DVD Rentals Review and comments..

Marty73 · Last edited by Marty73 on Fri Jan 14, 2005 4:32 pm; edited 6 times in total

In the last 2 weeks, I've registered with the following using their free trials:

lovefilm, screenselect, dvds365, video island, postadvd, blockbuster, moviechoices, and qflicks

The best (so far), based on speedy delivery, dvd selection and turn-around has been lovefilm and screenselect. Lovefilm has a great website and screenselect a large collection of dvds. The others are reasonable to pretty good standard, except for video island whom were the slowest, despite having a decent website.

I'll probably stick with lovefilm because of their website and speedy service and a cool rating system. If I'm not happy, I simply go elsewhere as the 'no obligation, cancel anytime' policy is awesome!

That's my 2 cents/pence worth, but everyone has a different experience - have fun!

Marty

JohnC · Joined: 17 Oct 2004 Posts: 14 Location: Horsham

The thing that I find frustrating about online rental companies is that they tend to send DVDs from way down the priority list. The odd day of extra turn-around time is not that important to me, but when I want to watch a certain DVD, I want to watch it. Which companies do you think send most new releases from the top of people’s lists?

Marty73 · Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2004 3:08 pm Post subject: In reply..

Hiya! Yes, that has been the case with a couple of the companies I registered with, but the 2 better companies mentioned (in my first msg) have sent at least 2 dvd's from within the top 5 in my list. Obviously the movies I have in my rental que are really varied and not been new releases, but I've probably been lucky so far anyway. I'm not too fussed what dvd's are sent but am sure there will be a time (when I've watched everything) when I really want to see a new release dvd and weeks go by before I get it. Good luck, and enjoy... Very Happy

Marty73 · Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2004 3:35 pm Post subject: Follow up..

VideoIsland has the slowest service/turnaround of all 8 companies I've been trialing, including PostaDVD and Qflicks whom have also been very slow. The best so far have been LoveFilm, ScreenSelect, DVDs365, and Blockbuster.

Marty73 · Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2004 7:20 pm Post subject: Update...

VideoIsland have actually improved after a slow start, and in fact PostaDVD are the worst; 4 days went by and no DVD. I emailed them and suggested that either the DVD's have been lost or their turn-around is too slow. The next day, my account was cancelled without warning. PostaDVD are no good in my books, whereas VideoIsland are better but still LoveFilm or ScreenSelect are the better choices.

the kid · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 66

yep

my 4 choice are

Lovefilm, Screenselect, Blockbuster and DVDS365

its all about the turn around time

Marty73 · Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2004 10:31 am Post subject: In reply..

Agreed. Of the 8 or so companies I've trialed, the turn-around was really good, for most, and in the last several weeks of these trials, I've had over 70 DVD's delivered. A lot of sitting in front of the TV, with friends and housemates. Shocked

I've become a Member with LoveFilm and ScreenSelect, but LoveFilm is my fave. Still intend trialing a couple more companies.. Yes, I must be bored. Confused

Found another useful DVD guide website: http://www.dvd-online-rental.co.uk/summary.asp, but not as good as DVD trials, of course (hi admin Wink

)

ArrGee1991 · Joined: 09 Nov 2004 Posts: 8

Marty73 · Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 1:10 pm Post subject: In reply..

Nice review ArrGee, and agree with your comments. In regards to rental que style, I prefer the numerical style, and not the star-rating style. I've lost count of all the companies I've trialed now Rolling Eyes

, so enjoy the rest of your trials (DVDs365 were pretty decent) and let us know who you go with at the end.

Marty73 · Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 1:12 pm Post subject: Follow up - closing review.

Marty73 · Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2004 10:53 am Post subject: Yet another year..

I haven't had a DVD for over a week.. damn holidays! Wink

..And there's stuff all on TV, aaargh! Rolling Eyes

All the best to you for the New Year and 2005 ...
I'm heading back to Australia in March, woohoooo! Exclamation

Marty73 · Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2005 12:53 pm Post subject: More trials..

Me again. In addition to all the other DVD companies I've trialed, I've now trialed:

mailboxmovies, e-global rentals, zoovies and cinema paradisol

Turn-around was good for mailboxmovies and zoovies, but slower for e-global (well, they are based in Glasgow). Dislike mailboxes and e-global's websites, zoovies is okay and not a huge DVD collection for all, and cinema paradiso is ordinary.. but they all do the job as expected.

That's it.. no more trials; I've done the majority of 'em on the list. Shocked

smorris05 · Joined: 12 Jan 2005 Posts: 2 Location: Belfast

Interesting reading. I quite new to this online rental thing & came across this site by accident, i'm glad i though. I've tried out Blockbuster, Screen Select & i'm currently with eevee.co.uk, which i can't seem to find on here? I didn't realise there are so many DVD Rental companies online.

The package im at the moment is for £9.99 Per Month & I get 3 DVD's at a time, which keeps me ticking over for a week. I don't get chance to cr*p loads in. To be fair i'm quite happy with it, but since i arrived at this site i've found myself becoming curious.
Compared to Blockbuster & Screen Select, eevee's website isn't brilliant but it does the job & if im gonna start comparing with the 2 other packages ive had, there "rental queue" isn't brilliant either....Actually its not that good, you can't change the order of it online, you have e-mail the new order to them should wish to change it which can be a pain in the backside.
However saying that if i ever really want something sent out before anything else, all i do is drop them an e-mail & ask for it. Usually there isn't a problem with it & its sent out next which for me is spot on. Oh & they notify me if the next DVD in my queue is out of stock & give me a date due for it with the option of hanging on a day or 2 till it comes back in.
There selection isn't massive, well on the site it isn't, it's mainly recent movies. But when ever i have asked them for a DVD which isn't on there site they have sourced it for me which again can be a pain but again it works well for me.
They don't have a free trial but they have got what i consider a very cheap set of packages. Is £9.99 Per Month cheap, i'm going off what i paid with screen select & blockbuster. They do pay as you go sameday but i think thats only available in certain areas & they do a Pay as you go system like blockbuster if your into that & you can buy new dvd's from them aswell, which was useful at christmas, but they ain't as cheap as play.
Turnaround is excellent unless something isn't in stock, which i explained above. Usually out the same day they recieve the returned one because again you get an e-mail saying recieved & when the next one has been sent.
Customer Service - Brilliant.

All in all eevee.co.uk services are brilliant, very quick turnaround, always new releases or nearly new releases (2 weeks old)if thats what you want and superb prices.
Bad points are they've got an average website, not much selection online & the rental queue isn't much good.[/url]

nastygirl · Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Posts: 2

I am also a member of eevee.co.uk although only on their pay as you go subscription. I am lucky enough to live in their sameday delivery area, its great I place my order in the afternoon and then get my DVD that night.

They have all the new releases so I am not stuck watching "TV movies".

I have also made a few suggestions for them to stock which they have acted upon and got for me within a week.....very good I thought!

I am considering upgrading to a pay monthly tariff.....unlimited £6.99 only one DVD at a time but as I have a life I do not get chance to watch DVD's all day, unlike some after reading this forum!

They don't have a free trial but I understand where they are coming from as after reading this it does not seem to generate repeat custom.....just pikeys looking for something for nothing and then have nothing better to do with their time than to complain about them.....its free for a reason people!!!

Marty73 · Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2005 3:08 pm Post subject: In Reply..

It looks to be a small company and new? Not exactly a big company with a flashy website like the others. I get the impression they work a little differently but obviously the same result - DVD rentals. If you're a happy customer, then so be it.. thanks for the postings. Very Happy

Nope, I have no life.. I'm a full-time Dad. Though it is a nice change from slaving away behind a desk. Wink