DVDs By Mail? 75
scubacuda asks: "DVD mail rentals are hot right now. Netflix, perhaps the most popular one, costs only $19/month (with free shipping). Since then, a whole new batch of similar DVD rental services have cropped up. What do Slashdot readers look for? Which ones are most reliable, have the best selections, provide free shipping and makes the best movie suggestions?"
Netflix suits me... (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Dear Slashdot (Score:1)
You remind me of... (Score:1)
From a few months ago (Score:3, Insightful)
I liked the idea of as many DVD's as you want for $20/month", but I never felt I could watch enough DVD's to get my $20 worth. If I didn't watch about 6 in a month (Blockuster chaged about $4 per DVD), then it would be cheeper to rent at a video store. Plus, there are all the times where didn't have the time/desire/money to watch a movie; but I still paid for the right to rent them from Netflix. For the most part, when I rent DVD's; I'm hanging out with friends, and decide I'm gonna watch a movie a few hours before I do. It's damn impossable to get a DVD by mail the same day.
Granted, the selection was great, but I couldn't justify the cost in my mind. Since I rent only 1~3 DVD's a month.
NetFlix (Score:4, Informative)
The really nice thing about them is that instead of standing around in a rental store trying to decide what to rent, you can sit at your PC and make your list. She already has a 22-item list, so she'll be busy watching movies for awhile.
Also, if you are bad about forgetting to return rentals on time, you won't get tagged for late fees. I turned in a movie to Blockbuster about 20 minutes late due to a snow storm, and they wouldn't wave the late fee. Ever since, I've rented from someone else if I had a choice.
NetFlix aparently have several shipping centers around the U.S. I initially signed up for their 10-day trial to see how long it would take for DVDs to get to us. Our DVD's come out of Houston, and take about 2 days.
Re:NetFlix (Score:1)
Re:NetFlix (Score:1)
Re:NetFlix (Score:1)
Christies Toy Box
Norman, OK 73069-4108
(405) 321-0555
That's where I'd be.. But if she does freak out.. you could try
Video Stop
Norman, OK 73019
(405) 329-8359
Stop-N-Go Video No 1
Norman, OK 73071-4958
(405) 364-2446
Movie Place Video Tapes No 2
Norman, OK 73071-2518
(405) 447-5235
Hightower Video
Norman, OK 73019
(405) 366-8948
Fast Lane Video
Norman, OK 73071-2521
(405) 360-2545
After Hours Video
Norman, OK 73072-3390
(405) 329-3899
After Hours Video No 2
Norman, OK 73069-5815
(405) 360-7664
OK?? Don't go to BlockBuster.. mkay..
Next
P.S. If you'd have mentioned the closest cross streets... it would have made my work a bit easier..
Re:NetFlix (Score:1)
IF? When/How/Why would you not have a choice? You really shouldn't be supporting the MPAA, but that's another story. How could you possibly be forced to rent a DVD from Blockbuster?
Next
Re:NetFlix (Score:1)
Blockbuster tends to be the only movie rental place with a decent selection, especially in smaller towns. That means, assuming that you don't want to watch Weekend at Bernie's or Caddyshack yet again, you might be forced to rent from Blockbuster.
Also, why shouldn't we be supporting the M.P.A.A? If you don't like their stance on DeCSS, then bring a lawsuit against them. If you don't like the D.M.C.A., then write to your congressman and senator. Boycotts are ineffective at best, and even if everyone on Slashdot boycotted them, it would only be about a 2% dip at most. Litigation, on the other hand, can put the fear of God into a corporation.
I would also like to point out that $19 per month is a terrible rental fee for a DVD, when you can usually buy them for between $15 and $25, and that's full retail.
Re:NetFlix (Score:2)
Also... while you may have 6 out at a time, I don't think there's a limit to how many you can borrow total- as long as you return movies you're done with before you check more out.
Re:NetFlix (Score:1)
That sounds much more reasonable. I was thinking mabye it was really expensive because of the "free" shipping or something.
Re:NetFlix (Score:2)
Sounds like a lot of the collection stations are pretty close... you could always have one new DVD sitting on your player, waiting until you came home, one for each day. Not too shabby, IMO.
Re:NetFlix (Score:1)
Like I said... Don't be forced.. Exercise your right to choose, even if the choice is not to participate.
Thank you, and have a nice day.
Next
Re:NetFlix (Score:1)
Why don't you let the man decide on his own if he "should" be supporting the MPAA.
Not to mention there are plenty of rentals at any video store that aren't connected with the MPAA or MPAA-member studios. Many foreign films, many indie movies and most of those cheapie straight to video movies, for example, are unrated and released by non-MPAA companies.
Re:NetFlix (Score:1)
He should.. and that was my point, thank you. He is not forced to rent from Blockbuster, and has a choice.
End of story.
P.S. If you are talking about non-MPAA companies making DVDs (we were talking about DVDs), then you are mistaken in the assumption that it doesn't fuel the MPAA.
Who licences DVDs and DVD Players?
The DVD CCA [dvdcca.org] licenses the CSS system to plyer manufacturers.
Have you seen a DVD player that didn't use CSS? Me neither.
Who runs the DVDCCA? Hmm?
How much are the licenses? Hmm?
How do you suppose they use the money? hmm?
NEXT
Re:NetFlix (Score:1)
I never said he had to rent from Blockbuster (I also never specified DVDs, but since that is the topic at hand, I'll give you that one). That wasn't the part of your comment I was talking about. I was referring to the part where you said "You really shouldn't be supporting the MPAA". Doesn't sound like you were offerring a choice to me, rather, it sounds like you are looking down on someone for not having the same opinions as you.
If you are talking about non-MPAA companies making DVDs (we were talking about DVDs), then you are mistaken in the assumption that it doesn't fuel the MPAA.
Considering the fact that you yourself [slashdot.org] buy/rent DVDs from Laserlight and similar, non-directly-MPAA comapanies, you must agree that those types of DVD purchases (indie, old or foreign films, as I originally stated in my comment) support the MPAA less than the latest Sony or WB DVD? I mean, if you feel that people shouldn't support the MPAA _and_ you yourself buy/rent those types of DVDs, that's the only logical conclusion... unless you are a hypocrite.
Re:NetFlix (Score:1)
*WE* shouldn't be supporting the MPAA!
My whole reason for posting was that he wasn't "forced" to rent from Blockbuster. Maybe you noticed, when you read my other posts, that I listed several alternatives in his community. Nothing like the boycott you have me launching in your original reply.
Really, no one should be supporting the MPAA..
Next
Re:NetFlix (Score:1)
By your logic though, don't those video stores support the MPAA? I mean, they purchase DVDs. And if all DVDs support the MPAA, then so do those stores. This is especially true if he is planning on renting DVDs, thus encouraging the stores to buy more DVDs. Which gives more money to the MPAA.
Re:NetFlix (Score:1)
Whis is to let him decide.
OK..
What other choices are there?
Just because I say he/we shouldn't be supporting the MPAA doesn't force him to rent from Blockbuster. And as I've hopefully illustrated, he isn't. And that *was* the scope of the discussion at the time.
BTW: The only reason I mentioned LaserLight in the other post was the fact that they'd stood up against the RIAA on the CD copy control issue.
DVD = BAD
Next
Re:NetFlix (Score:1)
Perfect for pirates? (Score:1)
I've encoded a few DVDs I've borrowed from my friends, cuz I like to watch them later. I haven't distributed many of them, only one that I ripped myself did I distribute, and it was a pain to get the size right to fit onto a CD...
A hardcore pirate would LOVE this kind of service, I'm sure.
Re:Perfect for pirates? (Score:2)
I use a 650MB-movie and that is enough to fit the
Re:Perfect for pirates? (Score:2)
Re:Perfect for pirates? (Score:2)
On a sidenote, this week they added support for RealVideo/RealAudio G2/v8 to mplayer cvs, using two of the
Re:Perfect for pirates? (Score:1)
Re:Perfect for pirates? (Score:3)
I don't have experience with DiVX myself, but I expect that it should get better compression than MPEG-1. I don't find Per_Wigren's claims unreasonable.
Netflix (Score:2)
Yes, your local video store is probably cheaper, but only if you return your movies on time. I was habitually late. Again, with netflix, no late fees. I'm actually saving money.
Why rent? (Score:1)
If you didn't want to keep the DVDs-which appears to be the only way this differs from purchasing a DVD-why not just bundle them together and sell on eBay?
I just don't understand renting a DVD for $19 to keep it a month when you can pay not usually more than $22 to keep one. Unless, and here is where I am ignorant, you can get boxed sets for $19 a month.
Re:Why rent? (Score:1)
Well, not exactly. You set up a list, and they send them to you in FIFO order. You can only have a few out, but when you return N DVDs, they send you the next N on your list. That's why people are talking about what turn-around time they get, because long latencies can eat into their DVD throughput.
Correction (Score:1)
Re:Why rent? (Score:2)
Re:Why rent? (Score:3, Interesting)
Mixed Experiences (Score:4, Insightful)
I've been waiting around for my job to start for the past six months, so I've gone on a dvd renting spree. I have tried NetFlix.com, NumberSlate.com, and DVDBarn.com.
I started out with NetFlix and have had good experiences with them. However, I started getting into anime and NetFlix only had partial sets of various anime series. So, I went to other services to look for the remaining disks, in this case it was just Gundam Wing, but later others came into the fray.
I tried DVD Barn. They purported to have loads of DVDs, but once you signed up for an account you saw that nearly all of them were unavailable, and after 1.5 months on my queue there was no progress.
Then I tried NumberSlate, like DVD Barn it seems that they have a lot of titles. The few that I was interested in were out but having only subscribed to them for 1 month I have seen a few of the unavailable titles get to my door.
To sum this up ... DVD Barn sucks, Netflix and NumberSlate are decent.
Satisfied Netflix customer... (Score:4, Informative)
I don't care for them splitting up two disk sets though. If a movie comes on two disks (such as The Godfather, Part II [netflix.com]), you have to rent each one seperatly.
Re:Satisfied Netflix customer... (Score:1)
I have been very happy with netflix.com. They fit the way I watch movies, for other they may not like it. Some people decide they want to watch xyz movie and they want it now. Give it a try is all I got to say, you got nothing to lose. No long term contract, no start up fees.
Re:Satisfied Netflix customer... (Score:3, Informative)
Just to clarify, I was refering to instances when the actual movie was on two disks, not just the special features. If you want the see the end of Godfather II, you need the second disc. I'm not going to jump up and down complaining to Netflix though, since very few movies do this.
latency, spam, lifestyle, queues (Score:5, Informative)
I just ran the numbers, we averaged just under $3.50 per DVD rented. Given that some we watched the day they arrived (then returned), others we didn't get to for a week, this is pretty great.
You can actually calculate your min cost, based on latency. Assuming a 5-day turnaround (i.e. from when you drop it in your box, to when they receive it and process it [typically within 24 hrs] and mail it back. We have around 2 day's travel each way), it's easy to figure out the min and most likely price.
Each 'slot' can cycle at most 30/turnaround_time, so for a 5-day turnaround that's 6 rentals a month. So the 2-DVD program at $15 is $1.25/CD (assuming you're rabid and watch each movie instantly!). 3-DVD at $21 is $1.66.
But that misses the point-- you're going for convenience and lifestyle. The main selling point isn't cost. It's a) no late fees, watch when you want and b) the Queue.
The Queue rules. You can list any movie you're interested in, and they just ship 'em in order. You can change the order at any time. Interested in Farscape episodes? Add 'em to your queue and you'll get them in order. Never got around to seeing "The Godfather"? Toss it in the queue. I'm up to 124 items in my queue, and anytime someone recommend a movie, I can add it (and prioritize it).
So I like Netflix. Alas, they do have aggressive email marketing-- not quite SPAM, but darn close. They partner with a lot of other sites so you sometimes get Netflix junk for unrelated reasons. This I hate, and it's the one thing that makes me feel guilty about using them. [If they started spoofing headers or such, I'd drop them in an instant. Right now, they're just being pushy.]
2 year netflix user (Score:2, Informative)
I've noticed that movie availablility drops around Xmas time (gift certificates?) but last Xmas, they seemed to beef up their inventory quickly.
I often get newly released movies the week they are released.
Since they opened their distribution center in Tacoma, WA my turnaround times have dropped a couple days (I live in Portland, OR).
Re:Looking for an operating system (Score:1)
DOS
Re:Looking for an operating system (Score:1)
dvd by mail in spain (Score:1)
Netflix has other plans... (Score:2, Informative)
Netflix Service Ultimate (8 out)
For the ultimate at-home selection of DVDs at an incredible value, choose our Ultimate Program. It lets you have 8 movies out at a time for a flat monthly fee of $39.95.
Netflix Service Plus (5 out)
Ideal for members who want a larger selection of DVDs at home, our Plus Program lets you have 5 movies out at a time for a flat monthly fee of $29.95.
Netflix Service Bonus (4 out)
With variety, value and an extra movie, our Bonus Program lets you have 4 movies out at a time for a flat monthly fee of $24.95.
Netflix Service Standard (3 out)
Enjoyed by the majority of our members, our popular Standard Program lets you have 3 movies out at a time for a flat monthly fee of $19.95.
Netflix Service Lite (2 out)
Affordable, convenient and perfect for the occasional renter, our Lite Program lets you have 2 movies out at a time for a flat monthly fee of $13.95.
Better than rental at some places (Score:1)
Re:My requirement -- deliver porn to Utah! (Score:1)
Religion makes me sick!
netflix good, movie store bad ... (Score:1)
- ability to maintain an ongoing list of movies i want to see, and change the order at any time. whenever i think of a movie i just log on & add it to the list, at home or work!
- no more drives to the video store with the wife & kids & 30 minutes plus browsing ALL the titles to find the perfect one for tonight, while trying to keep the kids (ages 3 & 5) in line.
- no more worrying about late fees. just keep it 'til you're done using it!
- easy return - no extra trip to the store, just drop it in the mail.
with a delivery center nearby we can watch two movies/week, or 8/month, which is $1.50/movie for ANY title - a way better deal than the store, and far superior selection. of course we don't often watch that many movies so the cost/movie goes up, but given the savings in time & hastle i think it's well worth the cost!
Re:netflix good, movie store bad ... (Score:1)
You can alos change your paln on the fly. When I had 2 roommates we went up to 4 DVDs and with the 2 day turn around time we could watch about 25 movies a month. Now that I live alone I moved down to the 2 movie plan.
Three Words About Netflix... (Score:1)
if you like widescreen dvds, netflix rules. (Score:1)
besides, now that blockbuster is no longer stocking the widescreen versions of new releases, renting at blockbuster is not an option.
my only gripe with netflix when i started was that they didn't have any east coast warehouses... so my turn-around time was long. but about 2 months ago they opened up a warehouse in new york, and now my turn-around time is great (i'm in nj).
a few times dvds didn't arrive. i simply went to their site and indicated it and they automatically sent a replacement. no problem. i think you would have to have an inordinate number of lost dvds before they even questioned it.
thumbs up for netflix.
Satisfied netflix customer (Score:1)
1) Excellent selection w/ movies normally available. Many indy and non-mainstream titles. Blockbuster has about zero selection.
2) Convenience. No more wasted time wandering around the video store looking for something worthwhile. I have about 70 DVDs on my list currently. I would think that would last me for close to a year if it remained static. However, you constantly add more discs to your queue after rating movies you watch and getting more suggestions.
I saw someone post about getting a lot of email/spam from netflix after signing up. I have not received any email from them other than notification that they received movies I returned. Maybe they didn't opt-out.
If you rent a decent amount of movies a month it's well worth it. Even if you don't currently rent a lot, you may find that it's better to watch a movie that the shite that's currently on TV.
jason
jason
Changed our viewing habits (Score:1)
Other good things about using netflix is we don't always have to agree on movies to rent. I can rent movies she does not want to watch and vice versa and watch when I have time and she is doing something else. Also, we regularly were late returning movies to Blockbuster, so we figure we are saving money even if we only watch a few movies in a month. Our biggest month has been ~12 movies.
dvdovernight.com (Score:2)
I haven't had a problem receiving DVDs or sending them back. Though, I'm not sure why they are called dvdovernight when they aren't sent overnight.
Canada? (Score:1)
Re:Canada? (Score:2)
Q: Do you ship internationally?
A: Netflix currently does not rent DVDs outside of the United States with the exception of Puerto Rico, FPO and APO addresses.
Re:Canada? (Score:1)
:)
Credit Card Expiration (Score:1)
Re:Credit Card Expiration (Score:2)
Renting just movies or games too? (Score:1)
Psychology (Score:1)
My wife, however, doesn't like Netflix because she feels pressured to watch the movies as fast as possible to try to get her maximum money's worth out of it. When she sees the movies lying on the counter she feels like there's money going down the drain.
For the record, I don't really get my money's worth out of Netflix. Sometimes I watch the movies fast enough and sometimes I don't, but it gives me peace of mind not worrying about returning them.
The film selection overall is great. I kind of wish they had more selection on foreign language films, though. They have some, but it's not as extensive as I had hoped.
Not to be off-topic (Score:2)
I thought about using NetFlix for movie rental when they first "arrived" (pop-ups) but instead I looked around locally.
I found that the best place to get movies in fact isn't on-line and it's free.
I simply go down to my local library and get movies, nerdy ones for free and can re-new over the computer. If I am late at least on the return I know at least that my fee goes to the library.
"Pop" movies are there and better than ever DOCUMENTARIES
Of course I know I'm just lucky:
telnet://catalog.cincinnatilibrary.org/