Greedy Netflix

In article ,
UCLAN wrote:

Lloyd Parsons wrote:

Iwould have to pay $2 more than my BD challenged neighbor to rent the
same 8 DVDs as he. Sorry, no. I'll stick to Blockbuster.

No, if you don't intend to rent any blu-ray disks, then don't sign up
for the service.

Blu-ray disks cost more. It's only logical that Netflix would charge
more for them.

I didn't write that I didn't intend to rent any Blu-ray. I wrote that
I would be charged the $2 fee *every* month - whether I rented any
BDs or not! I don't mind paying the extra if I actually rent the
more expensive discs, but I will *NOT* pay a surcharge in months
I don't get any BDs.

A little planning and you won't. Just start and stop BD service as
needed. Kind of a PITA, but it can save you a couple bucks.

And hope that the BDs in my queue are actually sent to me the months
that I activate the BD access? No thanks. And, in my case, it is worse
since I used a 12-month gift certificate. They just shorten the length
of the certificate to 10 months. The 0.xxx month left over is credited
to you *ONLY* if you renew your account. Geez...

I've never had it be a problem to get the movie I wanted within a few
days. But there are those that look for problems that might not
exist...

So in your case, I'd say the solution is don't use Netflix, Blockbuster
is waiting as long as they are still in business.

On Sun, 8 Nov 2009 07:52:18 -0600, Andrew Rossmann
wrote:

BD's are also more fragile. The reflective layer is right on the bottom,
with a very thin protective coating. Regular DVD's have the reflictive
layer in the middle, CD's near the top. There have been reports that the
coating gets damaged easily, or the layer develops cracks, when shipped
in the standard Netflix mailers.

I believe that although the reflective coating on BD's is thinner,
it's a harder material, less prone to abrasion and scratching.

My experience with Netflix would seem to bear this out. I've been
getting BD's from them for as long as they've been available and I
have yet to get a damaged disk; and they always look pristine on the
underside.

A_C

As a side note, Friday I received my new disc to access streaming
Netflix movies from a PS3. It works like a charm. Even HD movies stream
just fine with the ability to scan forward and backward through the
show. Very kewl!

Later,
Dave

"Ricky Jimenez" wrote in message
...
Can somebody give an example where Netflix rental is preferable to
Blockbuster rental? It seems to have the same prices, except you
don't have to pay extra for blu-ray.

I got 7 DVDs last month and was able to live stream 6 more without
waiting (actually 9 streaming if you count the three I started just to
see what they were like but didn't bother to finish). 13 (or 16)
movies, for a cost of $9.

On Mon, 9 Nov 2009 19:24:10 -0800, "Stewart"
wrote:


"Ricky Jimenez" wrote in message
.. .
Can somebody give an example where Netflix rental is preferable to
Blockbuster rental? It seems to have the same prices, except you
don't have to pay extra for blu-ray.

I got 7 DVDs last month and was able to live stream 6 more without
waiting (actually 9 streaming if you count the three I started just to
see what they were like but didn't bother to finish). 13 (or 16)
movies, for a cost of $9.

Sorry, but were you answering my question?

On Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:43:24 -0500, Ricky Jimenez
wrote:

On Mon, 9 Nov 2009 19:24:10 -0800, "Stewart"
wrote:


"Ricky Jimenez" wrote in message
. ..
Can somebody give an example where Netflix rental is preferable to
Blockbuster rental? It seems to have the same prices, except you
don't have to pay extra for blu-ray.

I got 7 DVDs last month and was able to live stream 6 more without
waiting (actually 9 streaming if you count the three I started just to
see what they were like but didn't bother to finish). 13 (or 16)
movies, for a cost of $9.


Sorry, but were you answering my question?

It seemed like one. No? NetFlix streaming is available with the most
modest of subscriptions. With the $100 box or any number of recent
stand-alone players, which saves having the PC turned on to watch
their videos, I understand that transmission in "HD" may be supported.
The streaming library has grown and with the support of one or more
cable channels, has an increasing number of recent releases available.
Also, as mentioned by another, one can turn on and off the BD
surcharge on a monthly basis. Personally, I've no need for that sort
of penuriousness, as there hasn't been a week since Blu-Ray became
available from them that it has not dominated our queue.

We've been on the six out program since early in the year and there's
not been a week where we have not received six discs (mostly BD and
all new releases) on Tuesday mornings. For each which we place in the
mailbox by Saturday (though I guess that's soon to become Friday) its
replacement arrives the following Tuesday. That's $43/mo for 26
discs. About $1.66 each. Also, that's not counting the 34 titles in
our streaming queue. If there were more discs in which we had an
interest, the price per disc would be even lower.

Note too, that it's unnecessary to ever gas up the car, or in our
case, charge up the golf carts, in order to exchange a disc. I can't
recall not getting two USPS day turnaround now for years (as none of
our discs has come from other than our nearby fullfilment center).

May I ask, how much does Blockbuster charge to actually deliver 26 new
releases per month? And, isn't that all that really matters - if
price and availability are the criteria?

wrote:

I got 7 DVDs last month and was able to live stream 6 more without
waiting (actually 9 streaming if you count the three I started just to
see what they were like but didn't bother to finish). 13 (or 16)
movies, for a cost of $9.

Sorry, but were you answering my question?

It seemed like one. No? NetFlix streaming is available with the most
modest of subscriptions.

[...snip]

Why does everybody assume that interest in streaming is involved when
choosing an online DVD rental pipeline?

Bottom line for *DVD* rentals:

Blockbuster has slightly less expensive plans.
Blockbuster doesn't charge extra for Blu-ray.
Blockbuster has the "exchange at store" option (which is *extremely
convenient if you travel by a store. I have one within walking
distance. On Tuesday mornings, I often sip some coffee while
waiting for new BD releases. Next week is Star Trek.)

On Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:54:13 -0800, UCLAN wrote:

wrote:

I got 7 DVDs last month and was able to live stream 6 more without
waiting (actually 9 streaming if you count the three I started just to
see what they were like but didn't bother to finish). 13 (or 16)
movies, for a cost of $9.

Sorry, but were you answering my question?

It seemed like one. No? NetFlix streaming is available with the most
modest of subscriptions.

[...snip]

Why does everybody assume that interest in streaming is involved when
choosing an online DVD rental pipeline?

Bottom line for *DVD* rentals:

Blockbuster has slightly less expensive plans.
Blockbuster doesn't charge extra for Blu-ray.
Blockbuster has the "exchange at store" option (which is *extremely
convenient if you travel by a store. I have one within walking
distance. On Tuesday mornings, I often sip some coffee while
waiting for new BD releases. Next week is Star Trek.)

Thanks for actually answering the question. I have checked the online
catalogs and see that some items of interest (I rent mostly operas and
documentaries.) are available from only one of them, but most are
available from both. The one question left is how swift is
Blockbuster in sending out the next item. If I send back a Netflix
rental on a Monday, say, I usually get the next queue item on a
Wednesday.

On Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:06:20 -0500, Ricky Jimenez
wrote:

On Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:54:13 -0800, UCLAN wrote:

wrote:

[...snip]

Why does everybody assume that interest in streaming is involved when
choosing an online DVD rental pipeline?

Why does anyone not? It wasn't part of the original deal, when
subscribing to NetFlix years ago, but it was a NetFlix stated goal -
and when they got to the point they could do it, they did it for
*free*. As I said before, I've read that they're supporting HD
streaming now, though I've no personal experience with it.


Bottom line for *DVD* rentals:

Blockbuster has slightly less expensive plans.
Blockbuster doesn't charge extra for Blu-ray.
Blockbuster has the "exchange at store" option (which is *extremely
convenient if you travel by a store. I have one within walking
distance. On Tuesday mornings, I often sip some coffee while
waiting for new BD releases. Next week is Star Trek.)

Thanks for actually answering the question. I have checked the online
catalogs and see that some items of interest (I rent mostly operas and
documentaries.) are available from only one of them, but most are
available from both. The one question left is how swift is
Blockbuster in sending out the next item. If I send back a Netflix
rental on a Monday, say, I usually get the next queue item on a
Wednesday.

Your question was:
Can somebody give an example where Netflix rental is preferable to
Blockbuster rental? It seems to have the same prices, except you
don't have to pay extra for blu-ray.


a response was:
I got 7 DVDs last month and was able to live stream 6 more without
waiting (actually 9 streaming if you count the three I started just to
see what they were like but didn't bother to finish). 13 (or 16)
movies, for a cost of $9.


You asked further:
Sorry, but were you answering my question?

I responded:
It seemed like one. No?

Then, after confirming that Netflix streaming is a NetFlix rental cost
advantage, I said:

"May I ask, how much does Blockbuster charge to actually deliver 26
new releases per month? And, isn't that all that really matters - if
price and availability are the criteria?"

I see no details in UCLAN's post regarding your question nor mine,
though professing to have investigated BB yourself, you may be
satisfied with unsubstantiated generalizations. Never-the-less, he
seems to object to anyone pointing out that which NetFlix has which
Blockbuster doesn't. And I don't see any links provided to
Blockbuster's rental prices. I've visited their site
(http://www.blockbuster.com/) and they don't seem to be very up front
about rental prices - though I'm too imatient to search for this
stuff, when not obvious.

So, again, I'd like to know what a Blockbuster plan would cost which
delivers 6 *new* releases (most in Blu-Ray) on the same day to one's
mailbox. NetFlix charges me $43 for this.

BTW, I'm certain - based on experience - that "Star Trek" will be in
my mailbox Tuesday morning. I'll have finished my coffee by then and
may be perusing the New York Times in bathrobe and slippers. And no
one else will be here waiting for the store to open up. That's what I
call convenient.

I'm guessing UCLAN does not trust Blockbuster to deliver "Star Trek"
by mail out of his queue, after all they also have to fill those store
shelves - outside where he'll be waiting on the sidewalk, sipping
coffee from a paper cup;-0)

But you're probably safe with BB, since your preferred videos are not
in hot demand. I sometimes select nature docs, ballet, jazz, blues,
or old movie videos for mid-week delivery. There's seldom any wait
for them.

BTW, I use Amazon.com's Blu-Ray "coming soon" list, sorted by release
date, to develop my NetFlix queue. With rare exception (mostly
nature, sometimes music vids) they've always been able to add the
titles to the queue, though their release dates may be unknown or not
always in agreement with Amazon's. However, when the actual delivery
date arrives, they move into the active queue on schedule.

On Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:33:07 -0800, " CLicker
wrote:



So, again, I'd like to know what a Blockbuster plan would cost which
delivers 6 *new* releases (most in Blu-Ray) on the same day to one's
mailbox. NetFlix charges me $43 for this.

https://www.blockbuster.com/signup/m/plan
They don't seem to have a 6 out at a time plan., The most is a 3 out
at a time for $16.99 a month. You could sign up for two of those, I
suppose. The Blockbuster video on demand seems to be extra while the
Netflix is free with a rental plan.

Since I don't plan to download until I get the same quality and extras
as rental discs, it will be quite a while before I use those services.
My current thinking is to keep my Netflix 1 at a time account but open
up a Blockbuster account for a short time to get discs that are not in
the Netflix catalog. 3 or 4 discs a week is plenty for me.