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Blockbuster.co.uk Review
No. of Movie Titles: Includes almost every DVD title available in the UK (approx 50,000), plus games, blu-ray and HD formats Membership Costs Free 2-week trial available on some packages (n.b. transfer from free-trial to a paying service is automatic unless you cancel before the 14 days are up) A choice of 5 packages:
* Free 2- week trial available on these packages NB. There is also a pay-per-rent service allowing you to rent popular titles at a cost of £4.50 and less popular titles for £3.50 for five nights, though unlike the membership packages above this service DOES charge late fees. Obviously, this works out as much poorer value than, for example, renting 5 DVDs a month on the £9.99 package, which works out at about two quid per film irrespective of how popular they are. Features:.
Editor's Verdict: Blockbuster's selection is huge, its service fast and professional, its coverage comprehensive. They have, after all, being doing this for a long time: the online service is just the latest outgrowth of a massive film rental empire that began over 20 years ago with a single store in Dallas renting out video tapes (remember those?) to film-hungry Texans. Now Blockbuster is all grown up, its in every high street and all over the internet, just waiting to squeeze a world of entertainment through your letterbox. The service works much like many of the other DVD rental sites listed in this category. You create a list of DVDs you want and 1, 2, or 3 DVDs (or however many your package allows you to have at once) are sent to you by post. When you're done watching them, you just pop them in the pre-paid return envelope. As soon as they receive your returned DVDs they'll mail you your next batch of 1, 2 or 3 DVDs from your list. The website itself is nicely laid out, though busier than some and perhaps lacks a strong, unifying visual theme. Whilst still easily navigable for the most part, specific details of the various packages available are oddly difficult to unearth and require serious clicking through several links and submenus. The website is geared towards three main aims: firstly making signing up and renting DVD's inviting, accessible and fun, secondly providing a wealth of film news, views and gossip, and thirdly promoting Blockbuster rental stores. It does all these things well, although you'd have to be a real DVD animal to want to rent online AND regularly use a local Blockbuster store, unless of course you're gripped by a powerful urge to see a particular movie NOW rather than wait for your next pick to arrive in the post. Turnaround time is generally rated as excellent, though occasionally there have been complaints that this tails off after the free trial. Similarly, some customers have found that some of their most popular choices lurk at the top of their list for months and never seem to become available whilst DVDs lower down their list materialize week after week, although this is a criticism that has been levelled at most list-based rental systems at one time or another. In terms of value for money, Blockbuster is roughly comparable with fellow market leaders - i.e. excellent. When you get down to the nitty and the gritty of the packages on offer, our number one pick, LOVEFilm, offers slightly better value for light users who only want a couple of films a month but Blockbuster wins out on its heavy-use packages - unlimited DVD's, 3 at a time, for £14.99 per month is hard to beat. 5 DVDs at a time for £22.99 provides binge viewers with an all-you-can-eat option which few competitors can match, but this is for real DVD-monsters only. We suggest you think about how much time you will realistically want to spend watching DVDs on a regular basis and then make up your own mind which service works out best for you. The website's range of features geared at helping you build up a list of DVD's you're sure to enjoy is similarly on a par with our other top picks - check out the "auto-choose" feature which finds you films you haven't seen which match those you've already rated highly. Alternately, you could experiment with something a bit more obscure and discover a hidden gem. Either way, choosing DVDs for your list is easy, fun and dangerously addictive. You don't have to return DVDs by any particular date so there's no late fees or nasty reminders (except with the pay-per-rent alternative), but the sooner you return them the sooner your next choice will land on your doorstep. This carrot (rather than stick) based relationship avoids awkwardness and ensures a steady stream of entertainment, especially with the unlimited package options - the DVD goodness just keeps on coming. Unlike some other services, Blockbuster.co.uk is run in conjunction with a multinational network of high street stores, which allows services such as E-coupons for website members, which can be redeemed at your local store. However, be aware that these two services are not entirely integrated - you will, for example, have to join your local store separately even if you have already signed up to the website. All-in-all, an accessible, enjoyable, value-for-money service that ranks among the market leaders in online DVD rental. Click the button below to check out Blockbuster for yourself...
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