Blockbuster DVD Rental Plans

Blockbuster has joined the online DVD rental game. Face by the increased competition of rival Netflix, Blockbuster saw their customers and profits going away. So in 2004 Blockbuster formed their own version of online DVD rental. It has grown to over 1.5 million users and has evolved several different plans to meet the needs of all different types of consumers.

The first type of online DVD rental offering is called “Blockbuster by Mail.” This is purely based on online DVD rental. All the plans offer unlimited DVDs through the mail. Plans start at $8.99 per month for one DVD at a time, then $13.99 per month for two DVDs at a time, and lastly $15.99 for three DVD’s at a time. You are not allowed to access stores to rent DVD’s on these plans and if you do, you will have to pay independently for in-store rentals.

The newest online DVD rental plans are call “Total Access.” The name is used to describe the ability for customer to take advantage of Blockbuster’s thousands of participating local locations. As a member you are allowed to do in-store exchanges. Plans vary with six different options. You can have one, two, or three DVD’s at a time, but the major different in the number of allowed in-store exchanges. Similar to Blockbuster by Mail you are entitled to unlimited DVDs through the mail. The low end of Blockbuster Total Access plan costs 11.99 per month. You will get one DVD at a time with unlimited DVDs through the mail. You are also allowed 2 in-store exchanges per month for free. The most expensive plan costs 34.99 and allows for three DVDs at a time with unlimited through the mail and unlimited in-store exchanges. This is the grand daddy of movie watching.

The competitive advantage for Blockbuster is the thousands of locations throughout the US. This allows for something Netflix could never compete with, in-store exchanges. Now, not all Blockbuster locations participate with in-store exchanges and they do not have to because many locations are franchises. You do have to provide the mailing envelope with your mailed DVD to the store so they can send it back. The movies you do get from the store are subject to time restrictions meaning there is due date to return the movie. You could incur late fees if the in-store movie is not returned by the due date. Furthermore, in-store rentals must be returned to the store. They cannot be mailed back.

As a consumer you need to know your movie watching habits. If you are a movie buff the high plans could suit you best. The average person needs to consider the benefit of having movies delivered to your door and how this could increase your movie watching before choosing a plan.