Are you going to miss Blockbuster?

zombie boy 2000

I've actually tried both and much preferred Netflix due to its selection. In fact, I was about to change back... and then BB started offering games. Can't turn that down. I guess that pretty much kills Gamefly.

Roy Munson

I've always liked the in-store exchanges BB offers because if you return your rentals on tue. you are almost certainly able to get any new release. I've had the one out at a time with 5 in-store returns a month for $11.99 for a long time. Sooo, if they were to close I'd miss them especially since Netflix only offers new releases after they've been out for a month..that's bs and I'm surprised people put up with it along with the wait time for new releases.

IMHO BB gets a bad rap!

Ricardo

Roy Munson wrote: »

Netflix only offers new releases after they've been out for a month..that's bs and I'm surprised people put up with it

What??????????

With BB I ALWAYS get new releases the Tuesdays they are out

exalted512

I used netflix for a while, but we were never on a regular movie watching schedule and just like the convenience of

"hey, want to watch a movie?"
"sure, lets go down and find one"

as opposed to:
"hey, want to watch a movie?"
"sure, but it'll have to wait 2 days"

There was 4 block busters within 15 minutes of my house, now it's down to 2...both of which were the closer one's for me...w00t.
-Cody

bobman1235

Ricardo wrote: »

What??????????

With BB I ALWAYS get new releases the Tuesdays they are out

It's a recent thing, and not necessarily Netflix's fault. Studios have been cutting deals with Netflix (and RedBox) to prevent them from putting out new releases on release day (delaying 30 days). The theory is it will increase DVD sales. Blockbuster's market share has plummeted enough that they are obviously not a priority for the studios yet, but I'm sure they're next if they're still around.

See : http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-10426792-261.html

Demiurge

This isn't really news, but Netflix and Redbox were approached by the studios to delay rental of new releases for 28 days so that they wouldn't continue to lose their **** on DVD/Blu-Ray sales in stores. WalMart, etc. were cutting back on orders of new releases since they weren't selling as many due to Netflix and Redbox.

The reason both companies agreed to the deal is they get to purchase the rental discs from the studios at a serious discount. Any loss of customers over it they hope will be a wash if not a net gain for them with the lower product costs.

While I don't like it, my queue is full enough with Netflix superior library that I really don't notice it.

Demiurge

Blockbuster gives a portion of each rental back to the studios. That's why they never went after them.

Ricardo

Well, that pretty much kills any chance of me going to Netflix. I like to watch movies when I want, not when they want.

I hope BB stays around.

heiney9

BB is dying and will be completely dead by the end of next year. Our last BB closed here a month ago and we are the 2nd largest city in Illinois so there is substantial population if it were a successful business model.

Netflix, FTW!

I use the streaming option more than the rental option.

munk

I'll miss anyplace that actually hired people to work. Obviously there is a huge tech revolution taking place. I'm a little sad my beloved books will become "Kindle"...but that's progress, and our new virtual marketplace.

snow

Its pretty much a non issue for me other than I like the idea of more choices because competition is good for the consumer, usally what happens shortly after there is a monopoly is the prices rise and selection and qualty go down.

I dont watch movies to speak of, I have seen two on cable in 10 years and the last time I was in a movie theater was in 1983 or 1984 if it was left up to me Hollywood would starve to death

REGARDS SNOW

indyhawg

I cannot remember the last time I was in a Blockbuster.

Ricardo

indyhawg wrote: »

I cannot remember the last time I was in a Blockbuster.

I can't either. All I know is it was last week. Friday maybe? This memory of mine sucks.

zingo

TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »

On Demand same day as DVD and in HD... works for me..

Also a great option, although a little more costly, but the convenience can't be beat.

bobman1235

After all the raping of the consumer that Blockbuster has done over the past few decades, it's amazing to me that anyone would defend them.

As far as getting movies when "you" want rather than when "they" want, it's about when teh studio releasing the movie wants you to rent it, not when Netflix does.

Ricardo

bobman1235 wrote: »

After all the raping of the consumer that Blockbuster has done over the past few decades, it's amazing to me that anyone would defend them.

I've been pretty transparent on the reasons why I like them; lots of movies, less than $20 a month, never pay a late fee, great selection, blu rays, etc.
They have never raped me.
Now that I think about it, I might be raping them. My average cost per movie must be below $2

As far as getting movies when "you" want rather than when "they" want, it's about when the studio releasing the movie wants you to rent it, not when Netflix does.

Fine. No difference to me. At BB I get them on the release date, which matches "when I want".

cstmar01

zingo wrote: »

Also a great option, although a little more costly, but the convenience can't be beat.

HD movies through charter I think are like 5-6 bucks a pop....plus audio quality is not there either....downside for the "convenience" part I guess. However I heard Direct TV is much much better for these type of things.

heiney9

I don't care for the blue and yellow color scheme, turns me off.

messiah

zombie boy 2000 wrote: »

Does anyone remember when you had to pick titles from behind a glass case? Possibly the early '80's? I was just a wee lad at the time, so it's quite possible I was merely tripping my nuts off on a double dose of Carnation Instant Breakfast....

LOL! Yeah, the good ol days. I remember being about 7 getting our 1st vcr. It was HUGE (rca selectavision) and sat on our console tv. The little local video store had about 300 videos (if that). It was always a treat to go to the video store back then!

Flash forward.

Blockbuster put the ma & pa's out of business (except the ones who rented ****), and now they're on the endangered list. Oh, bummer :rolleyes:. I always hated their ridiculous late fee policies, and stopped using them over 10 years ago when they wanted to charge me more in late fees for a game than it cost to buy new. F'n crooked ****. Good riddance.

Ricardo

I don't understand why people complain about late fees. Granted with my plan they don't charge me any late fees, ever, but with the coupon I get for a free in store rental every month, I have to return the movie/game in five days. So, I return it within those five days. What's so difficult about that?

concealer404

Ricardo wrote: »

I don't understand why people complain about late fees. Granted with my plan they don't charge me any late fees, ever, but with the coupon I get for a free in store rental every month, I have to return the movie/game in five days. So, I return it within those five days. What's so difficult about that?

People want a way out of ANY contract, and it's Blockbuster's fault that they returned it late?

decal

I think we all understand the concept of returning things on time.They were charging bogus late fees,that's what got them into hot water.

Demiurge

Ricardo wrote: »

I don't understand why people complain about late fees. Granted with my plan they don't charge me any late fees, ever, but with the coupon I get for a free in store rental every month, I have to return the movie/game in five days. So, I return it within those five days. What's so difficult about that?

I have no idea what kind of idiotic policies they have in place today, but they charged me something like $6 a movie for returning a new release the next day. I don't recall what the specifics were, but they were 100% wrong. Never went back and I never will. I never returned a movie late either.

The fact their going bankrupt shows they obviously suck at keeping customers, managing their money or both.

snow

I have read many complaints about BB's late fee charges well I think the answer to that is be "RESPONSIBLE" return your movies on time, every business whether it be your phone company, cable TV Internet provider whoever will and should in my mind charge a late fee, if it was a small fee then it would not be a deterrent. When you rent a movie or sign up for a service that has a time limit for that movie or service then anything over that time agreed too should be charged extra for.



REGARDS SNOW

Ricardo

decal wrote: »

They were charging bogus late fees,that's what got them into hot water.

If that was true, they would be more than just in hot water. That would be fraud.

bobman1235

The complaints about late fees had nothing to do with irresponsibility on the part of the client, but deceptive business practices on the part of Blockbuster. In particular they launched their "no late fees" policy, with big banners and advertisements... but in the small print it said "unless you return it after 5 days, in which case we charge you a restocking fee of ****." Should people be "responsible" and read the fine print? Probably. Considering they got sued, and lost, for false advertising, there was something amiss there.

And that was only the most recent / egregious of their PR nightmares that I can remember.

snow

bobman1235 wrote: »

The complaints about late fees had nothing to do with irresponsibility on the part of the client, but deceptive business practices on the part of Blockbuster. In particular they launched their "no late fees" policy, with big banners and advertisements... but in the small print it said "unless you return it after 5 days, in which case we charge you a restocking fee of ****." Should people be "responsible" and read the fine print? Probably. Considering they got sued, and lost, for false advertising, there was something amiss there.

And that was only the most recent / egregious of their PR nightmares that I can remember.

Anyone who is more than 5 days late returning a movie should be charged with theft IMHO or at least Butt raped by fees

REGARDS SNOW

shack

I have no complaints about Blockbuster...their selection...their service...their pricing...their policies...which is why I am still their customer. I would hate to see them go out of business. However, if they do, there is always someone there to take their place.

bobman1235

snow wrote: »

Anyone who is more than 5 days late returning a movie should be charged with theft IMHO or at least Butt raped by fees

They weren't five days late. They were told there were "no late fees," and thus kept the movie for as long as they wanted, a la Netflix. I've had Netflix movies sit on my shelf for weeks. Should I be charged with theft? No, that's the point of the service.

sucks2beme

concealer404 wrote: »

People want a way out of ANY contract, and it's Blockbuster's fault that they returned it late?

The point is, I'd drop them off on time, and I'd still get the damn
late fee. I'd argue, and in the end it was pay, or don't get more
movies. I wanted to stop using them, but the wife insisted, since, there
really wasn't anyone else still in business around here. There wasn't that
5 day thing back then. Netflix put them under. And they deserved it.