Netflix of Blockbuster?

I'm undecided. I had Netflix for almost 6 weeks now, and I'm getting throttled badly. I'm in MD, and DVDs have shipped from IL & CA. All of my HD DVDs have shipped locally from MD, tho.

I've only had Blockbuster a few days. So far they shipped all 3 movies. I have received one (a day early), and am waiting on the next two (due Monday).

Both companies carry a lot of HD DVDs. Blockbuster has a few titles that Netflix doesn't (Friday Night Lights for one). Seems like Netfix has more of each title (currently my Netflix queue is all available now). My Blockbuster queue has about 60% now, 30% short wait, and maybe 10% long wait.

Also, Blockbuster has the in-store coupons (no HD DVD instore, tho). And I think Blockbuster might ship on Saturdays (according to their TOS: ... "including circumstances generally affecting service times of the USPS (for example, there are no USPS deliveries or pick-ups on Sundays and federal holidays, and heavy mail usage times such as Christmas may result in slower delivery times)," ...) but I'm not sure about that.

-John

PS> if you try Blockbuster, make sure to go in store and ask for the offer. They give you a month free trial. It's only 2 weeks free from the website.

netflix has been great for me. I am out in Colorado. All HD-DVD's (except the few they dont carry like enter the dragon) are available now for me and the shipping has been verry consistent. Put one in the mailbox Monday and a new one is here Wen. I have not tried BB though. They are probably great as well.

I've had Netflix since HD DVD hit the streets. I'm considering switching to Blockbuster though. I haven't really had any problems with Netflix per se, but I am disappointed in their lack of adding some titles without explanation. I've emailed them 3 times now yet they've still not added Enter the Dragon, Friday Night Lights, or Pitch Black. These 3 titles have been out for some time now and I have no idea why Netflix refuses to carry them.

I've tried both several times in the past, but I've been with Blockbuster since I got my HD-A1 in June and have been able to add every single HD DVD release thus far along with a decent number of pre releases. Better yet, almost every one is "Available Now" and every disc I've gotten has played flawlessly (no freezing or glitches)

Whew, from the title I thought there was a rumor that Blockbuster was buying Netflix.

I've been using both (And will keep using both).
So far I prefer Netflix due to its faster service.



Their nearest shipping facilities are close to each other (Both about 7 miles away from my house):

Netflix = Flushing NY 11354
BlockBuster = Flushing NY 11356


NOTE: I return all my Movies on Mondays around 9:30am (Collection time is 10am).

____________________________________________________

DELIVERY TIME:

19 movies (19 HD-DVDs)

1 day = 7 movies
2 days = 4 movies
3 days = 6 movies
4 days = 2 movie

22 movies (18 HD-DVDs - 4 SD DVDs)

1 day = 18 movies
2 days = 2 movies
3 days = 2 movies
4 days = none

____________________________________________________

RETURN TIME:


1 day = 14 movies
2 days = 4 movies
3 days = 0


1 day = 15 movies
2 days = 3 movies
3 days = 1 movie

____________________________________________________

SCRATCHED DISKS:

= 3 movies

= 2 movies


No lost / broken / wrong disks yet from both.

.

I have been saving the mailing sleeves and mailing them back two in a mailing sleeve. that way when they send me one like once from Hawaii!!! I can send it back to my local center instead for faster turn around. just a tip for other Netflix renters

Noticed NETFLIX has been delaying receiving or shipping my stuff by ONE extra day lately. instead of the 1 day turn around they advertise as normal (one business day) so I get 2 buisiness day turn arounds

I ahte blockbuster. They are just too big and corporate. They put all the little renters (who had all the odd rare movies) out of buisness whent ehy built around 5 blockbuster within 2 square miles of my house. Ive been using Netflix for a year 1/2 now and no problems. Im glad they are around b/c otherwise Iw ould have no options!

I definetely think I'm switching to Blockbuster. I just noticed 4 more titles that Netflix does not carry.

Tomb Raider
Sahara
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
Sleepy Hollow

Netflix carries those titles in HD. Do a search, as they may not be in the HD DVD section.

Aww boo hoo.

And I'm sure all of the mom-and-pop video stores around you carry all of the HD DVDs and BR titles as well.

-John

I rented all of those on HD DVD from Netflix. However, they don't show up on their HD DVD page. You have to search for them.

Thanks Chris. I found them after jgantert posted above about searching. It doesn't appear that Enter the Dragon, Friday Night Lights, or Pitch Black can be found this way either however.

Those are (so far) the only HD DVDs that Netflix doesn't carry. I'm not sure if they are going to carry the BCI titiles (Galaxina, etc) either.

-John

Like I said, all the mom-and-pop stores are gone. Oh, and my local BlockBusters dont carry any HD movies, blu-ray or HD-DVD. So yea, Ill base my choice on my past experience and overall view of the company. You?

Blockbuster was taking forever to ship HD-DVD titles but they seem to be coming very regular now. I'm digging it.

I'd like to vote in this poll but I've never used Blockbuster's service and don't want to mess up the poll...I've been a Netflix customer for about 3-4 years, now.

I prefer Netflix because the discs usually arrive the very next day after they're shipped and because their selection is far better than Blockbusters is.

Do you also keep track of the return time, ie., how long it takes for them to acknowledge your return after you put it in the mailbox? That is also a key interval to determine whether they are throttling you.

Blockbuster does not currently accept returns or ship dvds on Saturdays. This is explicit in their online FAQ. If I return a movie on Thursday, there is a significant chance that they won't process the return until Monday, which turns a 2-3 day turnaround into a 5-6 day turnaround. So the key to Blockbuster is to try get your returns in on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.

Yup I've noticed Netflix has done this to my account from time to time. Even still I get more bang for my buck with Netflix than I do for Blockbuster.

If you do a Google search for Netflix calculator you can find several websites that will determine your threshold before you get throttled. I haven't had any problem with it since I started using those calculators.

I tried netflix two years ago and it took on average 7 days from claimed day of shipping for movies to arrive at my house from a distribution center that was less than 15 minutes away from my house. Typical USPS mail turnaround in my area is 1 day. It was so outrageous that I had to cancel. Now I have blockbuster online and while it is far from perfect, it has several significant advantages. First you get the one in-store coupon per week, which guarantees you can get at least 4 movies per month for the $18/month in addition to any DVDs they mail you. Second when a movie doesn't arrive in 3 days after they ship it you can report it missing which means that they will send you a new movie immediately. If it takes them too long to receive your return, you can also report that which means they will send you a new movie. If you stay on top of your queue, you can ensure that they don't throttle you too badly. Third they have a good selection of HD-DVDs and the availability is good. My major complaint is that they don't process returns or ship movies on Saturday (or Sunday) so you have to get your returns in by Wednesday to keep your queue flowing. Also the user interface is poor and the recommendation system is downright aweful.

Personally I am very glad that Netflix and Blockbuster are fierce competitors because without that competition I would be stuck paying $5 per rental from the local blockbuster with a severely limited selection and no HD-DVDs. I wish that Walmart was still competing in this space as well!

I'll keep updating the post regularly.




Here's what I can remember (been using both about 4-5 weeks)

Blockbuster:

8 movies took 1 day - More like 10 (read below)
6 Movies took 2 days - More like 4 since 2 movies were returned around 6 pm when the Post Office was closed and obviously shipped the next businees day taking just one day to arrive at Blockbuster.

Netflix:

1 Movie took 3 days
2 or 3 movies took 2 days (I'm not sure)
all the rest 1 day



So, at this point you guys can clearly see that Blockbuster is throttling me.
I even sent an email to Blockbuster complaining about their poor shipping time. Got a BS reply.

Anyway, I really don't mind having the Blockbuster titles taking 3 days. I usually send all my movies back (from both) Monday morning. The Netflix Movies arrive Wednesdays/Thursdays. So I can watch them first and wait for Blockbuster Movies to arrive Thursdays/Fridays/Saturdays...

Blockbuster is playing the 24hr. game. They claim that they have 24hr after the disc return to ship a new one. So after a disc is returned assuming it takes overnight to reach the distribution center you'll get a new on the 4th day during weekday and 5th day on a weekend. That comes down to 2 shipment a week if you send the discs out the following day of receipt.

So far all of my replacement shipments for HD DVD from Netfix has come as SD DVD. Both Cinderella Man (unplayable) and Animal House (missing) replacements came as SD DVDs. So if you want a replacement, DONT let them ship it. Just add the HD DVD back to the top of the queue. Ugh.

-John

I like netflix for its turnaround speed but I get many scratched and even cracked disks. They use flimsy sleeves and mail envelopes. Makes no sense at all. Maybe my post office dislikes netflix