All of what you say is true. As a Netflix subscriber, I also tried the Blockbuster deal. My only negative feeling with Blockbuster is that they STILL do charge late fees and after 30 days you can end up buying the movie if it gets lost or forgotten under the pile of stuff on your coffee table. When they definitively say: No Late charges, Ever, for any reason, then they have me like Netflix does now.

I guess I'm hard to please.I tried it,wasn't impressed with the "Blockbuster Deal". Though they have improved from last time like you said. Have had too many issues as far as movie returns; late fees and so forth....they seem to have too many "loop holes". They'll have to do alot better then this to entice me back.

FYI for anyone interested: The charge that is incurred for keeping a movie past the allotted time is not a "late charge". When any company charges a consumers credit card. they are charged a fee for making that charge. The $1.25 restocking fee is to get back the monies charged to the company for charging the consumers credit card. The company makes no profit from this fee. I have been an employee for over 8 years and I have seen programs come and go, yet this is by far the best program for customers I have seen yet! The consumer can basically get unlimited movies in-store or online for the cost of one movie rental per week, and you can have 6 movies out at a time instead of just 3 like netflixs (3 from the store and 3 form online)
The stores are giving free trials of the programs try it for free and I know you'll agree!

I signed up a few weeks ago with code 1944TA and it worked great! I got a free month and free game rentals for my kids as well.

Starting December 19, 2006, Blockbuster Total Access (online) is giving customers 1 free video game rental each month plus the first month is free.

Sign up at http://www.blockbuster.com/bbfamily
First month free with promo code 1557TA

Facts:

1. Offer changes to 2-week trial beginning Jan 15 2007. 3 movies out at a time. So, signup now !

2. Members can exchange online movies for free DVD rentals at their local Blockbuster (online mailer/movie will work like a coupon). Also, as soon as the online movies are exchanged at the store, the next movies in your que will ship as well. You essentially double the # of DVDs you can watch by returning them to the store (you can’t do this with Netflix).

3. Members will also receive 1 in store coupon every month for a free movie OR video game (even during free month).

4. Only pay $17.99 per month (3 out) after the 1st month or downgrade to the $14.99 (2 out) or $9.99 (1 out) plans.

I joined FREE 1 Month Blockbuster Online Movie Rental
Get In-store coupon for Game. I rented Loco Roco Game for the PSP and it was great!!!
3 DVDs out at a time Unlimited rentals.
I return DVD to store to exchange free movies.
Store movies are no late fee policy.
You should try with Promo Code 1230ta expire 3/31/2007
www.blockbuster.com/bbfamily

Then there are those of us whose trust Blockbuster violated irrevocably. I recall the unjustified late fees; the endless, excruciating time spent looking for titles that weren't in stock; and, my personal favorite, the New Release promotion of "If It's Not in Stock, It's Free". Only after calling them on it did I discover that it was a very select few movies and at Blockbuster's choosing, at that. I'll NEVER go back, no matter what they offer.

Blockbuster offers the best movie rental online program out there now. They have what no other online rental business offers--stores,face to face customer resolutions,free in store rentals for every online mailer you return so you dont have to wait for the postal mail to bring your next movie.Basically, you are getting 2xs the movies for the one low competitive price. As far as end of late fees--one would assume if a rentor has kept a movie for over 30 days, they intended to keep the product. The profits from renting have been lost,the movie is no longer considered a new release, and for them to charge 1.25 restocking fee, is more than reasonable !! I would assume they are not in the business to give away their products. They have budgets to meet as well as any other corporation. If you havent tried TOTAL ACCESS please give it a free 2 week trial. You will love the convenience, the fast shipping,free in store returns/rentals and an affordable online price tailored to your needs. Stop by your nearest Blockbuster Store today and sign up for your free trial with no obligations,no return dates,no postage due,and an immediate free instore rental the minute you sign up in the store. Enjoy your experience. I tried it--it was fabulous !!!!

Lesser of two evils, John. *nudge nudge wink wink*

Oh yes after netflix's little not sending so many movies after you get to a certian limit and charging after cancelling trial period they can be trusted as well *rolls eyes*

I have used blockbuster in the past but perfer Netflick. If I have a problem they can always fix it. Since I live fairly close to a distrubition center I get my movie the next day. I also live next to a blockbuster distrubition center but it is so slow. If netflick mailed my movie out on saturday I get it on Monday, with Blockbuster I will get it on wednesday. I dont have time to go down there and deal with the difficult people at blockbuster. They seem so cheap. Plus netflick has a lot of cool international movies that I like.

This is for those of you that have a hard time returning movies. If you have a problem returning movies, then don't use that part of the service. When you do get yourselves organized, it's not that hard to get a movie back in a week. Then you'll realize what a great service this is. Don't miss out on a good thing because your stuck in your old ways.

I tried blockbuster online when it first started- wasn't impressed, joined netflix and belonged for the past 2 years. When blockbuster launched all access, we tried it for 2 months. All in all, you could get more movies for the same price. You also get a free game coupon/rental coupon to print off. I had a few problems. 1. Blockbuster didn't honor my queue order. I got movies from any order- including a TV series out of order (yes I used the lock feature) Who wants to watch disk 4 of a series first???. 2. SLOWWWWW in a word. Over half of the time I had to physically select the option to record a disk returned. It would sometimes take over a week to get a movie! (4 at a time plan) 3. Selection was slightly less interesting to the types of movies our family enjoys.
One feature I would like to see Blockbuster add is the "now in theaters" tab on the Blockbuster search engine. It allows me to view and then save for later.

Well here's the deal, I dont understand why it is so hard for some people to not return the movies to the Blockbuster they rented them at ON TIME.? What is so hard about that, if you rented them you know they have to be returned? It's a rental store, you are using the service,they have to be returned. If more people returned on time then the selection in the store would benefit all customers.And the no late fee thing, you can keep the movie out for a month, if you need it that long and only pay 1.25 for the movie, if it was the old way you would pay over 100.00, now what would you rather pay? So stop complaining about the fee, and return the movie on time!

I have been a Blockbuter employee for over 3 years, and the TOTAL ACCESS(ONLINE) is by far better than netflix. Where can you go with netflix and exchange your movie for one in the store FREE...alls you do is walk in with the mailer and exchange for a free instore rental!!! The prices are the same and so is the selection. I have tried both myself, and by far Blockbusters Total Access is better, much better. You can have 3 from the store and 3 online, that is 6 at a time, to me that is a great thing...so cancel that netflix and sign up for Total Access and enter Promotional code 42225b and get your free rental as soon as you sign up, or go to your local blockbuster store and sign up there...either way you will be glad you did...and have a Great Blockbuter Night!!!

Blockbuster Total Access: more movies, less money.

I agree with the commenters that Blockbuster still has to overcome a lot of bad feelings about late fees, but their current offering--if you have store nearby--is really compelling.

Jim

consumerjimbo.blogspot.com

Netflix has a bigger and better movie collection but this BB deal is definitely biting into their share. Netflix should start looking into : hook up a deal with Redbox or start its own movie pick-up something

I started out on the 2 week trial period and was fairly impressed with the speed of delivery so I kept it (almost always got all 3 same day within 3-4 days of returning to store). After my first month (I'm in my 4th), delivery changed...drastically. I can return all 3 movies to the store at the same time (they claimed they're checked in there and shipping should begin same day) and I'll get one 4 days later, one 2 days after that, and another in another day or few. I'm sure Blockbuster understands that many people would wait until having all 3, then returning to the store to exchange and wouldn't doubt if this were intentional. I'm very surprised not to see more gripes about this here.