BlockBuster Online: Is it a Bust?

I am sure you have seen the commercials on TV for Block Buster online. If I did not already have Netflix's I would have tried it right away. But, I got an offer to get the full version of some software I wanted, free if I tried Block Buster online through trailpay.com. I couldn't pass that up.

I started my (not free) trial on Feb. 25 2007, and got the Total Access plan, three-at-a-time (unlimited) with one e-coupon a month for 17.??, the same as Netflix.com.

Another perk is instead of mailing the DVD back you can take them to a participating Block Buster Store for a free DVD or Game rental. You have to have a membership with the store to do that, and fallow the store rental policies. The free movie does not count towards as one of your movies being mail, so you should still get three or however many your plan has. I was not expecting to pay anything right then but blockbuster charged my debt card $10.98. There was nothing on the sign up page that said they were charging me, I found out days later when I was checking my account balance for something else. That was not cool.

Don't think just because a Block Buster store is on the website as a participating store, that it is. It may not even be open. I thought the one in my town was open and the website had as open. After I printed my e-coupon to use, I found the store had been closed since Oct. 2006. From the outside, passing by it looked open so I assumed it was. I assumed wrong. So, now all my e-coupons are worthless, along with being able to use the movie envelopes for free rentals. Make sure you have a Block Buster Store before you signup.

The same day I signed up, I filled my queue up so they could start sending movies right away. I waited and waited, for a week and a half when the first set of movies came in the mail. And there was only two. I sent them back in two days, still waiting for the third movie from the first set. Almost two weeks go by until I get any more movies, on March 20, 2007. Only two again, and one of them is the one that should have been in the first set.

At this point, there was five days until I had to cancel or pay for another month. By now, I knew I was not going continue to pay for that crap. You must cancel at least one day before your next bill date, to insure that your card does not get charged. That is what I did. Canceled on the 24th (when my next bill date would have been on the 25^th ) so they would send me the last two movies they owed me. Those movies arrived much quicker then the rest. I am still waiting to see if they try and make me pay for the two movies I sent back after I cancel with them. I sent they well with in the time limit.

When the second set of movies took so long I had emailed customer service about the one movie not getting here and that the Block Buster Store in Deming wasn't open and they should take it off the website. I also asked if they were going to offer me again for the inconvenience. I felt and still feel that they should be up to date when it comes to the stores on the website. I would not have even wasted my time if I knew that the Block Buster Store here was closed. They responded with nonsense, acting like I didn't just tell them they suck. The Deming store is still on the website as open for business. The next time I emailed customer service was to find out when I needed to cancel by so I would not get charged, in the response to that I got offered some of the other plans at a discounted price for three months. But at the speed they were coming it was not worth it.

When you cancel they have a spot to write what you think they can improve on and you know I had a lot to say to them about their service. In the space provided I typed what I had to say , not filling the box. There seemed to be more room to write but when I clicked submit it said to keep it under 150 characters. What the? Then why oh why do they give you room to write a novel but limit you on words? I guess they don't really care why you are canceling.

To sum it up, if you have a Block Buster Store that is open, this could be a great deal. You may get your movies faster then I did. So it is up to you is you want to try it.

Check list: local participating Block Buster Store []

Money on your debt card or a credit card []