Blockbuster changes prices and exchange policy

[MilesAhead]

Netflix customer

@copyless - you sure there ain't somethin' you failed to mention? Like maybe your dad is CEO of BB?

[jm1647]

NF dropped their price to match BB's price ( the on-line only subscription).

I still have both NF and BB 3@time plans. First NF did online movie viewing now BB just bought Movieflix to do the same. With the price wars between them I hope they continue because we as consumers benefit. I just hope they don't merge or anything like that, competition is great .

[wkisse]

And when I asked exactly how many in-store exchanges are allowed each month I got this "canned" response from their customer service department. They did not respond, just sent me this crap - Bye-bye Blockbuster, go to Hell!:

Hello William,

Thank you for contacting BLOCKBUSTER Online Customer Service.

I appreciate the time you have taken to write to us, William.

Like all retail businesses, we must periodically review our pricing structure. In introducing a wider range of subscription plans, we considered a number of factors including the number of in-store exchanges on a given account. We’re giving our most frequent renters like yourself the option of either continuing with unlimited in-store exchanges at a higher price point or moving to a plan where the number of in-store exchanges is fixed if you'd like to continue with the same rate.

We feel we are still delivering a great consumer value and encourage you to continue your membership by selecting one of the new plans we offer. You can find the details of what is available via "My Account" in the "Subscription Plan" area. Please remember that if you do not select one of the new plans we have to offer before your next regular billing date, we will not be automatically renewing your membership. Thank you very much for your inquiry.

Again, thank you very much for writing to us. We take feedbacks and suggestion seriously. Blockbuster is open to all of that to help improve our service and to be able to give a better help to you, our customers.

We will do our best to resolve this matter. For the mean time, please smile and enjoy your day.


Always glad to be of help,

Germiniano
Customer Care Associate
BLOCKBUSTER Online

[jm1647]

Well they !@#$% did it to me They jacked the price up on me

We have introduced a new pricing structure for our lineup of subscription plans.

As a result, the price of your current monthly plan, Unlimited Online DVDs up to 3 at a time plus unlimited in-store exchanges each month for $17.99, will increase to $24.99, effective August 31, 2007.

We will not automatically renew your subscription on your next billing date.

If you choose to continue, please select a new plan.

[katzdvd]

I just got that email yesterday. 6 bucks price hike at 1 shot is pretty steep, IMO. Maybe they should have thought this one thru a bit more...

It wouldn't take too much more for me to drop them; if they start the heavy throttling again, I will say goodbye, as it won't be worth it...

The throttling seems to occur more in the winter months for me, is it like that for you guys as well?

[Kabuchan]

Well they !@#$% did it to me They jacked the price up on me

Maybe they only do it to people who use both J/K

So sorry they did that to you. I would cancel them as fast as I could pick up a phone!

[jm1647]

I just got that email yesterday. 6 bucks price hike at 1 shot is pretty steep, IMO. Maybe they should have thought this one thru a bit more...

Mine would be a $7 hike, from $17.99 to $24.99 not including tax.

I got a hard head , I sent an email asking why I was singled out for a price increase and others were not. The email they sent leads ya to believe all subscribers got the price increase. It seems it was the truth posted at ihateblockbuster.com about 25% of TA users getting the price increase. Well if they only have a million TA subscribers (and they have a lot more) that's a least 250,000 people getting the price increase. There is power in numbers. I'm looking forward to the class action suit

Next week I call Action News, my Attorney General and the Better Business Bureau for a start

[BR7]

Go get em jm

[katzdvd]

Next week I call Action News, my Attorney General and the Better Business Bureau for a start

Let us know how that turns out!

Yeah, I miscalculated (I was tired) it is a $7 increase, worse than I thought!

[jm1647]

In response to my asking why I received the $7 increase and others did not

Thanks for contacting BLOCKBUSTER Online Customer Care.

I deeply apologize for the inconvenience this has caused you. Like all retail businesses, we must periodically review our products and services structure. In introducing a wider range of subscription plans, we considered a number of factors related to online memberships including in-store activity on a given account. We’re giving our most frequent renters like yourself the option of either continuing with limited in-store exchanges at a the same price point or moving to a new plan if you'd like to continue your unlimited exchanges and agree to a higher price point. Unfortunately, eCoupons are no longer available.

We feel we are still delivering a great consumer value and encourage you continue with the new terms or consider one of the new plans we offer. You can find the details of other plans that are available via "My Account" in the "Subscription Plan" area. If you make no changes online or we don't hear from you, please remember that the changes mentioned will take effect on your regular monthly billing date following August 30th, 2007. Thank you very much for your inquiry.

Notice the frequent renters and instore activiity and no ecoupons

Why don't they just say you were not profitable to us.

Sounds like pure bullsh1t to me

[katzdvd]

Why don't they just say you were not profitable to us.

Oh, they have to put the "politically correct spin" on it!

Same old corporate BS...You'd think we would all be used to it by now, since you can't fight it...

We feel we are still delivering a great consumer value

[copyless]

Well I did recieve the e-mail Fri. saying I could keep the same 3 movie online rental, with 5 instore exchanges per month for 17.99, or change to the 24.99 plan that is 3 online rentals and unlimited instore exchanges. But I would have to tell them I wanted to stay with them because they would not automatically renew it.

I will change to the 24.99 plan, since I have 3 BB stores within 5 miles of my house and I am able to go by one at any time. Even though I do not like the price increase, for me it is still a good deal, since I did some figuring yesterday, and it turns out that for me it is still less than a dollar a movie. So I am able to see the movie, so I know whether or not to purchase it.

jm, thanks for posting the response, since I could not find any info on the e-coupon, and I was curious about that. I like that since I would use it for games instead of movies, since they are like 9.00 to rent.

[katzdvd]

Even though I do not like the price increase, for me it is still a good deal, since I did some figuring yesterday, and it turns out that for me it is still less than a dollar a movie.

That part is true, but as soon as a better deals comes along, BB will be history for me...

My local library has rentals for very close to $1.00, except the new releases are higher, so that is one option...

[jamoskeag3]

JM,
Sorry to hear you go hit with the price increase. I thought I did a lot of in store exchanges, but apparently I did not hit their "price point," since they did not increase my plans cost. (Im on the 2 at a time plan, with unlimited exchanges).
Id love to know what the magic number is.
Also, I wonder if the price increase was geared to those on the 3 at a time plan??

[jm1647]

@jamos - I am on the 3@time plan

By the email they sent you in your first post it looks like they are hitting the 2@time people also.They list the 2@time plan now with only 3 in store exchanges per month for $14.99 and no mention of 2@time with unlimited in store exchanges. What price are they still charging you now?