Blockbuster Online Review

Here's my story...Being a mom of three and trying to get control of an always in-the-red budget, I was trying to find weekend entertainment for my older kids that didn't leave me in the trenches between meanie mom, who never lets the kids "do anything fun," and responsible mom, who pays the bills. So, I opted to rent some movies at the local Blockbuster. The kids and I picked out three movies to watch and stood in line. A slight and cheerful young lady greeted us. I was watching her scan my movies out, when I suddenly noticed a little Blockbuster Total Access coupon/advertisement next to me on the counter.

The advertisement offered a free two-week trial membership for online movie rentals, plus a free movie rental coupon that I could use immediately! Don't know about you, but getting almost $5 off my bill immediately sounded like a good deal! So, I signed up right there at the store.

But, I was wrong...It wasn't a good deal, it was a FABULOUS deal! A steal of a deal!

A few days after registering for Blockbuster's Total Access, my first series of three movies arrived in the mail. Not knowing what to expect the packaging to look like, my other half, thought the movies were advertisements for internet service or some other junk mail and set them in a pile by our garbage can. I found the envelopes a day later and was delighted to see they were exactly the same movies I'd always found at Blockbuster. The mailing package, approximately the size of a half-sheet of paper with the Blockbuster logo and colors, doubled as a return envelope.

So, where's the "steal of a deal," you ask? Are you sitting down? In my excitement over saving almost $5 when I signed up, I failed to read all the details...the B-E-N-E-F-I-T-S of Blockbuster Total Access. It's really what sets them apart from other online movie rental services. There is NO WAIT TIME FOR YOUR MOVIES! You see, when you are finished with the movie, you place it in the return envelop and, instead of dropping the return envelope in a post box, you take it to your local Blockbuster. That fabulous little envelope then magically turns into a free movie rental coupon. Quite nifty, ehh???

So here's the skinny...for a around $20 a month, which is about the cost of four movies, paid in advance, I receive three movies at a time in the mail. These are movies I select and place in a queue, or waiting list. When I'm finished watching the movies, I take them to Blockbuster, pick out three new movies, wait in line (courtesy, you know) and exchange my three watched movies from Blockbuster Total Access for three new movies from Blockbuster, FOR FREE. In one visit, I'm already getting two more movies than I paid for with my monthly membership.

And it gets better...oh, so better. That was just one mailing from Blockbuster Total Access. When you return the mailed movies to the store, Blockbuster scans in the movies, which generates a new "mailing" order for Blockbuster Total Access. Within a few days, a new set of movies arrive. Are you with me so far?

Let's recap: my monthly membership fee is $20. My first mailing, plus free movie rentals has an approximate value of $30. So, I'm ahead by $10. Okay. Great!

Now, I've actually had up to two mailings in a week. So, by week's end, I've spent $20 up front, rented $60 worth of movies and saved $40. Week two comes along and I get another $60 worth of movie rentals. Fast forward to month's end. I get $60 worth of movie rentals each week, totaling approximately $240 worth of movie rentals for the cost of my initial $20 monthly membership fee. That's approximately $220 worth of movie rentals for FREE!

Now, for the cherry on top...every month I get a coupon for an additional movie rental or a free game rental. Don't know about you, but I have three children. Games cost about twice that of a movie. I use the coupon for a game rental.

I imagine you're probably wondering whether I actually watch that many movies per day, week or month, right? Well, truth be told, no. I generally watch about four to six movies per week. My children, however, watch four to six moveis per week; I rent a bunch of children's movies each month, as well. So, in the end, yes, I am really getting about ten times my initial investment in movie (and a game) rentals each month.

Blockbuster Total Access? Or other online movie rental services...NOT!

Oh, and just in case you are wondering, I am not affiliated, in any way, with any of the entities listed above. I'm just a happy work at home Mom who found a steal-of-a-deal and want to pass the savings on to others.

Best wishes to all!