.

If you don't believe me, call Equifax, Experian or TransUnion.

[Rookie64]

Are Blockbuster and Walmart return envelopes thin/flimsy as well? If so, I suspect most mail-rental customers are whistling past the graveyard in hopes that what happened to my buddy won't happen to them.

Yes - all 3 use flimsy envelopes now.


Blockbuster started out using thicker envelopes, but I think it saves 'em more to just risk damaged discs.

Damaged discs are common. I've never been informed of any receiving damaged discs from me but I often receive damaged discs from Netflix and Walmart.

I'll report it and get screwed out of a rental for that week...but they'll replace it without charging.
Netflix used to be ok about damaged discs but have gotten anal in recent months. They used to send out a replacement disc upon reporting the disc damaged - they now insist that you mail the damaged disc back first.

They haven't charged for damaged discs but send a notice out that if you report discs damaged often they will start charging.

I had a disc that was defective (which was an older movie that is harder to obtain).
I reported it defective, sent it back, waited a week for a replacement and received the exact same defective disc back.
Reported it again, and a week later got the very same disc back.

I just gave up on it - didn't bother reporting it 'cause I was getting one less rental a week.

I DO think they do these things just so members won't be able to take advantage of the max. number of rentals they can get out of a month.

At this time, Blockbuster asks no questions about defective discs and send replacements upon reporting it.


Netflix has become slower with turn arounds this past month and are starting to wait 2 to 3 days after they received a disc to send the next.


Walmart has become extremely slow - I'm lucky if I get my next rental the following week - it's closer to a 2 week waiting period for turnarounds.


I'd say Blockbuster by far offers the best service and biggest selection.

Netflix used to be better but I'm seeing a huge decline in their service.



greencine.com and www.dvdavenue.com use padded envelopes.

[lordsmurf]

BB still does not carry many tv shows... mostly movies.

[samijubal]

I rent nothing but TV shows from BB, they have plenty.

[winifreid]

Netflix clearly has a better selection of foreign and classic films. And I agree that Netflix has a better TV selection if you consider that TV has been around for more than 50 years. I am currently subscribed to both and I have only found 2 movies that BB had and Netflix didn't. But Netfllix has had dozens that BB doesn't. At my location, the number of flics I get are about the same if I take into account the 2 free coupons - but I hate to drive to the store to redeem them.

[Rookie64]

Netflix clearly has a better selection of foreign and classic films.

I can't say I agree with that, but as long as they have what you're interested in, then that's what matters 8)


Blockbuster carries many titles that Netflix either used to carry, doesn't carry or won't carry.


Of course there are titles niether carry that can be found at other online rental outlets, but Blockbuster stocks more than the others do.

Blockbuster also carries more than one edition of a movie.

When older films are reissed with special features, Blockbuster will carry both editions, while Netflix continues to only stock the original release with no extra features.

I agree with lordsmurf about Blockbuster's TV selection, but Blockbuster has a much bigger music and animation selection.

Both Netflix and Blockbuster will add titles (not listed in their inventory) if they get enough requests to carry those titles.

Netflix pulls a number of titles from their inventory once the titles go out of print...and sometimes pulls titles for no reason.


I still use both, but if given a choice between the two, I'd definitely take Blockbuster over Netflix.
A few months ago I would've said the opposite.

[Capmaster]

8) I have no use for Blockbuster, but if they lower their prices, that means Netflix will soon 8)

[AlecWest]

And, I expect they dinged his credit report.

Unlikely. They are a merchant, not a credit issuer.

And defrauding a merchant doesn't make it to a credit report? THAT is unlikely.

No. It does not.

If you don't believe me, call Equifax, Experian or TransUnion.

Don't have to call them. If a person either bounces a check or causes a bad charge to occur, the merchant has the right (and often uses it) to turn that bad debt over to a collection agency. On the merchant's end, it's considered a "charge off" (bad debt). But a debt assigned to a collection agency causes an immediate ding to anyone's credit report. I'm surprised you don't know that.

[Nilfennasion]

Jeez... we're fighting about what does or doesn't happen when people don't pay their bills now?

[AlecWest]

Jeez... we're fighting about what does or doesn't happen when people don't pay their bills now?

True ... dreadfully off topic. But, it was related to a former Netflix customer who they tried to charge for a missing DVD ... one that was returned but never received by them.

[Nilfennasion]

Ah, I see. I just find it amazing how frequently things turn to argument here.

This is, of course, one reason I will never use online rental services. Bricks-and-mortar stores give you the assurance that you can physically hand the discs to an employee and watch them scan each one into the computer as returned. And even they aren't above trying to put one over on the customer.

[AlecWest]

This is, of course, one reason I will never use online rental services. Bricks-and-mortar stores give you the assurance that you can physically hand the discs to an employee and watch them scan each one into the computer as returned. And even they aren't above trying to put one over on the customer.

True ... but I feel just the same. Somehow, being able to get in my car, drive a little bit, and get in someone else's face with a problem feels a bit more empowering, hehe. I try to keep most of my services local. And, if the price is right (in my case, it is), I try to visit mom/pop video stores VS the big chains.

[samijubal]

Something else interesting is that at some Blockbusters, maybe all, they are "price matching" Hollywood Video. For ages Hollywood Video has had their used DVDs 3 for $25. Just the other day I saw at a local Blockbuster that they were selling used movies 3 for $25 "for a limited time."

Blockbuster owns Hollywood Video, as well as Movie Trading Company.

Movie Gallery owns Hollywood, not Blockbuster.

[lordsmurf]

Something else interesting is that at some Blockbusters, maybe all, they are "price matching" Hollywood Video. For ages Hollywood Video has had their used DVDs 3 for $25. Just the other day I saw at a local Blockbuster that they were selling used movies 3 for $25 "for a limited time."

Blockbuster owns Hollywood Video, as well as Movie Trading Company.

Movie Gallery owns Hollywood, not Blockbuster.

Yeah, I know. The newspaper I had read at the time jumped the gun on reporting the merger that apparently never happened. Morons.

[samijubal]

Newspapers, whats new? Just because it's in the paper doesn't mean it's true, at least not around here.