I received an email from Blockbuster Online yesterday, notifying me that if I would only upgrade from my current plan, I could get additional in-store coupons. Instead of the two per month I now receive, I could have one per week. My current plan is the 3-out at $14.99 per month, which is no longer being offered. For only $3 extra, I could get two more in-store rentals per month. Is it worth it?
I don't think so. Even with the two coupons I now receive, I have a hard time using them. I can't stand going to Blockbuster Video. The selection is poor. I have to browse for hours to find something to watch, or bring a list. I return things late every time. Half the time, the coupons are wasted because I forget to use them. I do not want to spend $3 on coupons I'll feel obligated to use.
This is just a tactic to get online subscribers to spend more money for the exact same service.
Disclosure: I am on the 3-out plan with Netflix at $17.99, the 3-out plan with Blockbuster Online at $14.99, and I use Nicheflix a la carte and Video Library.
I am on the 1 out BB plan for 9.99. I got an email from BB yesterday that said I could either have two in-store rentals per month OR have one per week but that if I chose the one per week, they had to be at least one week rentals. That would exclude very new releases. In my case, this is completely worth it because my closest Blockbuster is .5 miles from me and I haven't watched every movie known to man like you. I can see how this wouldn't be a great deal in your case if they wanted you to pay an extra $3. But for me, best of both worlds. I can waste two of the coupons and still come out even.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to mention that if I chose the 4 in-store rentals per month, it's STILL 9.99.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good deal for you. At least you'll use the coupons. I live in between two Blockbuster Video stores which are each 3 miles away, and not on the way to or from anywhere I usually go. Not terribly inconvenient, but I guess I'm spoiled.
ReplyDeleteI was quite pleased when I got the email from Blockbuster. I've been expecting them to automatically increase my price to $17.99 in the current billing cycle, whereby I'd most likely switch over to Netflix. Although my wife and kids use the coupons, they're really kind of a hassle. At least there's a shop not *too* far from work.
ReplyDeleteNo, that's not me.
ReplyDeleteI've had Blockbuster Online for about a year now, and their service is just a tiny bit slower than Netflix, because they ship from Charlotte, NC and Netflix ships from Greensboro, which is where I live.
That's what I'm doing, too. It is working well for me.
ReplyDeleteWell Lets see, I tried both Netflix and Blockbuster.
ReplyDeleteI had a 1 month trial with both and the result was as follows, not please not that I did this from a frugal point of view, I didn't watch the movies, I simply wanted to see how many I could get in a month.
Netflix I managed to get 20 movies during the month.
Blockbuster I managed to get a whooping 37 movies per month.
I have to say though that Blockbuster has a shipping center in my city and netflix does NOT.