Out of the online DVD rental options available in the U.S., the bulk of people sign up with one of the two giants for mainstream releases: either Blockbuster or Netflix. Both of these companies are well-known for many of their strengths, but many of their debacles have been swept under the rug over the past few years.

 

The reason most often cited for signing up with Blockbuster Total Access over Netflix is the large movie selection and the availability of in-store rentals and exchanges. This is indeed very beneficial, but not everyone has access to these benefits!

 

Your first option when signing up is to choose either the Total Access package or the mail-only package. The mail-only package works similarly to Netflix, while the Total Access package allows for a limited number of in-store exchanges, discounted game rentals, and fast returns via physical locations. Another benefit of both of these plans is the agreement with the U.S. Postal Service to barcode scan DVD returns, making the next shipment faster.

 

However, while movie selection is very broad, it’s not very deep. This means that new releases and popular movies are frequently out of stock. Additionally, Blockbuster is known for having slower turnaround times from their distribution centers, though these negatives are partially offset by the ability to walk into your local video store and find a release.

 

What you won’t often find in comparisons is the customer service aspect of the rental service. In most cases, the interactions are very professional, but in the dozens of detailed comments I’ve received on my blog, it’s evident to me that there is a fair amount of dissatisfaction with how customer issues are handled. Mistakes occur with both services, but a sign of a good company is how those mistakes are resolved.

 

The bottom line in which service is right for you will still probably fall back on whether selection and speed are favored over convenience and a local presence.