Blockbuster Video Online Movie Rentals

Blockbuster Video competes with Netflix with its online movie rental service. The premise is simple, unlimited rentals delivered through the U.S. Postal service. Simply sign up online, create a list of movies in the queue, receive up to three movies at a time (depending on the plan), and send back when done viewing in the postage paid envelope. Once Blockbuster receives the movie, they send the new movie in the queue and the cycle repeats.

I’ve been a Blockbuster Online customer since January 2005 and have enjoyed the service. I signed up for the 3 at a time program and can have 3 movies out at one time as well as coupons for two free in store rentals at my local Blockbuster Video store.

I was extremely pleased until the price went up. When it was around $15, the price seemed about right, I was comfortable with that price range for movie rentals. But a few months ago, Blockbuster tacked on about $3 more dollars bringing the total closer to $20 per month. This prompted me to switch to one of the lower priced plans. I went down almost to their bottom tier, the 1 movie at a time plan, unlimited rentals.

Blockbuster’s entry level plan, 1 at a time, unlimited rentals costs $9.99 per month and includes free weekly rentals. I have to say, I’ll be jumping back up to one of the more comprehensive plans or giving Netflix a try. By the time one movie arrives, I watch it and return it, and Blockbuster sends the next movie in the queue, a good week has come and gone. It really can’t be considered a true unlimited plan due to the reality of shipping back and forth but more like a “one rental a week” plan. That puts my cost per movie at about $2.50 per movie. I can do better than that at the local grocery store’s DVD section.

The coupons for the free in store movie rentals work differently under this plan too. With the 3 at a time program, I could go to my local Blockbuster and rent anything on the shelf with my coupon. Sometimes I’d have to return it in two days, other times I’d have a full week. This depended on whether it was a new release or not. With Blockbuster Online’s 1 at a time plan, the coupons are only good on the 7 day rentals, not on new releases.

In addition, I used to be able to print out all the coupons for the month and use them at will during that month but with the $9.99 plan, I can only print them during the week they are valid. The reality of this is that I don’t generally have coupons in hand as I’m driving past the Blockbuster video store in my town. Blockbuster isn’t stupid, they know I’m not likely to log onto their webpage on a weekly basis for coupons. As a result, I’ve only redeemed a fraction whereas on the other plan, I rarely missed a chance for a free movie.

By making their 1 at a time plan so unfriendly compared to the other plans, I am more likely to try Netflix than to upgrade back to one of Blockbuster’s pricier plans. It’s a shame because I liked the higher tier of service just fine. But I’m in the position to look for the best value for my hard earned dollars and Blockbuster hasn’t yet won me for life.