Comments on: Blockbuster Tells Netflix to Shove It

By: Brian Mac Ian

Brian Mac Ian — Tue, 02 May 2006 16:38:02 +0000

If BlockBuster had any brains, they would've hired an advertising firm, requiring that the ad go something like this:

A phone rings at a man's desk at work. He picks it up and it is his wife. She says "Hey Honey! Let's get a movie tonight! I really want to see "The Godfather" or some other classic mobster movie!" He says "Yeah, I wanna watch something too. But that's why I got a membership to WebVids, so we could get however many we want, whatever we want, whenever we want..." She says "But Honey, we don't have any mobster movies at home. Just "Seinfeld" episodes, "Office Space" and "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid." He says "Well, isn't 'Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid' close enough?" "'Close enough?'" she says. "'Close enough.' Hmmm. Well, what do you want for dinner tonight?" "Oohh! I'd love that red beans and rice dish you make so well! Mmmmm!, " he says. "Well," she says "we only have some leftover Chinese from this weekend. But that's 'close enough' isn't it? Oh! I know! We can watch it over "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid. See you when you get home." Sound of phone hanging up.

Close up of husband wincing. Sound of muted trumpet going "Wamp-wamp-wamp-wamp-WAAAAAMMMP!"

How many of us have found ourselves in this position? Anybody who knows EXACTLY what they want to watch a week, a month, two months, a year in advance is obviously a pure film consumer and not one who enjoys and savors particular attributes of a mood and/or movie itself. But yes, I am a Netflix customer and do enjoy it for what it's worth.

By: Jenna

Jenna — Sat, 29 Apr 2006 08:08:21 +0000

Thank you Jules! I so agree with you on this whole fiasco!

By: Jenna

Jenna — Sat, 29 Apr 2006 08:04:58 +0000

RE:
David Cross on Apr 6th, 2006 at 6:44 PM

"Interesting comments, but what you're all forgetting is that it's just movies, which you can pirate for free."

Being an employee of Blockbuster, I agree about the "just movies part". don't forget you can also get arrested for piracy. Hence the "Anti-Piracy Warnings" on movies smartguy.

By: XMinusX

XMinusX — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 09:39:04 +0000

To my knowledge of ecconomics ,If Netflix has 80% of the mail order Rentail buisness .Then Its a monoply .So it needs to branch off and make a new buisness and compete with it's self or let other companies join the bandwagon.
pluse why is BlockBuster getting hit .if you look below to the sponser there's a hand full of online rental sites.

By: Jules

Jules — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 22:59:49 +0000

Yes, restocking fees are BS, but you would only be charged the selling price of the movie if you returned it over 40 days past the original due date, so um, get your crap together. Also, you can't patent an idea as wide spread as online DVD rentals. If you could, then Blockbuster/Hollywood shouldn't exist in the first place, because places like Mr. Movies were renting out videos first. It's called competition. The drive through example is spot on.
Blockbuster doesn't censor their movies, they carry different versions. I agree that that's crap, because people need to not be so uptight, but it would be even worse if they edited them or whatever.
I have tried both Blockbuster online and Netflix and I've gotten better service from Netflix. So it's stupid to have this BS lawsuit, you're already better! Don't abuse the legal system!
And for those of you complaining about a collections agency coming after you for $3, how about you just keep track of who you owe money to and pay it in the first place? I mean, the company is totally wasting its money going after you, but don't complain because you decided not to pay 3 freakin dollars.
Oh, and about keeping movies new releases forever, they sure do that, but all rentals cost the same price unless its a privately owned Blockbuster. in which case it'd be the private owner, not the corporation anyway.

By: BB deceptive advertising

BB deceptive advertising — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 09:13:51 +0000

Despite Blockbuster's boldly advertised “No Late Fees”, many stores still charge late fees without clearly disclosing they do not follow the “No More Late Fees” policy. I was recently charged $19.47 in late fees in addition to initial rental fees after returning 2 videos within a week. Blockbuster has already been sued by the Attorney General in New Jersey for fraud and deceptive advertising, and there is another case pending in Texas. It's sad that Blockbuster is so desperatley and unfairly money-grabbing. I'm thrilled Net Flix came along.

By: willgonz

willgonz — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 10:36:43 +0000

Netflix trying to Patent Internet rentals, is like McDonalds trying to patent the drive thru.

I like Blockbuster because you get monthly free in store rentals. Some times you have to have it right now.

By: Netfix

Netfix — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 08:54:40 +0000

Blockbuster will be gone in two years, get used to it.

They haven't changed their brick n mortar buisness at all. Big banner ads that state "NO MORE LATE FEES", oh but did we mention the new "restocking fees" rofl

If you love BBV you are in the minority. Netflix invented the new business model and I hope they win their suit. No need to delay BBV's demise.

By: leon

leon — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 01:22:36 +0000

Arnaud he said BB was the one editing the movies.

By: Paul S

Paul S — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 00:43:35 +0000

So when it says:

"a computer-implemented method for renting moves to customers"

Does that mean they're now going to go after every online movie rental site on the planet? I use lovefilm.com in the UK, it's an online rental so why aren't they being sued?