I know some of you out there use Blockbuster Online for your DVD renting pleasure, and if you do, we’ve got a little tip that’s sure to make your summer a lot more fun.
I give credit to my wife for this, because she figured it out all on her own.
If you have a Blockbuster store nearby you, there is a good chance you’ve returned your enveloped movies there in exchange for a free movie rental. Some people have limits on this, some don’t.
But regardless, doing this not only gives you a free movie to take home that night, but it also registers as “returned” by Blockbuster, thus sending the next item in your queue.
Now, if you don’t want to go rent a movie, you likely just put those envelopes back in your mailbox and wait for 5-7 days for a new movie to arrive.
Well, here’s the tip: If you are looking for a quick turnaround, return your movies to the STORE. Just slip them through the return slot and Blockbuster does the rest for you.
This is especially helpful if you are trying to get through a new TV series on DVD. You get finished with a disk or two, send them back and have to wait for quite a few days before you can continue.
However, if you return that enveloped DVD to the store the next morning, there is a great chance you’ll get the next item in your queue in a day or two.
Last week, my wife took an envelope to the store, shoved it through the slot and the next day we had a new DVD. Now, that may not happen everytime, but you get the point.
Now, if you are NOT a Blockbuster Online member, maybe you should give it a shot. They are offering a limited ONE MONTH free trial right now, which is a pretty good deal.
If you do want to give it a try, use this sign-up link to do it. Yeah, we get a bit of money for any sign-ups, but we also strive to only recommend products that are quality and that we likely use ourselves.
So you get a great service to use this summer when you watch one of our Top 15 TV Shows on DVD (hint hint), and you help us pay for hosting costs!
As Michael Scott would say: “Win, win….win.“
Dude, you haven’t been doing this the whole time?
Although, I don’t drop mine in the box. I don’t trust people enough for that. I always take them inside and hand them to an employee. They don’t seem to care.
We’re a bit slow out here I guess
I think the main thing is, most people will just put them in the mailbox because it’s easier that driving to the store.
5-7 day wait? Are they still using real horses when they deliver too? Geez man, Netflix is much faster…
The Trousered Apes last blog post..Who was Jesus of Nazareth? Parts 5 thru 10 of 10 with Dr. Craig
it’s probably more like 4-5 days on average through the mail, but when you are waiting for the next disc of a cheesy summer TV on DVD rental, it can seem like forever. every day helps!
OTH rules!
OTH? Ode To Harry?
The Trousered Apes last blog post..Who was Jesus of Nazareth? Parts 5 thru 10 of 10 with Dr. Craig
One Tree Hill - We are guilty-pleasuring it up this summer so far.
Ah - haven’t seen that show either. Somedays, on this blog, I just don’t know where I’ve been.
The Trousered Apes last blog post..Who was Jesus of Nazareth? Parts 5 thru 10 of 10 with Dr. Craig
It’s nothing spectacular…it’s like a cross between The O.C., Dawson’s Creek, Felicity and all those other shows on The CW/WB/UPN.
But we’re hooked and have to see it to the end now.
4 to 5 days seems way to long. With Netflix it is so much faster, I agree with Ape. I wouldn’t switch back to Blockbuster after the great service and fun I have had with Netflix. Who wants to drive to the store anyway? It wastes gas and costs even more money that way. No thank you!
Raven Spinners last blog post..Italian Cream Soda: Raven’s Recipe
Although I enjoyed Netflix and always got a quick turnaround here in Austin, I get the same turnaround from Blockbuster…actually better because I drop the movies off at the store on my way home from work and they are checked in right then as if they had already been through the mail and received at the distribution plant. Blockbuster then sends me my movies the next morning or the same day if I go by Blockbuster earlier in the day. Plus, I get five in-store trade-ins a month which I can watch while I’m waiting for my movies to come in the mail. If that’s not enough movies, I can rent movies at half price. It’s a lot of movies.
I have to give the edge to Blockbuster due to the in-store dropoff and trade-in.
I give the edge to Netflix because they are not Blockbuster.
Actually we’ve been a member since April 2000. We joined with them because Blockbuster did not have the selection of movies on DVD - they were still very VHS heavy. Also, I did not appreciate the rumors that they were recutting the films for censoring purposes. I’m not sure how substantiated those were or not, but nevertheless that, along with limited selection was a huge turn off. I haven’t been back since.
The Trousered Apes last blog post..Who was Jesus of Nazareth? Parts 5 thru 10 of 10 with Dr. Craig
I’ve done both and I don’t see how you can beat Blockbuster really.
Being able to take a DVD in an envelope to the store, and walk out with a free rental is unbeatable.
I mean…if you suddenly realize you want to see a movie TONIGHT about, you are screwed with Netflix. You just have to wait until it comes.
With Blockbuster, I just take a coupon or DVD down to the store and trade it. Done.
I can see the advantage if I weren’t so busy all the time, but typically I’m never itching to watch a movie and rarely can I do it at the drop of a hat.
The Trousered Apes last blog post..Who was Jesus of Nazareth? Parts 5 thru 10 of 10 with Dr. Craig
Uh… if you are a Netflix user and you want to see a movie RIGHT NOW that hasn’t been shipped to you - you go online to Netflix’s site and stream it. You don’t even have to change out of your bunny slippers to go get in the car and drive to the store.
Btw - I got a good chuckle from this discussion and how impatient all us media junkies are - that we are actually bickering over how fast we can get our entertainment into our eyeballs. Just stop and think about that for a minute. Pretty funny, huh?
D.L. Whites last blog post..Who are you?
Uh… if you’re a Netflix user and you want to watch a movie RIGHT NOW you can just log in to Netflix’s site and stream it. You don’t even have to change out of your pajamas and bunny slippers to drive to the store.
Btw - It gave me a good laugh to read this dicussion and see all of us media junkies bickering about how fast we can get our entertainment into our eyeballs. Just think about it for a minute… pretty funny, huh? Next thing you know, Netflix will just be mind-melding with it’s customers and sending you movies in your sleep. ha ha
D.L. Whites last blog post..Who are you?
I could see the advantage if I wanted to spend all my gas driving 1/2 hour to get to blockbuster all the time….. and that means a 1/2 hour back home, that is an hour of driving for a movie…no thanks! Netflix for me please. Btw, my turn around is 2 days. I send a movie in, I get the new one is 2 days. In the past I payed way to many late fee with Blockbuster too. Never with Netflix.
Raven Spinners last blog post..Italian Cream Soda: Raven’s Recipe
Well, if it took a half hour to get to Blockbuster for me, that would change my mind.
But ours is a mile and a half away, plus it’s on my way home from work.
@ DL White - But can you watch the movie on your TV set yet? Because I cannot watch stuff on my computer for very long.
adrian and i do this too mike! and unless gas starts costing $20 a gallon, it’s a shorter ride than to the post office!
nickys last blog post..Update from my bed.
You guys know we have a mailbox in the neighborhood right?