Product Comparison - Netflix Versus Blockbuster Online Movie Rental Service

The world of online DVD rental service was dominated for a long time by Netflix. The California-based company capitalized on first-mover advantage and rapidly grabbed market share before competitors could even start an operation. I was an early adopter, signing up for Netflix when the service was still in the infancy stages. I was a loyal subscriber for some time thereafter because there were really no viable alternatives. At the time many predicted companies like Blockbuster would fold as more and more people opted for Netflix's benefits of online rentals, free shipping and no late fees. However, Blockbuster's Total Access product is gaining market share and giving Netflix a run for their money. After trying out both services for a while I decided to keep Blockbuster's Total Access service and canceled Netflix. Here are a few of the deciding factors for me.

Price
$9.99 will get you a one-at-a-time unlimited monthly membership with both Netflix and Blockbuster Total Access. However, you can get so much more from Blockbuster with in-store returns and monthly coupons. The in-store return system allows you to drop off a mailed movie in its return envelope at any participating Blockbuster store. In exchange, you receive a free DVD rental. The movie is mailed back from the Blockbuster store and your next DVD in your online queue is shipped. You can view the in-store rental until the mailed DVD arrives and then return them both to the store for another in-store rental. Additionally, you are offered one coupon via your Blockbuster's Total Access online account that you may print and take to the store. The coupon is good for one free rental of a DVD or video game (a $7.99 value in our area). At the time I canceled Netflix did not offer any coupons, and because there were no stores to turn in movies I went days waiting on shipping to and from the nearest facility before I received my next movie. With Blockbuster Total Access I am essentially never without a movie.

New Releases
Due to availability, both Netflix and Blockbuster Total Access have issues with new releases. For the first few weeks after a movie released my online queue indicated a "short wait" or "long wait" for popular movies. Using Blockbuster's Total Access service I was able to pick up the new release in the store and bypass the waiting period in my online queue. Unfortunately, with Netflix I was at the mercy of the online queue prioritization system which usually left me without a new release until what seemed like half the country had seen it!

Website
Both websites use a similar queuing feature that allows members to select future movie preferences. Overall, I like Blockbuster's website because its "My Q' feature floats on the top right of the page regardless of where you are scrolling on the page. This feature makes it easier to view your queue without having to navigate back to a designated queue tab.

Shipping Times
Both Netflix and Blockbuster Total Access promise movies in about one business day. I found Blockbuster to be a bit more reliable in its "estimated delivery date" which appears in your queue after a movie is shipped. I typically receive a movie two business days after returning to the store, and about four business days after mailing back. At times Netflix took up to a week to turn around a movie from the time I mailed one back.

Overall, I have been very pleased with Blockbuster's Total Access online movie rental service. It is a great value and the service is very easy to use, from initial sign up to the in-store return/exchange process.