NetFlix or LoveFilm?

[dfletch08]

Thinking about joining one of these services and would like some feedbacl from anyone who ha used either service.

Discuss.

[valda]

I'd like to know about netflix too. I wasn't very happy with Lovefilm

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

I missed this thread, sorry I didnt contribute earlier to it. I am using Lovefilm and Netflix. In the past Lovefilm disappointed me with too many dud DVDs and not getting the films I want on queue. However, I rejoined it 3 months ago and have enjoyed it ever since. The queuing system has vastly improved with the introduction of separate lists and priority marking of the urgent films/games you want. The library is bigger than any of the competitors. I have never received a damaged disc yet. I actually damaged one myself by accident (though it was because some of the seal from the envelope got stuck on the disk and it peeled off). Lovefilm customer service are very friendly and quick to resolve any issue by sending me replacements. If you have a Wii, PS3, PS2, XBox, DS, you can also borrow games as well as Blu Ray and Dvds. The pricing is very good. They also have a fairly large number of movies/tv series which you can also watch online. However, this is just a bonus really and picture quality is just standard definition but better quality than it used to be since they changed the playing software to Silverlight.

Netflix came out a month ago. Its purely an ONLINE service. They dont do rentals hence why they only cost £6 per month. Their catalogue is very small (much smaller than Lovefilm at the moment). However, they have a bigger TV series content. Even in the US their strength was their TV content, they never had a large selection of movies. I dont quite like the user interface and how the films are categorised, it seems restricting compared to Lovefilm. BUT many of the movies and TV shows are in HD quality with 5.1 surround sound. Thats a big pulling point as well its affordable £6 monthly price tag. But even though its HD, Blu Rays still have superior picture quality and framerate and sound. I am starting to watch Dollhouse on it and enjoying the quality. I am keeping Netflix as a top up for now to Lovefilm because Netflix has just about enough TV content stuff I like to watch online that serves as a nice convenient quick fix. Although, I can borrow the titles from Lovefilm, its more awkward when it comes to TV series as they come on several disks, though Lovefilm always ensure that when a tv series is rented, all disks are sent in consecutive sequence.

Both Lovefilm and Netflix will be expanding libraries in near future as both are competing to sign up with more distributors. They are 2 completely different services and the choice comes down to the following:

1: You want to have the convenience of watching instant online films/TV series in high quality sound and picture and p*y just £6 per month but dont mind the narrow library selection then choose Netflix (you must have at least 7mb download speeds to capitalize on this)
2. You want ONLINE viewing but dont mind not having HD quality but you want the cheapest package and wider choice of films then choose Lovefilm because they're online package is just £5 per month. They just introduced this when Netflix arrived!
3: You want to rent Blu Rays (highest quality) but dont mind to be waiting for them in the post (Lovefilm are quick to dispatch first class). Prices very depending on how many Blus/dvds you have at home simultaneously. Then Choose Lovefilm.
4. You want to watch old classics you've heard about and you want a much wider choice then choose Lovefilm which has a huge library of films, many also available to watch online.
5. You want to also rent games then choose Lovefilm

Lovefilm has all sorts of packages which range from £5 (online instant watch) to £15 (3 blurays/games at home, unlimited online instant watch).

Netflix had a lot of hype as it was a service US had for many years. However, it never had a large movie database, its strengths were on TV content and I think the same will apply in UK. It will not have rentals for the foreseeable future. Customer service is currently based in US (via the freephone number). Americans are the best in the world for friendly customer service, they just have that in their nature. So its pleasant to talk to them if any issues. I called them a couple of times to ask them stuff.

Lovefilm are also very friendly. I called them up a few times too to ask them stuff and about the damaged disc that I caused. No frustrations.

I know a lot of people who were on Lovefilm in the past, like me and hated it but they really have improved a great deal since. One big improvement is the queuing system. Say you are on a 3 disk package for films and games. You can create several queue lists, as many as you like and assign each disk to a queue. So for instance, I create 7 lists. A Games list, A Tej's films list, a Bollywood film list, A tv series list, a Classic films list, a Martial Arts film list and an animated films list. I can only have 3 disks at home at any one time so right now I'm in the mood for a game, a hong kong movie, and a cartoon. So I can appoint my next rentals by marking the 3 appropriate lists as active. Furthermore, they have priority markers too for each list. So if I want Sex and Zen from the hong kong list, 9/10 times I will get that as my next movie. The priority marked films have worked well even with very new releases.

So you can choose between the 2 very different services or like me, have both :)

[anakin]

One thing that has annoyed me about LoveFilm recently is the unavailability of newer films, with no reason (even though customers have posted comments, asking). Annoyingly, can't think of any examples (saw one the other day). On the whole though, I like LoveFilm - it's not perfect, but it's perfectly fine!

[anakin]

Oh, if someone wants to try it, I have a bunch of codes that will give you a free couple of months, and will give us a treat too. If you want one, PM me.
Presume all the other users will have these too.

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

Oh, if someone wants to try it, I have a bunch of codes that will give you a free couple of months, and will give us a treat too. If you want one, PM me.
Presume all the other users will have these too.

Yeah, I think we all received that letter :) I will gladly give my codes to those I know well on here if any interested too.

Jesus, my post is really long and repetitive...typical of me! I need to edit that s*** down!

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

One thing that has annoyed me about LoveFilm recently is the unavailability of newer films, with no reason (even though customers have posted comments, asking). Annoyingly, can't think of any examples (saw one the other day). On the whole though, I like LoveFilm - it's not perfect, but it's perfectly fine!

They are working on that, signing up with Warner Brothers and some other distributers, so a flood of new films will become available soon. My big recent disappointment was no Rise of the Planet of the Apes But I have whole lot of films I own and I dont really need to keep so I will traded a couple of them for Rise :)

[anakin]

Traded? Where? Can I get rid of some of husbands rubbish films for a nice chick flick???

[99h13]

I have "Lovefilm" my package is x2 dvd's & unlimited movies online for £9.99 a month, I mainly got it for the online usage but the films are terrible, the latest updated films this week are Source code (2011), Harry potter & the Deathly Hallows Part2 (2011), Four Lions (2010), Unknown (2011) & Submarine? (2010) and also some you have to p*y an additional rental cost for, which I think is a joke! So I now mainly use it for new released dvd's to be sent home as it seems they only put them online to watch 12months later.

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

Traded? Where? Can I get rid of some of husbands rubbish films for a nice chick flick???

http://uk.webuy.com/

CEX. They have branches all over London :) Go get your chick flick, girl, but leave your hubbies Trekkie films and the Arnold Schwarzenegger collection alone!