Blockbuster vs. Netflix

I haven't been inside a Blockbuster since I joined Netflix 4 years ago. I did check the items in my netflix queue against blockbuster's mail service inventory, and it definitely seemed like they didn't have anywhere near the variety of netflix's library. so if your interests are even remotely esoteric, BB will probably disappoint. Also, netflix doesn't edit any of their titles (at least to my knowledge), unlike blockbuster. I know that netflix recently lowered its prices, I think it's $17.99 for 3 at a time or some shit like that. They could have kept the price at $22 and I wouldn't even have thought of switching. As for the turnaround, NF usually receives my disc the day after I mail it, and then I'll recieve a new title the following day. But sometimes they take 3 or 4 days before a title even ships (don't know why). so that's a pain in the ass. but overall, there's definitely no comparison.

I have brand loyalty to Netflix. They have always provided fine service. I'll stick with them even if it does cost me an extra buck or two.

I live 4 minutes from a Blockbuster.. so to get their pass for $15 a month was a no-brainer. Screw the mail-order delivery. Renting 2 movies at a time and keeping them around a week is perfect. Rent 2 movies a week. Return them when we do our weekly grocery shopping. We arent wasting gas money because we need to grocery shopping anyway.

There will always be 2 new releases worth "renting" a week so its great just for that.

Depends. If you are a rent and burn pirater or watch a ton of movies, Netflix is for you. If you are lazy and just grab a movie every few weeks, Blockbuster is for you.

I, personally, am neither. I am a "buy a used movie for 7-12 bucks online rather than drive five minutes and rent it for five dollars, plus I then have to return it" kind of guy.

I've been with Netflix almost 3 years and have no intention of switching.

Viva la Netflix!

Gotta go with Netflix

I've been a member for almost five years now and have never regretted it. With their recent price drop (I'm getting four movies at a time for about $19 a month all around) and their opening of a shipping hub in my city, I get approximately two day turnaround on just about everything with a rare exception when I assume they had to have a title shipped from another hub. I haven't seen anyone beat their selection and that's the most important thing to me. I hate when a store tells me what I can and can't rent and which version I can and can't see.

But it depends on what you do. I try to watch four movies a week (or more depending on my schedule) and keep the cycle flowing as quickly as possible. There are times when I can't get around to watching anything right away and keep the same titles for a long time (once, during a move I ended up with my titles for over four months) or want to hang onto something for a bit longer, so it doesn't pay off the same way, but overall I've made it work for me.

For my completely biased point of view-- I also like Netflix because they aren't Blockbuster. Before NF, I stuck to smaller video stores in town (luckily I live in a city that has more than a few cool video joints) because I despise pretty much everything about Blockbuster. Just a personal thing. And I love that Blockbuster has blinked because NF is so successful at what they do. I love watching the behemoths squirm.

Anyway, go with Netflix. If you love movies you want to see as many different kinds as possible and be able to get anything you like or hear of at the drop of a hat. I haven't seen anything (including the local cool video stores) that can match that. But if I want to see something THAT NIGHT I will hit one of those. Otherwise, it's NF all the way.

Does Blockbuster still have there "no NC-17" policy? Also, I know our Blockbusters only have R rated versions of some niche films, and that pisses me off. Is it the same when you're doing the delivery thing?

I tried Blockbuster for Free, they were definitely slower than Netflix. THey were in beta back then, I don't know if they still are now. But Netflix has been getting slower with me lately.

Netflix is the way to go, without question.

Blockbuster will always be held back by corporate interests... meaning less hard to find films . Not just movies.