Posted on 08/18/2007 5:14:07 PM PDT by TheKidster
I recieved the following email yesterday afternoon and I am steaming mad. The video chain Blockbuster video has been aggressively advertising thier alternative to the growing success of Netflix. I was pressured by the folks who work at the video stored for months to join Blockbuster Unlimited. They touted the ability to rent movies online just like Netflix but with the added bonus of being able to take a movie back into any store and exchange it free for another title, along with being able to also just rent from the store. This sounded like a great deal and sold me over Netflix. I turned them down on the offer many, many times because it sounded too good to be true but finally broke down and gave them a chance, I trusted they'd follow through on this great deal.
A few weeks into the deal I get the email below basically lowering the service I signed up for by limiting the highly touted "unlimited" instore exhange policy. They were kind enough to offer me the same plan at a higher price of course, since I'm such a loyal customer.
Blockbuster has pulled a bait and switch and I would advise everyone who considering signing up for an "Unlimited" plan with Blockbuster to take thier business to Netflix, or be prepared to get less than they offer. --------------------------------------------------------- We hope you're enjoying BLOCKBUSTER Total Access™!
There are some changes to our subscription plan lineup that introduce a new pricing structure and new plans which limit the number of in-store exchanges.
As a result, your current plan will no be longer be available at the current price.
(Unlimited Online DVDs up to 3 at a time plus unlimited in-store exchanges each month for $17.99)
We'd like to extend you a new plan that includes Unlimited Online DVDs 3 at a time plus up to 5 free* in-store exchanges for $17.99.
In addition, exclusively for BLOCKBUSTER Total Access customers, we have introduced in-store movie rentals for $1.99* per movie should you need more than the in-store exchanges included in your plan.
Your new plan will go into effect on your regular monthly billing date following August 31, 2007. If we don't hear from you by August 31, 2007, we will automatically move you to the new BLOCKBUSTER Total Access plan referenced below as "Your New Plan".
Online DVD rentals delivered to your mailbox
Free* movie rentals and discounted game rentals when you exchange in-store†
Subscriber discount on new and used online DVD purchases
Rental exclusives – titles you won't find anywhere else
Here are some options to choose from: Unlimited Online DVDs with 5 In-Store Exchanges 3 Unlimited 5 $17.99 Your New Plan
Unlimited Online DVDs with Unlimited In-Store Exchanges 2 Unlimited Unlimited $21.99
Unlimited Online DVDs Only 3 Unlimited NONE $16.99
See all available subscription plans
I said bye to them and realnetworks music, Itunes and whatever else my kid got us hooked into. Just cut the string...
I knew at least 2-3 weeks ago that Blockbuster was going to raise their prices. There was an article (Foxnews.com?) about Netflix and their struggle to keep customers, tactics being lower rates and add downloadable content. The article stated that Blockbuster was going to raise their prices- which seemed stupid to me because- even though they are drawing customers from Netflix- as a company I believe it said they aren’t doing very well. Blockbuster has always been more expensive than everyone else.
All I can say is, before you agree to something, a subscription, whatever, ALWAYS READ THE FINE PRINT.
Take a walk in the park and smell the flowers.
If you do cancel your subscription, and you want to do it with wit, make a text copy of their email, except change it so that it shows *your* new policy of canceling your subscription. And be sure to send a copy to the PRESIDENT of BLOCKBUSTER:
There are some changes to MY subscription plan lineup that introduce a new pricing structure (which will now be $0.00!) and new plans which limit any further participation of ME in your company profit from your Total Access™ Plan!
As a result, MY current money will no be longer be available at the current offer. Which was a fair:
(Unlimited Online DVDs up to 3 at a time plus unlimited in-store exchanges each month for $17.99)
However I am now going to extend you a new PAYMENT plan that includes only MY renting videos for ONLY your store rental fee, with NO further participation in your home delivery, from which you will NOW receive $0.00!
In addition, I have posted to several online forums that BLOCKBUSTER sold me one plan, then decided to CHANGE the plan once I had signed up, which WOULD have cost me more money had I decided to continue, WHICH I HAVE NOT!
MY new plan will go into effect IMMEDIATELY. And if when I CANCEL MY SUBSCRIPTION, I don’t hear from you by August 31, 2007, I will automatically CONTACT MY CREDIT CARD COMPANY AND TELL THEM THAT I CANCELED MY BLOCKBUSTER Total Access plan referenced below as “MY New Plan”, and to STOP PAYMENT of ANY future money paid to BLOCKBUSTER.
Have a NICE day.
Your EX-home delivery customer
Time Warner/AOL/ENEMEDIA strikes again. Dump em pronto! You might have to change your CC account #. They are notorious for silent billing. Also look out for the never received dvd charge.
That’s what makes this even more frustrating. They didn’t execute the appropriate market research and now they are going back on thier word.
I’m hoping this boosts Netfix and kills Blockbuster stock.
Oh I want to add, that given their renegging on the “no late fees”, this doesn’t surprise me. The “no late fees” really means one week rentals and then you buy the movie.
I would encourage you to post this to every online forum you belong to or can find. I’m goig to send a letter to the BBB and try to find the email for Blockbuster’s CEO. If anyone has it please post so that we can all email him our opinions about being ripped off.
Clark Howard should be getting calls and emails about this as well.
Kaveat Emptor. Still true after 2,000 years.
Received the same switch, am considering alternatives.
My queue is basically empty. I can't find enough movies that I'll watch, and by family agreement we do not watch R rated moves.
Every movie I have rented has been a stinker. Can't BHollywood make anything decent anymore?
Interesting. They grandfathered me with the new plans. I keep my existing plan, unlimited in-store exchanges, 1 e-coupon a month. If I change plans though, then I go to the new system, but until then, I keep the same old plan.
Oh, and the other reason to avoid Netflix, is 100% of their political donations go to Democrats.
Trust me ... you'll wonder why you sat through so many movies that did nothing for you.
Blockbuster is a little more even in their politcal donations. I used Netflix for about a year. Did a 2 week trial of Blockbuster, but their deliveries were slow. A few months later, tried Blockbuster again, and deliveries were on par with Netflix. So I dumped Netflix, and have never looked back. Blockbuster has been great!!
Same here. I won’t give one dime to Netflix.
I dumped Netflix when they started throttling me.
I was really happy with Blockbuster.
Netflix pulls this garbage, too, though.
I don’t see what the big deal is. If they said, “We’ll provide this service for the rest of your life” then I could understand, but are they never allowed to change the price? What if inflation goes up 100% next year? Does it still have to be $19? Would you rather they went broke giving away so many movies, and the stores had to shut down but you never had to pay more for the service? It’s not communism, you have a choice. So cancel.
I remember Blockbuster’s very first store at Preston/Royal in Dallas 25 years ago or so. I worked for them briefly after college about the same time.
Proud to be a Netflix customer now.
I don’t know if anyone has mentioned it yet, but I always use that RedBox service they have in McDonalds and in large grocery stores. They charge a dollar a day, plus tax, for every movie they offer. The have new releases stocked fairly well, and they also offer some general older films.
The cons are that you have to use a credit/debit card, but I prefer this method anyway. Once they run out, they run out. No guarantees you will get any movie. They have a much smaller selection than a movie store.
Outside of that, I found it to be the best choice for me. I just like to rent two to five movies a month usually, so it ends up being like 2.15 - 5.50 or something for the month.
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