Signed up for Netflix today. . .

[AndyGwis]

After about 15 years of getting ripped off by Blockbuster and their insane late-fees, I decided to start renting movies from Movie Trading Company years ago. This worked well as they are very close to me, they let you rent movies for $4 with limited late fees, and if you like the movie, they will put the $4 towards the movie price AND give you the used price (so DVDs end up being like $17 rent-to-own).

But, the snag recently is that their HD-DVD titles aren't many, and they typically come out weeks after the DVD is released. I become very frustrated when I had to go home with 300 on regular DVD. . . VERY!

So, I got NetFlix this morning to take care of my HD-DVD needs. I only did 1 at a time, that way I won't feel guilty if I run out to rent/buy a movie from elsewhere. Also didn't hurt I got 2,000 free AA miles for signing up.

Impressions of Netflix? How long will I have to wait to get these HD-DVDs? Any problems with skipping discs? General thoughts?!?

[MikeC78]

I love Netflix! I use it for BR and HD DVD. I usually never have an issue with bad disks, some disks have finger marks that I just wash off.

In the area I live in, there is a Netfix warehouse about an hour away. If I turn a disk in on one day, I can expect a new disk in my mailbox a couple days later.

[krabby5]

I had been with Blockbuster online for a few years. I liked that I could return the online rentals for in-store rentals or games...plus a free coupon or 2 each month for another in-store rental..

But ever since I bought the Xbox HD addon, I wanted to start watching HD DVD movies...but it would take BB wayyy to long for them to send me any HD DVD movies..there was always a long wait for them..so i would just end up watching SD verson...which eventually pissed me off..plus I started car-pooling to work and I couldn't just stop off at the store and do exchanges as easily anymore..

So Sunday I signed up for a trial of Netflix..by Tuesday I had "300" and "Letters from Iwo Jima" in HD dvd in my mailbox....both of those movies still have a very long wait in my BB queue..so i cancelled BB

so we'll see if this is just a honeymoon thing...:D

[AndyGwis]

nice! I went through the HD-DVD section and already have a bunch in my queue. Basically, if it's the HD-DVD version of a movie I wanted to see, or one I would like to see again in high def, I put it in there.

Quick question. . . . say I put "Hot Fuzz HD-DVD" at the top of my list and it has a "short wait" next to availability. Will the next available now movie in my queue ship, or will it wait to ship me Hot Fuzz since it's at the top of my list and I only have 1 at a time?

Also, can you buy a rental if you like it? How long does "short wait" typically mean? Do upcoming releases like Blades of Glory ship the day they come out if in your queue?

[millerman 3732]

I've been renting HD-DVD and BD since last April from netflixs. You can get older and catalog titles pretty much when ever you want but the new releases can be alittle tricky, if you can time to where you have a disc due to ship on monday and you have a new tittle releasing that week at the top of your que you can usally get it, but if it ends up that your disc is not shipping till say Wensday or Thursday you could be waiting a long time, I've had the HD-DVD version of 300 at the top of my que ever since it was released and it still says ''very long wait'' same with the Auqa Team Hunger Force movie, I hope that makes since. As far as how long it takes to get a movie it differ depending where you live for me is about a 4 day turn around if I send a movie back on Monday I can have another back by Thursday or Friday.

[AndyGwis]

That's why I only opted for the cheap 8.99 1-movie plan. I figure I'll still run to Movie Trading or elsewhere to get those Tuesday releases I've been wanting to see. . . but can use Netflix to get HD-DVD versions of other / older stuff I want to watch, like Hot Fuzz.

Hopefully, 300 and ATHF make their way to you soon.

[Fireman32]

My parents use netflix and they love it. i was thinking about signing up for it myself. Let me know what you think Andy.

[bobman1235]

I'm considering jumping ship from BB online to NetFlix... BB has been blatantly ignoring my queue order for months now. Despite my top movies being 'available', I always end up getting something from halfway down my list. And my top movies aren't exactly hugely popular current hits, they're all classics and stuff.

It's tough to part with the in-store exchanges though. So often you want to watch something that just came out, or are with someone else who wants to watch a movie you don't have, so it's nice to have the option of trading in a movie and getting a free one on the spot.

[Fireman32]

Wanted to add that my parents got movies the next day when they placed there orders. I guess the wharehouse was close by.

[Ricardo]

I love BB...though I don't rent HD or BR, so that might make a difference; I get movies 1 or 2 days after I exchange them at the store; I have 3 at a time, and I could watch 18 movies in a week if that was the only thing I had to do!!!

[zombie boy 2000]

I love Netflix...
Turnaround is two days tops. I don't know how they do it.
And they have everything under the sun. No matter how obscure. Nearly two years, and I haven't had an issue with 'em yet.

[AndyGwis]

Hot Fuzz HD-DVD is already in "at home" status, so I guess the short wait was a very short wait :)

My Queue is stocked with HD-DVD titles, I'm so excited! I wouldn't even know how to navigate through their SD-DVD titles. Went through 320 or so HD-DVD titles and am already cross eyed.

Next after Hot Fuzz. . . Digital Video Essentials, which I've almost bought for $25 - $40 on numerous occassions. Now with Netflix, I can calibrate my system for pretty much nothing.

[Disc Jockey]

Jost so you know, the DVE will not ship with the filters. You can pick those up pretty cheap from a photography store usually.

I have used both and both have had rapid turnaround times, usually about two days. Netflix has a lot more variety than BB but I've found that with Netflix if you miss a popular new release on it's release date, it can be a very long time till you can get it. BB is usually much better with that, plus there's the in-store return.

Netflix is much quicker at getting the titles in their database also. As soon as it's released and sometimes before. BB can sometimes take a week or more after it's released to get iin their database

[AndyGwis]

What the hell are the DVE "filters?"

I'm mainly looking to Netflix for the 2,000 free miles, and to have access to more HD-DVD titles, not necessarily for new releases so I should be okay.

[Disc Jockey]

The colored plastic filters used to adjust color balance.

I haven't seen the hd version though, maybe it doesn't use the filters still.

[AndyGwis]

Just read some of the reviews on NetFlix. Does seem like people expect the filters and instructions, without them the DVE is basically worthless (in their opinions).

Maybe I can get someone that owns the real version to email them to me so I can properly calibrate.

[wingnut4772]

Netflix is pretty good. Just wash up the HD DVD and Blu Ray discs before you play them.

[BaggedLancer]

I use Netflix for my HD DVD's and regular DVD's, great service, never a problem, been a member for almost 3 years now.

[bobman1235]

Just read some of the reviews on NetFlix. Does seem like people expect the filters and instructions, without them the DVE is basically worthless (in their opinions).

Maybe I can get someone that owns the real version to email them to me so I can properly calibrate.

They're actual glasses that go on your head. I don't think they'd transmit well over email.

[AndyGwis]

Just wash [them] up before you play [with] them.

This is my general approach to my balls as well. . .


that is, for golf balls I order used off ebay. After you wash them, they're usually very playable.

[jmwest1970]

We've used Netflix for 6 years and liked the service. I only had one issue in which a DVD was lost in the mail. They didn't hassle me, just sent another one. Recently we've switched to BB Online, because there's a store 2 blocks away and the in-store return.

[Sami]

Andy, your shipping location should be in Coppell if not closer so expect fast turn-around. I have their grandfathered 4-disc plan for $20 and I'm very happy, although I haven't had much time to watch movies lately.

Saved selections should end up at the bottom of your queue when their release date gets closer, just remember to move them up once they move to queue.

[Shizelbs]

Netflix is awesome. My turnaround time is, say I put a disc in the mail on Monday, I'll have a new one on Wednesday. Its awesome. I am very happy with it. Out of over a hundred DVDs, I've only had problems with two. The CS is great. You tell them you got a broken disc, no problem, no questions asked. They send you a new one no hassle.

Also, recently I lost a DVD. So, I told them I lost it and paid for it. Well, about two weeks later I found it. I didn't tell them, but I sent it anyways, and they automatically credited by CC for the price I paid. Rad.

[zombie boy 2000]

I just lost my first one...
it's $20 right?

[krabby5]

Just read some of the reviews on NetFlix. Does seem like people expect the filters and instructions, without them the DVE is basically worthless (in their opinions).

Maybe I can get someone that owns the real version to email them to me so I can properly calibrate.

yeah well...there aren't any instructions for the HD side anyways...that disc was a HUGE disapointment for me..I had no clue what I was doing..

[Shizelbs]

I just lost my first one...
it's $20 right?

Yeah, something like that.

[krabby5]

We've used Netflix for 6 years and liked the service. I only had one issue in which a DVD was lost in the mail. They didn't hassle me, just sent another one. Recently we've switched to BB Online, because there's a store 2 blocks away and the in-store return.

you can no longer do unlimited in-store returns as of Sept 1...That's one of the reasons I left BB...plus the fact that I NEVER get HD dvds from them..

[bobman1235]

Also, recently I lost a DVD. So, I told them I lost it and paid for it. Well, about two weeks later I found it. I didn't tell them, but I sent it anyways, and they automatically credited by CC for the price I paid. Rad.

Now THAT'S amazing.

[Sami]

I just lost my first one...
it's $20 right?

Lost by you or USPS? I've never lost any myself but USPS has lost a dozen or so over the years, never had a problem with Netflix when I reported them lost in the mail (in which case you don't have to pay).

[bobman1235]

A DOZEN? Who is your mailman, Newman from Seinfeld? Jebus. I've never had a single movie go "missing" due to USPS, and I've gotten a ridiculous amount over the years.