Comments on: Poll: What would make you switch from Netflix to Blockbuster?

By: Blockbuster=Horrible

Blockbuster=Horrible — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:51:07 +0000

Blockbuster Online Experience
I cancelled my account, removed all DVDs from my queue, and returned all movies within the specified time period. Blockbuster Online, a week after I canceled and with nothing left in my queue, sent two DVDs without my knowledge. I did not request the DVDs, and I never wanted to use the service ever again. I have now been charged for the two DVDs forcibly sent after cancellation.

I only used the Blockbuster Online service for two months, and I cancelled because of extremely slow service, and missing, incorrect or broken DVDs. The Blockbuster Online website shows an Internal Server Error when I try to make contact, and when I call, I am put on hold for over 20 minutes only to be disconnected. Now almost two months after I cancelled, I have to deal with unauthorized billing because my financial information is still on record. I have to change all of my financial information at my bank because Blockbuster states that it is impossible to remove it from their records.

Do not use this service.

By: Blockbuster=Horrible

Blockbuster=Horrible — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:51:07 +0000

By: Blockbuster Inviting Netflix Customers to Rent Movies From Stores for Free | Bob Caswell

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:20:37 +0000

[...] Take the POLL: What would make you switch from Netflix to Blockbuster? Share These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web [...]

By: Horrible Experience

Horrible Experience — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 20:34:33 +0000

I only used the Blockbuster Online service for two months, and I cancelled because of extremely slow service, and missing, incorrect or broken DVDs. The Blockbuster Online website shows an Internal Server Error when I try to make contact, and when I call, I am put on hold for over 20 minutes only to be disconnected. Now almost two months after I cancelled, I have to deal with unauthorized billing because my financial information is still on record. I have to change all of my financial information at my bank because Blockbuster states that it is impossible to remove it from their records.

Do not use this service.

By: Aravind

Aravind — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 17:40:33 +0000

My business is Netflix’s to lose. As long as they are good, I don’t think I’ll switch. I’ve rated 450 movies and I get good recommendations based on my ratings. Netflix has an excellent collection but, I find that some classic movies have not been available on Netflix for a while. That is just starting to piss me off.

By: ellen

ellen — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 04:53:42 +0000

Free One Month Online Rental: Promo Code 1230ta expire 3/31/2007
https://www.blockbuster.com/signup/rp/regPlan/c.bbfamily/pc.FFTA?promoCode=1230ta

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 22:40:00 +0000

The customer experience at blockbuster stores is so negative that it makes absolutely no difference whether their prices are better than Netflix. Even with free rentals, I just don’t need a movie bad enough to subject myself to the Neanderthal staff.

On the opposite end, Netflix gets it right, from super easy online ordering to nice customer service. Why wouldn’t people be loyal to them?

Blockbuster’s problems are too big to be solved by little holiday promotions. They have let themselves become a “ghetto” store, and once you go ghetto, the good people up and leave and never look back.

By: Bob Caswell

Bob Caswell — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 01:14:09 +0000

Well, it looks like with just over 100 votes, the clear winner is “there is nothing Blockbuster can do.” Perhaps there is nothing Blockbuster can do, at least, nothing the company can do that’s listed in the poll. But I like the mailing back in-store rentals idea and the games or movies idea, though neither seems likely to happen anytime soon…

By: Sean

Sean — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 23:59:58 +0000

What would make me switch from netflix to blockbuster? If blockbuster allowed you to rent either movies *or* games. It’d be nice to have a game and 2 movies out.. or if there weren’t any games you wanted to play, to have 3 movies.

By: MarvinK

MarvinK — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 20:26:53 +0000

I think there are 2 things going for Netflix:

#1 – They started up back when BlockBuster was the big bully with terrible customer service, high late fees and expensive rates. People hated BlockBuster (I was an early adopter and also used Netflix for their DVD selection–which was poor at every store in my area). People have long memories and they still dont’ like BlockBuster, based on their history.

#2 – People don’t like going to the store unless it’s an impulsive thing. Unfortunately, they still have to return the movie to the store–when they no longer feel impulsive. I think BlockBuster really should consider renting movies at the store with a return mail envelope, so they don’t NEED to make a return trip. This would help with the impulsive renters.

The only thing that is going to take people away from Netflix is downloadable rentals with a monthly fee (sorry Microsoft–$6 a movie is ridiculous). As Internet gets faster and devices come with a download functionality, I could see this becoming very popular. If I could download HD movies on my Xbox 360 for a monthly rate (ie: $20/month for having 2 or 3 movies on the Xbox at any given time) and it didn’t take forever–I’d consider switching from Netflix…. even if the service was backed by Blockbuster.

I can really only see downloadable services as the next big competitor. And not with the stupid $3-6 per video that Apple and Microsoft have adopted.