Netflix or Redbox?

[Villano]

Well, it finally happened, the last video store in town is closing its doors. This leaves me with two options: Redbox or Netflix. I've never used either, so I wanted to ask some questions and get your opinions of them.

First, Netflix. From what I understand, you don't download the movie temporarily, you watch it online. If that's the case, how easy is it to watch the movies? Any buffering problems?

I have a PS3, so I can watch a movie on that. If someone is on the computer, will it affect the movie I'm watching? For that matter, can someone watch a movie on the computer while someone is watching one on the PS3?

Also, I rarely watch a movie from start to finish in one sitting (a bad habit, I know), so can you watch a movie, stop it, and then pick it up from the same spot at a later date?

Lastly, I'm considering the online video and DVD rental combo (since the PS3 and computer aren't in the living room). How good is the rental service? Any problems with discs you return getting lost in the mail?

Now, Rebox. What kind of selection do they usually have? Is it just new releases or do they have older films in the machines too? Is it easy to browse or do you pretty much have to know what you want before you get there?

When you rent a DVD, you use a credit card and are charged per day. Now, I've twice had problems with video stores saying that I never returned a movie I rented (in one case I never even rented said movie to begin with), so this leaves me a little worried. I don't want to rent a movie and then get a credit card bill with a month of charges because a computer didn't recognize that I returned it (my video store problems were solved because I had actual employees to talk to who could check to see if the movies were in fact in the store). Anyone ever have a problem like that?

Currently, I think I'm leaning toward Netflix, but I wanted some imput before I decide.

 

[Gilladian]

I have no experience with Redbox; my understanding is that you walk up to the box, get whatever happens to not be out of stock and that's that... but I could be wrong.

I use Netflix constantly. There are several options -- discs via mail -- quick and surprisingly convenient. No late charges, ever! Never had a lost disc, and only ever had one come to me damaged. I emailed them and they sent a new disc the very same day.
Watch online - I very rarely have problems with buffering, but I suspect a LOT depends on the speed of your internet connection. We're fairly high-speed, with cable-service providing our internet, phone, etc... We watch movies and surf on our two iPads at the same time on a regular basis.... so definitely you should be able to use the computer and watch. You can pause and restart easily, and if you stop in the middle, it will save your spot in several different movies (three, I think). And if you switch devices in the middle, your spot is saved no matter where you start up again.

Selection - I find it reasonably good. Sometimes they're slow to get a new season of a TV show, and there are a few odd gaps in things that they have on disc but not as instant-streaming. Waiting for new releases on disc or to hit streaming can be a pain; I still haven't watched Hunger Games, for example. Then again, I haven't checked on it in a while, either.

I remember rental store problems - like the time they told me I checked out three spanish-language children's videos and didn't return them. Fortunately, it was easy to prove that I NEVER rented spanish-language OR children's movies, since I have no kids! I've never had that kind of problem with Netflix.

Oh, and as a third option - check your local library to see what they have in the way of movies; we carry a LOT of popular titles and get them pretty quickly, mostly (there's one company that embargoes libraries for a month after DVD release. Grrrrrr...). Getting on the waiting list is just a matter of knowing when new movies appear in the catalog, and what is being released any given week that you want to see.

 

[Fast Learner]

They complement each other nicely: Netflix streaming for a wide variety of movies, shows, documentaries, etc., and Redbox for the occasional desire to rent something recent.

 

[Janx]

I've been using Netflix for several years now.

works great. The ps3, xbox, iThing can all watch movies. And it remembers my place. no deadline to finish the movie, unlike renting from Sony/Microsoft directly via their movie feature.

The disc rentals work great. Pick your list of movies on their web site, and they send them as fast as you can watch and return the disk. I get a movie every 3 days if I watch it the night I recieve it and mail it out in the morning.

If a disk is bad, go to the site, and it shows your current check-out. You click the report a problem button and tell them what happened. They tell you to send the disk back and the replacement is already on its way.

One year, when the alignment of holidays meant a long gap in mail service, they sent 2 discs out. Just to as a courtesy so folks would have something to watch.

One time, I accidentally grabbed an Xbox game from the drive (I have 2 drives on my xbox) instead of the netflix movie in the other drive and sent it in the packet. They emailed me about it, mailed my game back, and waited for me to send the original movie back. That was REALLY nice of them to detect that and help solve it.

Netflix only sends one disk at a time (unless you buy the 2 disc package). They don't charge you late fees or overages because you get to keep the disc for as long as you want.

 

[Mercutio01]

They complement each other nicely: Netflix streaming for a wide variety of movies, shows, documentaries, etc., and Redbox for the occasional desire to rent something recent.

This was going to be my suggestion. My wife and I currently have the streaming plus 1 disc, but as Netflix's streaming options get better, our use of the discs drops. At one point a few years ago we had the 2 discs at a time option with a queue for me and one for her. I think after we're done the last disc of last season's Fringe (not on streaming, sadly), we'll drop the disc plan altogether and just use the library or Redbox for discs.

 

[Alarian]

I haven't used Netflix in quite a few years and I've never used Redbox but my brother uses RedBox extensively and he loves it. He says you can download an app that allows you to request a movie and it will show you all the RedBox locations near you and which one has the movie in stock. You can then rent/reserve the movie in the app and you will be guaranteed a copy when you go to the location where you rented it from. He can't speak highly enough of it.

 

[ggroy]

(Offtopic rant).

Maybe I'm just becoming more jaded and cynical as I get older.

At times I wonder why I even bother buying/renting movies anymore. It seems like every time I bring home a new dvd/bluray title, I usually feel disappointed after watching it. (This includes many of my favorite movies I use to like watching a lot, from when I was younger).

Over the last year or so, I picked up many blurays of new titles and older favorite movies. At first it seemed cool and exciting watching such old movies again and newer stuff, all in 1080p HD resolution and surround sound. But after a year of watching and buying numerous bluray movies for around $5 to $10 a pop, it seems like the novelty wore off relatively quickly. At times I was repeatedly asking myself "what was I thinking?" more than 25+ years ago.

Over the last two years or so, I suspect I was going through a "midlife crisis". It may sound strange, but I found myself feeling nostalgic for old tv shows and movies from when I was a kid/teenager. So I was also looking for more recent tv shows + movies (mostly sci-fi and action type stuff), which resembled the types of shows and films I use to watch a lot when I was a kid/teenager.


Recently I lowered my standards and have resorted to watching late night movies on various cable channels (ie. scifi, etc ...), usually before going to bed. So many movies and tv shows which I otherwise would have picked up on bluray (or via netflix), turned out to be rather mediocre or outright awful.

 

[Elf Witch]

I think Redbook is fine if you only want new releases they don't have a lot of older movies. You also have to drive to one stand in line to get your DVD and then return it. This si why I like Netflix I had the streaming plus one disc. I used the disc to get movies and shows that are not available on streaming. I love the convenience of having it mailed to my house. It means I usually have to wait for new releases but if I didn't see it in the theater I can wait. One of the things Netflix does that kind of angers me is that the long you have an account the longer you have to wait for new releases it is there way of keeping new people happy.

I live in the same city as a major Netflix distribution center so my turn around is fast. If I get something in the mail at the post office first thing they get it hat day and sometimes I have gotten a disc the next day or second day the latest.

 

[Stumblewyk]

I have the streaming option for Netflix, and use Redbox frequently. The Redbox app on my phone and Kindle Fire make renting from my local kiosks a BREEZE. I can browse each kiosk's stock, pick the movies I want, reserve them online, and then just walk up to the kiosk and swipe my card. BAM, there are my movies. So easy.

I stream Netflix for TV shows mostly. I like catching up on old shows that got cancelled. It's also great for documentaries and indie flicks. Regarding the "Person A is streaming a movie and Person B is surfing the web" thing, my wife and I have never had a problem with that, and I only have the cheapest (read: unadvertised) speed that Comcast/Xfinity offers for broadband cable internet. Works like a charm.

All told, I've been using Redbox for about 2-3 years now, and Netflix streaming for the last 6 months. I'm pleased with both, and intend to keep both. In fact, at one point, I was going sans-cable TV and watching Netflix and Redbox exclusively. But I missed baseball too much...

 

[Nellisir]

Selection at Redbox is limited. 30-40 titles per unit, maybe? There are a few places around town here that have two units side by side. One MAJOR annoyance with redbox movies is that a lot of them now come with 20 minutes of ads before the movie, usually from the movie studio. You can't skip it or fast-forward, so put it on and let it play while you load the dishwasher, feed the cat, and make popcorn.

We were on streaming+1, but with my schedule and my wife's disinclination to watch movies, we often went a few weeks before watching a DVD. Didn't seem worth it after they split the service. Might change now that I'm not in school. My daughter and I often stream movies simultaneously, never had a problem. The movie will pick up wherever you leave off. The streaming selection tends to be a bit older, and there are gaps that I assume have to do with studios - there are classic movies you can't stream through Netflix.

Amazon is another option. I have not explored that one nearly as much. Between Netflix, Amazon, and the networks, though, I would cheerfully give up cable. Can't convince my wife, though. :/