Netflix Customers Offered Blockbuster Total Access With New Pricing and Free 30-Day Trial
MCKINNEY, Texas, July 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Blockbuster L.L.C. today began rescuing upset Netflix customers by launching a limited time, nationwide promotion for all Netflix customers who switch to Blockbuster Total Access.
Blockbuster Total Access provides benefits Netflix doesn’t offer: availability of many new releases 28 days before Netflix; unlimited in-store exchanges; games for Xbox 360, Playstation3, and Nintendo Wii, and no additional charge for Blu-ray movies.
As part of Blockbuster’s ongoing efforts to provide the ultimate in convenience, choice and value, Netflix customers who switch to one of Blockbuster’s two most popular Total Access plans will receive a 30-day free trial. After the free trial, customers will continue to receive Total Access for a new everyday price of only $9.99 per month for “1 Disc” at a time or $14.99 per month for “2 Discs” at a time.
“Blockbuster quickly responded to the cries of Netflix customers,” said Michael Kelly, president of Blockbuster. “Blockbuster Total Access is Netflix ‘without the wait.’ The combination of DVDs by mail and unlimited in-store exchanges provides more than 100 million people living near Blockbuster stores immediate convenience and unparalleled choice.”
Many Netflix customers have voiced their frustration about the Netflix price increase on Twitter by posting “Goodbye Netflix, Hello Blockbuster!”
“We find it shocking that anyone would raise rates as high as 60 percent,” Kelly added. “In contrast, Blockbuster has worked hard over the past few months to deliver value in entertainment to consumers in this economy and has even reduced in-store movie rentals to as low as 49 cents.”
This special offer for Netflix customers is available through Sept. 15, 2011, in participating stores and at Blockbuster’s website.
In order to take advantage of this limited time promotional offer, outraged Netflix subscribers are encouraged to visit www.blockbuster.com/helloblockbuster or bring in the tear-off from their Netflix mailer to a participating Blockbuster store.
[...] offering them a free 30-day trial for its “Total Access” rental plan. Kelly framed the deal as a response to “the cries of Netflix customers.” However, some have argued that [...]
I just signed up with BB. I think it is a good deal. I kept the Netflix streaming and went over to BB for Bluerays and games. I find this a win win solution as it takes me 2 days max to beat a game and I usually get 4-5 blue rays a month on a 1 dvd at a time plan. I think a combo of both services is ideal.
I JUSS SIGNED UP FOR BLOCKBUSTER BUT IT WAS A CATCH BECAUSE THEY ONLY SEND MOVIES IN THE MAIL. THEY SHOULD LET US WATCH MOVIES ONLINE LIKE NETFLIX. I CANCELED RIGHT AWAY AND WENT BACK TO NETFLIX!
I was so disappointed to discover that Blockbuster charges for individual streamings thus making it more expensive in the long run than Netflix. Think of it, you’re paying $11.95 each month for mailings plus at least $2.99 per stream. That comes to way more than the $16 NF will be charging. I’m thinking since BB mailings of new films come sooner than at NF I’ll keep BB for the mailings and keep using NF for the streamings. That’s BB at $11.99/month for mailings and NF streaming at $7.99/month. It comes to a little bit more than NF if I were to subscribe to their streamings and mailings but a great deal less than if I were to use BB’s streamings and mailings. As for internet games, I couldn’t care less. I’m still getting gipped, but with my plan I’m getting less gipped. I just wish I didn’t like movies so much.
If my plan doesn’t work here’s a novel idea, I’ll go back to the movie theater. I still remember the roar of laughter that exploded at the Loew’s Olympia on B’way and 107th Street in NYC back in 1959 when in “Some Like It Hot” an exasperated Jack Lemmon, who’d been disguised as a woman, took off his wig and said to his male fiancee “Aah hell, I’m a man!” To which said male fiancee played by Joe E. Brown cheerily replied, “Oh well, nobody’s perfect.”
Believe me the way these price wars are going it might be cheaper to go back to the movie palaces…that is if there are any movie palaces left.
Just hurry up people, decide what will take over BB or will NF stay ahead. i need to know what stocks to buy!!!!lol
YES! Way to go BB!! So glad to see you guys pull out the big guns.
Seriously people think about it. You get a movie in the mail, watch it, take it back to the store, get ANOTHER MOVIE. You can’t beat that. This deal was available before, now they have added video games to it. Thats what I call BRIGHT BOLD move!
Keep fighting!
Well, I for one am incredibly happy with their service thus far. Last I posted, I was a bit skeptical because of past experience. But since I started my trial, the shipping delays and slowness have disappeared. In fact, they now match Netflix in their speed (just time your mail-backs so that BB doesn’t receive them on Saturdays). On top of that, they sent me Source Code the day it was released, and it arrived the following day! No Very Long Wait like Netflix! And this has been consistent. So for me the $9.99 deal is much better than Netflix with the BD option, even without having a store nearby for trade-ins. You get many new releases before Netflix, and very little wait for them to mail it, if any. Nicely done BB!
Hi
I just checked out the new deal that Blockbuster is offering, NOPE! No streaming and SOME of the local Blockbusters do NOT participate in the program. You folks
need to do better! I have always hoped blockbuster would do this because of all local stores but this will not work for us or the friends we have talked to.
Take care.
Well, I tried switching to BB because I thought that unlimited in-store exchanges was essentially equivalent to Netflix two at a time (which I had). Well, I tried exchanging the first movie at the store, and was told (somewhat rudely) that “We don’t accept in-store exchanges anymore because we are a franchise, and I don’t know anyone who does.” So I went home and cancelled my membership. Not only did they lose my by-mail business, but it is unlikely I will go back to the store either. If BB can’t convince the franchise owners to accept in-store exchanges, how can they expect customers to use their service?
There are pros and cons about both Netflix and Blockbuster. I am currently with Netflix, however I will be switching to Blockbuster from Netflix for maybe 2-3 months, maybe longer depending on how things go. I will receive a movie in the mail, watch it that day and have the opportunity to watch another movie that same day by dropping my DVD that I got through the mail at my Blockbuster that isn’t far from my home, with gas being around $3.75/gallon each person needs to determine how far away they are from their “local” Blockbuster now that many have closed. Another reason I’m going to use Blockbuster for probably 2-3 months is to help Blockbuster, it’s a good thing for EVERYONE if Blockbuster survives, it keeps competition in check, the reason the price at Netflix went up 60 PERCENT is because they feel Blockbuster is no longer a threat for their core business, their probably right, but it’s always good to have other companies out there, even if now smaller and weaker financially, they can still compete on certain levels, that’s what makes the USA great, competition, it keeps everyone on their toes. Now I live in a state where we get a lot of snow, so when it comes to winter months I may flip back to Netflix because of the desire to do less driving on roads with snow on them. You all decide, I myself will choose both, with the hope that COMPETITION KEEPS COMPANIES IN LINE AND HONEST.
I switched to BB for movie and game rentals but stayed with Netflix for streaming, which I believe is the most cost effective thing for my family. In order for BB to compete with any more of Netflix business they need to have some other plan for streaming other than paying for each movie because that can become real expensive real fast.
I have been with blockbuster for years, have really loved the total access but now they are shutting down all the stores in Springfield, MO
I really don’t understand all of the bickering. Transmission of medial via digital methods is still at an infant stage. There are deals and partnerships to be made. As they emerge, more and more devices will be marketed and “allowed” (ie: PS3, XBox360, Wii, and future consoles) access to these services. Who you go with will be driven by cost and content more than anything else. It is my firm belief that companies like Blockbuster and Netflix will transform into or be absorbed by all-encompassing digital media services. What does that mean? It’s means a one-stop bundle offering company — much like what has happened with communication services. You get everything from one vendor (Broadcast, New Movies, Old movies, music, and games). That, ladies and gentleman, is the current race for media companies.
* Digital delivery regretfully means fewer brick-and-mortar outlets.
* Digital delivery means developing efficient delivery systems capable of handling the load.
* Digital delivery means a decline in post-release sales for movie companies and an increase in price at the box-office for new releases. Why? In 10 years from now, you have no idea what format media will be offered in and whether or not the current popular formats will be supported. When was the last time you watched a movie on VHS? The same logic above will eventually have many forgo maintaining home video libraries in favor of subscribing to a company like Blockbuster — which will be responsible for offering content in currently acceptable formats.
*Digital delivery may even bring about the demise of big-screen theaters as movie companies work out a price structure to offer new titles directly to the consumer in their home.
The future is coming. The genie is out of the bottle and constantly changing and evolving. What you want will happen. It just has to be worked out. Those who get in early will bear the cost — as always.
When is blockbuster going to have a streaming package of new releases?I I have a blockbuster app. on my blu-ray for streaming but right now it is useless. I had netflix and blockbuster disc rental. I still stream netflix but I did drop the rental. With the price of gas, it is too expensive to go back and forth. That is why I like streaming.
Seriously you people are out of touch with why we as consumers use these services. Most people were sick of high cable bills so if you lowered to basic and could watch unlimited streaming. Nobody wants to pay 3 .99 per movie that’s just wrong. So unless you plan on adding unlimited streaming you can’t compete with Netflix period.
Quickstir,, or whatever it is called that NetFlix is trying was the final straw. Going to give this a go.
[...] timely access to new releases, online game rentals and Blu-ray movies at no extra charge. That program expired Sept. 15, which seems to suggest that it was a stop-gap measure until Blockbuster could launch a [...]
the only thing about netflix your can rent 8 at a time .the most from blockbuster is 3 at a time and takes only one day from netflix to get your movies and blockbuster takes 4 to five days .Blockbuster needs to get there because it a rip off if there is not a blockbuster store near where u live.
I have an idea that will rescue BB and put it right back on the road to success!!! Blockbuster needs to split off a seperate company for adults only movies. This seperate company should be called “Blockbuster at Night” they already have all the logistics in place. Either by mail or streaming they can capture a significant portion of the adult movie market with almost 0 investment and cut into the cable and satalitte monopolies instantly. hopefully a BB big wig will hear this idea and act …I need blockbuster to survive because the are GREAT and i love to actually get IN HAND blu rays, not choppy network movies.
Was reading the comments on here and wanted to say, I have been a BB customer for at least 30 years, even when Major Video was the former name in South FL back in the early 80′s. Major had the titles, selection , multiple locations, and convenient hours so if you wanted to rent a movie at 10:30pm, Major was still open and had sufficient titles in stock. much like Blockbuster does today . I hope Dish Network ( parent co. ) stays focused on improving BB over the coming months as customer service has relayed via support desk. I still like putting a DVD/Blu-Ray in the machine and viewing the superb video and surround-sound audio that only a disc can offer. I detest watching a streamed movie. the quality is not there and a waste of money in my opinion.
Kudos ! for BB for staying afloat during this financial depression.
I had Blockbuster and switched to Netflix 2 years ago. I don’t think that netflix is that great-it doesn’t have many of new titles offered in streaming. I switched to blockbuster so I can get the new movies the day they come out and use netflix if we are bored or my daughter wants to watch a kids show
iam thinking of signing on with blockbuster or netflix. but not sure which one to sign on with. i would love for any help of which one is the best.
i get 8 dvds out at a time from netflix for 34.99 a month and i get them every other day because when its put in the mail i get movies the next day.so i get like 96 movies a month.blockbuster cant beat that deal.after my 30 day free trial going back to netflix
The idea here is to STREAM the movies…..S-T-R-E-A-M people….I would sign up with another service if they offered what Netflix does….Netflix gets titles later than others but the S-T-R-E-AM-I-N-G is worth the money !!!!
Baller Status : Netflix Streaming With Block Buster 2 at a time… sometimes a movie comes out you just need to rent it on Tuesday and you only can do that at BLOCK BUSTER! netflix streaming for late night boredom
Fools. The answer is simple. If all you want is to get dvds and games, get bb. If you want streaming at all get flix. I watch streaming all day for 7.99 a month. You pay for each one with bb. Think about it.
I used to be a loyal Netflix Customer. But I like the way Blockbuster gave me a lot of free Movie Channels with my subscription. If it were not for that, and DISH being tied together, I would probably go back to Netflix. I have 15 movies in my queue, and none of them have been available for the past 4 days. Blockbuster sends you the movie the day it is released to them, Netflix had the movie in your hand the day it was released to them. I can never find the movie I want in the Store because they are all gone. I thought they had a slogan that they would always have what you wanted, or did that go away?
I wish Netflix would stream new movies when they were available – I would wait.
And Netflix at least has someone you can call if you have a problem. My e-mails go unanswered because I compare them to Netflix.
All well and good, perhaps, until you are fraudulently charged by “BB” for a movie you returned on time, and you discover their “customer service” dept. has no concern for their soon-to-be-former customers. Run. Run fast. Run to Redbox and Netflix. You’ll thank yourself.
I think they should offer streaming like Netflix does (computer and consoles). But they offer games way too late. Some of the new ones aren’t available until months after they are released. And I noticed that they still advertise in store exchanges. There aren’t any stores left. I like the idea of games and movies. But they need to offer games when they are released and get streaming apps
Ive had it with Blockbuster LIES! I have a backlog in my queue of CURRENT AND OLD movies I can seem to get EITHER blu ray or dvd copies of for months. I also have ps3 and xbox games that,have been sitting in my queue for OVER A DAMN YEAR NOW. I havent recieved ANY GAME from blockbuster IN A FREAKING YEAR!
I left netflix on the premise that Blockbuster might be a better option. Hell I cant even stream movies on my phone with blockbuster because they have something against prople who root THEIR OWN devices. Btw, dummies at blockbuster…. rooted users on andriod DO NOT infringe on your DRM. Root and DRM have NOTHING to so with each other!!!!
Seriously, why is ANYONE paying for blockbuster if they cant even get one lousy game or movie without a hassle. And a store? Yeah ONE left in ALL of Buffalo NY and I still get emails to “stop by my local,blockbuster”. Are you kidding me with this??? REALLY???
who the hell runs your marketing department???
Its no wonder you cant compete with redbox and netflix and you are gasping your last breaths of life blockbuster. I COULD RUN YOUR COMPANY BETTER IN TWO WEEKS THAN YOU HAVE IN THE LAST TEN YEARS.
Tell ya what. Make me CEO for a month. Ill do it for free and save your sorry asses from the fire sale that is about to happen. Dish, do yourself a favor…. FIRE EVERYONE AT THE TOP OF BLOCKBUSTER NOW. At least maybe then I could get a movie or game. I pay for two disks at a time and I cant even get ONE.
JACKASSES…. ALL OF YA. MAKE ME CEO. ILL CLEAN HOUSE DAY ONE.