This is a followup to an entry I posted back in January showing my Netflix rental history. Since then, I signed up for a free trial from Blockbuster, allowing me temporarily to nearly double my rental volume. I was able to extend the two-week trial into four using a secret password. Then I found out about this deal, which allowed me to bring my total up to eight weeks. Yesterday was my last free day, so I cancelled, only to discover that I had been charged for the "free" extra month! (Oh well, at least I no longer feel guilty for taking advantage of the company.)
I enjoyed all the extra DVDs. Things will be hard for me now that my rental rate has suddenly been halved to three out at a time. (In reality, it's only two out, since I've still got that DVD out on the ledge.) But with finals coming up, I guess I'm probably better off.
So which is better? Well, I have to say up front, that I started with a strong bias toward Netflix. I've been a fairly happy customer for a year and a half and am also a stockholder. Still, I think I am being fairly objective in saying that Netflix was the clear winner. Despite the rampant claims of throttling, Netflix has been consistently at least twice as fast in turnaround as Blockbuster. (Partly this is due to their nearby shipping center in Salem.) Also, although I was initially impressed with the seemingly more secure Blockbuster envelopes, at least two of them arrived completely open, meaning the disc could easily have fallen out in transit. On the plus side, all the movies listed as "long wait" on my Netflix queue were available from Blockbuster. The in-store coupons were not useful for me, since I often go months without leaving campus. Netflix fits my needs far better than Blockbuster.
Having terminated my Blockbuster account, I think now would be a good time to repost my full rental histories from both Netflix and Blockbuster. If you wish to take a gander, click the link below (and please excuse the horrendous formatting):
Blockbuster
Wonderfalls: The Complete Series - Disc 3 (2004) 05/12/2005
Wonderfalls: The Complete Series - Disc 2 (2004) 05/09/2005 05/21/2005
Wonderfalls: The Complete Series - Disc 1 (2004) 05/09/2005 05/19/2005
Arrested Development: Season 1 - Disc 3 (2004) 05/04/2005 05/12/2005
Arrested Development: Season 1 - Disc 2 (2004) 05/02/2005 05/10/2005
Arrested Development: Season 1 - Disc 1 (2004) 04/28/2005 05/09/2005
Jerk (1979) 04/25/2005 05/03/2005
Monster (2003) 04/18/2005 05/02/2005
Spanglish [WS] (2004) 04/18/2005 04/25/2005
Finding Nemo - Widescreen (2003) 04/18/2005 04/28/2005
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind [WS] (2004) 04/07/2005 04/16/2005
Butterfly Effect (2004) 04/07/2005 04/16/2005
Mysterians (1957) 04/06/2005 04/16/2005
Garden State (2004) 03/30/2005 04/07/2005
Motorcycle Diaries [WS] (2003) 03/30/2005 04/07/2005
Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life - Disc 2 (1997) 03/29/2005 04/05/2005
Incredibles [WS] (2004) 03/22/2005 03/30/2005
Battlestar Galactica: The Miniseries - Disc 2 (2003) 03/22/2005 03/30/2005
Battlestar Galactica: The Miniseries - Disc 1 (2003) 03/22/2005 03/28/2005
Netflix
Shipped Returned Movie Title
------------------------------
Planet of the Apes: The TV Series: Disc 2, 1974 05/10/05 05/16/05 Report Problem
Planet of the Apes: The TV Series: Disc 1, 1974 04/27/05 05/12/05 Report Problem
Surviving Gilligan's Island, 2001 05/04/05 05/10/05 Report Problem
The Monster, 1994 04/19/05 05/03/05 Report Problem
Sour Grapes, 1998 04/19/05 04/26/05
Road Trip, 2000 04/14/05 04/18/05
But I'm a Cheerleader, 1999 04/13/05 04/18/05
Daredevil, 2003 04/07/05 04/13/05
Twin Peaks: Season 1: Disc 2, 1990 04/05/05 04/12/05
Twin Peaks: Season 1: Disc 1, 1990 03/31/05 04/06/05
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, 1992 04/01/05 04/05/05
Spider-Man 2, 2004 03/30/05 04/04/05
Pink Lady and Jeff: Disc 1, 1980 03/22/05 04/01/05
Greg the Bunny: Disc 2, 2002 03/25/05 03/31/05
Greg the Bunny: Disc 1, 2002 03/23/05 03/29/05
Survivor All-Stars: Bonus Disc, 2004 03/22/05 03/25/05
03/16/05 03/22/05 Survivor All-Stars: Disc 6 (2004)
03/16/05 03/21/05 Survivor All-Stars: Disc 5 (2004)
03/15/05 03/21/05 Survivor All-Stars: Disc 4 (2004)
03/08/05 03/15/05 Survivor All-Stars: Disc 3 (2004)
03/11/05 03/15/05 The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
03/03/05 03/14/05 Survivor All-Stars: Disc 2 (2004)
03/03/05 03/11/05 Survivor All-Stars: Disc 1 (2004)
03/02/05 03/07/05 Identity (2003)
02/24/05 03/02/05 Secondhand Lions (2003)
02/22/05 03/02/05 Spirited Away (2002)
02/21/05 03/01/05 Postmen in the Mountains (1999)
02/18/05 02/23/05 Donnie Darko: Director's Cut (2001)
02/16/05 02/21/05 The Story of the Weeping Camel (2004)
02/15/05 02/21/05 Typhoid Mary: The Most Dangerous Woman in America: Nova (2004)
02/14/05 02/17/05 The Passion of Ayn Rand (1999)
02/09/05 02/15/05 Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life (1998)
02/08/05 02/14/05 Day of the Animals (1977)
02/09/05 02/14/05 Radio (2003)
02/01/05 02/08/05 Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
02/04/05 02/08/05 Secretary (2002)
01/31/05 02/07/05 Shaun of the Dead (2004)
01/31/05 02/04/05 Open Water (2004)
01/27/05 02/01/05 Mystery Science Theater 3000: Space Mutiny (1997)
01/26/05 01/31/05 The Forgotten (2004)
01/18/05 01/31/05 Central Station (1998)
01/24/05 01/27/05 Cellular (2004)
01/20/05 01/25/05 Lost in Translation (2003)
01/20/05 01/24/05 50 First Dates (2004)
01/07/05 01/19/05 Paycheck (2003)
01/12/05 01/19/05 For All Mankind (1989)
01/11/05 01/17/05 Trekkies (1999)
01/07/05 01/11/05 Spellbound (2002)
12/29/04 01/10/05 Voices of Iraq (2004)
12/29/04 01/07/05 Donnie Darko (2001)
12/29/04 01/06/05 13 Going on 30 (2004)
12/20/04 12/29/04 Pippi Longstocking: TV Series (1968)
12/20/04 12/29/04 Super Size Me (2004)
12/16/04 12/28/04 MARS Dead or Alive: Nova (2004)
12/15/04 12/20/04 Returner (2002)
12/08/04 12/20/04 Life Is Beautiful (1997)
12/08/04 12/16/04 X-Men: Evolution: Season 1: Vol. 4: Xposing the Truth (2000)
12/08/04 12/15/04 X-Men: Evolution: Season 1: Vol. 3: X Marks the Spot (2000)
11/30/04 12/07/04 X2: X-Men United (2003)
12/02/04 12/07/04 X-Men: Evolution: Season 1: Vol. 1: UnXpected Changes (2000)
12/02/04 12/07/04 X-Men: Evolution: Season 1: Vol. 2: Xplosive Days (2000)
11/29/04 12/02/04 Ed Sullivan: Muppets Magic (2003)
11/29/04 12/02/04 Survivor: Season 1: Disc 5 (2000)
11/26/04 11/30/04 Survivor: Season 1: Disc 4 (2000)
11/19/04 11/29/04 Survivor: Season 1: Disc 2 (2000)
11/23/04 11/29/04 Survivor: Season 1: Disc 3 (2000)
11/17/04 11/26/04 Survivor: Season 1: Disc 1 (2000)
11/18/04 11/23/04 Survivor: Season 1: The Greatest and Most Outrageous Moments (2000)
11/15/04 11/18/04 Dallas: Seasons 1 & 2: Disc 10 (1978)
11/09/04 11/18/04 Dallas: Seasons 1 & 2: Disc 9 (1978)
11/09/04 11/16/04 Dallas: Seasons 1 & 2: Disc 8 (1978)
11/09/04 11/15/04 Dallas: Seasons 1 & 2: Disc 7 (1978)
07/06/04 11/09/04 Bowling for Columbine (2002)
11/05/04 11/09/04 Dallas: Seasons 1 & 2: Disc 6 (1978)
11/03/04 11/09/04 Dallas: Seasons 1 & 2: Disc 5 (1978)
11/02/04 11/05/04 Survivor: Season 1: Disc 1 (2000)
10/28/04 11/02/04 Dallas: Seasons 1 & 2: Disc 4 (1978)
10/26/04 11/02/04 Dallas: Seasons 1 & 2: Disc 3 (1978)
10/25/04 10/28/04 Dallas: Seasons 1 & 2: Disc 2 (1978)
10/19/04 10/26/04 Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
10/19/04 10/25/04 Dallas: Seasons 1 & 2: Disc 1 (1978)
10/14/04 10/19/04 Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
10/12/04 10/19/04 Frequency (2000)
10/08/04 10/14/04 The Luzhin Defence (2001)
07/06/04 10/12/04 Michael Moore's The Awful Truth: Season 2: Disc 2 (2001)
09/30/04 10/08/04 Timeline (2003)
07/06/04 09/30/04 Michael Moore's The Awful Truth: Season 2: Disc 1 (2001)
06/08/04 07/06/04 Michael Moore's The Awful Truth: Season 1: Disc 2 (1999)
06/03/04 07/06/04 Michael Moore's The Awful Truth: Season 1: Disc 1 (1999)
06/03/04 07/06/04 Roger & Me (1989)
06/01/04 06/08/04 The Real World: New York: Season 1: Disc 2 (1992)
05/27/04 06/03/04 Firefly: Disc 4 (2002)
05/27/04 06/03/04 The Real World: New York: Season 1: Disc 1 (1992)
05/24/04 06/01/04 Firefly: Disc 3 (2002)
05/21/04 05/27/04 Firefly: Disc 2 (2002)
05/18/04 05/27/04 Firefly: Disc 1 (2002)
05/18/04 05/24/04 Freaks & Geeks: The Complete Series: Disc 6 (2000)
05/14/04 05/20/04 Freaks & Geeks: The Complete Series: Disc 5 (2000)
05/11/04 05/18/04 Freaks & Geeks: The Complete Series: Disc 3 (2000)
05/12/04 05/18/04 Freaks & Geeks: The Complete Series: Disc 4 (2000)
05/05/04 05/13/04 Freaks & Geeks: The Complete Series: Disc 2 (2000)
05/05/04 05/11/04 Jeremiah: Season 1: Disc 6 (2002)
05/03/04 05/11/04 Jeremiah: Season 1: Disc 5 (2002)
04/28/04 05/05/04 Freaks & Geeks: The Complete Series: Disc 1 (2000)
04/30/04 05/05/04 Jeremiah: Season 1: Disc 4 (2002)
04/27/04 05/03/04 Jeremiah: Season 1: Disc 3 (2002)
03/29/04 04/29/04 V: The Original Miniseries (1983)
04/22/04 04/27/04 Jeremiah: Season 1: Disc 1 (2002)
04/22/04 04/27/04 Jeremiah: Season 1: Disc 2 (2002)
04/13/04 04/21/04 Red Dwarf: Series 4: Bonus Material (1988)
04/08/04 04/21/04 Red Dwarf: Series 4 (1988)
04/06/04 04/13/04 Red Dwarf: Series 3 (1988)
04/02/04 04/07/04 Red Dwarf: Series 2 (1988)
03/30/04 04/06/04 Red Dwarf: Series 1 (1988)
03/30/04 04/02/04 Firefly: Disc 1 (2002)
03/23/04 03/30/04 V: The Final Battle: Disc 1 (1984)
03/24/04 03/30/04 V: The Final Battle: Disc 2 (1984)
03/22/04 03/26/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 7: Disc 7 (1998)
03/19/04 03/24/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 7: Disc 6 (1998)
03/16/04 03/23/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 7: Disc 5 (1998)
03/16/04 03/22/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 7: Disc 4 (1998)
03/16/04 03/19/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 7: Disc 3 (1998)
03/11/04 03/16/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 7: Disc 1 (1998)
03/12/04 03/16/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 7: Disc 2 (1998)
03/09/04 03/16/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 6: Disc 7 (1997)
03/08/04 03/12/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 6: Disc 6 (1997)
03/08/04 03/11/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 6: Disc 5 (1997)
03/04/04 03/09/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 6: Disc 4 (1997)
03/02/04 03/08/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 6: Disc 3 (1997)
03/01/04 03/08/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 6: Disc 2 (1997)
03/01/04 03/04/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 6: Disc 1 (1997)
02/26/04 03/02/04 Bread and Tulips (2000)
02/23/04 03/01/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 5: Disc 6 (1996)
02/24/04 03/01/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 5: Disc 7 (1996)
02/23/04 02/26/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 5: Disc 5 (1996)
02/18/04 02/24/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 5: Disc 4 (1996)
02/16/04 02/23/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 5: Disc 3 (1996)
02/16/04 02/23/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 5: Disc 2 (1996)
02/10/04 02/18/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 5: Disc 1 (1996)
02/09/04 02/16/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 4: Disc 6 (1995)
02/09/04 02/16/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 4: Disc 7 (1995)
02/02/04 02/10/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 4: Disc 4 (1995)
01/29/04 02/09/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 4: Disc 3 (1995)
02/02/04 02/09/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 4: Disc 5 (1995)
01/26/04 02/02/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 4: Disc 1 (1995)
01/27/04 02/02/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 4: Disc 2 (1995)
01/22/04 01/29/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 3: Disc 7 (1994)
01/22/04 01/27/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 3: Disc 6 (1994)
01/20/04 01/26/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 3: Disc 5 (1994)
01/15/04 01/22/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 3: Disc 3 (1994)
01/15/04 01/22/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 3: Disc 4 (1994)
01/13/04 01/20/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 3: Disc 2 (1994)
01/08/04 01/15/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 2: Disc 7 (1993)
01/08/04 01/15/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 3: Disc 1 (1994)
01/08/04 01/13/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 2: Disc 6 (1993)
12/26/03 01/08/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 2: Disc 5 (1993)
12/22/03 01/08/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 2: Disc 4 (1993)
12/18/03 01/08/04 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 2: Disc 2 (1993)
12/18/03 12/26/03 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 2: Disc 3 (1993)
12/15/03 12/22/03 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 2: Disc 1 (1993)
12/10/03 12/18/03 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 1: Bonus Disc (1993)
12/10/03 12/18/03 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 1: Disc 5 (1993)
12/09/03 12/15/03 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 1: Disc 4 (1993)
12/02/03 12/10/03 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 1: Disc 2 (1993)
12/04/03 12/10/03 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 1: Disc 1 (1993)
12/02/03 12/08/03 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 1: Disc 3 (1993)
11/26/03 12/08/03 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season 1: Disc 1 (1993)
11/24/03 12/02/03 Angel: Season 2: Disc 6 (2000)
11/21/03 12/02/03 Angel: Season 2: Disc 5 (2000)
11/17/03 11/24/03 Angel: Season 2: Disc 4 (2000)
11/17/03 11/24/03 Angel: Season 2: Disc 3 (2000)
11/14/03 11/21/03 Angel: Season 2: Disc 2 (2000)
11/10/03 11/17/03 Angel: Season 2: Disc 1 (2000)
11/03/03 11/17/03 Angel: Season 1: Disc 6 (1999)
11/03/03 11/14/03 Angel: Season 1: Disc 5 (1999)
11/03/03 11/10/03 Angel: Season 1: Disc 4 (1999)
10/27/03 11/03/03 Angel: Season 1: Disc 2 (1999)
10/27/03 11/03/03 Angel: Season 1: Disc 3 (1999)
10/27/03 11/03/03 Angel: Season 1: Disc 1 (1999)