Topic: BB vs NF (Read 5174 times)

BizB · « **on:** February 05, 2007, 06:20:53 PM »

Yesterday, I switched from Netflix to Blockbuster. I had Netflix for 5 months and they got slower and slower every month.

Blockbuster's latest deal allows you to have 3 movies out at a time. You can return them via the mail, just like Netflix. Or, you can take them in the sealed envelope to the Blockbuster store and exchange for a movie without waiting. That in-store movie has late fees etc associated with it just like any other in-store rental. They mail in the online DVD for you and then the online service sends out another movie from your list.

So, for $2.00 less per month, I can get double the number of movies.

And, to top it off, Blockbuster has a deal with the post office such that your returns get scanned at the post office, not at the warehouse. Once the PO scans them, Blockbuster sends out your next queued movie.

As for the 2 sites, they don't even compare. Blockbuster offers way more categories and breaks them down into sub-groups. The queue operates similarly. Blockbuster's rating scale is more finely tuned than Netflix, too.

Something to consider.

Agent_Tachyon · « **Reply #1 on:** February 05, 2007, 06:39:41 PM »

That's actually a damn cool service I may check out. I've recently become very interested in online shopping and I've bought all sorts of things...maybe I'll switch back to paying for my movies too.

milifist · « **Reply #2 on:** February 05, 2007, 06:57:37 PM »

I had considered switching, but the nearest blockbuster is about 30 minutes away, and then netflix announced they were adding instant movie viewing so netflix is a little better for me. However, if blockbuster were to open a store in my town, I’d switch in a heartbeat.

pbsaurus · « **Reply #3 on:** February 05, 2007, 07:44:17 PM »

Not sufficient motivation to switch. The nearest Blockbuster is over by Ebay (about an 8 minute drive). Plus Netflix has always been good to me and Blockbuster once charged me even though I returned the movie (probably 15 years ago or so) and I hold a grudge so fuck 'em.

BizB · « **Reply #4 on:** February 05, 2007, 07:53:41 PM »

what is this instant viewing that you speak of?

One of the big pluses for me is that I don't have to add titles that my daughter likes to the queue in hopes that they get delivered during one of the days that she's here. Now, I keep my stuff in the queue and if she wants a movie, we go to the store and do an exchange.

milifist · « **Reply #5 on:** February 05, 2007, 08:06:41 PM »

By june, all netflix customers (with windows xp and IE 6) will be able to watch a certain number of hours worth of content online per month for no extra charge. The 3-at-a-time plan would get something like 18 hours a month. The online selection will of course be limited, but it is a nice little bonus. But, not enough of a bonus to keep me from switching if a blockbuster were to move into town.

12AX7 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 06, 2007, 06:28:28 AM »

Quote from: BizB on February 05, 2007, 07:53:41 PM

Now, I keep my stuff in the queue and if she wants a movie, we go to the store and do an exchange.

Now that's just plain cool.

Demosthenes · « **Reply #7 on:** February 06, 2007, 10:07:11 PM »

We signed up for Netflix recently and I'm pretty happy with it so far. We had a Blockbuster store about 15 minutes away, but it closed a few months ago. The next nearest one is over an hour's drive from here now, so there isn't any real advantage to their plan from what I've seen.

BizB · « **Reply #8 on:** February 07, 2007, 09:14:00 AM »

Another bonus discovered yesterday: The nearest Netflix distribution center is in Cleveland. The nearest Blockbuster distribution center is in Mansfield (1/2 the distance). With Netflix, it used to take 3 days from "We've mailed your movie" to "OMGLOLWFT it's finally here!" (Mailed Monday - get them Wednesday or Thursday depending on when my mail carrier sorted her mail)
Monday, they mailed my first 3 selections from Blockbuster. They were in my mailbox on Tuesday.

One minor annoyance with the BB website: They continue to recommend movies that I've already rated or marked as "Don't show me this piece of shit again."

milifist · « **Reply #9 on:** February 07, 2007, 09:53:30 AM »

Three days is way too long. Something is wrong there. You are definitely better off with blockbuster.

Mansfield is a quicker drive than Cleveland? I’m not too familiar with northeast OH, but I thought Cleveland->Toledo was pretty much a straight shoot on I-90.

And for Toledo, I would have figured Detroit would be closer.

BizB · « **Reply #10 on:** February 07, 2007, 10:05:47 AM »

Yeah, I thought they'd use the Detroit dist. center, too. They didn't. My former MIL works for the USPS at Toledo's main office and she said that all Netflix from our area go to Cleveland.

You're right.
Toledo->Cleveland (2:00) is a straight shot down I80/90.
But, Toledo->Mansfield is shorter (1:46).
...not that 14 minutes makes that much difference. Perhaps it has to do with when mail is processed at each end. I'll have to ask the X-MIL about that.

Toledo->Detroit = 50 minutes.

milifist · « **Reply #11 on:** February 07, 2007, 10:21:59 AM »

Weird. Perhaps the Detroit center couldn’t handle the volume involved with having Toledo in its service area. I can’t imagine they’d be crazy enough to divide service areas along state lines.

The big question I have is does blockbuster process on Saturdays?

Socrates · « **Reply #12 on:** February 07, 2007, 11:25:06 AM »

I usually get Netflix movies 1 day from when they sent. They have centers in Worchester and Brockton MA which are both only an hour drive away from me which probably helps that. There was a time when they were god-awfully slow and I came real close to cancelling. I bitched and it got better so I stuck with them.

I can see the advantage with kids, or impulsive adults, to being able to stop into the Blockbuster and get a movie spur of the moment.

Let us know if Blockbuster ever sours on you. I have some friends that would probably find that a better deal.

milifist · « **Reply #13 on:** February 07, 2007, 11:41:53 AM »

Does blockbuster allow multiple queues? I’ve been looking over the blockbuster site and I don’t see anything like that.

BizB · « **Reply #14 on:** February 07, 2007, 12:15:43 PM »

I don't see that capability either.

Demosthenes · « **Reply #15 on:** February 07, 2007, 06:53:42 PM »

Our Netflix distribution center is in Minneapolis, which is only about an hour or so away from here. Typically 1-2 business days is all it takes us to get our movies, and it's been pretty consistent so far.

I have no idea from where Blockbuster distributes to our area.

pbsaurus · « **Reply #16 on:** February 07, 2007, 07:26:55 PM »

I'm about four miles away from Netflix headquarters. I put it in the mail and usually get the new one the next day.

Crystalmonkey · « **Reply #17 on:** February 07, 2007, 11:56:56 PM »

Quote from: pbsaurus on February 07, 2007, 07:26:55 PM

I'm about four miles away from Netflix headquarters. I put it in the mail and usually get the new one the next day.

Hmm, now all we need to do is draw a bit circle with a radius of about 5 miles or so, and we have a broad idea of where Pb is!

milifist · « **Reply #18 on:** February 08, 2007, 12:12:38 AM »

Seems like a hard way of doing it. It took me less than a minute to find his exact address.

BizB · « **Reply #19 on:** February 08, 2007, 07:25:33 AM »

I know it by heart.

pbsaurus · « **Reply #20 on:** February 08, 2007, 12:56:21 PM »

I live in San Jose. Netflix is over in Campbel or is that Los Gatos. They started in Los Gatos over at Lark and University. Now they're over on Winchester. Google says that that part of Winchester is still Los Gatos. Driving directions also say 5.8 miles, but as the crow flies it's about 4.

12AX7 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 08, 2007, 04:24:34 PM »

Ya know something; I have never actually seen a crow fly straight for more than a few thousand feet, much less miles. And I'm from the country in the South, yeehaw.
I believe the whole 'crow flying straight' thing is a racist, homophobic, anti-secular myth perpetuated by right-wing fundamentalist AM talk radio.

pbsaurus · « **Reply #22 on:** February 08, 2007, 06:27:31 PM »

From a nautical site I found this:

Quote

As the Crow Flies - When lost or unsure of their position in coastal waters, ships would release a caged crow. The crow would fly straight towards the nearest land thus giving the vessel some sort of a navigational fix. The tallest lookout platform on a ship came to be know as the crow's nest.

12AX7 · « **Reply #23 on:** February 09, 2007, 05:34:39 AM »

Hmm. But aren't those the guys who thought the world was flat?

Agent_Tachyon · « **Reply #24 on:** February 09, 2007, 08:43:00 AM »

They sure had some stupid ideas...thank god we found out the earth is actually hollow and not flat at all.

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