I just signed up for Blockbuster's Online Rental **2-16-05** update

[episodic]

Thanks to some ATOT'ers I have a month trial instead of 2 weeks.

I'll use this thread to update how the service goes through the 1st month I just put six movies in my q. .

I was a little disappointed that there would be some wait on 'The Simpons Season 1'. . .



Update: 2-16-05

I recieved 2 of 3 of the movies I placed in my que on Saturday night. They have Atlanta as a return address.

One was scratched so bad it would not play in any of my players (the one I really wanted to see, too) It had a huge scratch like someone rubbed a flathead screwdriver on it. Amazing that noone could see that.

I reported the issue, and have prepared to send it back.

I got the other movie in good shape.

Still waiting on movie #3

 

[aswedc]

Unless you live in a lucky location you'll be a lot more dissapointed by how long it takes to get DVDs. Ever tried Netflix?

 

[Lumathix]

:thumbsup: Netflix

 

[episodic]

I did try netflix - took 4 or more days to get in my location. I canceled at end of free trial. I tried it like 2 years ago.

 

[mwtgg]

Blockbuster:

Distro Centers: Charlotte NC; Dallas, TX; Denver, CO; Lansing, MI; Miami, FL; Minneapolis, MN; Flushing, NY; Sacramento, CA; Santa Ana, CA; Seattle, WA

Netflix:

Distro Centers: Atlanta, GA; Austin, TX; Boston, MA (Worcester); Chicago, IL; Cleveland, OH; Dallas, TX (Carollton); Denver, CO; Detroit, MI (Lansing); Fort Lauderdale, FL; Greensboro, NC; Houston, TX; Kansas City, MO; Lakeland, FL; Las Vegas, NV; Los Angeles, CA; Louisville, KY; Minneapolis, MN; New York, NY (Flushing); Newark, NJ; Philadelphia, PA; Phoenix, AZ; Portland, OR; Richmond, VA; Rochester, NY; Saint Louis, MO; San Jose, CA; Seattle, WA; Stamford, CT

 

[Azndude51]

I'm happy with Blockbuster, I almost never have to wait for DVDs I want and their turnaround is pretty good where I live, and their selection is good, but not great. I can't say that it's better than Netflix since I've never tried it.

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: aswedc
Unless you live in a lucky location you'll be a lot more dissapointed by how long it takes to get DVDs. Ever tried Netflix?

dude I live like 25min away from Flushing NY, and it took them like 4 days to get the DVDs to me

Blockbuster that is

 

[episodic]

If I can rent 10 a month I'll be content for the price and for the lack of local options. . .

 

Originally posted by: Lumathix
:thumbsup: Netflix

 

[aswedc]

Originally posted by: isekii

Originally posted by: aswedc
Unless you live in a lucky location you'll be a lot more dissapointed by how long it takes to get DVDs. Ever tried Netflix?

dude I live like 25min away from Flushing NY, and it took them like 4 days to get the DVDs to me

Blockbuster that is

Yeah when I tried them it took anywhere between 2 to 5 days from Flushing (to Philly) - didn't make any sense, sometimes DVDs shipped out the same time would arrive several days apart. Netflix always got them to me in a day.

 

[rh71]

I'm 30 miles east of Flushing... we'll see how it goes... thx episodic.

 

[DeviousTrap]

Originally posted by: mwtgg
Blockbuster:

Distro Centers: Charlotte NC; Dallas, TX; Denver, CO; Lansing, MI; Miami, FL; Minneapolis, MN; Flushing, NY; Sacramento, CA; Santa Ana, CA; Seattle, WA

Netflix:

Distro Centers: Atlanta, GA; Austin, TX; Boston, MA (Worcester); Chicago, IL; Cleveland, OH; Dallas, TX (Carollton); Denver, CO; Detroit, MI (Lansing); Fort Lauderdale, FL; Greensboro, NC; Houston, TX; Kansas City, MO; Lakeland, FL; Las Vegas, NV; Los Angeles, CA; Louisville, KY; Minneapolis, MN; New York, NY (Flushing); Newark, NJ; Philadelphia, PA; Phoenix, AZ; Portland, OR; Richmond, VA; Rochester, NY; Saint Louis, MO; San Jose, CA; Seattle, WA; Stamford, CT

Umm... I have a blockbuster return envelope infront of me thats addresses to BlockBuster Online, Po Box 15006, Worcester, MA, so your list must be missing at least one location.

 

[episodic]

This posting shows that there are alot more blockbuster distro centers:

http://www.hackingnetflix.com/netflix/2005/01/new_blockbuster.html

 

[mwtgg]

Originally posted by: DeviousTrap

Originally posted by: mwtgg
Blockbuster:

Distro Centers: Charlotte NC; Dallas, TX; Denver, CO; Lansing, MI; Miami, FL; Minneapolis, MN; Flushing, NY; Sacramento, CA; Santa Ana, CA; Seattle, WA

Netflix:

Distro Centers: Atlanta, GA; Austin, TX; Boston, MA (Worcester); Chicago, IL; Cleveland, OH; Dallas, TX (Carollton); Denver, CO; Detroit, MI (Lansing); Fort Lauderdale, FL; Greensboro, NC; Houston, TX; Kansas City, MO; Lakeland, FL; Las Vegas, NV; Los Angeles, CA; Louisville, KY; Minneapolis, MN; New York, NY (Flushing); Newark, NJ; Philadelphia, PA; Phoenix, AZ; Portland, OR; Richmond, VA; Rochester, NY; Saint Louis, MO; San Jose, CA; Seattle, WA; Stamford, CT

Umm... I have a blockbuster return envelope infront of me thats addresses to BlockBuster Online, Po Box 15006, Worcester, MA, so your list must be missing at least one location.

Could be, but it's a good reference.

 

[brian_riendeau]

That list of distro centers is interesting. I just signed up for Netflix myself, first three movies shipped yesterday, I got them in today's mail! No idea how the movies could get from Boston, MA to me in Maine in one day. All of my movies have a return address in Portland, ME, 25 miles from my house

 

[nitsuj3580]

both Netflix and Blockbuster have centers in Gaithersburg, MD as well (or at least that's where the return address has been for both companies). Had Netflix and cancelled. I liked the service but decided to try Blockbuster since you get the 2 free instore coupons each month. I've been happy thus far. One thing that annoys me though is Netflix would always process my returned my movies and send out new ones the same day. Blockbuster processes my returned movies and ships new ones out the next day. They are open on Saturdays though and Netflix would sometimes take a couple days to process my returned movies whereas Blockbuster has processed them the day after I mailed them back so it seems to even out. I'll stick with BB for awhile and see how it is for an extended period of time.

 

[mwtgg]

Originally posted by: brian_riendeau
That list of distro centers is interesting. I just signed up for Netflix myself, first three movies shipped yesterday, I got them in today's mail! No idea how the movies could get from Boston, MA to me in Maine in one day. All of my movies have a return address in Portland, ME, 25 miles from my house

Yeah, it's a bit old. Nice to see both companies are opening more shipping centers, though.

 

[aeroguy]

Blockbuster has gotten faster lately (had them for about 4 months). They started sending the next movie when the post office scans the one you sent back instead of waiting until they had it in their hands. I think they may be about 1 day slower in my area then Netflix, but I think it's worth is for the 2 free in-store rentals each month. Plus they drove the price down to $15/month

 

[rh71]

so my first 3 selections are supposed to ship on the next business day (since I signed up on a Saturday)... I get 3 emails saying they were sent today (Sunday) which is good, but it also says to expect them to arrive on or around Thursday (that's not so good).

Now does it always estimate the 3-4 days in these emails or does it actually put your location into consideration ? I'm 30 minutes/miles east of Flushing, NY... so I'm going to assume it will get here much earlier than Thursday.

 

[SethK28]

Original 10
---------------
Charlotte, NC, Dallas, TX, Denver, CO, Lansing, MI, Miami, FL, Minneapolis, MN, Flushing, NY, Sacramento, CA, Santa Ana, CA, Seattle, WA

13 New locations
-----------------
TX, Houston
MA, Worcester
MD, Gaithersburg
PA, Philadelphia
GA, Atlanta
NJ, Edison
IL, Chicago
MO, St. Louis
CT, Stamford
CA, San Jose
FL, Tampa
OH, Cleveland
AZ, Phoenix

 

[spacejamz]

joined for one free month last Thur...first 3 movies shipped friday. I am in dallas, so hopefully I will get them pretty quick.

Got the coupons for 2 free instore rentals on Friday as well...

 

[z0mb13]

how can you get a month trial instead of 2??

 

[spacejamz]

do a search for Blockbuster on Hot Deals or Fat Wallet...

 

[vtqanh]

With the "No Late Fees" they are running in BB stores (19.99 a month, two movies out at a time - bring them back and you can get another 2, maximum 6 per day), I think online rental isn't such a hot deal anymore (unless you don't have any BB store nearby)

 

[njmodi]

Originally posted by: vtqanh
With the "No Late Fees" they are running in BB stores (19.99 a month, two movies out at a time - bring them back and you can get another 2, maximum 6 per day), I think online rental isn't such a hot deal anymore (unless you don't have any BB store nearby)

I believe its 19.99 for the first month and 24.99 there after for the in-store program.