Blockbuster Targets ‘Furious’ Netflix Customers

MCKINNEY: Blockbuster is making an effort to lure Netflix subscribers who are upset about the company’s new DVD-only pricing plans, offering up a 30-day free trial to the Blockbuster Total Access package for customers who make the switch.

Blockbuster says its DVD-by-mail rental service includes many new release titles 28 days before Netflix, in-store exchanges at the company’s brick-and-mortar outlets, console games and no additional charges for Blu-ray films. The price is $9.99 for one-disc at a time and $14.99 for two-discs at a time. Netflix customers who make the switch will have a 30-day free trial.

The DVD rental chain is looking to take advantage of customer resentment at Netflix’s new pricing structure, which splits the DVD and streaming services, resulting in significant price increases for those subscribers who want access to both.

"Blockbuster quickly responded to the cries of Netflix customers," said Michael Kelly, the president of Blockbuster. "Blockbuster Total Access is Netflix ‘without the wait.’ The combination of DVDs by mail and unlimited in-store exchanges provides more than 100 million people living near Blockbuster stores immediate convenience and unparalleled choice."

Kelly continued, "We find it shocking that anyone would raise rates as high as 60 percent. In contrast, Blockbuster has worked hard over the past few months to deliver value in entertainment to consumers in this economy and has even reduced in-store movie rentals to as low as 49 cents."