Blockbuster tests higher DVD rental fee

[Hobarticus]

Company potentially reverses attempt to undercut Netflix

Updated: 7:09 p.m. ET May 18, 2005
NEW YORK - Blockbuster Inc. Wednesday said it has begun advertising a test fee of $18 for unlimited monthly DVD rentals, potentially reversing an earlier attempt to undercut rival Netflix Inc. on price.

The test started Monday and does not necessarily mean the top U.S. movie rental chain plans to adopt the new price, Blockbuster spokeswoman Jeri Anne Thomas said.

"We are a retail company, we test a lot of things," Thomas said. "We are testing $17.99, that is one of several tests."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7902427/

Too late for LBN...

Anyway, I saw this after reading posts in LBN about Wal-Mart rolling over and giving up to Netflix. Something to ponder before jumping the Netflix ship, for Blockbuster.

[DS1]

1. It's almost 5 bucks to rent a DVD for a couple days now

Which makes me think twice about it everytime I walk past a store

[Hobarticus]

3. This is for the Netflix-style service...

Not in-store rentals.

[DS1]

4. I read that

Just adding my comment on BB prices

[hippiechick]

2. I got a postcard from them yesterday announcing

$24.99 a month for 2-dvd's-at-a-time ... something like $27.99 for 3.

That's just too damn high, especially with summer here. There's no way people are gonna sit home and watch DVD's every night ...

[BigBearJohn]

5. I tried Blockbuster for a month. Netflix is MUCH better. Faster and

always has the movie I want. Everytime I tried to rent from Blockbuster, I would get "short wait"

[whistle]

6. No problem, I'm buying DVDs from Circuit city for $6.69 and own

...them. Blockbuster is now in a business concept that has passed it's peak marketing potential and will disappear.

[Lorien]

8. Circuit City gives 100% to the repugs

Best Buy and Costco give to the Democrats.

[whistle]

10. 666

[Lorien]

17. Whatever.

[whistle]

18. What if corporations were not allowed to give any contributions

....to any political candidate or party, nada, nothing, no cash, no special favors, no discounts, nothing. What would be the criteria then for buying from or boycotting a particular company?

[Swamp Rat]

7. I haven't been there in over 5 years

I will NEVER go there again. Plus, I can buy DVDs for less than half that price in the French Quarter.

[DinahMoeHum]

9. Screw Blockbuster. I rent DVDs and tapes from my library.

you can rent for free, unless you return them overdue, of course.

:evilgrin:

[sweetheart]

11. That's way to expensive, i use amazon postal rentals

I can keep 2 at a time, for unlimited time, and i just pop them in
the post to return them. Their catalog is FAR larger than blockbuster
with all the obscure ones as well... i'm very happy with it, and can
easily see such services putting blockbuster out of business.

I've not to make any more trips to "return" films, no late fees if i
can't get by for a coupla days... there's really no downside...
frankly i'm considering upping the amazon service to 3 at a time, 6
rentals a month for 10 quid (about 19 bucks).

[AndreaCG]

12. Amazon gives to Republicans too

And Netflicks just cut a deal with Wal-Mart despit their previously being a blue company.

[Hobarticus]

13. Netflix is blue, still...and welcome to DU!!!

This is one case where Wal-Mart lost when they tried to take over a market niche.

Wal-Mart gave up, and turned their customers over to Netflix. WM's current customers can subscribe for a year to Netflix, at Wal-Mart's prices. WM's service ends sometime in June.

All Netflix has to do in return, is have a banner on their site, reminding customers that they can buy DVDs at Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart is now OUT of the DVD-by-mail biz.

This is a victory for both Netflix-lovers and Wal-Mart haters.

[sweetheart]

16. really... oh!

Well, i'll have to shift business over to the UK service, i run
as well doing the same thing. Sad about amazon.. did not know.

Gosh, i need a special wallet-sized card of which retailers to
frequent and which to boycott.

[Walt Starr]

14. I dumped Netflix yesterday because it wasn't cost effective for me.

I was considering moving to Blockbuster, but now I won't. No movies by mail for mke as it is no longer cost effective.

[Rosco T.]

15. WalMart gave up it's DVD Rental business today.. turned it's customers ...

over to NETFLIX!