Netflix vs Blockbuster Online
About a year ago I signed up for Blockbuster Online. I initially chose Blockbuster because I had a month free promotion code. After using them for about 6 months I decided to switch to Netflix. The reason why was because of 2 weeks free trial of Netflix and I wanted to compare the two services before making my decision of which I would keep. Now BB has introduced Total Access where I can return the movie directly to the store. I will compare the two services and try and determine which service I will continue to use.
Speed– Both Netflix and BB deliver movies usually next-day. They send it out and the next day I receive it. There is no clear winner in the speed of delivery here. Besides, this falls more in the hand of the post office than either company. Both have shipment centers in the St. Louis area. On movies that aren’t in the shipping center in St. Louis, they have to grab from another center. BB was faster at the deliveries that couldn’t be filled by my local center. Sometimes by a few days, which leads me to believe they may have more facilities. I could be wrong though.
Email Notifications– Both send out emails when movies have been shipped and received. The one thing I have noticed, and it bugs me a little bit, is that Netflix will notify me in the morning that a movie has been received but I don’t get a shipment email until late that night. With BB I would receive both emails within an hour of each other, usually.
Website– When I was using BB the website was horrible. It was slow, clunky, and overall a bad user experience. That is one of the reasons I left BB, because Netflix had the superior website making it easier to search, add, and remove movies from my queue. For months and months BB was touting their new website launch, but in the 6 months I was with them, it never launched. Their current website seems to be different, so maybe it’s finally up. I’d have to sign up again with BB to see it and test it out, which I may do this week.
Total Access– BB has, Netflix doesn’t. What is total access? I can return BB Online rentals to any store and even pick up a new movie. They didn’t offer this service when I had them and I’m sure they only added it to compete with Netflix. This is a major bonus if I go with BB Online. Of course, if I exchange the movie in store, that movie has to be returned to that store, causing me to make another trip to the store.
Envelopes– Yeah yeah, I’m comparing the envelopes. BB Online were much better. Though, this isn’t a deciding factor, I do find Netflix envelopes annoying. I mean, the annoying tape that is on the Netflix envelopes makes me wonder who designed it. BB rarely uses tape (in fact, the only time I had the annoying white tape circle on BB was when it was shipped from an alternative shipping facility AND it was an older movie.) They definitely have the better envelopes. Easier to open, not that I’m stressing out because I can’t open my Netflix movie.
Pricing– Same for both companies, though Netflix offers a 4 movie out at a time plan that BB doesn’t offer.
So, what is my decision? Do I go with convenience of returning to the stores or the better user experience via the websites? I might sign up with BB again just to see how their website has changed, then make my final decision.
BOO. Large lead-up and no payoff. I’m feeling left unsatisfied. Set this to DRAFT and republish when you’ve completed your thought.
bite me. i’ve told you everything i know. they are pretty much equal. even if BB new website is better, is being able to go to the store worth switching? as i said before, if i take a movie back to a BB store and then get a new one from the store, that movie has to be returned to that store, causing another trip out. not at all convenient as they make you believe in the commercials.