New, bad change for Blockbuster online members

[frannn]

I am a member of Blockbuster Total Access, where I get 3 movies mailed to me at a time. I could exchange those movies for 3 in store rentals when I was done watching, and the next 3 movies would automatically be sent to me. Therefore I had a total of 6 movies out (3 from the store, 3 mailed) each week. Now, Blockbuster is saying they are letting you keep your in store exchanges indefinetly, but no movies will be mailed until the in store movies are returned. So, this cuts my movie allowance in half. In addition, there's no guarantee they will send the mailed movies the day the in store ones are returned, so you could be waiting up to a week for the mailed movies. Anybody else here a member, and feel like this significantly affects their membership negatively? If my mailed movies take more than a few days to get to me, I will seriously consider switching to Netflix. I really love my movies (can you tell?), especially when I can't sleep, which is a lot...

 

[micknme94]

Hi, we also have Blockbuster and feel the same way! We did , however, try netflix with the free trial to see if we should switch but were less satisfied with them then Blockbuster. We still got our movies faster than with netflix. I lurk mostly but decided to reply because we just tried this within the past two weeks thinking we could save some money but we still think that Blockbuster is the better deal right now. Good luck with your decision!

 

[lovesmurfs]

We've had issues with Blockbuster as well -- we used to receive 2 eCoupons a month, for games or movies. We'd use them for the kids' games and they would be able to rent 2 per month. It was a wonderful treat for them once a month.

Now they've changed their policy, and we don't receive any coupons, and the monthly fee continues to increase. Granted, it is better than NetFlix (and we don't have cable or the digital TV thing), so we'll stay with them. It's annoying, though.

 

[Dancemom03]

We just terminated our Blockbuster online a few weeks ago. Our local store wasn't happy about taking the movies back so the kids didn't like taking them in and in the end it was an extra $19.99 that we decided to use on a family outing each month instead.

So far we haven't missed those red envelopes coming in the mail at all. With lacrosse season, spring, and hopefully summer not too far off, they'll want to be outside instead of watching movies anyway.
This month's paid for parking and lunch at the harbor. It was perfect because we hadn't been using our aquarium membership as much as we'd planned and this gave us the excuse to make the time to go take a peek at the new baby dolphin.

 

[andrews_dad]

I was a BB online member a couple of years back. I loved the coupons and used them for games which are WAY overpriced to rent. In the beginning the new movies came fast. Then the coupons were taken away, and the newest big movies were always slow to come through. I quit BB a long time ago, but I still get the emails from them. I love how they try to spin this newest change as something to benefit the customers when it clearly is a way to cut back on the rentals.

I saw on a TV report that Blockbuster is on the list of major companies not liekly to survive this economic recession ... so I guess this is another sign of the demise.

 

[PrincessMama605]

I have only been a member for two months, and I hadn't heard about the change. I guess it doesn't make much difference to me since I only have a one movie at a time plan, I only get two in-store exchanges in a month. I just look at those as a bonus, since Blockbuster now charges $5 to rent a movie!

I have had Netflix in the past, but I tried Blockbuster because of the free trial and SR credit for signing up. I think I am going to stay with Blockbuster, the movies are mailed faster, I usually get mine the day before the date listed on the website. Those extra days add up to more movies each month.

 

[Golf4food]

We ditched Blockbuster Online about 6 months ago and moved to Netflix and haven't looked back since. So many of the actual Blockbusters stores are closing (including the one closest to us) and they had made so many other changes that it just wasn't worth it any longer. Have you looked at the Netflix options?

 

[Kycha]

We ditched Blockbuster a couple years ago. We originally had the unlimited 3 movies at a time deal which also included unlimited in store exchanges and 2 ecoupons per month. Then, they changed my plan to unlimited 3 movies a month with 5 in store exchanges and no more ecoupons. Plus, they raised our rates from $16.99/month to $24.99/month for the privilege of less benefits. I emailed them to try to work something out. Basically their reply was "Too bad, so sad". In the meantime, come to find out that a lot of other people were "grandfathered" into their existing rate plans and had no changes or rate increases made. So, it was a no brainer. We happily switched to Netflix. We have been very happy with the switch.

To Blockbuster I say, Kharma's a *****. They angered a lot of customers with their arbitrary rate/plan changes. Not a smart move. They lost me(and a lot of other people) as a customer for life. Ironically, since I dropped them, they continue to send me emails trying to woe me back. Not gonna happen. They had their chance to work with me. So, too bad, so sad.

 

[uk_wildcat]

We have Netflix and really like it. I think it really depends on where you live as to how fast you get the movies. We live near a Distribution Center and get them the next day usually. The only ones that take longer are those that aren't as popular and my come from another distribution center.

 

[libinatorsmom]

I have to say we love netflix... we are on the 3 movie plan... we always get our movies in two days which is sooo quick... once and a while we have to WAIT a long time for a popular title but there are sooo many movies we want to see its really not a big deal...

 

[buzz2400]

I have used both blockbuster and netflix. The latest was netflix but it was taking about a week to get a movie. So now I use redbox which is only $1 a night. They even give out codes for free movies on mondays (and wednesdays in march). The only thing I don't like about redbox is that you can't get every movie you want but I have watched about 12 movies in february and didn't pay a dime.

 

[dis-happy]

Wow, a lot must depend on where you live as far as Netflix goes. I mail a movie and they get it the next day, get an email saying they are sending me a movie and I get it the next day. Quick, quick, quick (and not even once has it been more than a 1 day turnaround). I never liked Blockbuster as a store and didn't want anything to do with them online. All Netflix for me!!!

 

[Poohbug]

Wow-I wondered why it was taking so long to get my next movie in the mail. I just returned my in-store movies on Tues. so I should get it soon.

I am sticking with Blockbuster. I like that I can go to the store and get new releases quickly and I love the no late fee since I always am a day or two late in returning. As long as my store doesn't close or they really mess up my program, I don't see changing.

I have been with Blockbuster for a while so I must have been grandfathered in-I get one coupon for an extra movie or game and two coupons for pre-viewed movies of $9.99 or less per month. I also get three movies at a time. Movie rentals can get really expensive, I think I have a pretty good deal for $20/month.

 

[brockash]

I am a member of Blockbuster Total Access, where I get 3 movies mailed to me at a time. I could exchange those movies for 3 in store rentals when I was done watching, and the next 3 movies would automatically be sent to me. Therefore I had a total of 6 movies out (3 from the store, 3 mailed) each week. Now, Blockbuster is saying they are letting you keep your in store exchanges indefinetly, but no movies will be mailed until the in store movies are returned. So, this cuts my movie allowance in half. In addition, there's no guarantee they will send the mailed movies the day the in store ones are returned, so you could be waiting up to a week for the mailed movies. Anybody else here a member, and feel like this significantly affects their membership negatively? If my mailed movies take more than a few days to get to me, I will seriously consider switching to Netflix. I really love my movies (can you tell?), especially when I can't sleep, which is a lot...

Do you know when this starts? We're members too. Honestly, we don't even really use the ones we get mailed. We use them more as a way to go trade and usually let the kids pick out a couple of movies,but we don't usually return those movies until we have new mailed ones to exchange. Usually we'll go on a Sat. trade the 3 mailed movies for 3 movies from the store. Then we'll get 3 more movies mailed to us throughout the week and on Sat. do the same process. I agree, this seems pretty crappy...also I'm not sure why they're doing it that way. I can't imagine it's really going to benefit them that much, especially not compared to how many ppl. they're going to upset
Honestly, I've been kinda done with the whole BB deal for a while now. First, I'm not a huge movie watcher (DH is though) and then they raised the price, without even notifying us, took away coupons ect. If it wasn't for DH really liking to watch movies, we'd get rid of it. I think we probably will within the next 3 months or so, it's just not worth it anymore.

 

[Cindy B]

I have been with Blockbuster for a while so I must have been grandfathered in-I get one coupon for an extra movie or game and two coupons for pre-viewed movies of $9.99 or less per month. I also get three movies at a time. Movie rentals can get really expensive, I think I have a pretty good deal for $20/month.

I must be really grandfathered because I still get my 2 game coupons per month and unlimited movies and in store exchanges.

 

[dryvithome]

I was told this same thing at the store when I went to exchange out my three for three more. It kind of puts the damper on wanting to exchange at the store as it will hold up my incoming movies. With this move, it doesn't seem to be any better than Netflix, to me. I haven't priced Netflix, but it's got to be fairly similar. I'll probably end up cancelling the blockbuster account if this doesn't go smoothly. I'm wondering how the online knows when the store return is?

 

[Buckeye Princess]

We use our library. I can go online and request movies and it is all free. If a title is nit at my branch it is transferred to my branch for me. I get emails telling me when they are available and it is all free. Occasionally I have to wait a few weeks for a brand new popular title...but again it is free. Even if I am late on a return the fee is only 10 cents a day. I have never not been able to find a certain movie, even odd foreign or indie ones. You may want to check out what your library system offers.

 

[BellesFavoriteBook]

I rent from both NetFlix and Blockbuster. Netflix, unless the DVD has to come from California or another state that's quite a ways away, usually gets the DVD to me within a day. I have both accounts on hold, though, to save money before Easter.

I used to do the store exchange, but sometimes my Blockbuster didn't HAVE the movie I wanted, so I cut it down to only by Mail, 1 at a time, max 2 a month.

 

[CinRell]

I can't even imagine paying to rent movies anymore. I get mine from my library. I get online and look at upcoming dvd releases up to 3 or 4 months in advance and then go to my online library page and request the movies. I usually get them within a couple of weeks of their release and keep them 3 weeks. No rental fees. No monthly fees. If I"m late it's 5 cents a day... I have had up to 15 new movies at a time.

 

[Ava]

I've been a member of Netflix for years now and I like it a lot. Their turn around is usually 2 days max, and I like being able to watch movies/TV shows online with their Instant Viewing feature in between getting DVDs. I never tried Blockbuster because there isn't one convenient to me.