Blockbuster Renews Netflix Envelope Promotion

Blockbuster issued a press release to announce that they will be again offering Netflix customers the ability to exchange Netflix envelopes (the part you usually throw away) for in-store rentals, "Blockbuster Gives Netflix Renters Presidents' Day Pardon." The promotion starts today and runs through February 21st.

Thanks to RJ and Arul for sending this in.

Comments

[Firstlawofnature]

If I could exchange them and mail them back so I didn't have to return then I'd do it.

[Barrett]

Blockbuster's in store selection is so bad, I don't think I'm even going to bother with this.

[Lamarr Wilson]

The selection is horrible. For those saying that TotalAccess is great because you can get New Releases right away, they must either live in an area that doesn't have much traffic, or they don't work (or have a night schedule) so they can make it to Blockbuster when they open on Tuesdays to get the releases. I went to a BB on a Tuesday during the last promotion by 12pm, and most of the new releases that I wanted were gone.

I want to move forward, not backward. Mailing is fine with me with Netflix, not the store experience and wasting gas. Plus, I have a TiVo. I don't NEED to have extra movies each month. Finally, I have a life. :)

[Hunter McDaniel]

I tried this in December already. It just reminded me why I hate going to the stores.

[IowaHawksFan1]

As I just said in a previous post...why sign up for BBOTA when they offer this deal to Netflix subscribers every few months...the last time it worked well as I was on vacation from my job. Now I am swamped with work and while I'll take advantage of it and get some of the TV series off my queue through this deal I won't use it as much as I did in December.

[hawk5391]

I will probably take advantage of this, especially since the President's Day holiday will ensure that I probably will have some Netflix envelopes in transit, and not enough movies to get me through.

I agree with Hunter though, the store experience is really not something I am looking forward to. Last time I took advantage of this I had a fanatical BB employee humping my leg all the way out the door about BBTA. And when I tried to explain the quality issues that prevented me from signing up with BBTA, his eyes just kind of glazed over. It didn't keep him from pestering me the next time I came in though.

[vio]

"I want to move forward, not backward. Mailing is fine with me with Netflix, not the store experience and wasting gas. Plus, I have a TiVo. I don't NEED to have extra movies each month. Finally, I have a life. :)"

Snail mail IS backward.

[corey3rd]

this weekend I'm getting me the Deadwood love

[HypoPig]

w00t - I saved a whole bunch of envelopes thinking they might renew this deal

[type-cast]

"I want to move forward, not backward. Mailing is fine with me with Netflix, not the store experience and wasting gas. Plus, I have a TiVo. I don't NEED to have extra movies each month. Finally, I have a life. :)"

I don't have a TiVo or cable or satellite. I have a life. There's no gas wasted if you're going by a store any way. Getting a movie in exchange one also makes the trip worthwhile. Mailing returns leaves you empty-handed. I'd rather have a movie in my hand.

There are lots of good movies in my local BB stores. If you are unable to find 500 movies to watch out of 10k, I feel sorry for you. I use the stores for what they have. I use the online services for what they don't have. It makes sense. People who say that stores have "nothing to watch" are like those people who say they're bored all the time. You're dull, closed-minded, or ridiculously picky.

Question. If Netflix only has 7-10 times as many titles as the video store, how soon til you you run out of things to see there? Get a life and stop telling me there's "nothing worth seeing" at the video store. I've seen lots of good movies at the video store, and if you can't find them, you're lazy.

[Rusty Ramrod]

I wonder if there is a limit?

I have a *whole* bunch of them saved. I mean like a stack 2" tall.

[Edward R Murrow]

Sweet. I love it when Blockbuster does this deal.

[machinegunn]

I remember someone saying that 8 was the limit in a thread here during the first promotion in December, the logic being that 8 was the most you would ever be able to swap at once with BBTA. If anyone can verify that, I would also be interested to hear.

[Firstlawofnature]

"Sweet. I love it when Blockbuster does this deal."

I think flix is starting to like the BBI deals a bit also. It's like giving away coupons funded by someone else. Should be another profitable weekend for flix and more losses for BBI.

[Edward R Murrow]

"I think flix is starting to like the BBI deals a bit also"

Not sure why Netflix would like this. It shows Netflix customers how they can get a better value for their money if they switch over to BBO+TA. If people don't have a nearby Blockbuster, then obviously BBO+TA won't work.

[Firstlawofnature]

Slows down useage for flix slightly which helps profits while hurting BBI at the same time. It's not a secret anymore that BBI's online product is stale. Overall, just a nice deal for flix subs.

[Firstlawofnature]

Slows down useage for flix slightly which helps profits while hurting BBI at the same time. It's not a secret anymore that BBI's online product is stale. Overall, just a nice deal for flix subs.

[Rusty Ramrod]

Of course NF doesn't like it, it worries the heck out of them. I'm guessing there is a large plastic pan under Reed's pant legs to catch the excrement that is running down his legs over BBOTA and this envelope promotion.

You may love or hate BBO, but if you can't admit the NF envelope exchange is a brilliant, very low cost marketing campaign, then I’m afraid I can't help.

It's funny seeing some people get bent out of shape regarding fans of netflix. the sad truth is, BB just doesn't inspire that kind of loyalty and fanaticism. Netflix has its flaws, granted, but BB spent years and years treating customers and the experience of cinema viewing poorly.

Netflix came along and changed the video rental experience back into something that people loved, and continues to lead when it comes to finding the balance between being both a successful, profitable business, and a customer-friendly, innovative company.

BB can have all the clever (desperate? expensive?) marketing campaigns they want, but if Netflix wasn't around, who would they have to copy?

[Edward R Murrow]

"Slows down useage for flix slightly which helps profits while hurting BBI at the same time"

But the strategy is to save up the Netflix envelopes over time and when Blockbuster has this promotion then put your Netflix account on hold while you watch free movies from Blockbuster. You're not very smart with your money if you keep your Netflix account open when you can watch movies for free from Blockbuster.

Try it; call Netflix customer service and tell them you're going on vacation for a couple of weeks and to put your account on hold then use your Netflix envelopes at Blockbuster.

[Hunter McDaniel]

OK, so BB has done this envelope promotion twice now. I don't think that's enough to make me routinely save all my mailer flaps. Just fishing out the ones still in the trash would cover as many movies as I can watch in a week - if I even wanted that store "experience" again.

And I'm sure not about to go through the hassle of holding/restarting my NF subscription just to save the $5 for one-week.

[Firstlawofnature]

Ok. Flix makes no money while you’re on hold while BBO loses money from the free rentals. Now you understand why flix doesn’t run for the hills when BBI launches another silly promo. I mean how dumb are the in-store renters going to feel tonight and tomorrow when a bunch of red envelope hoarders descend upon the store and take all the hot new releases for free (unless the manager hides the new releases as ihatebbi.com describes).

[CJ]

I keep all those mailer flaps. What I do is write the name of movie, receipt date, and return date on the flap, then file away in a shoe box. Why? So if the DVD doesn't get logged by NF, or BB, then I know all the key dates should NF, or BB, hold my account and have me call them.

I won't be participating in this promotion - I get my new releases using BBOTA on Tuesday mornings, and have already run through my local BB store's remaining, painfully pathetic, in-store inventory. There's nothing worth renting!!

[BigBopper]

I just returned from my local BB where I was told they know nothing of this promotion. Typical... At least a visit reminded me why I dropped them and switched to Netflix.

[Edward R Murrow]

"And I'm sure not about to go through the hassle of holding/restarting my NF subscription just to save the $5 for one-week"

Reed must be rubbing his hands together with glee - what's 6,000,000 customers times $5? It ain't chump change. I prefer $5 in my wallet as opposed to $5 of mine in someone elses wallet.

Saving $5 here and $20 dollars there is how to have an awesome spring break on Miami Beach!