RE: Blockbuster Total Access . . . Vudu

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firefighterjake

firefighterjake

Minister of Fire
Jul 22, 2008
19,588
Unity/Bangor, Maine
Call it a Triple Whammy . . . or just the fact that Netflix doesn't seem to care that they are insulting so many folks' intelligence and are no longer thinking of the customer, but for the first time since 2004 when I became a member I'm looking at other alternatives.

I mostly watch DVDs and prefer the newer stuff, but like being able to watch some older movies and TV shows as well.

Anyone have experience with Blockbuster Total Access or Vudu?
 
The Roku web based systems are economical and have access to most of he internet based streaming services.
 
My wife and I were talking about thsi the other night, as we only get 15 cable channels and use net flix for both dvds and streaming. Now they changed their tune, we are also looking at alternatives.
My gut is telling me that Roku may be the way to go now, but I am sure once subscribers add up, the cost is going to be similar to other offers. With the recent change in NEtflix, it just makes fore sense for us to ditch it completely and just go with the lowest level Comcast service where we can access movies from their library. I'll be watching this thread too, so sorry I am no help to you Jake,
 
Netflix offered a one month free trial this past winter. My son signed up and then canceled within the one month. They tried to charge the credit card. The credit union backed out the charge. Problem solved right. Not so fast. They billed us again. I called and they said he signed up for two free accounts the same night and only canceled one. It was news to my son. I asked Netflix why he would want two free accounts. The lady said "that doesn't make any sense". She said she would cancel the second account and back the charges out. She did cancel the account, but didn't back the charges out.

Of course Netflix is definitely never seeing any business from any of us. It was only ten bucks, but with me it is the principle of the thing.
 
We dumped cable about 6 months ago for an antenna and a roku box plus netflix service. I never used the dvd by mail option so I don't miss it being stolen. For us, we're still happy netflix customers. Same price, same service.

Anyway, the roku box provides several other pay options like amazon, and hulu plus. The dang kids seem to love the netflix kids TV shows so that thing is getting used hard. Been great with our relatively slow 7mbps DSL connection. We'll be sticking with netflix only.

We dumped comcast and its cable/phone/internet bundles at 170$ per month and now pat 60 something for phone/internet/netflix. That's real money. One side effect... the network television from the antenna is broadcast in non-compressed digital full HD so the televeision is now much much better to watch.
 
We are looking at following in your footsteps gents by going with internet and over the air tv. We have TV and Internet and watch TV some and feel it is not worth the extra $. Our contract is up in a year so we will see if the TV provider give us a better deal.
 
Highbeam said:
We dumped cable about 6 months ago for an antenna and a roku box plus netflix service. I never used the dvd by mail option so I don't miss it being stolen. For us, we're still happy netflix customers. Same price, same service.

Anyway, the roku box provides several other pay options like amazon, and hulu plus. The dang kids seem to love the netflix kids TV shows so that thing is getting used hard. Been great with our relatively slow 7mbps DSL connection. We'll be sticking with netflix only.

We dumped comcast and its cable/phone/internet bundles at 170$ per month and now pat 60 something for phone/internet/netflix. That's real money. One side effect... the network television from the antenna is broadcast in non-compressed digital full HD so the televeision is now much much better to watch.
Click to expand...

We did something similar. We pay about $40/month for DSL, use the Roku with Netflix for TV, movies, and music, and an Obihai OBI110 VoIP Phone Adapter for VOIP phone with the (free for now) Google Voice service, total monthly cost, $50. We only have the VOIP because cellular service is poor at our house.
 
I also dumped netflix with their new pricing scheme.

When we want a movie now, we head to the library or a redbox.
 
What changes to netflix? I use it and didn't notice anything different.

I don't download shows though, don't have internet at home.
 
Netflix DVD now = Quickster. Only the online streaming will be Netflix. You should have received an email about this a few days ago.

I'm looking into Blockbuster Total Access, though we have no local stores. The mailing + streaming seems to resemble the old Netflix.
 
BeGreen said:
Netflix DVD now = Quickster. Only the online streaming will be Netflix. You should have received an email about this a few days ago.

I'm looking into Blockbuster Total Access, though we have no local stores. The mailing + streaming seems to resemble the old Netflix.
Click to expand...

I'm giving BTA a try since they have a free 30-day trial . . . we have a local store in the city where I work so I figure I will compare how long it takes for the DVDs to arrive from both places and then make a final decision on who to go with after 30 days. Right now I kind of like the idea of getting more of the newer releases before Netflix . . . but we'll see how it goes.
 
Can you send me a PM in a few weeks about your impressions of their service? I may be joining you.
 
BeGreen said:
Can you send me a PM in a few weeks about your impressions of their service? I may be joining you.
Click to expand...

Will do.

Right now the cost for BTA is a bit more -- the same if you figure in the fact that Netflix charges $2 extra for Blu-Ray DVDs (but the flip side is Blockbuster gets some new release movies the same day that video stores, department stores get the movie instead of 28 days later) . . . as I said for me a large part in my decision will be the turn-around time for the DVDs.

Honestly, for me, looking at other alternatives is mostly about the principle of the thing -- first the change in service (i.e. a 60% increase if I wanted to stay with both streaming and the one disc deal I had going . . . or pay two dollars less, but not have the streaming which I used occasionally while waiting for a DVD to arrive by mail) . . . and then the name change deal which for some odd reason irked me . . . I guess when it comes down to it a large part of this is I feel as though I have been a loyal customer for seven years and not once have I felt as though my business was appreciated and in fact it almost seems as though the CEO really doesn't care about the customer as evidenced by the past comments he has made about dumb (or was it lazy) Americans, trying to suggest the change in pricing was a good deal for folks as if we were stupid enough to think paying a lot more money for what we already had is a good thing and then "apologizing" while not really apologizing.
 
I've had both, Netflix and Blockbuster Total Access. Netflix has a faster turn around time for DVDs and they send the more popular ones quicker. With Blockbuster, if you wanted a new movie, you had to get it in the store because you could wait months before it was available through the mail. When we first got Netfilx, there was no streaming option, and it seemed like turnaround was slow. After a while we switched to Blockbuster to try it out. We had a local Blockbuster which had those guaranteed new releases in stock, so we could always get a movie. After moving, the new local blockbuster had a poor selection of movies, and still had late fees. So we switched back to Netfilx to try out the new streaming option, which we use almost exclusively now. We plan on cancelling the "Quickster" part and keep the streaming. We the split, Netflix is supposed to increase the amount of content for streaming, so we'll give it a few months and see how it works out.

If you like going to the movie store and picking up movies, BTA is great. We really liked it when we had a good local store, but don't expect to get new releases through the mail. Quickster ("old" Netfilx) is a little better to get new releases through the mail, but still doesn't send out new releases very often. Netflix has been good for us to stream TV shows, but only has older movies.
 
Got my first movie yesterday from BTA . . . X-Men: First Class . . . actually arrived a day sooner than they said it would . . . and I was a bit surprised since I figured it was a new release and would take a while since my Netflix new release movies often were not available when they first released . . . and on the plus side, this movie is still not out in Netflix.

One DVD down . . . positive experience . . . but we'll see how the rest of the month goes.
 
I use Netflix (quickster). Strictly home delivery. Cheaper now than when I first signed up last winter. Quick turn around, can get on a waiting list for new releases that are not yet available, just search the title.

Biggest complaint is scratched or damaged DVD's that don't play correctly or freeze.
 
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