Poll: Will 30-day rental windows pull you away from Netflix & Redbox?
By Richard Lawler 
posted April 18th 2010 12:15PM
posted April 18th 2010 12:15PM
posted April 18th 2010 12:15PM
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If I'm merely renting a movie, then it's almost certain that I don't care enough about that movie to worry about release dates or rental windows on it. So I'll continue to stick with Netflix for my rentals.
If I like the movie enough to be concerned about its release date, I'll probably buy the movie.
@UnnDunn ditto.
@UnnDunn
I feel exactly the same way but instead of buying it, I'd see it in the theatre if It intrigues me that much. And well, that happens maybe once a year.
Otherwise, I can wait and wait.
I am a little bummed about the decision but I'll wait because there are no better choices for the money out there right now ands I know this will make the streaming selection grow faster. Digital rentals are too expensive to use more than every once in a while and since we don;t do cable we rent a lot of DVD and stream a lot of Netflix.
Actually I'm more disappointed in how difficult blu-rays are to get lately. After Netflix raised Blu-ray rental rates things got better but now they seem to have taken a turn for the worse. For the last 3 or 4 months, the top 10 or 15 discs in my queue are "very long wait" or "long wait" and I keep getting sent random crap[ from down the list. Very irritating.
This will only make the Torrent/Bootleg market thrive.. It typically takes about 30-45 days after a movie is released in the theater for a very good Cam or Screener copy to emerge and another 2--3 months for a possible release date from the motion picture studios on a legal copy. Now with Netflix and Redbox pushing back the rental dates even further. Most people will have already watched the movie of their choice before its rental ready IMO...
@worldbfree4me Why would piraters use Netflix in the first place?
@engadgetcomexcludeengadget to avoid bandwidth issues and warnings for internet piracy to not risk losing connection. netflix and blockbuster subscriptions make it so easy.
I don't mind waiting 30 days based on contracts like this, but I do mind waiting another 30 days for them to have my movie available. Inglorious Basterds still isn't available on Blu-Ray or dvd, which is just ridiculous because it was released last year! I have 17 more movies that have some kind of wait on them (not counting the ones that haven't been released yet), and it's just frustrating that they don't buy more copies. On a positive note, they've added a buncha new streaming tv shows, and I've been watching Rescue Me.
Something I would like to note about this change though is the physical disk they ship. The Informant was the first movie I've rented that had the month wait, and it came on a special disk labeled "rental" with absolutely no special features, and the only thing in the menu was to play it. If this becomes a trend, I'll consider canceling my service, because the extra content is considered part of the movie.
@engadgetcomexcludeengadget
I have seen this "trend" on numerous netflix/redbox disks as well; and it sux. If the studios think this fly thet are again stupid
I've actually already switched over to blockbuster. I didn't subscribe to Netflix for the streaming, although it was a nice perk. I just find that I would rather have my hands on a DVD copy instead of a streaming. Especially since streaming from Netflix isn't always consistent in quality and reliability.
@(Unverified):
Wow. I think you're the only person in the world that would actually switch TO blockbuster from Netflix.
@(Unverified) I switched too. I don't mind the 30 day window so much but my top 3 movies have all had very long wait. When I switched to BBlockbuster they were available. I rarely used the watch now feature and the wait for movies was driving me crazy. If you don't use watch now, there really is no reason not to switch to Blockbuster especially if you use Blu Ray.
@Unverified User
for $5 freaking rental dollars, count me blockbuster and TW
Getting newly released popular movies when released on DVD is impossible from Netflix anyhow. I use it for older TV series and classic movies only.
i'll rent almost any movie, I only buy a few movies that I know I wanna keep for some reason, but mostly when its on sale
I Just wait for it youtube or http://www.commentbug.com
All this really does is turn me off even more from buying movies (the real intent for the window between release and Netflix/Redbox rental). I'm not a Blockbuster subscriber anymore and will never return. Their policies/practices are outdated. Blockbuster stores have all but disappeared in my area. And I'm done with owning movies. I enjoy using Netflix and I really enjoy be able to watch movies on demand from them. I won't be happy about having to wait, but I can certainly wait.
most people who care about seeing a movie as soon as possible will probably torrent the film long before Blockbuster or VOD gets the release.
Can't outdo the 0-day scene
simple for me..... I have both but I only do one disc at a time from both.
the reason is I am caught up on all blu-rays I could ever want, and only need new releases. blockbuster allows in store exchange so on tuesday I walk in and get the new release I want, so no long waits. netflix has instant que that I use as well.
so 2 blu-rays at a time and watch instantly plus in store exchange is all available for me..
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha blockbuster so 2003. But seriously, suck it block buster! I could careless and whoever has been waiting for inglourious bastards, it is avaliable now on the tpb IN HD qaulity . . . So my friend tells me. Lol. Love netflix. Could careless about blueray. I had a fucking ps3 got it solely for the las t socom confrontation, the online only poopy game. The ps3 got taken back. Might try it again when the nexy socom comes out. .... maybe. Should have waited for the reviews. Then i f when I do get ps3 it will be another year before I get into blueray. Its just easiier to watch it after downloading it and watching it on the htpc. Fuck discs.
in all serouseness. Fuck um, I'll just down load it one way or the other. If hollywood can't be bothered to let me have the movies when the come out from the vendor I want in the form I want (and no, it was not redbox or netflicks idea to have more windows) then they don't deserve my money directly or indirectly
I've reduced my Netflix plan to 2 discs at a time to offset using Vudu for new releases that I really want to see.
Straight to the nearest torrent.
If Blockbuster had streaming like Netflix does, as in no pay per view, then yes. I'm all over Blockbuster.
I have been using Bockbuster for a while now instead of Netflix. Why?
1.because there is no extra charge for Blu-Ray disks.
2. I tried Netflix for the streaming and was disappointed by the quality and selection available.
Additionally, I just got an email survey from Blockbuster. They are considering renting games though the mail at no extra charge. This would be like having a GameFly account at no extra charge.
Already canceled my Netflix in favor of Blockbuster and other local walk in stores. I've got enough around me still that probably look forward to my business these days. I'll be happy to help them out and get my movies the day they come out.
I couldn't care less. I get 98% of my dvd's by reserving them using an online system and if I manipulate it properly, I have it in hand within a week to ten days of its release. I can arrange to pick it up at a variety of locations and I can also return it at the end of the rental period (usually five days) to any one of a number of locations throughout the area. The selection is diverse and I can get foreign titles, how-to, new releases, library titles and anything that's in the system, even if the location I go to doesn't normall keep it on the shelf. Not only that, I cna request titles that aren't even in the system and they will go outside to other sources nationwide to obtain the title I requested.
What do I pay for this service? Nothing...it's all 100% free of charge as long as I return the dvd's on time. And where, you are probably wondering, can I get this service? Your local public library! And as a bonus, they also lend music cd's and Books-thousands and thoussand of therm-so if the movie I want isn't avaialable right away, I can always check out a book that can offer a truly unique and totally satisfying experience!
Never going back to BlockBuster. Netflix rules and Redbox is not too bad either...
I picked option 2, but actually I just really don't care about renting on release day. If it's release-day worthy then I'm probably buying it anyway. And if it's something I haven't seen yet... then I can wait a little longer. Heck, I've got such a backlog of movies I haven't seen, any new movies I add to the queue I probably won't see for at least a year anyway.
Been said here before...poll is missing the torrent option :P
@nike514 They probably are not trying to endorse that meathod of viewing movies :)
@nike514 They probably are not trying to endorse that meathod of viewing movies :)
This poll assumes that all the local Blockbusters haven't gone out of business like they have in my neighborhood...
Deals like this make me not want to use Blockbuster for any reason. Not that I do right now anyway... but now there is just a higher level of avoidance.