Update on Blockbuster (Non)Deal for Switching
The other day I wrote about a deal from Blockbuster.com just for cancelling your NetFlix membership. As it turns out, we recently cancelled our NetFlix membership due to a busy summer travel schedule. So shortly after posting that entry, I dug out the cancellation notice and sent it to Blockbuster. Sure enough, I got a quick response with the promo code to unlock this deal. I then promptly got busy with others things and pushed it to the back of my mind. Well, I finally sat down tonight to take advantage of this offer and was surprised to find out what kind of 'deal' this really is...
As it turns out, Blockbuster's 3-out-at-a-time (plus 2 free in-store movie or game rentals) normally goes for $14.99 per month. So what happens when you enter the promotional code? As promised, you get two months (instead of the usual two weeks) free, an e-coupon for the free DVD, and a monthly rate of -- get this -- $17.99. Yep, that's right! They actually have the audacity to 'reward' you for switching with a monthly rate that is $3.00 higher than what they charge their 'regular' customers. I couldn't believe it when I read it, so I hopped on over to FatWallet and, sure enough, others are reporting the same thing. I've never had a very high opinion of Blockbuster, and this seals it.
What's a guy to do? Well, I'm going to go ahead and sign up, get my free DVD, milk the free trial for all that it's worth, and then cancel. While I could probably just cancel at the end of the free trial and then sign back up without entering any sort of promo code to get the normal $14.99/month rate, I really can't stomach doing business with such a sleazy company -- not to mention that their service pales in comparison to that of NetFlix (or at least it did last summer when I first tried them out). So... If you've taken advantage of this offer, consider yourself warned.
Click here to read/leave comments on this entry
--
This entry was first posted at www.fivecentnickel.com.
I never make a major purchase decision without doing a bit of background research. Thus, I was pleased to learn awhile back that I could get free online access to ConsumerReports.org (as well as a large number of other publications) through my local library's web ... Read
Maybe this is old news to some of you, but I just ran across yet another cool Google function... Currency conversion! Simply enter the conversion of interest (e.g., 1 USD in Euros) in the Google search box and out pops your answer. Google lists a ... Read
If you're anything like me, you do a lot of online shopping. You might also be as impatient as I am. So, have you ever been tempted to pay for upgraded shipping at a site (such as Amazon.com) when their free shipping will do? I'm ... Read
I just ran across what looks like a really nice offer from Blockbuster.com over at Growing Money. Assuming that you are currently a Netflix/Wal-Mart customer, you can get a free two month trial plus a free (to own) new release DVD. Read
Is Netflix really even worth it? A company like Blockbuster offers movies for $4.49 and I get to keep them for the time limit + 7 days. With netflix, I pay 9.99 a month and I can only take one movie out at a time. So that means I have to depend on the USPS. So on Monday I order a movie, it arrives on Wednesday, I don't watch it until Saturday, I send it back on Monday. I can't have another movie delivered until they get the one I sent back so earliest it gets sent to me will be following Wednesday to arrive to me by Friday. So in two weeks I get two movies. Which means I could have spent $9.50 for the same two movies and watched them over a course of 9-14 days. Same difference. With netflix, I can maybe squeeze in another movie over the course of the month but that means I HAVE to watch 3 movies a month in order for it to work for me.
If you don't watch a lot of movies, then it's probably not worth it. However, if you watch just one movie per week, you more or less break even with the 3-at-a-time plan (unless you have really cheap local rentals, which I don't). On top of that, I value my time and appreciate not having to go to my local Blockbuster, struggle to find a movie that I want to see that happens to be in stock, and then wait in line to rent it. On top of this, you have to make another trip to return it (although that's less of a problem if there arent' late fees -- just save it until you want another move). So to me it's definintely worth it. I do, however, cancel and re-join peridocially to avoid paying for months when I'll be out of town a lot.
--
http://www.fivecentnickel.com/
Blockbuster is one of the sleaziest, most dishonest companies around. It has been poorly managed and has rarely turned a profit in over a decade. Thus, they have resorted to dishonest tactics to try and earn money for years. Charging late fees for a movie when they have 30 others on the shelf waiting to be rented is dishonest. Promoting "No Late Fees" and then surprisingly charging customers for the cost of the DVD when it's not returned in seven days is dishonest.
I switched to NetFlix when my local Blockbuster tried to charge me for a DVD that I returned. Between, me putting it in their return box and them placing it on the shelf, it was lost. Their stance was "We are not capable of losing a movie, so you must pay." And this was after renting about 2 movies a week for over three years at this store. Forget about customer loyalty, Blockbuster will do anything for a dollar.
Stick with or switch to NetFlix now! You'll be doing business with people who are honest, strive for superior service and who value their customers.
