RSS FeedTotal Access: Not As Good As It Was, But Still Better Than Netflix (Slightly)
Blockbuster raised prices for their Total Access online rental service around the end of July 2007, and so far there hasn't been much backlash at the store level. I was expecting complaints every day, with people getting mad and throwing things at me and spitting in my face, because most people never achieve a level of maturity in which they can simply speak to someone. Whatever. So far, I've had only a handful of complaints, and mostly it's people saying that it sucks that prices were raised but they switched to the higher priced plan anyway.
But online? It's everywhere.
Get a rundown of the price change plus why I think all this hoopla is unnecessary after the break.
But online? It's everywhere.
Get a rundown of the price change plus why I think all this hoopla is unnecessary after the break.
I'm Sorry, That Is an Invalid Complaint
I've decided to write up a little rant/opinion piece about the various problems people seem to have with Blockbuster's Online Rental service, Total Access. Alright, I work at Blockbuster Video, so of COURSE there is some bias here, and yes, I know this stuff inside and out so I can see how someone not too familiar with it all can get frustrated. But I hear these complaints every day and just wish the people that opened their mouths would instead just think a little bit about it. For more deranged thoughts on what makes me want to behead (alright, so I know there's been nothing deranged yet, but the article is still young, yes?), check after the break.
Why Rent Movies?
I don't normally write opinion pieces or personal articles because I feel it's unprofessional. Of course nobody reads the articles here anyway, so I thought I might write something up on the long-baffling subject of why people rent movies.
I work in a video store; a major chain. I have worked there most of my adult life, which is nearly 4 years. And in this short amount of time, I've found that people, for some odd reason, just do not understand movies, or anything surrounding the subject, including their worth.
People often ask me what a good movie would be to rent; please don't. Don't ask and don't rent. It's not worth it. The cost of renting a movie is nearly five dollars where I live, and I know this is by far not a rich town. But people put up with this. They complain and whine and sometimes get really mad, but they still rent movies.
Of course Netflix has made this a much better situation, and Blockbuster Total Access is even better since you can switch the movies in the store. The averages per movie for plans such as these are less than a dollar usually, which is really great if you like watching movies. And yet people still drop five dollar bill after five dollar bill at rental stores.
I find that buying movies is a much more cost effective approach to the whole situation. Best Buy, Target, and Circuit City are always having sales on DVD's, and sometimes mere weeks after a release the movie will be less then ten dollars. To own. The cost of renting two movies to buy one. And often times, buying can be as cheap as renting.
I've told people this. I've told them to check out Amazon or Deepdiscount for a particular movie. But people still rent.
I can see the logic to it: it's been ingrained into people's minds that a DVD is upwards of $20 to buy, and with the over-used (yet often wrong) phrase of "you get what you pay for", people tend to think buying cheap DVD's is a risky business. And so, in light of this, I can see why $5 seems a good deal, especially since you aren't sure you'll like the movie enough to own it. Also, newer releases ARE often $15-$20, so I can see where impulsive people might want it "right now", and so a rental sounds appealing. And, let's face it, movie nights are wonderful things, and the idea of picking up a special one time movie makes it much more exciting. Getting the movie, the snacks, the food, the drinks - and then the immediate payoff of watching it with friends - sounds great. I suppose in these instance one could say the extra money spent is for the experience, and in these rare cases, it makes a little sense. But these are not the renters I'm talking about.
I'm talking repeat offenders here. People that will rent movie after movie after movie. People that rent at least five movies a week. It sickens me, to be honest.
Some people will buy an in store promo offer, something that lessens the cost overall, but usually not by much. But I suppose people just don't know the value of a dollar; maybe my town is richer than I thought? Maybe I am just too much of a penny pincher? Maybe the un-bathed, loud, obnoxious and uncouth members of this small town aren't really blowing another welfare check on rentals; maybe they're high payed lawyers and doctors? Maybe.
Point being, if you want movies, rent online or not at all.
I work in a video store; a major chain. I have worked there most of my adult life, which is nearly 4 years. And in this short amount of time, I've found that people, for some odd reason, just do not understand movies, or anything surrounding the subject, including their worth.
People often ask me what a good movie would be to rent; please don't. Don't ask and don't rent. It's not worth it. The cost of renting a movie is nearly five dollars where I live, and I know this is by far not a rich town. But people put up with this. They complain and whine and sometimes get really mad, but they still rent movies.
Of course Netflix has made this a much better situation, and Blockbuster Total Access is even better since you can switch the movies in the store. The averages per movie for plans such as these are less than a dollar usually, which is really great if you like watching movies. And yet people still drop five dollar bill after five dollar bill at rental stores.
I find that buying movies is a much more cost effective approach to the whole situation. Best Buy, Target, and Circuit City are always having sales on DVD's, and sometimes mere weeks after a release the movie will be less then ten dollars. To own. The cost of renting two movies to buy one. And often times, buying can be as cheap as renting.
I've told people this. I've told them to check out Amazon or Deepdiscount for a particular movie. But people still rent.
I can see the logic to it: it's been ingrained into people's minds that a DVD is upwards of $20 to buy, and with the over-used (yet often wrong) phrase of "you get what you pay for", people tend to think buying cheap DVD's is a risky business. And so, in light of this, I can see why $5 seems a good deal, especially since you aren't sure you'll like the movie enough to own it. Also, newer releases ARE often $15-$20, so I can see where impulsive people might want it "right now", and so a rental sounds appealing. And, let's face it, movie nights are wonderful things, and the idea of picking up a special one time movie makes it much more exciting. Getting the movie, the snacks, the food, the drinks - and then the immediate payoff of watching it with friends - sounds great. I suppose in these instance one could say the extra money spent is for the experience, and in these rare cases, it makes a little sense. But these are not the renters I'm talking about.
I'm talking repeat offenders here. People that will rent movie after movie after movie. People that rent at least five movies a week. It sickens me, to be honest.
Some people will buy an in store promo offer, something that lessens the cost overall, but usually not by much. But I suppose people just don't know the value of a dollar; maybe my town is richer than I thought? Maybe I am just too much of a penny pincher? Maybe the un-bathed, loud, obnoxious and uncouth members of this small town aren't really blowing another welfare check on rentals; maybe they're high payed lawyers and doctors? Maybe.
Point being, if you want movies, rent online or not at all.
Gamez? Flix? Cheap? Yes.
It looks like gameznflix.com is having a rather amazing sale right now on their membership plans. Simply head over to this page (or go to the website, hit sign up, "I have a coupon", and enter code "emmys") and you get a pretty nice reduction on the plans.
1 Out at a Time / $8.99 each month
2 Out at a Time / $12.99 each month
3 Out at a Time / $16.99 each month
1 Out at a Time / $6.75 each month
2 Out at a Time / $9.75 each month
3 Out at a Time / $12.75 each month
3 @ a time for $12.75 a month? Very nice. 2 for $10 would be the obvious winner here though, since you can play one game while you wait for the other.
Although, reportedly there are a few downsides, such as NO DS game availability and sometimes lengthy wait periods on games and movies. But it IS an online rental service, so what can you do, I suppose. That was a question, but I just made it into a statement.
[thanks cheapassgamer forums]
Original Pricing1 Out at a Time / $8.99 each month
2 Out at a Time / $12.99 each month
3 Out at a Time / $16.99 each month
With Coupon...1 Out at a Time / $6.75 each month
2 Out at a Time / $9.75 each month
3 Out at a Time / $12.75 each month
3 @ a time for $12.75 a month? Very nice. 2 for $10 would be the obvious winner here though, since you can play one game while you wait for the other.
Although, reportedly there are a few downsides, such as NO DS game availability and sometimes lengthy wait periods on games and movies. But it IS an online rental service, so what can you do, I suppose. That was a question, but I just made it into a statement.
[thanks cheapassgamer forums]