Blockbuster closes the gap between online and in-store DVD rental

BLOCKBUSTER has announced this week that they are to offer high street rental as part of some of their online packages.

This means that as well as the usual postal service, if you just can't wait for your postie to turn up, you can also go into your local Blockbuster store and rent up to two DVDs per month.

How does it work?

Currently, when you sign up to any of Blockbuster's Xtra plans, which start from £6.49 per month, you get sent either one or two eCoupons each month that you simply print out and take to your local Blockbuster branch in exchange for your chosen title. (Terms & Conditions of the store apply).

If you aren't already, you'll need to be a member of the store you take your eCoupons to, but membership is free.

How much does it cost?

The Blockbuster 1 DVD Light Xtra package is the cheapest online/and off rental package at just £6.49 a month. For this you can rent up to 2 online titles a month, with 1 disc out at a time. Plus, with the new offline service, you'll get 1 eCoupon a month to exchange for DVD rental in your local store.

You can choose to pay more, with £10.99 getting you 4 online DVD rentals per month and 2 in-store rentals, or a little extra at £12.99 a month gets you unlimited online DVD rentals and 2 in-store rentals.

For the severe movie buffs, the £15.99 a month 2 DVD Unlimited Xtra package allows you an unlimited amount of movies to rent online, with a maximum of 2 discs at a time. You also get 2 eCoupons for offline rental.

You can even get the new in-store xtra rentals on games too, you'll just need to sign up for the 2 DVD Unlimited Gamer package (at £19.99) which gives you unlimited movie and games rental online (with 2 discs out at a time) and then 2 eCoupons to rent either a movie or a game in-store each month.

As an added bonus, to celebrate the launch of the new service, Blockbuster is offering the first month half price on the more popular 2 DVD Light Xtra and 2 DVD Unlimited Xtra plans.

If you're not such an avid film fan, you can still take advantage of the new high-street overhaul if you choose the 1 DVD Light plan for £4.88 a month. The plan, which allows you 2 online rentals, with 1 DVD at a time, will also send you an eCoupon that allows you one free in-store rental when you rent anything else in-store.

Why is it so great?

With Blockbuster as the only DVD rental company to offer a combined online/offline service, you won't find this kind of deal anywhere else.

Another exclusive to be had with Blockbuster is their list of titles that you can't rent - or buy - anywhere else at the moment, including Body of Lies, How To Lose Friends and Alienate People and Zack and Miri Make A Porno.

For the real film buffs, Blockbuster are also the only online retailer to send you any bonus discs as well as the main feature.
If you prefer to wave your Wii remotes around instead of watching films, Blockbuster's rental service isn't just for movies - you can rent games too, which applies to both the postal and the new in-store service too.

If something goes wrong with the service, you can either report it online, to save you the hassle of picking up the phone. But if telecommunication is your bag their UK based customer service line is available 6 days of the week.

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