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Blockbuster details new Games By Mail rental system
Yesterday, we heard about beleaguered rental chain Blockbuster's attempt to yoink some of the video game rental market back from the hands of GameFly by implementing a new "Games By Mail" rental service. Today, we received more details: For an extra $7.99 plus tax on top of their standard monthly fees, Blockbuster Online subscribers will be able to rent one game at a time, which counts towards the total number of discs they're allowed to have out under their subscription plan. Fortunately, if you don't check out any games during the one-month billing period, you're not charged the extra eight bucks. For more details on the service -- which Blockbuster is currently testing in Cleveland, Ohio "with plans to expand this nationwide before the end of the year" -- check out the company's FAQ page.
Blockbuster weighs games-by-mail, Netflix dismisses it
According to an email The Consumerist says one of its readers received, struggling entertainment rental store Blockbuster is considering adding games to its media-by-mail service (think GameFly). According to the email, customers would "be able to choose from over 3,000 different games, including many popular new releases." When asked if Netflix would consider a similar move, a company spokesperson seemed unenthusiastic, saying "Movies are perennial. A great movie from 1972 is still a great movie but who wants to play Madden '95?" Sounds like somebody knows on which side their proverbial bread is buttered.
