Looks like Netflix is online rental to have for SD/HD

[haertig]

Just got my email on my "One out at a time, 3-per month, unlimited instore exchanges". Increasing from $7.99 to $9.99 on my next billing cycle on or after Dec 27th (which happens to be 1/20/2008 for me - looks like my last billing cycle was TODAY!) This is a 25% increase in cost!

I'll use up my free coupon, max out my rentals this month, then cancel on Jan 19th.

In my experience, Blockbuster has been very fast. I will generally return online rentals to my local store on Sunday night, pick up the free exchange, and then have my next online movie in hand by Tuesday. I really can't complain about that speed. It's always been two days from instore return to next movie for me.

[edit]
Here's the email I just sent to Blockbuster:

I'm sure you'll be getting a lot of this, but expect a ton of account cancellations right before peoples next billing cycles. A 25% price increase is ridiculous (from $7.99 to $9.99 for my plan).

I'm not sure what your executives over there are thinking. Are you trying to get yourselves out of the rental business?! First the decision not to handle HDDVD, only BluRay, in your local stores - and now this massive price increase.

You gave a helluva Christmas present to NetFlix, that's for sure!
[/edit]

 

[mike1973]

Just got my email on my "One out at a time, 3-per month, unlimited instore exchanges". Increasing from $7.99 to $9.99 on my next billing cycle on or after Dec 27th (which happens to be 1/20/2008 for me - looks like my last billing cycle was TODAY!) This is a 25% increase in cost!

I'll use up my free coupon, max out my rentals this month, then cancel on Jan 19th.

In my experience, Blockbuster has been very fast. I will generally return online rentals to my local store on Sunday night, pick up the free exchange, and then have my next online movie in hand by Tuesday. I really can't complain about that speed. It's always been two days from instore return to next movie for me.

Yep, got the same thing today. I actually like BB online with the return in store and game rentals. Their selection of HD is decent and I had movies in 2 days. At the same time, I don't return at the store too much (they closed the closest store to me) and with the price increase, I might try Netflix again.

 

[BlackHitachi]

You choose SD, and then either of the 2(or both) HD formats. You then go in and order your format preference, so when you add a movie it goes down the line and gives if it to you in that order.

I have
BD
HDDVD
DVD

If its only on HDDVD, it automatically gives you an HDDVD. If its only on DVD it skips over both. Very handy and if you have both HD formats enabled, you can easily change from one to another for a particular movie in your queue.

This is great and how i have mine set up!:up

 

[1080iBeVuMin]

This is not good. Another thing that is not good is that BB's selection of BD titles has not increased in a few weeks. They rushed out several hundred BD titles, and I keep checking back and nothing new in at least 3 or 4 weeks, and very little new before that. What's up with that?

Can somebody tell me.... How is Netflix lately about adding new BD titles continuously?? Are they bringing out new stuff all the time???

I am really glad I found this thread today. If I get an increase on my 2/month plan, I will drop BB online.

Thanks...............

 

[gadgtfreek]

This is not good. Another thing that is not good is that BB's selection of BD titles has not increased in a few weeks. They rushed out several hundred BD titles, and I keep checking back and nothing new in at least 3 or 4 weeks, and very little new before that. What's up with that?

Can somebody tell me.... How is Netflix lately about adding new BD titles continuously?? Are they bringing out new stuff all the time???

I am really glad I found this thread today. If I get an increase on my 2/month plan, I will drop BB online.

Thanks...............

I monitor highdefdigest.com, when they add a title in BD or HDDVD I add it to my queue. Netflix makes it available in HD usually near the date highdefdigest says its available. I have not complaints.

In my list, 6 out of the first 30 are SD DVD and thats only because they are not being released in HD.

 

[IcEWoLF]

This is not good. Another thing that is not good is that BB's selection of BD titles has not increased in a few weeks. They rushed out several hundred BD titles, and I keep checking back and nothing new in at least 3 or 4 weeks, and very little new before that. What's up with that?

Can somebody tell me.... How is Netflix lately about adding new BD titles continuously?? Are they bringing out new stuff all the time???

I am really glad I found this thread today. If I get an increase on my 2/month plan, I will drop BB online.

Thanks...............

Why would you go to BB? They suck.
Amazon.com is the way to go, It is way cheaper, and free shipping, you can't beat that.

 

[1080iBeVuMin]

Why would you go to BB? They suck.
Amazon.com is the way to go, It is way cheaper, and free shipping, you can't beat that.

I am talking about using BB Online for video rentals, not purchases. Amazon doesn't have rentals AFAIK, right??

I chose BB instead of Netflix because as a non-subscriber visiting both sites I was able to review the BD titles on BB's site. Netflix at the time would not let me see their BD titles without joining. Dumb move for them -- they lost a customer.

I am happy with BB as far as shipping speed, but their selection of BD titles is not increasing. Maybe they don't want to spend money for more BD titles? I am not happy with that, and if they increase my rate I'm quitting.

 

[IcEWoLF]

I am talking about using BB Online for video rentals, not purchases. Amazon doesn't have rentals AFAIK, right??

I chose BB instead of Netflix because as a non-subscriber visiting both sites I was able to review the BD titles on BB's site. Netflix at the time would not let me see their BD titles without joining. Dumb move for them -- they lost a customer.

I am happy with BB as far as shipping speed, but their selection of BD titles is not increasing. Maybe they don't want to spend money for more BD titles? I am not happy with that, and if they increase my rate I'm quitting.

BB is not a huge company like Netflix or BlockBuster, so they suck on rentals and title choices.

 

[BlackHitachi]

BB is not a huge company like Netflix or BlockBuster, so they suck on rentals and title choices.

I think the BB is Blockbuster what he is talking about.

 

[1080iBeVuMin]

I think the BB is Blockbuster what he is talking about.

BB = BlockBuster

What were you thinking? BB = BestBuy?

 

[berck]

Well, my local Block Buster doesn't even carry BD. When I asked about it, they said that they were still examining its market, and that they could be picked up in other towns around me. One was six miles away and the other 15.

 

[BlackHitachi]

BB = BlockBuster

What were you thinking? BB = BestBuy?

 

[gadgtfreek]

Bestbuy does online rentals? Sign me up!

 

[IcEWoLF]

Bestbuy does online rentals? Sign me up!

My bad, usually when people say BB I think of Best Buy instead of Blockbuster lol.

 

[gadgtfreek]

WHen I think about it, I use BB for both all the time.

 

[allargon]

That's good to hear. My wife keeps wanting me to sign up for Netflix, which would be ok except that she wants me to do that instead of buying movies.... ouch.

Just wondering, though, can I have only HD movies in my queue, or do you have to have SD ones as well? I certainly don't need any more SD DVD's in my house....

I'm also wondering if this will make it easier for Netflix to raise prices without taking too much of a PR hit.

You can rent HD-DVD, Blu-Ray or SD DVD's. Most titles aren't available in high def. I would still be waiting for The Last King of Scotland if I wanted it on Blu-Ray only. (It's a Fox title.)

I'm starting to get back to renting more. Netflix is HORRIBLE for new releases. However, they are excellent for catalog titles and older (3 months) releases. It took 3 months for them to send me Talk to Me and I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.

I'm looking at my library of over 50 titles of HD-DVD's. I've almost spent as much on non-porn HD-DVD's as I would've to buy a PS3 for $599. Then I would be purple and mad at that loud hot gaming console w/ a non-backlit remote staring at me all day.

Netflix decreased rates earlier this year. I see them going back to $19.99 for 3 out or higher.

 

[gadgtfreek]

You continue to bash the PS3 with comments you've read elsewhere, not personal experience.

My PS3 does not put out anymore heat than my rcvr or dvr. My PS3 is not loud. My PS3 was not $599 it was $499. The PS3 is not the only thing without a back lit remote, the OH SO GODLY A2 has the same flaw. Lets not even make positive comments about the PS3 like FASTEST load times(A2 is embarrassingly slow) and great PQ (HD/SD).

Now, the statements that "most" titles are not available in HD should be better explained. allargon is more of an indie guy, and yes MANY of those are not in HD. As a theater guy who prefers to stay home now, I have very little issue getting any mainstream theater releases on HDDVD OR BD.

 

[salsadancer7]

Wow. Considering the quality of service, this is not good for Blockbuster. Blockbuster was very slow. Normal turnaround was 7 days for 1 DVD. Netflix is 3 or 4 days. Glad I stuck with Netflix.

WOW...here in Miami, the turnaround has be 48 hours....turn them in Monday morning and my movies are at my mailbox ib wednesday afternoon.

 

[BlackHitachi]

WOW...here in Miami, the turnaround has be 48 hours....turn them in Monday morning and my movies are at my mailbox ib wednesday afternoon.

This is how fast Netflix is for me!! Blockbuster here was way slow! Also i would return all the movies and when they sent movies back to me it would be one then wait a couple of days the one more etc.. etc..

 

[gadgtfreek]

Im in Charleston and the center is in Columbia. If i send a movie back Monday, they check it in on Tue, and I get the new movie on Wed. Im very happy.

Moving to Hampton VA soon and the center is in Richmond(60 miles) so I should see the same.