Letters to the Editor
healthyskeptic
Published Letters: 671 Editor's Choice: 14
-
I have both Netflix and Schlockbuster
[Read the article: Why Blockbuster is gaining on Netflix]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]While Schlockbuster offers in-store returns and instant rentals, a nice service, Netflix is the one I'd keep.
1) Netflix has a better inventory and has practically everything released on DVD. I store my queue in NF, and only transfer them to BB at the last moment. Often BB doesn't carry the DVD or the waiting list is long.
2) Netflix is run by a Libertarian and I've seen him interviewed on Charlie Rose and elsewhere. He seems to be very pro privacy rights of customer data, and against censorship of any kind. BB is run by conservative wingers who are known for influencing studios to censor movies, donating to conservative Republican politics, and I wouldn't trust them to maintain confidentiality any more than ATT.
3) Netflix has a better web site and better recommendations. Recently it added the ability to drag/drop queue items per BB, which was BB's only innovation I've seen. Netflix has been the innovator, BB the duopolist.
4) Schlockbuster has in-store returns, and exchanges, a useful service. However, that's useless for movies they don't carry. Netflix is already moving towards streaming movies on demand, which will eventually replace all DVD rentals. I suspect customers will get a better deal on viewing rights with NF than BB down the road.
5) I wouldn't trust BB for an instant about selling out data.
6) BB discs are dirtier requiring more customer cleaning. Frankly, BB either has lower quality control, or a lower quality of clientèle.
-
problems with Netflix
[Read the article: Why Blockbuster is gaining on Netflix]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I have to agree that Netflix has slowed down returns to maintain invisible quotas, and that is a problem. It's done for a fair reason, to maintain consistency of service to customers, but isn't disclosed as prominently as it should be.
Basically, they didn't disclose sufficiently that renting more movies puts you at the back of the queue to get new movies. So, if you turn-around quickly, you'll notice an increased wait time in getting replacements. That delay can sometimes occur at inconvienient times, and goes against the advertised all you can watch business model. Netflix I believe started hiding this from customers by delaying when they admit to having received a return.
So Netflix has problems too. But again, overall it's better than Blockbuster. Blockbuster is the WALMART of DVD rental in many ways. If it wasn't for competition, BB would be a far worse company than they already are.
-
duh
[Read the article: Miss dumb blond USA?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The obvious simple appropriate response is more emphasis on geography in schools, and for bonus points one could mention increased internationalism such as exchange students and multiculturalism clubs or such. She's not expected to write a doctorate thesis on the subject.
-
-- Quiet Type
[Read the article: Miss dumb blond USA?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Wait, you're worried about this painted doll's future? Are you kidding? Everybody now knows her name, everybody's now seen how gosh-darn pretty she is, half the world is jumping to act as her White Knight, she has been anointed with Matt Lauer's drool... she's got her spotlit career set now, light years ahead of any other pageant contestant or winner..
Exactly. That was my second thought after choking on my morning tea.
There is a very slim possibility she's actually incredibly clever, and intentionally gave such a mind bogglingly stupid, but perfectly comical, answer. Ending her babbling with "for the children" was perfect.
If she's as clever as a Paris Hilton, and could release her own video to YouTube, that was a very good move.
Even if it was accidental, already she's on the today Show and an overnight celeb. She's got a shot at the next screenplay needing a pretty bimbo character for a comedy, or any number of roles in advertising, and would bring her own "buzz" marketing advantage. For example, the Geico Cavemen schitck would work with a Pagent Bimbo just fine.
-
Clueless Manjoo, as usual
[Read the article: Does Blockbuster edit its movies?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The Internet abounds with stories about this, but Tami Cannizzaro, a spokeswoman for Blockbuster, says it's simply not true. "We have heard that for years," she told me this afternoon. "We don't get special versions nor do we ask the studios to make special versions. If we get a movie, it's the studio version."
BB has for decades been accused by film studio insiders of asserting pressure to have movie content watered down and effectively censored, in the official "studio version."
i.e. BB has/had so much market clout, and so much of movie revenue comes from video, that BB can influence studios to alter movies for more prominent placement in stores. The accusation that some have documented, has always been that BB has too much market share, and a willingness to inject executive ideology into cinema, by market clout and without any creative input, to essentially dumb down cinema.
It's also well known BB has a very conservative social agenda and for a long time resisted stocking many foreign and sub-culture films. To this day BB's inventory is lacking and rather vanilla, resulting in long waits and lack of choice. There are plenty of DVD I have in my Netflix queue that are either a long wait or unavailable on BB.
For example, "IF..." starring Malcom McDowell, winner of the Palm d'Or at Cannes. Available "NOW" from Netflix. "Very Long Wait" from BB. "Spaghetti West" a documentary about the spaghetti western, genre, such as Clint Eastwood's early work. Been a "short wait" for a long time from BB, available "NOW" from NF. I could list many, about 20% of what I watch from NF.
So what Tami Cannizzaro gave is a really an artful artful dodge, a non-denial, denial.
And if Majoo had bothered to do a little investigation before writing his article, he'd know that. But of course, Salon's B-grade click generators can't be expected to do much.