I'm sure most know about Netflix, but I don't. Just how does it work and what does it cost..?

Do they hassle you for up-grades etc.? I would appreciate any comments from list members.

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Regards,
Windjammer

Couldn't be easier. I have the 2 a month deal and I get about 4 to 6 sent to me depends how soon I get them back to them. I think I pay $14.?? with no hassle at all. Go for it . No problems here.

I have the 3 at a time deal (1 for me, 1 for the wife, and 1 for the daughter.) I think the 3 at a time plan is about $17-18 a month. It is very convenient, and works as advertised. You just go on-line and pick out the movies you want to watch and they send them to you in the order that you specify (assuming the next one is available). They even will suggest movies you might like, based on your ratings of ones you've already see.

You do get an occasional email telling you the benefits of upgrading, but not often enough that it's annoying.

I think it is definitely the way to go. It's especially nice for someone with a busy schedule. You can have the movie just sitting around waiting on you to have the time to watch it. I usually take 3 sittings to watch a full length movie, and sometimes that's not even on consecutive days. With Netflix, no problem. Keep it till your done, and send it in. It's usually only two days from the time I send a movie off until I get a new one.

Netflix and Blockbuster both have the online deal. I go with BB, but have used both.

Netflix has an option where you can download some movies right to your computer if you have the right connection. I use dial up, so that isn't an option.

Blockbuster has the option where you can trade in your online rentals in the store for a free in store rental. This is great for me because I pass a Blockbuster nearly every day, and it lets me get extra movies for what I pay. Also, when BB checks in your online movies at the store, it registers on your online account which speeds things up.

Both offer free trials, so I'd say use the trial for both and see which works best for you in your area.

In a nutshell, this is the procedure.

- Sign up for an account, log in and browse the movie selection.

- Find a movie you want to rent and add it to your queue.

- Netflix or BB will send you movies in the order you placed them depending on availability, and depending on your plan will send one, two or three DVDs.

- They come in an envelope which you open from the top and remove a sleeve with the DVD inside.

- Watch the movie and place in the back in the sleeve, which you then put back in the envelope, and using a peel off adhesive strip, re seal it.

- Pop it in the mail and wait for your next one. (Or with BB, drop it off at a store location for faster turn over time or to trade in for an instore DVD)

*** The BB 2 out unlimited through the mail with free ins store exchanges is $17, without the exchanges is $14 They upped their price, but I guess I've been grandfathered because I pay $14 for 2 out at a time and have unlimited instore exchanges.

You can drop the BB one off at the store for quicker turn over if you have the in store option or not, once they scan it at the store, online send you your next one...

If there's not a BB near you, and you don't have high speed connection, neither has as advantage because the price is the same. That's when you need to see which ships faster.

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- The Federalist #46 -

Netflix is easy. They charge your credit card a flat fee (varies from about $9-$20 depending upon package) and you create a list of movies you want to see thru your account on their website. The packages run from 3 number of movies per month -one movie out at a time up to unlimited movies per month three out to you 3 at a time (I think.)

The DVD's are mailed to your address with a return envelop attached. When you are done watching it, drop it in the mail. Once Netflix gets the DVD back, they will process the shipping for the next AVAILABLE movie from you list.

I used Netfix for about 6 months then cancelled. They have no new releases avialble. Once a movie was released on DVD, it would take about 6-10 months before I could get it thru Netfilx although there were tons of copies avialble at the rental joint.

If you like older movies and don't mind waiting 6-10 months to see a new release, Netflix is awesome. If you have seen all the old movies and want to watch the latest new releases in a timely fashion, Netflix probably isn't for you.

Super easy and no hassel for upgrades. We have the one movie deal for 8.99. We are in a rural area and before Netflix we were always late with returns and always paying late fees. So for us it works great. Turn around is fast usually the turn around for us in our area is about 4 days. If you in a city it is probably even faster.

If your on DSL or cable internet netflix even has movies you can view on your computer. We have verizon internet and are limited to how much we can use the computer so we can't use that option.

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Mike
USMCR 84-87, USAF 87-07

Most of the "available online" movies available from Netflix are very old - most at least a decade or more- unless they have changed the availability since I dropped it. Any newer movies online were ****** B-flicks.

Service was great with Netflix and the price was right. Hassel free and no late fees. My only gripe was that I couldn't get any new releases in a timely fasion....

Love Netflix. Easiest thing in the world, with no hassles at all.

+1 to 41Rem.

Plus if you get the 2 a month plan (or better) they give you the option of downloading "Netflix Viewer" software so you can stream movies directly to your computer. (not with dial-up though)

+1 for Blockbuster.

I do two out at a time unlimited rentals for month for $14 (I don't do the in store swap). I don't have fast internet so I can't use Netflix's online option. Plus there is a Blockbuster store on the same block as my shop... so I pass it every day. I drop it off in their drop box in the morning, and when I get home, it is already registered as being returned! It makes it a lot faster for me than it was using Netflix. I get the next one shipped a day or two sooner through Blockbuster than with Netflix.

Depending on your location though, and where each company's nearest distributor is will make a difference.

I also say use both free trials and see what you like.

Netflix works good for us as I am not much of a movie buff and am usually way behind the times in terms of watching movies that most people have already seen. Thus the availability of the latest new releases and such are really not that important to me.

- Very convenient to use

- Two day turnaround

- No pressure to return movies by X time. I will sometimes have a movie sit on the counter 3-4 weeks before I get around to watching it.

- They seem to have a good selection of HBO/showtime, and old tv series which I find more enjoyable than one-off movies. Things like Deadwood, Sopranos, The Waltons, Bonanza, Mayberry etc.

- You can put a temporary cancel on your account for X months which can be nice during the summer months when we watch little to no tv/movies because we are too busy working on the farm.

I've got the five a month deal with unlimited movie downloads. If we had had this when I was a kid, I never would have graduated.