http://money.cnn.com/2004/12/14/news/midcaps/blockbuster_latefees/index.htm?cnn=yes

Looks like Netflix is doing some damage.

Sweet! I'm gonna be all up in the rentin' of games for my Xbizzle, and keepin' 'em for, like, 8 weeks yo!

Two things will keep me from ever going back to Blockbuster;
a $46 late fee and Netflix. I hate Blockbuster.

I kind of like Netflix too....but there is something about getting movies through the mail that makes me nervous (as in if their stolen.) I actually like the monthly rental pass from Block Buster...but the selection of a local Block Buster store can't compete with Netflix.

glenn, if it's lost you can report it as lost. no problem. they'll resend you another. i have the $50 service with 8 DVDs out at a time. i've had a few DVDs lost either coming to me or going back to them. imho, there's simply no competition right now from BB or walmart or ANYONE. the selection is too vast. between netflix and greencine i have access to a HUGE library of good stuff. i've also read that netflix is teaming up with someone (was it tivo?) to deliver movie-on-demand sorta like what movielink has done. with the title that netflix has that would be awesome.

>Two things will keep me from ever going back to Blockbuster;
>a $46 late fee and Netflix.

I've had a couple of these huge late fees during my lifetime.
I have always talked my way out of all of the big ones and even the small ones. I've even talked down long distance calls made by others on my phone line. All you have to do is talk to the person in charge of the store (head manager, not a clerk), keep your cool and ask more than what you're willing to settle for.

Well Blockbuster has now started their own on-line DVD delivery service claiming 10,000 more titles (on-line) and their price for 3 DVDs at a time is 3.00 less a month (probably a teaser rate) than Netflix.

I was concerned about lost or damaged DVDs too. Both sites indicate that there is a form to fill out for damaged or lost DVDs beyond the customer's control. However, if it becomes too common with a particular customer they will cancel the account.

james,

you don't have to worry about the lost/damanged discs. all "forms" on netflix are online. it's actually just a few radio dials saying, "yeah, your DVD never got to me, resend it". very simple. in fact i don't think they even give you their tel# @all cause all tasks relating to DVD rental online are online. plus i'm doubtful of blockbuster's library.

I had a disc from Netflix disappear on me. It was amazingly easy to report, they were very cool about it. I think if you report beyond a certain number as missing, then things get sticky.

I bet they've got every softcore porno and sh*tty miniDV gangsta and horor flick ever made! Great selection!

Indeed - Netflix IS fantastic. I watch awards shows and reserve the winners into my cue sometimes a year before they are released. I would surely have forgotten them entirely. There is the downside of the occasional scratched disk - which sucks because you never know if those 4 minutes you skip are worth having the movie re-sent or not...

What does Netflix cost and what do you get?

Maybe I should just go check them out.

http://www.netflix.com/HowItWorks

Thanks!

Hi. Thought I'd give you guys an update.

So, Blockbuster's done away with late fees; keep your movie an extra day or two. . .but what about an extra seven? Well after that, you buy the movie! Yes, they will charge your credit card for the price of the movie. Then, if you happen to return the movie, and tell them, in person, to give you your damn money back, they will refund it to the credit card. If you don't tell them in person, it becomes credit on your account. They also take out a restocking fee for this "service."

If this is in link at the beginning, then whoopsy me.

I don't care if Blockbastards were giving movies away for free, I'd never do business with them.
NetFlix on the other hand has been really good. I must say though, the movie quality has been degrading rapidly over the last few months. I think it's because they are getting so popular now, the movies are getting more and more damaged and dirty. But it's a great service and beats the hell out of TV or cable.

... and with regards to lost movies, they are very helpful and willing to accommodate.

I have a late fee from before they adopted this policy. Anyone have a similar situation and gotten the fee waived?

Yeah. . .they waived my last one.


Blockbastards. . .cute!

since the 89 HD-DVD titles have been announced i sold about 25+ of my DVDs to Blockbuster. i got about 5 or so each. i have a store credit of $122. i tried to take 20 DVDs out but i discovered they have a LIMIT of 4! hahahaha. very funny. manager's there tonight so i'm going to have go back tomorrow and exhaust my store credit pretty quickly on rentals.

i'm not buying any DVDs until the Hi-Def ones come out and i have players to play them off of.