Blockbuster BD rental discussion thread - Page 62

Ugh they were showing Black Swan ( which is at the top of my queue) as available all morning and I had three open slots yet they still didn't ship it today. I rarely ever get a new release within the 28 day window by mail. I used to do in store exchanges to get them. Now I'm seriously thinking of canceling BB and going back to NF since the "no 28 day wait" was the only advantage.

Blockbuster has another advantage. In addition to the absence of the 28 day wait, BB has many BD titles that NF doesn't stock. See the thread that identifies what those titles are here. I left NF and returned to BB several months ago when NF's systematic failure to add newly released BD editions of either classic films or TV shows become more that I was willing to stand. We don't know how much longer BB is going to last, of course, but as long as they do I get better value for my money from then than I was getting from NF.

I'll check it out. Thanks

...And I'm the total opposite. I only rent the latest and greatest Blu-ray and 99.9% of the time (been a total access member since Dec.) I always get my new release that week. Black Swan was shipped to me yesterday (I did have trouble with Faster a week or so ago but I did an in-store swap) and my queue is always filled with movies (in theaters now) with no rental dates. I really feel bad for those BB employees who have lost their jobs but I hope the new BB owners (if BB or some deviation does survive) can cleanup the mailing system so they can compete with NF on that level. I really can't see myself streaming until its Blu-ray with HD audio...

jidelite

Yeah I would stick around if they could get there mail service together.

I have been thinking of starting a trial of BB Total Access for the first time. Based on what I have read, I believe the best day to start the trial is on Sunday to get the new Blu-ray releases.

The trial plan I am thinking of is the 3 discs with unlimited in store exchange.

01. With store exchange, does it mean instead of returning the discs via mail, I take them into the store and exchange them for what is on the shelves?

02. Since it is unlimited, does this mean I can continue to exchange discs in the store without waiting for the mail?

03. Does the in store exchange update the queue?

The past two weeks I have been getting same day mail out as the check in date. My warehouse is in Santa Ana. That turnaround equals what I uses to get with NF. 1 day mail to, out from the warehouse, 1 day for delivery. 3 day turnaround. of Course my only store within 150 miles closed, but should they keep this up I'll continue to be a happy camper.

Only the envelopes are exchanged for in-store rentals. The in-store rental takes the place in your online queue. when you return the in-store rental, it will clear your queue and a new movie will ship the following morning

My routine (before every Blockbuster closed near me) was to have all new releases shipped on Monday morning. Tuesday, I would get my 3 new movies in the mail (sometimes one will be delayed a day), and I would watch one. Wednesday, I would return the single envelope in store and get another new release in store. Then I would watch my 3 rentals by Sunday, where I would make one return trip to the Blockbuster store to return both my in-store rental and the remaining envelopes, to start the process again.

The last couple weeks, I have not been able to rent in store, but since the store is still closing, I was able to return the envelopes. But without the guarantee of the returns on Sunday night, I'm not sure if it is worth the trouble now to deal with mailing back on Saturday and hoping for the best on Monday, once the store closes down completely

If I return a movie in the store, does the next movie in the queue ship out the same day assuming if I return it first thing in the morning? Or is it always the next day?

Yeah, it'll always be the next day. The stores will open after the last of the movies ship from the warehouse.

Blockbuster to be auctioned on Mon.

Wow, I guess I should cancel my subscription then.

Update on today's auction proceedings:

http://www.businessweek.com/news/201...ankruptcy.html

Just when I was gonna cancel because of the crappy mail service, BB is actually shipping me one of this week's new releases today. Now I'm really anxious to see what happens with the auction.

Yeah, I'm at a crossing point with another month ending soon. I got a couple Criterion blu-rays shipping today (Senso, and Sweet Smell of Success), but without any local stores any more to exchange the movies over the weekend, it will be harder for me to clear my queue before the monday new releases come out. I know that I'm going to be disappointed with the limited/non-existant Netflix selection of catalog and Criterion blu-rays.

Crossing my fingers also - for the last month or two I've been dropping my returns in the mail (since the store on my way to work closed so now I do less & less exchanges) and to my surprise my queue has been updated the next day! And they have continued to process/ship out most my new Blu-ray releases on Monday. I hope the new investors will keep the mail order going - just seems like most complaints are about turnaround time. I don't hear Netflix folks talking about stores exchanges ...

jidelite

pretty sure any Criterion release before 2011 is at Netflix, just FYI.

Alas, NF's failure to buy any Criterion BDs released in 2011 is only the tip of the iceberg. NF has long been failing to buy other BD releases of classic films and current TV series. See this thread for a list, it's dreary. For example NF doesn't have the BD edition of Maltese Falcon, although Warners released it in 2010.

I hear what you're saying, but it's not THAT dreary. That's 40? Of those you choose what you actually like or have not seen, as well as have not purchased (I just bought the BTTF series because I love it) and it gets way smaller. A few of those are streaming in HD on Netflix and Hulu too.

It's not just 40 titles (unless you are talking about this week alone).

I'm also not happy with the Netflix (and recently Blockbuster) decision to limit catalog titles. I don't understand how it can be cost detrimental to stock just a limited number of copies of the catalog titles. Each week there are several excellent catalog titles that are released, and I do not wish to have to spend $15 to $20 each to buy them just to get to see them on blu-ray.

This week includes the titles: A.I., And Justice For All, Arthur, Fiddler on the Roof, Much Ado about Nothing, Jawbreaker, Babe, Rules of Attraction, Mystic Pizza, Taxi Driver, Benny & Joon, De-Lovely, People Vs Larry Flynt, The Cove... all that are not available on Netflix. All titles that I would like to rent, but not necessarily own. Same with all of the excellent Criterion movies released each month.

I looked at the list in the first post, I am assuming there are many more than that just not updated there?

There are hundreds. Really there's no point in even listing them in that thread because a.) there are too many and b.) Blockbuster may not exist at the end of this week. Heck, PerryD just listed 14 titles of high merit and interest missing from Netflix this week alone, although admittedly not all of these may be carried by BB either. I guess if you don't care about renting anything pre-2010 that might show up on BD this year or in the future, then it doesn't really matter.

I was actually a little surprised that the original Tron actually seems to be available at Netflix this week... maybe they are relenting somewhat on their "we're done with new catalog" policy.

Yeah, I'm just frustrated because there is no alternative right now. I had been using Netflix since their inception but I happily switched to Blockbuster when their terms and selection became better. I'm willing to consider staying with Blockbuster even after the store closings except now they have been shaky lately stocking of Criterion and catalog titles ("On Order" is becoming my most hated phrase) I just want to watch movies!

The rental model is changing, but I don't understand why closing all of the stores is the solution for Blockbuster. Why not shift to a much smaller/cheaper store and put one in every strip mall and limit selection to only rent new releases? They still have the 28 day exclusivity, why not take advantage of that. Move people online to get the catalog titles and stock EVERYTHING there.

It does seem that the movie studios are winning in their battle against rental companies. They would like to do-away with rentals altogether.

There are already places like this, called kiosks. Redbox and BB (not owned by BB). That's what it is going to.

I kind of agree, except for the 28 delay, and the limited or lack of blu-ray releases in the kiosks. Perhaps a smaller footprint would have allowed some of the Blockbuster stores to remain open, minimize store inventory but still provide a better selection and experience than with the Redbox kiosk. But that ship has sailed anyway. Let's see what happens when the new owners take over.

Quick auction update: http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/04/...r-blockbuster/

Looks like it's down to 3...

Dish won (pending approval). That's at least better than going to one of the liquidators. Sounds like he's interested in the streaming content. Remains to be seen what he'll do with the local stores, and even the rent by mail, but I consider this to be be good news, considering the alternatives.

Doesn't sound like they're planning on eliminating the brand, anyways:

http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-th...0-million-bid/

I still predict the stores go bye-bye. Maybe Dish will keep the disc-by-mail business. Wonder how long it will be before this whole things is official and we know what Dish's plans are.

I know. I can't wait to find out. I hope they keep the 28 day advantage over NF and Redbox.