Blockbuster offering free rentals to Netflix subscribers

[LASERMOVIES]

Just ran across this article today. I will have to check if my local Blockbuster is partcipating in the offer. Unfortunately I've thrown out all my address flaps from Netflix.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/061205/datu010.html?.v=83

BLOCKBUSTER Gives Early Holiday Gift of BLOCKBUSTER Total Access(TM) to Netflix Subscribers
Tuesday December 5, 9:00 am ET
From Dec. 5 Through Dec. 21 Netflix Renters Can Sample the Benefits of BLOCKBUSTER Total Access(TM) By Exchanging Their Online Rental Envelope Flaps for Free In-Store Movie Rentals From BLOCKBUSTER


DALLAS, Dec. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Just in time for the holidays, Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI - News, BBI.B - News) is giving Netflix subscribers the opportunity to experience the best of BLOCKBUSTER Total Access(TM), the new program that gives online movie renters the option of returning their DVDs in the mail or exchanging them at a participating BLOCKBUSTER® store for free in-store movie rentals. From Dec. 5 through Dec. 21 current Netflix members can exchange the tear-off address flaps of their Netflix rental envelopes and receive on-the-spot free movie rentals from Blockbuster for every flap they bring in to any of the more than 5,000 participating BLOCKBUSTER stores.

"This holiday season, BLOCKBUSTER Total Access is giving Netflix customers the gift of immediate movie gratification," said John Antioco, Blockbuster Chairman and CEO. "We want these movie fans to experience getting the movies they want without the wait so they never have to be without a movie, just like BLOCKBUSTER Total Access subscribers."

Netflix subscribers who wish to participate in the program can tear off the address flaps they normally discard when mailing back their DVDs and turn them in at any participating Blockbuster store to receive a free in-store movie rental. They can continue to bring in their envelope flaps and exchange them for free in-store rentals for the duration of the promotion. Netflix customers do not need to subscribe to Blockbuster's online program to participate. To utilize the free store rentals, Netflix customers do need to have a Blockbuster store membership, which they can sign up for on the spot. Store membership is free.

"Many movie rental decisions are made within a few hours of the actual viewing experience, and BLOCKBUSTER Total Access is the only online rental service that can respond to spontaneous rental needs through a retail network as broad as the 5,000 participating BLOCKBUSTER stores nationwide," said Antioco. "We think avid movie fans, including those currently using another online service, will appreciate the flexibility our online rental program provides."

The name on the Netflix tear-off flaps must match the name on the holder's Blockbuster membership account. In-store movie rentals are subject to store rental terms, including due dates, and must be returned to the store from which they were rented.

Netflix subscribers, as well as movie lovers who do not currently subscribe to an online rental service, can experience the full benefits of BLOCKBUSTER Total Access by signing up for a free two-week trial, available for a limited time at http://www.blockbuster.com or in participating BLOCKBUSTER stores. Existing subscribers to Blockbuster's online rental service were automatically upgraded to BLOCKBUSTER Total Access at no extra charge when the program was launched Nov. 1, 2006.

BLOCKBUSTER Total Access is a movie rental program that gives online customers the option of returning their DVDs through the mail or exchanging them at more than 5,000 participating BLOCKBUSTER stores for free in-store movie rentals. When subscribers return their online rentals to a participating store, the store check-in process automatically initiates the process of shipping of the next available movie(s) in the subscriber's rental queue, whether they take advantage of the in-store exchange or not. The program, available only from Blockbuster, gives Total Access subscribers immediate access to a free rental in-store while also speeding up the arrival of the next online rental in their queue.

With more than 60,000 titles to choose from online, Blockbuster delivers DVDs right to subscribers' mailboxes in pre-paid postage return envelopes. There are no due dates or late fees with movies rented from Blockbuster's online rental service, and subscription plans start as low as $5.99 a month, with the $17.99 three-out unlimited movie plan being the most popular.

[Xbox69]

Netflix subscribers who wish to participate in the program can tear off the address flaps they normally discard when mailing back their DVDs and turn them in at any participating Blockbuster store to receive a free in-store movie rental. They can continue to bring in their envelope flaps and exchange them for free in-store rentals for the duration of the promotion. Netflix customers do not need to subscribe to Blockbuster's online program to participate. To utilize the free store rentals, Netflix customers do need to have a Blockbuster store membership, which they can sign up for on the spot. Store membership is free.

Wow. I must have a stack of these flaps lying around from past Netflix accounts. Is it finally gonna pay to be a "pack rat"? ;) Who's laughing at my OCD now?! :lol:

[EdTheRipper]

That's pretty cool. If my local Blockbuster didn't have such a lousy selection, I'd have to take part in this.

[Seantn]

Wow, Blockbuster is really going full force towards trying to destroy Netflix, and I don't see why it won't work.

[runner001]

xbox69, you cracked me up!

[yashan]

Wow. I must have a stack of these flaps lying around from past Netflix accounts. Is it finally gonna pay to be a "pack rat"? ;) Who's laughing at my OCD now?! :lol:


I'm in the same boat as you except I've never gotten around to shredding them. The question is... do I trust BB to properly discard my address labels so they don't get harvested or should I forgo the promo and just shred them myself?

[FILMCZY]

That's pretty cool. If my local Blockbuster didn't have such a lousy selection, I'd have to take part in this.

Agreed. I think I've rented everything at my local BB. You can only watch so many DTV horror flicks...though my BB has an R-rated version of a XXX feature. I think the running time is 17 minutes...!!!

[scottp120]

No thanks. I'm happy with Netflix and not going to try Blockbuster no matter what.

[Jackson_Browne]

No thanks. I'm happy with Netflix and not going to try Blockbuster no matter what.

Hello...it's free!!!

[GetrDone]

I love blockbuster online and have never had any problems except one week I didn't have any discs sent to me, one email to them about it and they quickly emailed me vouchers for 3 free in store rentals for my troubles. I love the new look and how I can return my movies I get online back to my local store and get free rentals for each one I return. It's basically unlimited free in store rentals as long as I keep renting online.

[Draven]

No thanks. I'm happy with Netflix and not going to try Blockbuster no matter what.

Well, ok. But you can still be a Netflix customer and take advantage of free movies from Blockbuster for a few weeks. I don't exactly see the downside of "free video rentals" but to each their own.

[BravesMG]

I took advantage of this deal today, it went very smoothly. Remembering to return these movies is going to kill me, and I'll probably pay more than a month's fees in late fees alone, but I just can't pass up free movies.

[HE Pennypacker]

Wow, just two days ago I disposed of over 200 Netflix address flaps. That's a shame, no?

[N2DVD]

I'll give it a shot. I've got a couple of labels around here someplace...

[cornflakeguy]

Does BB.com offer HD-DVD's like Netflix.

I can't seem to track down any on BB.com

[N2DVD]

I took a couple of flaps over to my Blockbuster last night, rented Miami Vice and Accepted. They had some HD titles. I was SHOCKED that there were so many Miami Vice copies on the shelf. Back when I was a regular customer, they never had current titles in (less than a week old...)

That said, Netflix is still the best bargain for me.

[crystalrubi]

Too bad I cancelled my Netflix last Feb :( (they were taking too long to send me my stuff) but in their defense I do live in a lil town in South Texas. I tried Blockbusters online rental but even online their selection was kinda crappy. Maybe I should retry Netflix?

[digitalfreaknyc]

Does BB.com offer HD-DVD's like Netflix.

I can't seem to track down any on BB.com

yes.

[IG80Nate]

Waaaaaaaaaaait a sec.

You guys shred your netflix flap things?

Now I'm worried I should be doing that, I just put them in the recycling bin.

I'm very against junk mail- I wonder if I should start shredding?

[GIjon213]

I just called my local BB, and they said it is only one rental per account. :(

[LASERMOVIES]

I just called my local BB, and they said it is only one rental per account. :(

The press release gives the impression there was no limit, and at least one person in this thread was able to get more than one rental. I got a new rental flap yesterday and plan on visiting my local Blockbuster today to see if they are participating in the offer. If they are I will ask if there is a limit. Looks like this may vary depending on the individual Blockbuster store.

[CardiffGiant]

Waaaaaaaaaaait a sec.

You guys shred your netflix flap things?

Now I'm worried I should be doing that, I just put them in the recycling bin.

I'm very against junk mail- I wonder if I should start shredding?
I was thinking the same thing. I shred a lot of stuff, but I haven't gone as far as shredding my Netflix envelopes. Thanks to the OP for posting this, but I don't want BB to start sending me stuff in the mail. I get enough junk mail as it is.

[Peep]

The press release gives the impression there was no limit, and at least one person in this thread was able to get more than one rental. I got a new rental flap yesterday and plan on visiting my local Blockbuster today to see if they are participating in the offer. If they are I will ask if there is a limit. Looks like this may vary depending on the individual Blockbuster store.

I think this may vary per store, especially franchises. The press release clarly says "They can continue to bring in their envelope flaps ..."

[LASERMOVIES]

Just returned from BB and the employee I talked with said it is one free rental per Netflix envelope flap. She got the information directly off a paper they had about the promotion. She said if I bring in another Netflix flap I can get another free rental. I have 2 more rentals due tomorrow which means 2 more free ones. I wish I still had some extra flaps around but unfortunately they got shredded and thrown in the trash.

[Kal Varnsen]

I might have some flaps from two years ago, has Netflix changed their flaps? Will I be able to use them?

[filmsoncon]

Here's the email I sent to Blockbuster corporate today about my attempt to take advantage of this offer:

I am a Netflix customer who occasionally uses Blockbuster-- mostly for PV rentals, but sometimes for rentals. I was intrigued by the Total Access program and considering giving it a shot when I heard about the deal to trade in Netflix address flaps for free in-store rentals. I decided I'd give it a shot.

When I went to my neighborhood Blockbuster yesterday afternoon, I asked Steve, the assistant manager, if their store was taking part in the promotion. He told me that he was pretty sure they were, but wasn't sure how to redeem them, and asked if I could come back in an hour (!) when his manager would be in.

I thought it was a little silly that I should have to do this--if it's a store promotion, then all employees (especially the assistant manager) should know how to redeem it. I live in New York and don't have a car, so I decided another four-block round trip in the freezing cold wasn't quite in the cards for that evening.

So, today, I called ahead to the store to make sure that they were taking part in the promotion. The young lady who answered assured me that they were, and told me to come on in. So I left for work early, went out of my way to the store, picked out a couple of discs, and guess who came up to check me out? My good buddy, Steve, who apparently stil didn't know how to redeem the address flaps. He fumbled around with them for a while, mumbled to himself, and then (I'm not making this up) AGAIN asked me to come back in an hour when his manager would be in. I told him to scratch it and left in a pretty foul mood.

It seems that the purpose of both your Total Acccess program and this promotion is to get people into the store and remind them of the convenience and immediacy of the neighborhood video store. If I've interpreted this correctly, then my experience at this store over the last few days has shown it to be a spectacular failure. I've now wasted a considerable amount of time and energy in your store, and have absolutely nothing to show for it.

So, thanks to a particularly incompetant employee, this promotion has not only caused you to NOT gain a Total Access customer, but to LOSE an occasional customer completely. I will never set foot in a Blockbuster store again. You see, it's not just the larger selection and convenience of home delivery that makes people prefer Netflix to a neighborhood Blockbuster. It's that we don't have to deal with your employees.

Best of luck.

[nycbrent]

I just called my local BB, and they said it is only one rental per account. :(

Just saw this thread and had to dig in my trash, but found four "rental flaps" and Blockbuster honored all four at once this evening. Had to sign up for a BB account, so I'll make use of it and go back again later this week when I have more flaps (and before I accrue late fees on these four). :)

[dtcarson]

I've got a couple from last week's rentals, maybe I'll swing by and try it out. As always, however, the challenge is finding stuff instock that I want to watch.
And it seems we run the gamut--from keeping 200 return flaps, to shredding them. I just toss mine, or did until I heard about this promo.

[sotra]

Is this really worth it? I just use Redbox for free DVD rentals (red box codes.com) - one free rental per code per credit card. So, if you've got 5 credit cards and 5 codes that should cover you for a while.

[SunMonkey]

Is this really worth it? I just use Redbox for free DVD rentals (red box codes.com) - one free rental per code per credit card. So, if you've got 5 credit cards and 5 codes that should cover you for a while.
I love RedBox (and the free codes), but a lot of the country does not have them.

[dtcarson]

In my case, I only have one actual credit card, my Paypal debit card, my bank debit card, and my corporate AmEx. And of course I have never in my life seen a RedBox.
If someone's already a NF member, I'd definitely say it's worth it, because odds are they are also a BB member [even though they may not rent from them], and even if not, odds are there's at least 1 BB near them.

[DVDude!]

My girlfriend has a Netflix account. I told her about this and she successfully used two yesterday on the same visit to Blockbuster. Thanks LASERMOVIES. We would've missed this if not for you.

On another note, now we remember why we don't rent from Blockbuster. It's a royal pain in the ass to go through all those DVDs in store--only to find out that the one you want isn't in stock or they don't even carry it. We were in there for 30 minutes trying to find two movies to rent.

[FILMCZY]

Here's the email I sent to Blockbuster corporate today about my attempt to take advantage of this offer:

I am a Netflix customer who occasionally uses Blockbuster-- mostly for PV rentals, but sometimes for rentals. I was intrigued by the Total Access program and considering giving it a shot when I heard about the deal to trade in Netflix address flaps for free in-store rentals. I decided I'd give it a shot.

When I went to my neighborhood Blockbuster yesterday afternoon, I asked Steve, the assistant manager, if their store was taking part in the promotion. He told me that he was pretty sure they were, but wasn't sure how to redeem them, and asked if I could come back in an hour (!) when his manager would be in.

I thought it was a little silly that I should have to do this--if it's a store promotion, then all employees (especially the assistant manager) should know how to redeem it. I live in New York and don't have a car, so I decided another four-block round trip in the freezing cold wasn't quite in the cards for that evening.

So, today, I called ahead to the store to make sure that they were taking part in the promotion. The young lady who answered assured me that they were, and told me to come on in. So I left for work early, went out of my way to the store, picked out a couple of discs, and guess who came up to check me out? My good buddy, Steve, who apparently stil didn't know how to redeem the address flaps. He fumbled around with them for a while, mumbled to himself, and then (I'm not making this up) AGAIN asked me to come back in an hour when his manager would be in. I told him to scratch it and left in a pretty foul mood.

It seems that the purpose of both your Total Acccess program and this promotion is to get people into the store and remind them of the convenience and immediacy of the neighborhood video store. If I've interpreted this correctly, then my experience at this store over the last few days has shown it to be a spectacular failure. I've now wasted a considerable amount of time and energy in your store, and have absolutely nothing to show for it.

So, thanks to a particularly incompetant employee, this promotion has not only caused you to NOT gain a Total Access customer, but to LOSE an occasional customer completely. I will never set foot in a Blockbuster store again. You see, it's not just the larger selection and convenience of home delivery that makes people prefer Netflix to a neighborhood Blockbuster. It's that we don't have to deal with your employees.

Best of luck.

This is the trend of ALL retail businesses now--incompetant employees--and it's exactly why I do most purchases online now. And to think their our future...scary...

[Richard Malloy]

On another note, now we remember why we don't rent from Blockbuster. It's a royal pain in the ass to go through all those DVDs in store--only to find out that the one you want isn't in stock or they don't even carry it. We were in there for 30 minutes trying to find two movies to rent.
There was some other promotion that Blockbuster ran some time ago that my wife thought was worth taking advantage of (I refuse to step foot inside). It supposedly involved "no late fees", which was odd, because my wife ended up paying late fees... but that's not the subject of this post...

So, she asked me to print out my Netflix queue so she could pick up some rentals for me. I gave her a list of the first 20 or so. Of those few titles on my list that Blockbuster actually had to rent, none were in stock. She came back with a trifling set of lousy mainstream titles that sat unwatched for quite some time as better titles rented from Netflix or purchased would get the nod for the evening's viewing. Boy, was she pissed off when she finally returned them.... late fees! She still swears to this day that the deal included "no late fees". Now, she refuses to set foot in a Blockbuster.

I hope you guys take serious advantage of this offer, but I suspect Blockbuster will end up taking advantage of you in some way. Make sure you read the fine print, and don't take anything at face value. Those of you who've been in the DVD game since the late 90s probably remember all the ways Blockbuster has tried and succeeded in screwing the consumer. For those who don't remember, be sure you don't learn the hard way. Pay close attention or your "free" rental may end up costing you a premium.

[Cisco Kid]

She came back with a trifling set of lousy mainstream titles that sat unwatched for quite some time as better titles rented from Netflix or purchased would get the nod for the evening's viewing. Boy, was she pissed off when she finally returned them.... late fees! She still swears to this day that the deal included "no late fees".

As far as I know, there are still "no late fees". The catch is that if you keep it more than 7 days, they'll charge you a $1.25 restocking fee. But even the 2-day rentals can be kept for several days.

I completely understand the lack of titles though! I ended up with Click and Pirates 2...bleh...but I guess you can't complain if it's free. It's a good way to see the titles you do NOT want to waste your queue on. One good thing I noticed is my BB has expanded their foreign/doc section and there are actually a few decent titles I wouldn't expect them to have.

I just found five flaps in my trash heap of a backseat so I'm gonna go cash in again today...

Great find, OP!!! None of my Netflix friends had heard of this...