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
Hollywood can’t make anything decent any more. I’m finding the small screen is where it’s at. There are some great series out there, and nothing is more satisfying than knowing you have 6-8 episodes of Lost to watch in a weekend. However, it’s mostly strong PG with adult themes, but it’s a GREAT SHOW. Also, Jericho, Heros, 24, Sopranos, Entourage, Deadwood. The HBO shows are all R rated but at least they’re REALLY GOOD.
Since I’m not a big movie buff, Netflix has the only deal I like. Two movies a month for $5.00, hard to beat. And since my public library is now carrying so many DVDs, if I must pay for it with my tax dollars, I might drop Netflix altogether.
Awww ... thanx kat ... do I look funny blushing?
Are you a moderator?
It’s a national video rental chain.
one of my coworkers is doing this. I haven’t checked it out yet but i might. Sounds like a great way to save some cash.
The worst part of this change for me is that they eliminated their “e-coupons”. Those were good for video games as well as movies, and meant I could rent one game free each month.
The plans no longer have that free game rental, instead you can use your movie exchanges to get a “reduced price” game rental.
On the other hand, I have to admit the current plan I was on was too good to be true. I was paying $5.99 a month. I got 2 movies a month in the mail, and two in-store exchanges, PLUS a free game rental each month — that’s a total of $23 of rentals each month for six bucks.
They now want me to pay $7.99 for that program, which I would gladly pay if it still had the e-coupon. But it doesn’t, so I’ll probably drop the program, at least for a while.
I’ll say this. When I signed up for the program months ago, there was ONE movie my kids wanted me to get, it’s an old Caspar movie, I put it at the top of my queue, sometimes it was the ONLY movie in my queue. For months it said it was “available”, but I NEVER recieved it, ever.
Once I went two weeks not receiving ANY movie when Caspar was the only movie in my queue and showed “available”.
So it looks like I’ll be cancelling the program having NEVER received the movie I wanted.
Still, since I didn’t pay in advance for months of service, I hardly mind that Blockbuster has decided they don’t want my business — it’s their company, they can offer me whatever they want or don’t want.
The stores hated the program. Stores got almost NOTHING for it, but had to give out free rentals, AND handle mailing back all the online rental stuff. They especially hated all the free coupons.
Well, to be honest, their late fee rule is pretty good. You get a week AFTER the movie was due before they “sell” it to you.
And then you have up to 30 days to cancel the “sale”. Of course, that costs you a restocking fee of $1.25, but it means that you can keep a movie 5 weeks PAST the due date and only pay and extra $1.25.
And they don’t seem to mind people returning things late.
Dude,
What are you ranting about?
Did you even read what I posted before you responded?
“Dont remember why, but I was already boycotting them for some reason. This is all the more cause then.”
ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!
Well, it does help not to have to rush back to the store, especially for the “2-day” rentals. I’m sure it’s easier for the employees. But I get annoyed by their poor selection. I’d about bet they pulled some titles to encourage people to subscribe to the online service. I’m pretty sure they used to have “A Little Princess” and “New Jack City”. Now I can’t find either, one I wanted to watch again, and the other I saw years ago and thought my son would enjoy an early Wesley Snipes flick. There’s a couple of Denzel Washington’s early films they don’t have either. It’s just frustrating to see so few movies in that big store (which seems to devote more and more space to selling used movies), and many of the ones they have are junk, and they are missing so many classics.
Was a shame as the exchange was a pretty good deal but things change so I went back to Netflix.
Netflix has a superior mail distribution system but still seems to "punish" frequent users; I've had new releases at the top of my list for well over a month.
Still not a bad deal either way.
.....but I was already boycotting them for some reason...
They were part of Sumner Redstone’s Viacom propaganda organization that included CBS.
I canceled my subscription yesterday. I told them that this was the only reason why.
“I dumped Netflix when they started throttling me.”
Same here! They’re good for a few months and then it starts. I remember watching a movie on DirecTV that was still showing as a long wait in my Netflix queue. I stopped them for a year or so and rejoined. It went good for several months and then it started again. I’ve been with BB ever since. I’m on a plan where I pay monthly charge to have two movies out at a time, in store only. It works for me.
Perfect!
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