Blockbuster Giving Netflix Users Free Rentals

By the Betanews Staff | Published December 5, 2006, 12:56 PM

In an obvious attempt to attract its rival's customers to its own online movie rental service, Blockbuster will let Netflix subscribers with a Blockbuster membership rent movies from its stores for free through December 21. The Netflix member would have to exchange the tear off address flaps from their envelopes to receive the movie, the company says.

While in the store, it's fairly likely Blockbuster will use the opportunity to promote the new Total Access feature of its own online rental service launched in November. Subscribers are now able to return their movies in-store in exchange for free rentals. Blockbuster Online needs all the help it can get to attract customers - its 1.5 million users trail Netflix's 5.7 million subscribers.

Comments

I have tried both Blockbuster and Netflix for several months but will be sticking with Blockbuster because of their better customer service. For example, one time I received a bad DVD from Netflix. They returned it but they didn't ship the replacement until they received the damaged one back. In the same situation BB cross-shipped the replacement at the same time I returned the bad rental. Also, BLOCKBUSTER DOESN'T THROTTLE CUSTOMERS LIKE NETFLIX. THIS MEANS THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE MORE RENTALS EACH MONTH FROM BLOCKBUSTER. Netflix will actually *penalize* you if you return your rentals right away. This really turned me off them. See here: http://ihudgens.com/?p=10

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helo

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I am now a die hard BlockBuster DVD fan. I have tried the in store (2) out at a time deal for 29.99, but now since they will let you exchange the dvd mailers for in-store dvd's, I will forever be a BlockBuster customer. I get 3 from online for $17.99 month, then trade them in store for 3 more. On top of that, they also give you a FREE rental every month. Once the DVD's are returned to the store, they release another DVD mailer(next dvd you have waiting online). I love the service & the price!

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As much as I hate our cable provider, they have managed to continue scaling up their online rental system. The result has been a significant drop in traffic to BlockBuster and the other rental outlets. It's also affected NetFlix appeal, based solely on what I see and hear around me. Many that were using NetFlix are giving cable systems a try. The movies are $1.50 - $3.95 for up to 24 hrs of repeat viewing. The writing is on the wall. We've become accustomed to shorter delivery times, so eventually, the idea of driving somewhere or waiting for the mail delivery will be unappealing. Like going from the stove to the microwave.

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I hope Blockbuster catches up. Netflix punishes customers whom they feel rent too often. They pull all kinds of dirty tricks like sending you return envelopes to the "nearest netflix facility" which then turns out to be half way across the country - thus slowing down turn around time.

Blockbuster has the same online selection (mostly) and has the benefit of local stores to minimize the turn around time.

I'd have no problem with Netflix if they weren't criminals (see: Frank Chavez v. Netflix, Inc. Class Action).

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Hmm. Possibly what they did to me. Sounds like it. It would take so long to get new movies. Or I'd return them and they'd say they didn't receive them for a while and send out like 1 or 2 to me. As I said, I hear it's alot different now. But Blockbuster makes more sense if you do the 2 out unlimited, if you have the time to watch and return lots of movies. They've been trying hard to get customers on the online bandwagon too.

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THE DEATH KNELL SOUNDS!

bye bye Blockbuster (and good riddance)

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Netflix rocks, I haven't set foot in a Blockbuster in years.

I have been going to one of the last family owned movie rental stores but they are getting crazy on rental prices. Instead of lowering rental prices to compete with Netflix, they are raising them to make up the lost revenue.

You will see some lame Blockbuster type Netflix service in the next year or so.

I can't believe they didn't see this coming.

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I wish they did have more of a selection but they are faster and more convient...

1. you get your three movies after you are done you can send them back OR go to blockbuster and get THREE more movies free (new releases or old) plus they will automatically que you for your next movie PLUS those three movies you take from their store you get a week to watch them before they charge you anything PLUS you get one free rental a month from the store as well on top of everything else...OR if you don't like this you get your 3 movies return them by mail plus one free rental a week...honestly I don't understand why more people don't sign up unless all of netflix subscribers are for the more obscure titles...

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Too little too late.

I left blockbluster because I'd always pay a ridiculous amount of late fees when I'd return movies. Then I joined netflix because it solved my main problem.

We only watch movies on the weekends, so 2 day turn around time is just fine. Blockbuster should have done this a long time ago - they'd have to be a LOT cheaper for me to switch.

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Now that's sad - though fun! I have a blockbuster 2 out unlimited plan - where you take 2 out whenever and take them back whenever; works out great because I work from home - and thus, can watch the movies and take them back, in essence renting up to 6 or more movies per day if I want to (depending if I actually work for the day, sometimes I do all my stuff afterhours). Ofcourse sometimes I rent 2 a day, but still after a week, the savings roll in. This especally rocks in the holidays months.
They raised the price to $27 from $21, but that's fine - since after I rent 7 movies they're technically free after that (7 moviesx$4 per movie). I suspect they will raise the price again, at which time I'll probably go back to netflix. Netflix didn't work out for me because back then the movies sometimes didn't show up or took a long time and I got fed up. Nowadays I hear it's alot better so who knows.
Let the games begin!

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F*** you, Blockbuster. I stopped renting from your stores a long time ago in favor of Netflix. You missed the boat on online renting and you can't win me back. If you go out of business, good riddance.

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F*** you Blockbuster AND Netflix! I stopped RENTING long time ago.

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So are you BUYING your movies or have you stopped watching movies? Surely there aren't any other possibilities (excluding going to friends' houses :-)

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Download from internet, burn to DVD5. Best method in the world (in addition, you get R1 DVDs like 2-3 weeks earlier than street dates). I just use netflix for the older stuff, or HD-DVD movies.

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Downloading movies--legally to your hard drive--will be what finally rids us of Blockbuster and its shady business practices.

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Blockbuster is behind the game. There is no way they can compete because there are a lot of things they are missing. Like a WIDE variaty of Anime and Documentarys.

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Yeah and Swedish kung fu movies too!!!!!

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Maybe for Plaque201's sake, they'll carry some "Learn to spell and type coherently" dvd's.

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I sory, I dint cach that.

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