Netflix or Blockbuster?

[venk]

Do you guys still pay the outrages rental fees of a Blockbuster or do you get your movies online through netflix or something similar? Also, is there a Netflix type place that does game rentals?

 

[zimu]

i download

if i had the choice i'd probably do blockbuster's unlimited movies for $20 deal, in that way don't have to wait for shipping.

 

[FoBoT]

we live across the street from blockbuster, but are moving to the middle of nowhere, so i am getting my wife to sign up for the 4 movies at a time deal from Walmart.com and doing it via mail/internet from now on.

at our new house, the Texaco gas station 2 miles away has a few movies, the next closest place is > 15 miles , so no more blockbuster/B&M for us

 

[oboeguy]

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Blockbuster? You must be joking. We live in a "ghetto"-ish neighborhood (we like to think of it as "up and coming"), and the BB here has, shall we say, a limited selection. I hadn't gone to BB since getting Netflix (many months) until the other day when the mailman didn't feel like delivering a DVD in time for the weeknight we could watch a movie.

 

[Parrotheader]

There's only a couple Hollywood Video stores here in Birmingham, but fortunately, one is directly on my drive to work every morning. I typically use them. The selection at the store I use blows every other B&M store I've ever been to out of the water and their rental policies are pretty decent IMO. 5 day rentals for everything and $1 off your next rental on new releases if you return it the next day (which I usually do.)

I tried Netflix and can see the allure from a pure movies-per-dollar perspective, especially for those who watch gobs of movies or are into pirating. But to me, movie rentals are definitely an immediate gratification based purchase. The biggest thing I didn't like about Netflix was that you might be all ready to watch a particularly movie, but you had to wait several days before your old videos were processed back into the system and they ship you your next round. By that time I might not really want to see that particular movie because I might be in the mood for something else. You've theoretically got 'unlimited' rentals, but you're held hostage to a system with a good bit of lag time.

 

[Kadarin]

I just do the Blockbuster thing. I don't have the time to watch enough movies to justify the trouble..

 

[Kyteland]

I don't watch a ton of movies so Blockbuster is good for me. When I get the urge to see something I can go get it and $4.29 is a lot cheaper than Netflix. If I watched more movies then of course Netflix is the way to go.

 

[guyver01]

Netflix... i'm too lazy to keep going to my local blockbuster... which happens to not carry half the stuff on Netflix.

 

[Kelemvor]

I use our library. They have a few hundred movies on DVD. And I can always wait until they are available since I'm in no rush.

 

[StageLeft]

Thjere are no local independents anymore here. Most of them have been destroyed across the country, in fact.

I don't rent enough movies to warrant getting netflix, plus whenever I do rent, 95%+ of them are new, and netflix sucks for new movies.

 

[Nitemare]

Netflix, bigger selection...and I don't get hit with bogus late fees

 

[LordJezo]

I rent a movie maybe once every 6 months.

Netflix would be a waste for me.

 

[SoyBoy004]

I tried walmart for two months. the first month (the trial month) i got 12 dvds total. The next month, (the current on) i've received 3 movies in three weeks.. This is horrible and will cancel when the period end comes.

netflix is great so far, just signed up and they have already sent two movies.

 

[tennisflip]

I joined the Rewards program at Blockbuster... so I can rent a new flick and also grab an old title for $2.50... this is the only reason I rent from there.

 

[thomsbrain]

blockbuster edits their movies for content. this alone is enough to make me never patronize their stores ever again. if you like having a megacorporation make your moral decisions for you, go right ahead and keep renting.

netflix for me. HUGE selection, great turnaround, great value.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Netflix
- great selection of foreign films including HK gun operas & martial arts, Japanese samurai & anime.
- no hunting the aisles, search by title, actor, director.
- keep a queue (list) of all the movies you want to watch, add upcoming movies before they're released
- movies arrive in prepaid return mailers, once you've watched a movie just drop it in the mailbox.

 

[StageLeft]

I tried walmart for two months. the first month (the trial month) i got 12 dvds total. The next month, (the current on) i've received 3 movies in three weeks.. This is horrible and will cancel when the period end comes.

I tried the walmart one too. It was a disaster. i would not recommend anybody to it. They have about 4 movies they rent with a 12 month wait on all of them.

 

[tennisflip]

Netflix users... what is the longest amount of time you've had to wait to get a movie? Just wondering if there are long waitlists for the popular movies.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Netflix is good about having large quantities of popular new releases, but if you miss the first wave (becuase all of you movies are out) it could be a 1-2 week wait until enough people from that wave have watched and returned their copies.

But since you have a list stored of all the movies and TV series DVDs that you want, if you miss Lost in Translation the day it comes out, you get Futurama vol 3 disc 1 instead. I currently have about 50 discs in my queue.

 

[0roo0roo]

netflix, selection kills blockbuster. and i don't like going there anyways, more convenient.

 

[wyvrn]

Netflix in a knockout. First, they have a bigger selection. Second, I get more movies for my dollar and I don't even have to leave my house to get them. Third, I get to catch up on all the tv series that I missed. Fourth, no late fees ever! Netflix is the future of movie rental. After that we will have on-demand streaming over the Internet.

 

[Kelvrick]

See my responses in this thread.

 

[Dulanic]

Netflix no question. I can average well under $2 a movie just by getting 3 a week, however I prob average 6 a week.

 

[Kelvrick]

Originally posted by: Dulanic
Netflix no question. I can average well under $2 a movie just by getting 3 a week, however I prob average 6 a week.

My rentals cost me about 35cents, including gas.

 

[Vic]

You can't compare Hollywood to Blockbuster and lump them in the same category. Completely unfair to Hollywood.
Blockbuster only carries full-screen DVDs, Hollywood only carries widescreen (or dual-format).
Blockbuster edits movies for content, Hollywood does not. Hollywood usually has a larger selection as well.
Blockbuster usually has 2 day rentals -- ALL rentals at Hollywood are 5 days.
Blockbuster has an evil late fee policy that charges the full rental fee for every single day the movie is late, Hollywood is much more forgiving.

In short, Hollywood >>> Blockbuster. I rent at Hollywood all the time but will never rent at Blockbuster.


edit: and I would use Netflix, but I simply don't have enough time to see the number of movies per month to justify the cost (minimum of 5 movies per month to break even).