I don’t watch too much TV. In fact I almost never watch it. For that reason I don’t even have a cable or a satellite receiver in my house. I do however enjoy a good movie once in a while and since we have two small kids all the movies we watch are rentals.
I have been contemplating for a while joining an online movie rental service. Partially to save on rental DVD’s and partially to organize and plan my movie nights. It is a rather sporadic event at the moment and sometimes we end up watching a low quality movie only because I didn’t spend enough time researching it.
Competition leveled the pricing plans
After WalMart pulled out of movie rental business in May 2005 there seem to be just two choices left: Netflix and Blockbuster. Both companies have the same pricing plans (with Netflix offering slightly more choices) and you really have to look at what other perks the companies offer.
Techcrunch covered it earlier and multiple Netflix users have recently reported that the instant movies announced by the company earlier in January are now available online. The service is free for Netflix customers and allows them to watch a selection of about 1000 movies and TV shows online on their PC’s using Internet Explorer.
Netflix puts a monthly limit on the streaming video to one hour for each $1 of service you are signed up for each month (so if you are signed up for the $14.99, 2 DVDs at-a-time plan, you get 15 hours a month).
On the other hand Blockbuster has such perks as one free in-store movie (or video game) per month and the flexibility to return in store the movies that you order online, thus reducing the turn-around time.
Extra perks make all the difference
One more thing to consider is the fact that Netflix reportedly has a better online software for organizing the movies you plan to watch. From what I heard it learns your preferences by looking at how you rank the movies you have watched. Another neat feature is that friends can share their movie lists.
Let’s summarize what we have.
Service plan pricing
| Plan | Netflix | Blockbuster |
|---|---|---|
| 2 DVD’s per month, 1 DVD at a time | $4.99 | Not offered |
| Unlimited rentals, 1 DVD at a time | $9.99 | $9.99 |
| Unlimited rentals, 2 DVD’s at a time | $14.99 | $14.99 |
| Unlimited rentals, 3 DVD’s at a time | $17.99 | $17.99 |
| Unlimited rentals, 4 DVD’s at a time | $23.99 | Not offered |
Additional factors
Netflix:
- Instant movies and TV shows on your PC
- Better movie rating/selection software
Blockbuster:
- One free in-store movie each month
- Return DVD’s in-store or by mail
Netflix vs. Blockbuster: what should I use?
Based on the information above, which service should I sign up to? I appreciate any comments and especially from someone who used both services and can compare the variety of offered titles and how fast the DVD’s come to your door after you order them.
In blockbuster online, they send movies all over your queue, even if they show as “available” It’s really fun to have a TV series in your queue and get episodes 2 and 4 to start the series with.
They(Blockbuster) say that is because they will not send anything unless it is available in you local distribution center.
Netflix always sends things in order and if a DVD comes from a distant center, they notify you about it.
That is interesting. I never thought little things like this could be so important.
I just found an great blog about Netflix and online movie rentals in general. Check them out:
http://www.hackingnetflix.com/
Also, here is an interesting debate on ConvinceMe comparing Netflix and Blockbuster:
http://www.convinceme.net/view.....hp?dib=215
And here is some humor, George W. Bush’s Netflix Queue. Make sure you are seated before you start reading. :-)
http://www.dvddossier.com/2007.....h_w_n.html
hey
also i think netflix’s selection is much bigger if you like indie films and hard to get foreign cinema. blockbuster caters more toward mainstream blockbusters (no pun intended!) i personally refer netflix. i was actually contemplating switching to blockbuster since they offer in-store return. but if it’s only 1 movie per month, then probably not. also i have to drive to the nearest blockbuster to my house, it’s a bit of annoying.
cheers,
cindy
go with netflix. blockbuster has been playing catch-up for years, while netflix has been the innovative one.
I had this debate recently with a collegue. I like block buster for its instore exchange policy (cindy: for the 3-at-a-time offer, they have 1 instore-coupon per week. This is in addition to their current offer that you can ecxhange your online rental returns for instore movies for free). I like it a lot since I have an option to either pick up a movie in store, or just wait for one to arrive by mail depending on how busy I am. Also, I watched a lot of HBO TV series through blockbuster – I never had the problem that Mike had. They usually “bundle” the dvds that belong to a season together, and as long as you dont break the grouping, you will be guaranteed to receive it in order.
My collegue liked netflix better, because he thinks they have much more selection in their inventory.
(PS: I had no clue netflix was allowing streaming. I will wait for some more time to hear more reviews about it and then maybe switch… streaming is even better than driving to the store :) ).
I found Blockbuster difficult to sign-up for and their help-line wasn’t very helpful. On the other hand, I’ve been delighted with Netflix. Also, I love how if you have to cancel your account with Netflix (if you’re going away for a while), they will hold your preferences for when you sign back up.
First time commenter, although I’ve been enjoying your site for a few weeks now. I’ve been with Netflix for several years since the start of the company, and a few months ago I started using Blockbuster as well to see which I liked better. Here is what I’ve found so far…
*** Selection ***
Netflix > Blockbuster: Netflix carries more titles, especially if you’re into non mainstream stuff.
*** Availability ***
Netflix > Blockbuster: Netflix also seems to have better availability, there are very few movies with short or long waits on my Netflix queue, while Blockbuster has several short waits and a few titles that have been on Very Long Wait for more than a couple of months.
*** Website ***
Netflix > Blockbuster: In short Blockbuster’s website sucks. If you haven’t used Netflix then it might not be so terrible, but once you’re used to a logical well designed site, anything less is painful. Netflix is better in absolutely every way, review, searches, functionality, speed, etc. The only thing Blockbuster does better is that they allow ratings based on half stars up to a perfect 5 stars, where Netflix only allows whole stars up to 5. This is minor but something Netflix should have fixed a long time ago.
*** Value ***
Blockbuster > Netflix: If you watch a LOT of movies and TV on DVD like I do then Netflix can’t even come close to Blockbuster in terms of value(so long as delivery speeds are the same, for me BB is about 1 day slower). Returning the movies to the store is a bit of a hassle, but If you live within a few blocks or miles you can pretty much double the number of movies you can rent a month.
*** Community ***
Netflix > Blockbuster: This is probably another result of the terrible BB website, but the Netflix is a lot more mature. Both in terms of numbers and activity as well as quality and nature of the user movie reviews.
*** Customer Service ***
Netflix > Blockbuster: The one time in 5 years I’ve had trouble with Netflix (recently in fact) I was able to call and quickly speak with a live, knowledgeable, and helpful person on two separate occasions. When I first set up my BB trial I had a problem and it took multiple calls that went nowhere, in fact for 2 solid days their 1-800 number didn’t even work.
*** Streaming ***
Blockbuster > Netflix: I could care less about streaming. Its so-so quality, IE only, and to top it off I’ve been averaging ~$20/month for 5 years and it hasn’t been enabled on my account. I wouldn’t use it if I had it, I’d rather they took the money they’ve spent on developement and lower prices. Even so it irritates me when companies show preference to luring in new customers instead of rewarding loyal ones.
In short, I highly recommend that you simply try both, they both offer 2 week trials by default (finding coupons for full month trials is pretty easy). It mostly boils down to personal preference and the performance of both in your area. I’d say unless you plan on watching a ton of movies, or need the comfort of browsing shelves for movies instead of a website then Netflix is the better choice for most people (the BB website is that bad).
All of this being said I’m probably going to cancel my Netflix account and stick with BB for a while. I can live with all the annoyances since I can get twice the rentals for the same amount of money. I hope this helps someone!
Wow! That is something for the first comment. Great summary! I appreciate the time your have taken to write it and… don’t hold it to yourself any more. Let others learn from your wisdom! ;-)
Things start clearing up a little bit for me. Here are my considerations so far:
1) For the most part I am not much into mainstream movies and enjoy a good selection of classic or international titles ( 1 point to Netflix).
2) I don’t watch movies online but I would appreciate the Blockbuster’s extra savings ( 1 point to BB)
3) Once in a while I like watching new releases ( 1 point to BB)
4) Sharing movie lists with friends (I have a few who use Netflix) and convenient interface is important ( 1 point to Netflix)
That makes it 2 points to Netflix and 2 points to BB. I am stuck. I might just follow your advice and try both to see what works best.
But first in the true bargain hunter’s spirit I have to find a “one month free” promotion I have seen in the past. ;-)
Not a problem, sorry it was so long!
Another thing I forgot to mention that I’ve found makes BB a better value. When I was on Netflix all of those years I would still find myself renting a movie from the store every month or two. Its was inevitable that I’d have family or friends over and we’d decide to watch a movie. Most often I’d either be between batches from Netflix, or I’d currently have three obscure titles noone wanted to see. So we’d run to the store and pick up a movie or two.
With BB between the free monthly coupon, and the ability to exchange mailed movies for in store rentals I haven’t spent a dime on in store rentals. I’d say this probably saves me $3-$4 a month on average. BB really depends on having a local store that has a decent selection and isn’t inconvenient to go to often.
(Note to OP – This is more for people searching for an answer to this question online. I assume sometime in the last 3 years you’ve decided which way to go!…)
I don’t play video games, so I don’t care that Blockbuster offers them. My review is based solely on movie and TV show rentals.
I don’t do a lot of streaming, so none of my review addresses the streaming comparisons other have made, though from what I’ve read, Netflix does that one much better too.
Netflix does everything better. There isn’t a single thing Blockbuster offers that I like better than Netflix, and almost everything side by side Netflix does better.
-Blockbuster costs more. For the same plan, Blockbuster charges more. That’s a negative right off the bat. Why pay more when you can pay less? And, by the way, get less IMO.
-As near as I can tell, Blockbuster only ships/receives M-F, whereas Netflix ships/receives M-Sat. When I return a movie on Thursday, one on Friday, and one on Saturday to Netflix, I get a new one on Saturday, on Monday, and on Tuesday. Without fail. When I return one on Thursday, one on Friday, and one on Saturday with Blockbuster, I may or may not get a replacement on Saturday, and after that I get an email on Monday saying they’ve just received all the dvds I sent the end of the last week, and they are shipping out replacements. This time (today is Monday), they sent me an email saying they received the one I returned on Friday, and the two I returned on Saturday, but the one I returned on Friday was logged in last (so I think it sits on the bottom of the pile while they process all the ones just received), and they still haven’t sent out a replacement. So the one I sent back last Friday I won’t get a replacement for until Wednesday. That’s crazy.
-Their turnaround just seems to be slower by nature. With Netflix, I ALWAYS had a 2 day turnaround. With Blockbuster, it’s inconsistent, the movies are processed through their center later in the day than Netflix, whether or not they mail out a replacement that day or the next seems to be on their whim, and their movies sometimes show up the next day, but sometimes 2 days later, or longer. Netflix is farther away from me, but the movies ALWAYS arrive the next day after they ship them to me, or after I send them back.
-When a movie doesn’t arrive as scheduled with Netflix (which hardly ever happens), they are quick to send a replacement. They don’t care if you end up with 2 copies; you just send them both back. With Blockbuster, not only do you have to wait freaking 3 days to let them know the movie didn’t arrive, but you have to wait 3 days after the day they expected you to receive it, which is *2 DAYS* after they ship it. So even though it should be here on Wednesday, they are giving it until Thursday. If it hasn’t arrived by Thursday, you have to wait 3 days, but that is Sunday, so they don’t send a replacement until Monday, and you won’t get it until at least Tuesday – nearly a whole week later than you should have. With Netflix, you would have already received, watched, and returned the replacement in that amount of time. When the very first shipment they sent me of 3 dvds only yielded 2 dvds in my mailbox, I tried to file a report. It wouldn’t let me. I waited until the next day, and when it didn’t arrive, I tried to file a report. It wouldn’t let me, so I called and manually talked to someone. I was told to wait 3 more days. I said no, that I live only an hour from their processing center, that it should’ve been there the day before, and it absolutely should be there that day. I really wanted that movie first, and asked them again to please send a replacement. They agreed to send me a replacement as a courtesy, but then they didn’t. When it still hadn’t arrived the next week, I called and asked again. They agreed to send a replacement and they finally did. It was a good week after I initially ordered it before I received it.
-The return sleeves for Blockbuster are specific to the title, whereas with Netflix you can return any movie in any sleeve, or even two movies in one sleeve. So you don’t have to worry about keeping track of the return sleeve, and if you lose one, you can send two movies back in one envelope. That is so much more convenient than making sure to keep the title-specific return envelope with the movie at all times. I’m not that organized.
-And this is a really small thing (And I’ll grant that it probably applies to both Netflix and Blockbuster, but I never really noticed it much with Netflix because a)I love my Netflix and want to keep it, so I have several hundred titles in my queue, and therefore never get harassed about it, and also b)Because it wasn’t something Netflix did to me just minutes after opening my account, like Blockbuster did) but it is highly irritating:
EVERY time, including the very first day I opened the account, and had only had it for a few minutes, when I call Blockbuster, the conversation ends with the sales rep chastising me for not having enough movies in my queue. I have deliberately only maintained a certain number of titles in my Blockbuster account, because I’m only using it on a trial basis, but if this is information they feel they must impart to you every time, why not just include it in the message you listen to when you’re on hold waiting to talk to a rep? Then you know it’s a message for everyone, not specific to you, and it doesn’t waste your time because you hear it while you wait. But when I’m ready to hang up, and then I get to sit there and listen to them tell me I need to have more movies in my queue so my service is not interrupted, it annoys me. If they are really concerned about whether or not my service is interrupted, they should be open on Saturday, and process movies faster.
-I have no idea what this is about, but when I tried to go in and change my Blockbuster plan to not include the unlimited store exchange (even though I plan to cancel on the last day of the 4 week plan. Just in case something goes wrong, and they end up charging me anyway, I don’t want to be charged $34.99 when nearly half of that is something I don’t even use.) it wouldn’t let me change it because it kept saying they were unable to process my credit card on file. WTH? First of all, what does processing my credit card have to do with changing my plan? I’m not paying to change it. And secondly, why would they have trouble processing my credit card? The card is valid, and the same card I use for every other online purchase. I even transferred a few bucks into it just in case they were doing that $1.00 feeler to make sure the account was real. But that didn’t help. So now I have to call and talk to someone, which I don’t want to do, because then I get to listen to them chastising me for only having 4 movies in my queue right now…
The things you would think would be better about Blockbuster:
-They have videos sometimes sooner than Netflix. Big deal. I can wait.
-They have B&M locations you can trade your videos in. I like this in theory (except for me personally, the reason I started using Netflix over Redbox in the first place was because I live so far from town), but you can’t return in the mail the videos you get from the store. So if you’re making a trip into town, and instead of dropping your returns in the mail, you take them into the store to get new ones, you then have to bring them back to the store again for exchanges. Which defeats the whole purpose of doing this thing by mail in the first place. and if you want to go back to mail (which stops when you start using the store), you have to go back to the store with your videos, drop them off, not check out new ones, and then wait a few days for your replacements to arrive in the mail. I signed up for a free 4 week plan, and it was for the unlimited store exchange plan, which they otherwise charge nearly double for than they do their regular 3 dvds out at a time plan. I am here to say (IMO) it’s barely worth anything, let alone twice as much as their mail plan.
I am grateful I got 4 free weeks of movie rentals. That rocks no matter what, and I’m not complaining; I am just saying what I don’t like about it, and why I will not stay after the trial is over. I love and will remain loyal to Netflix because it’s a better service at a better price. Period.