Do you think Netflix rentals are on the verge of ending?

[Bn43]

I used to be able to rent six discs a week. For the last about two years I've only been able to do three a week.

Also, I don't think I've ever seen my queue like this. So many of the titles I now add have wait times, alternating from very long to short to no wait time and back to very long again. Sometimes it takes months to get a disc. I've had Platoon and Point Break there for months.



They also no longer send you the next movie in your queue if one is not available at the nearest shipping center. That used to be so nice. You'd sometimes have four movies out at once.

[Monterey Jack]

This time last year, I was able to get two movies per week for my Halloween horror marathon. This year, I'm lucky to get a new disc every six days or so (and only if I get said disc into the mailbox the same day I receive it). It's almost not worth the monthly fee anymore.

[Michael24]

I hope not. It's been my main way to rent movies for almost 16 years now, especially since I rent a lot of older titles that Redbox will never carry. I haven't had many issues with waiting. Still seem to get my next title in just a few days.

[Bn43]

Originally Posted by Michael24

I hope not. It's been my main way to rent movies for almost 16 years now, especially since I rent a lot of older titles that Redbox will never carry. I haven't had many issues with waiting. Still seem to get my next title in just a few days.

"California"

Lucky. Pretty sure most of my rentals come from California. It would explain the three day shipping. I live in the rocky mountain area. There must have been a shipping center closer to me that was closed.

[Member-682067]

Yes. It's on it's way out for sure. Can't blame them for doing so.

[WBMakeVMarsMovieNOW]

Originally Posted by TV2693

Yes. It's on it's way out for sure. Can't blame them for doing so.

can blame them since they are the whole reason Blockbuster and physical rentals collapsed

[Member-682067]

Originally Posted by WBMakeVMarsMovieNOW

can blame them since they are the whole reason Blockbuster and physical rentals collapsed

Blockbuster was an exceptionally mediocre business because the of the waiting times for new releases, discs being unplayable, limited selection of older movies.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by WBMakeVMarsMovieNOW

can blame them since they are the whole reason Blockbuster and physical rentals collapsed

In a time before streaming, sure. But holding on to the past is no way to make progress. Physical rentals would've died with or without Netflix, because someone else would've done it.

[MrHT]

Why not just rent via Prime, Vudu, or GooglePlay? It's instantaneous and you don't have to deal with scratched discs that don't play.

[Bn43]

Originally Posted by MrHT

Why not just rent via Prime, Vudu, or GooglePlay? It's instantaneous and you don't have to deal with scratched discs that don't play.

Partly because it doesn't look or sound as good.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by MrHT

Why not just rent via Prime, Vudu, or GooglePlay? It's instantaneous and you don't have to deal with scratched discs that don't play.

Quality is the obvious answer.

[slimdude]

The conveniences of streaming and ordering VOD, PPV movies from home have put the video rental stores out of business. You don't have to worry about burning gas to drive back and forth for movies nor late fees. The last few Family Video stores that's left are remaining open to sell primarily CBD, not for movie rentals.

[ilovenola2]

Originally Posted by slimdude

The conveniences of streaming and ordering VOD, PPV movies from home have put the video rental stores out of business. You don't have to worry about burning gas to drive back and forth for movies nor late fees. The last few Family Video stores that's left are remaining open to sell primarily CBD, not for movie rentals.

"Now ain't that too damn bad!" -- South Pacific: song "Bloody Mary."

[Monterey Jack]

Originally Posted by MrHT

Why not just rent via Prime, Vudu, or GooglePlay? It's instantaneous and you don't have to deal with scratched discs that don't play.

Cost. A flat $10 a month -- even if I'm only getting a new movie every 5-6 days -- is a lot less expensive than renting them, especially with the ABSURD Covid-era $20 and $30 rentals.

[Bn43]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

Cost. A flat $10 a month -- even if I'm only getting a new movie every 5-6 days -- is a lot less expensive than renting them, especially with the ABSURD Covid-era $20 and $30 rentals.

Yeah, cost is a big one. I used to be able to rent 24 discs for just 20 dollars a month. 12 discs for 20 dollars is still okay. Comes to less than a dollar per movie. If I wanted to rent Point Break from Amazon or Apple it would cost me four times that.

Also, to MrHT, unplayable or skipping discs aren't that common. The last one I had was Dances with Wolves in early September, and before that The Untouchables a week before that. Netflix used to make the replacement disc an additional disc, but now it's part of your three max, sadly.

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by Bn43

Also, to MrHT, unplayable or skipping discs aren't that common. The last one I had was Dances with Wolves in early September, and before that The Untouchables a week before that. Netflix used to make the replacement disc an additional disc, but now it's part of your three max, sadly.

Yeah, I've tried the disc by mail rental several years ago and never liked it. I kept getting cracked/scratched discs. And a few times, Netflix claimed they never received my return. Too many issues. Not to mention that I have to walk to a mailbox or post office to mail back the discs.

Having said that, I actually liked the Blockbuster stores. They used to be expensive tho at $5 per rental. But it used to be fun going there and browsing through the shelves and they had candy and popcorn at the counter that you can buy along with your movies. Ah, what great times it was back then!

[erixon20]

I still use the 1 disc 9.99 a month-I like it for the quality of the discs. I assume as long as it is financially profitable for them to do it this way they will. They have ALOT more movies available on disc then they do on their streaming service.

[AmishParadise]

Originally Posted by erixon20

I still use the 1 disc 9.99 a month-I like it for the quality of the discs. I assume as long as it is financially profitable for them to do it this way they will. They have ALOT more movies available on disc then they do on their streaming service.

I'm on the same plan and have been since the beginning back when Netflix was just a disc rental service. I check my mail every day anyway. Not exactly inconvenient to have the next Blu-ray in my list appear in my mailbox every 3-4 days. And the discs arrive so clean you could eat off them. Receiving one that's damaged is very rare. In just a couple clicks you report it and they send you another copy. And yes, I have some Blu-ray's in my queue that show wait times, but just as many that don't. I don't rent DVD's, but I suspect I wouldn't see much in the way of wait times for DVD's. Their DVD library/quantity is larger, because DVD's have been around longer and were the only game in town for years prior to streaming being available. It would be nice if Netflix purchased more back catalog titles on Blu-ray, but most of those titles I want to own on Blu-ray anyway so.

[Bourne1886]

Originally Posted by MrHT

Why not just rent via Prime, Vudu, or GooglePlay? It's instantaneous and you don't have to deal with scratched discs that don't play.

The problem with that for me is the internet in my area is crap and secondly there is no subscription service over here. You have to pay for every single rental, so that can get bloody expensive!

Much prefer physical discs they are better quality.

[Gargus]

Originally Posted by MrHT

Why not just rent via Prime, Vudu, or GooglePlay? It's instantaneous and you don't have to deal with scratched discs that don't play.

Quality isn't as good.

It's more expensive if I want to see a newer movie the rental fee for a couple of those is more than I pay for Netflix.

I can rent some stuff on there that isn't available, or like in the case of say the ritual the intro and outro that had the crypt keeper segments is missing from the digital versions but is still in there on the physical discs.

I can watch it all I want and return it when I want vs a digital rent.

And because I like to support physical discs either in buying or renting through Netflix because I don't like supporting digital media unless I absolutely have no other choice and the price is very low.

I also don't like supporting so many separate streaming services. It's annoying and expensive to spread everything out so you can watch what you want. It's too fragment for my tastes.