ANOTHER Blockbuster.com Rate Increase
 

I have the 1 at-a-time unlimited, with 2 in-store exchanges per month plan. Just received a notice that with my monthly payment due in 2 weeks, my rate will increase from $9.99 to $11.99 per month.

Just went over to Netflix and see their comparable plans are cheaper comparatively (1 unlimited is $8.99 and 2 unlimited is $13.99).

I just got an email saying my rate is going from $21.99 to $29.99 on or around December 27. It's the exact same plan just $8 more. Looks like I am canceling next Wed. after I trade in my latest rentals and pick up 2 new releases.

Bob

Jan. 1st, Blockbuster will amazingly announce a $21.99 plan. :lol:

Ohhhh, I don't miss renting from them.

bumping me from $17.99 (3 out, Total Access u/l exchanges, 2 movie/game coupons) to $19.99.

I dont really care, I remember when I first joined the service and it was $19.99 for 3 out and the 2 coupons.

how do you have this deal? i am paying 21.99 for 2 at a time with unlimited swaps and there raising it to 29.99 thats the stupidest thing ever looks like netflix here i come.

The new CEO hates the online service and must think this will drive people into the stores. His thinking must be: "They'll see the price of $35 for online or $30 for 2 at a time in-store, and they'll come flocking in!" Too bad they'll all just be going to NF...

Anyone know what the 17.99 unlimited plan with 5 in-store exchanges will become? My guess is 24.99 but I'm not sticking around to find out.

The new Blockbuster CEO is putting way too much value on the in-store exchanges. Their selection is mostly crap for the newer releases and their employees are usually rude (from my experience). Oh well. The CEO might want to go take a basic economics class.

I'm on the 3 out/5 exchanges and getting bumped by $2. That's not too bad so I'll probably keep it. Any higher and I probably would have dumped it though.

Well, It looks like I am canceling my 2nd free month trail on the 27th. Seems like all of their plans are going up $2.

I'm on the 3 at a time by mail only plan. No word yet on a rate increase for me.

Increase in rates and decrease in services. See you all at Netflix real soon.

Im on 3 at a time with unlimited exchanges and 1 coupon a month plan. My plan is going from 17.99 to 19.99. So not too much of a hike for me...

Same here, 3 out, unlimited in-store swaps, and 1 coupon. I'm on a pre-paid plan right now, but the email said in March when it ends, I am bumped up to 19.99.

I just sent an email of complaint to Blockbuster -- it wasn't that long ago they reduced services (my in-store exchanges went from unlimited to 3/month) and now they're raising prices? Ridiculous. I'll probably end up moving to a smaller plan, so they're getting even less of my money. But so many stores around me have closed that the in-store service isn't that convenient any more.

Will the new CEO will finally get the message when all of the pissed off subscribers cancel their accounts and continue to avoid their poorly run brick and mortar stores?

I'm thinking of switching my three at time unlimited to the mail only plan since I haven't set foot in their brick and mortar stores for several months.

Some people posted they still get the coupon for the free game/movie rental each month. Is this true? They took mine away a few months ago and I've been a member for 2 years.

I'm getting bumped, but they took away my movie/game coupons without notice a few months ago AND I only get 5 exchanges a month .. how are you still on the plan you are? :(

Grrrr

"your monthly subscription fee will change from $24.99 to $34.99."

I have the 3 at a time unlimited store exchanges.
Looks like I'm going to have to make a copy of my 900+ movies in my queue and look at going to netflix now.

Netflix. :wave:

I just got the email today, I had 1 out at a time unlimited in store. 9.99 to 11.99 and they send me freaking email about it 1 week before my billing date? thanks pricks!

They already took away my coupons. how can a company be run so shitty?

Yeah, took away my coupons and raised my fee $2. Not really worth that much to me, TBH. Cancelled my subscription today.

Wow I'm glad I cancelled after the first rate/plan changes they made. What a piece of fucking shit company.

Well, they clearly weren't profitable and these free in-store rentals must be eating away even more at their bottom line (unless the increased candy sales make up for it, which I doubt). I've never been to blockbuster more than this year, but I haven't spent a penny in their store.

I'm at the 17.99 to 19.99 "upgrade" which is still within reason, though the timing of the announcement was a little short. No way I would stay with them if I had a plan that was raised by 10 bucks, though.

I also got jacked with my coupons... for those who still have them, how long have you been members?

I've just dodged an awful lot of bullets I guess. Plus, I'm probably like a charter member or something.

I have the same deal, I was one of the 1st to sign up about 3 years ago.

$19.99 a month I can live with, any more and I would have cancelled. If the price is $25 or more, then I would buy two movies a month and keep them forever.

Glad BB "expelled" my account last spring...sounds like it's done nothing but get worse :) Anyone else who was a "heavy user" (avg 6 in mail/6 in store per week) get the boot in the past year?

Psst. don't let BB online know... But I just reactivated my Netflix account & on Jan 1st or 2nd will be my last time in their store.

Cancelled. 2nd change in my plan in the past 3 months. My business will be appreciated elsewhere. On principle alone I find there practices to be awful towards customers.

I contacted BB and asked for a response regarding the change. Here is their answer.


Thanks for contacting BLOCKBUSTER Online Customer Care.

Our goal is to strike the right balance between providing great value to our subscribers and getting a fair return for the company and our shareholders. We want to provide a variety of subscription plans to meet the needs of all our customers, both in-store and online. It's important for us to give consumers the most convenient access to media entertainment, whether that’s through our stores or by mail, and are dedicated to doing that with flexible plans and pricing.

We've reviewed our pricing structure and have found that to get a better balance of providing great value for Total Access subscribers while still making it affordable for us, as of December 27, 2007, we have restructured the prices of our Total Access subscription plans.

Please note that we're not changing any plan benefits; you'll continue to get all the same great benefits and value from Total Access. Of course, you're always free to change your plan.


... not changing plan benefits? oh they most certainly are. I lost my in-store coupon. That, to me, is a change of benefits.

I've not received a coupon in a long time either. This is the second rate hike in the past couple months and mine's jumping to $34.99 a month, so I'm jumping to Netflix. There will be a pretty big exodus I'm sure, Netflix will sure love the business. BB is kidding themselves if they think this rate increase is going to help them get people in store. Their in store rental prices are as high as matinee movie rates are, regardless of the age of the movie. This will do more damage than good for them.

Weird... I just checked my queue, and a ton of titles that I know they used to have are now set to "Coming Soon." Anyone else experience this? I was wondering why they were sending titles so far down my queue.

Yea, they've been doing that for a while now.

same here.

Well, they just screwed themselves out of a new subscriber. i was going to ask my parents to pay for a month of service for me as a birthday present. Of course, Dec 27th happens to be that precise day. Guess I'll just ask for a couple of DVDs instead. Or maybe some cheap PC game

You can try to use a 1 month trial code, if it is still active.

Here is an interesting quote from BB (comes from a FW thread)

"Spokeswoman Karen Raskopf also declined to disclose which current customers will see price increases other than saying, 'We are taking into account the profitability of individual subscribers.'"

So, it seems that only SOME of the Total Rewards members are being hit with the change. How is this legal? Didn't they get into trouble before for throttling (and keeping new releases from some member due to higher program use)?

I thought that was Netflix?

Also, keep in mind when comparing to Netflix plans, Blockbuster by mail only is as cheap or cheaper (1 is $8.99, 2 $13.99, and 3 is $15.99 ($1 cheaper than NF)). And you can still drop those at a store to be checked in so a new one goes out quick. It's not the huge advantage of exchanging that there was before, and since many report that NF site and selection is superior, this isn't the best for everyone, but a dollar is a dollar, and quick turn around by dropping at a store.

But how is Blockbuster's "picking and choosing" who gets charge more and who doesn't any different in the end? My 3 at-a-time (unlimited exchanges) netted me 9 movies this cycle. And only 8 the cycle before that. How does that red-flag me for a rate increase?

My calls and emails to BB only get the same respose - "we don't know the method they are using to determine who gets a rate increase only, and who gets a rate increase with a reduction of benefits."

Hmm... if they are indeed picking and choosing who gets favorable rates based on profitability, then I think I am indeed done with them, regardless of whether I'm affected. If they're just saying that different price tiers had different price increases, then I'm ok with that.

I'm debating between Netflix and Blockbuster Online for my 2008 movie experience. Obviously reading this thread isn't steeering me toward Blockbuster :) The only benefit to me is the in-store exchanges because there are a few Blockbusters near me but since I have Blu-Ray and HD-DVD, their selection is pretty poor.

How does the in-store exchange work, basically you can just, for instance, exchange 5 times in-store per month.. so it's basically 5 store rentals per month for the monthly fee plus unlimited by mail as long as you only have 3 out a time.

I'm having a hard time debating whether that's worth a bit extra cost (Blockbuster: 3 out at a time, 5 in store exchanges for $19.99 a month, Netflix 3 out at a time $16.99 a month).

Any thoughts from users of both? Sorry for the thread hi-jack but I didn't want to start a new thread and get yelled at :) I also fear Blockbuster raising rates AGAIN, heh. Has Netflix raised prices any time recently?