About Me
|
My name is Dan and I love movies. After hearing the claims as to which online movie rental service is the best, I decided to put them to the test, and thus was born the Netflix vs Blockbuster Experiment. |
||
 |
Dan |
|
The Ultimate Experiment
|
Try Netflix and Blockbuster movies-by-mail service at the same time for 60 days and report the results. The results were not what I expected. |
The Netflix vs Blockbuster Experiment!
Experiment Last Updated: 08-29-2010
My name is Dan, and like you I heard the great debate over which movie-rental-by-mail service is the best. Netflix is supposedly has the fastest turn-around time and the most movies in stock while Blockbuster has the in-store return which is very convenient.
So, I decided to put them to the ultimate test. I tried both out at the same time to end the debate once and for all. The results were not at all what I expected.
The Experiment
The experiment was simple. Sign up for Netflix and Blockbuster Total Access at the same time, try it out for 60 days, and report the results.
I used 3 DVDs at a time option (both tout this as the most popular plan), and I had a local Blockbuster (5 minute drive) which fully participated in the Total Access program.
First Impressions
Both programs has an introductory program. Netflix is a 14 day free trial and Blockbuster is 50% off first month. If you prorate it, Netflix costs $8.50 for the first month and Blockbuster costs $10. Pretty much the same at this point.
The signup process was much easier on Netflix, as well as finding movies I liked to get in my queue. Overall the web interface was much better on Netflix. Something as simple as being able to hover your mouse over a movie to get information on it without having to click through is nice. That being said, the Blockbuster one did not both me, but I'm relatively computer savvy, so it wasn't a big deal to navigate.
For both Netflix and Blockbuster, I got my first set of movies in 2 days and besides a few minor scuff marks, all of them were in good shape. While they were both dead even at this point, it wasn't until I started sending movies back that huge differences started showing.
Blockbuster
After the first set of movies was sent back, that's when the Blockbuster disaster started. It was a Monday when the Netflix and Blockbuster movies went back and I had a good 30 movies in my queue. About half were new releases while the other half were a few years old. A few days go by, and I have received my Netflix movies, however I haven't heard anything from Blockbuster. I check my account online, and 25 of my movies were in "Long Wait", while the other 5 were in "Short Wait" (by Blockbuster definition, "Short Wait" means 2 weeks). So, I added some more obscure movies to at least get something. A few more days go by (now the weekend) and still nothing. I check my account again, and nothing has shipped.
Come Monday I call customer support for them to tell me that I need 120 movies in my queue for something to ship! 120! I spend the next hour and a half trying to find 120 movies that I wouldn't mind seeing. By Thursday (10 days after I shipped them back), I received some DVDs that I was less-than-thrilled to watch.
Netflix
On the flip side of this whole experiment was Netflix. By and large everything went smoothly. I got movies, I watched them, I sent them back, 2 days later I had more movies. A perfect system. I did have one DVD that was too scratched to play. I called customer service and they had a replacement to me the next day. I was able to keep my queue around 20-25 movies and got them promptly.
One really nice feature was the ability to download TV shows and movies to your computer (got to see all missed seasons of 24! Even more, I was able to watch these downloaded movies to my TV through my Playstation 3 with PlayOn (can also do it w/ Xbox 360 & Wii).
The Verdict
Netflix clearly won "The Experiment"
In 60 days I was able to watch 36 Netflix movies (admittedly, it could have been higher, but I was having a tough time keeping up). While I only watched 14 Blockbuster movies.
The 120 movies in my queue really drove me nuts. I couldn't get the movies I wanted.
While, I did use the return to the store which was really nice, however, I only had coupons for 5 in-store exchanges at my plan level. 10 of my 14 movies in the 60 day stretch were from an in-store exchange.
 |
Netflix was great! I had only minor issues with them. And the ability to download movies to my TV was amazing.
I even watched a few Blu-Ray movies on my PS3 which all came just as fast.
|
So, Which Do I Use Today?
For me it was an easy decision to use Netflix. It comes down to this. I get a service like this because there are a handful of movies that I want to see, and I would like to see them in the near future. Not hope that it is picked out of the 120 movies in my queue. Netflix was able to provide that, and Blockbuster wasn't
Blockbuster has gotten too many customers and is struggling to keep up with demand. It may get better, however as of right now it is on the downward slope.
Comments
Great article!
I totally agree about Blockbuster. They used to be great, but they are going downhill quick.
@mark82 - Yeah, these two go back and forth. Blockbuster was kicking Netflix butt...but they've seemed to hit a wall. I've switched back to Netflix.
I'm going to try the experiment. I'll let you know how it goes.
@ThefamilyMan - Yeah, let us know how it turns out for you. I'd be interested to see if you got similar results as me.
I just started Netflix, and I must admit....It's so much better than Blockbuster
Awesome idea
I'm 10 days in, and already stopped receiving DVDs from Blockbuster (140 movies in queue). Looking like the same results, different day....
I also have both services. I agree that Blockbuster has very serious problems. We have called their customer service, and it's obvious they just don't care. We have received a large number of disks that were too damaged to play, including ones that were broken in half and ones that were in the wrong sleeves. Blockbuster must never check them when they come back to make sure they are alright. We have had few problems with Netflix. We stay with Blockbuster because we have unlimited instore exchange. We have movies to watch while we wait for the mail.
I think I heard about a lawsuit against netflix which forced them to send the movies in a timely manner. Since u have unlimited movies they dont want to send out too many to people who are frequent users. Blockbuster is now doing the same thing. I use both of them as I like the instore exchange to get the latest releases right away from blockbuster. Netflix has more documentaries which I can't find in a blockbuster store.
I can't believe I stumbled on this site...it's like I'm reading about my OWN experiences with Blockbuster!! We went from Netflix to Blockbuster because of the in-store exchanges, with a store just a mile away...and in the first year to year and 1/2 they were AWESOME...loved it...but now they've done a complete 180. I'm going back to Netflix or some combination of both, since I do like the in-store exchanges...
I had Blockbuster for many years and just in the last 2 have been a joke . At one time I had them both but Netflix was priced higher at the time and I love to go to the blockbuster store to turn in my 3 movies and get 3 new releases that would come out on tuesdays ! When I found out that if I changed my plan I would lose this and at most I could only do this once a month! So I kept my old plan as time went on the service was getting worst I was charged for movies that I had dropped off at the store this happen to me not just once but many times they also sent me movies that I just sent back to them ! Also many of the dvds where not playable. I put up with this for the in store plan. they put up a poster said we are closing this store so you can now go to our other store that is 6 miles on the bad side of town and I could not walk there ! They closed this store in 2 weeks and I Closed my plan. They and Netflix have offered me many come back offers. I just went ! back AFFER 2 YEARS WITH NETFLIX AND I COULD NOT BE HAPPER I LOVE THE DOWN LOAD PROGRAM :) :)
I actually work for Blockbuster (a franchise, though, not corporate) and all of your complaints are completely true. I wish I could do something other than apologize. I wish that our corporate office would open up its ears and listen to customers, learn from the mistakes, and make a better service. The problem, in my opinion, is that we are "product driven" instead of "service driven". The company has a name branding that customers rely on, but we haven't changed our business plan since the 1980's. Yes, we've changed prices, how we rent to customers (I know the convenience of the "No Late Fees Program", and the complaints since we've been moving away from it. Trust me, on a company level this program was a NIGHTMARE. Our customer base became the single most irresponsible in the world! Sorry, I digress...), but the method of getting customers into stores, and keeping customers is now incredibly lazy. I work hard for my customers to get the movies they want, gi! ve them up to the minute information based on their past rentals of movies they would like, listen to the complaints and do what I can to help, but I am cut off at the knees when it comes to online satisfaction. It's ridiculous...Again, I am sorry. When people tell me we are driving them to Netflix, I tell them I understand. If you are in California, by the way, you might want to try Greencine as well. It's an excellent resource for obscure, hard to find, and foreign product.
I work for blockbuster as well and I have noticed these same problems. Day after day it is the same with customer complaints. And we are left without being able to fix it since the online and instore are almost two seperate companies. They don't even have the computers in-store for us to be able to help members with their accounts. Every day there is at least one person that comes in asking all kinds of questions that I, even as manager, just cant answer. I also use netflix. Ilove to be able to stream stuff directly to my xbox.
Nice arguments on both Netflix and Blockbuster. I would have to agree that Netflix is better than Blockbuster, I rent movies from netflix and i haven't had a problem with them. whats nice, i only have to pay a 1.00 more a month for Blue Ray DVDS. I recieved my blue ray last week and they are brand new disks. I recommend who likes to rent movies, is to go to Netflix. Also to all the Gamers out there that likes to rent games..go to gamefly. its awesome. I went from them as well and haven't had a problem. I bought pre-played game for the PS3 and its was brand new and only paid 21.00...sweet ah! anyways thats all i have to say.
I have tried both and I have to say Netflix is the best by far. I will never go back to Block Buster. I always get my movies back in 2 days and its great. I also watch instantly. I have had a few mishaps with Netflix but that's to be expected However they resolved my problems right away and I am very happy with them
I have Netflix and have never had any problems at all. Always a live person if you do have to call, no trouble navigating the website, and movies every two days. I have never done Blockbuster online, since dealing with the local store was nightmare enough for me!! I add my recommendation for Netflix to this list!!
I discovered that Netflix has much more of a movie selection for me than BB. Also, Netflix's delivery system is much more efficient than BB. For me it was all about availability of what I want to watch. I don't have time to drive to a store & search for what I want. Netflix makes it so easy for me to peruse the inventory quickly and easily. Also I have the Roku wi-fi. I love it. Way to go Netflix.
Living in NYC blockbuster isn't even a real option. they have few stores,and fewer avaialble movies. When travliing outside of the NYC area I have tried Blockbuster, but they have a very limited selection with few copies of each movie. I feel that if I ever made a complaint or suggestion I ignored. I actually had thought that blockbuster closed all it's locations, which is logical, since I don't know even one person who uses any of their services.
Living in NYC blockbuster isn't even a real option. they have few stores,and fewer avaialble movies. When travliing outside of the NYC area I have tried Blockbuster, but they have a very limited selection with few copies of each movie. I feel that if I ever made a complaint or suggestion I ignored. I actually had thought that blockbuster closed all it's locations, which is logical, since I don't know even one person who uses any of their services.
There is no comaparison Net flix is by far superior, Blockbuster has a very limited selection and no old movies. being a buff i like to watch classics, which blockbuster does not even have available
Let me be a lone dissenter. I've tried both these companies' lowest-tier offering (2 per month, limited). I certainly had no complaint about Netflix; their selection is great and delivery flawless. But I also have no complaint about Blockbuster. I've never had more than 30 in my queue, and only 3 or 4 of those have ever had availability problems--and of those, I eventually received every one. Since I get the same product and service from BB for a dollar less per month, I'm sticking with them. Disclaimer: I watch oldies (1920s - 60s in most cases) and foreign movies I can't find in local stores. Current releases I just rent from my local video rental store.
I have used both and since there is a netflix center in my town it takes one day for them to get them and another for me to get my next 3. I rip them and return them so I am running 6-9 movies a week depending on when i send and receive... Blockbuster was cool at first but the suck factor went through the roof quick...
Leave Comment |
 |
Netflix takes 3 days to turn around movies for me. But then again I live in Iowa.