Blockbuster BD rental discussion thread - Page 122

IIRC: There was a BB board member that tried to get BB into disc by mail and kiosk in the 2003? 2004? time frame. He said back then that was the way disc rental was headed. Carl Icahn, a major BB shareholder, and other BB wigs tried to discredit this member and ignored his vision of BBs future.

Turns out he was right. Between Netflix by mail and Redbox kiosk they essentially put BB out of business.

FWIW, Carl Icahn now hold a 10% stake in Netflix. Make of that what you will!!

Carl Icahn was one of the favorites to buy Blockbuster out of bankruptcy until Dish surprisingly beat out his bid. If Icahn would have won the bid there would be zero Blockbuster stores to exist right now. He would have simply came in to liquidate all remaining assets and close all the stores down. At least Dish has somewhat kept BB afloat, but I don't think Dish knows exactly how to run Blockbuster or how to negotiate with studios. They have some good promotions here and there and when they first bought BB they were very aggressive with promotions, but they since have let the foot off the gas.

I was this close to canceling BB. But then something miraculously happened. I received an email saying they've sent Seven Psychopaths to me. What??? A new release not in the "unknown availability" pit of despair?

They read your mind and decided to throw you a bone to keep you hanging around for a while ..

Now that I've had my first experience with Redbox, I may consider canceling BB even sooner.  I was planning to wait until my local store closed as the exchange benefit was keeping the value alive somewhat.  But I have about 5 local Redbox kiosks with close proximity and already have received 2 free rental codes due to the 1st rental and taking a survey.  At only $1.50/Bluray, it's reasonable and easy.

Although they obviously can't maintain a deep catalog, RB offers :

1) You know what's in stock
2) You can rent on line and pickup, knowing it will be there
3) Free rental codes abound, it seems to me ..
4) If you have a bad experience, more free rental codes
5) There are a lot of RedBoxes
6) You can check stock on line as well as what's coming up in the next few weeks

And, no, I don't get a commission ..

I live in the "extreme country" and BBO has been a godsend. I have a Redbox within 15 miles by a grocery store, and while I can see that I could easily add a disc to my shopping list, we rarely (never?) go into town two days in a row, so the return timing is a balloon-deflater to me (especially as I look at our redbox, there are a few movies I'd love to see that are on "wait forever" status at BB).

Anyway thanks for the last two posts--my interest in continuing my BB subscription continues to wane...

My nearby store (in NYC) is closing. It seemed to be pretty busy... Guess I'll be switching to Netflix now...

one problem with redbox is that they often carry "rental" copies of bds.

these copies sometimes lack the lossless audio tracks, extras, and sometime have inferior pq
than store bought bds

Cite, please. What titles, specifically, have had "inferior pq than store bought bds?"

I know you like to make things up, like your oft-repeated claim that Redbox is renting "brs from the chinese counterfeit market," so I really hope you have some real evidence and this isn't just more of the same from you.

I'll buy the audio encode / extras .. but inferior PQ .. ?? Really .. ??

When I read his post, I was thinking the same thing.



Ian

Do the rental BD's really have inferior picture quality? Is there anyone that can 100% confirm this? We all know the audio is inferior because of the lossy codec being used, but I haven't noticed picture quality being an issue.

As far as Redbox I think its a decent viable option, but I have really enjoyed Netflix and I have had the best experience with them lately. They have multiple new Blu-ray titles that Blockbuster or Redbox does not carry and I have not really had to wait for new releases with Netflix. They have been excellent at shipping new release titles out. Also, Netflix always seems to carry new release TV Blu-ray's as well whereas Blockbuster has seemingly stopped carrying new release TV shows on Blu-ray and then of course, Redbox does not carry TV shows at all. I will most likely upgrade my Netflix membership to 2 discs out at a time once the new seasons of Weeds, Nurse Jackie and Game of Thrones release on Blu-ray. Blockbuster only seems to have a DVD option which sucks.

No.

Guys, I made a poor choice of words.

You can objectively prove some rentals disks have different audio encodes and missing extras than store bought

I have no way to quantify or measure the flawed bd pq that I believe I have observed on a few kiosk rentals.
Edited by mr. wally - 1/30/13 at 2:28am

Yes, and you've done it multiple times. That's why it's hard to simply dismiss it as just a "poor choice of words," especially when you've been called on it before. We know. It's because it's all in your head.

We have nothing in common regarding our respective perceptions

Aren't you arguing on the lord of the rings thread with the people who believe there is a green tint issue in fotr?

I've made my position quite clear in that thread, not that I think you'd take the time to read it. There's no reason to derail this thread with off-topic bickering.

If you want people to stop calling you on your fabricated, baseless claims, simply stop making them.

Seriously? Have you noticed that the bickering often develops after you start posting on a thread.

Some could interpret some of what you say as overly strident and somewhat hostile.

You are entitled to your opinion as am i.

Life is too short for flame wars, so I will be retiring wishing the best to you and yours

And many times, those same rental copies with lossy audio are also at Blockbuster and Netflix

I'd much rather be known for being "strident" than for being someone who makes things up and then repeats them as if they were facts. I hate to say it, but your credibility's pretty much shot now. Any claim you attempt to make in the foreseeable future will be (and should be) regarded with skepticism, simply because of the reputation you've created for yourself. You are certainly entitled to your own opinions, but not your own facts. As I've said before, as long as you keep perpetuating these myths you've concocted, expect to be called on them each time you repeat them.

How do the Netflix turn around times and library compare to BB's online rental? My local store has closed, and I am seriously considering switching.

I can't speak about the BB library as I cancelled some time ago .. however, if you maintain good return timing with NF and get disks back on Mondays, new release mailing is very good .. if you don't hit the return window on Monday, not so good ..

There is a night and day difference for me between BlockBuster and Netflix. With Netflix I can get new titles delivered to me on Tuesday aroundt 95% of the time. With Blockbuster it's probably reversed. The only time Blockbuster seems to be on the ball is when you are in your trial period. Then they do a jekyll and hyde thing and the service goes to crap.

That is so true!




Ian

I noticed that Blockbuster doesn't have Dredd (2012) available...wasn't a huge hit but it's doing better on Blu-ray/DVD...I'm surprised BB doesn't have it...first movie that I've wanted to rent that hasn't been available

Get it from RedBox. Plus the 2D and 3D versions are on the same disc.

I'm kind of peeved at BB this morning since as usual they did not ship the next item in my queue that was available. instead they sent one much farther down in the queue bypassing a couple other titles that are also available. My two half price months are almost up. I'll go one month at the normal price and then I'll cancel my subscription again.

They are about the same.
Sometimes I get 1-2 day turn around & other times I've waited 4 days before I got a disc in my queue from Netflix or BB.
Also, if either see that you are getting frequent new releases, you will eventually get bumped(not get one) even it you return your disc on time then you're on the very long waiting list.

Only reason I even keep BB is they get some of the new releases before Netflix.
Netflix ships on Saturday but everyone should now be aware that the PO is stopping Saturday mail starting August. Netflix annouced it sees this as a good thing as they forecast less disc shipments.
The BB in store exchanges were a nice perk but they closed the last BB near me and now the closest one is 25 miles. This is in a major city. WTH is BB thinking!

Both their services isn't what it use in regards to consistent disc turn around.

Night and day difference for me. I've been getting two new releases each week on average. BB was like one every two weeks. The Netflix website is also much better and faster. BB website is painfully slow by comparison and just feels very dated.

Should have switched over sooner!

Ditto.



Ian