Blockbuster mail plan
The nostalgia!
Blockbuster was a popular video rental chain that was once a household name. In its heyday, the company offered a mail-based rental service, known as Blockbuster by Mail, which allowed customers to rent DVDs and VHS tapes by mail. Here's an overview of the plan:
How it worked:
- Customers would sign up for the service and receive a welcome package with a catalog of available titles.
- They would browse the catalog, select the movies they wanted to rent, and fill out a rental request form.
- The selected titles would be shipped to the customer's doorstep via mail.
- The customer would watch the movies and then return them to Blockbuster using a pre-paid return envelope.
- The returned movies would be credited to the customer's account, and they could then request new titles.
Features and benefits:
- Convenience: Customers could rent movies from the comfort of their own homes, without having to visit a physical store.
- Wide selection: Blockbuster's mail plan offered a vast library of titles, including new releases and classic films.
- No late fees: As long as customers returned the movies within the allotted time frame, they wouldn't incur late fees.
- No due dates: Customers could keep the movies for as long as they wanted, as long as they returned them when they were finished.
Pricing:
- The cost of the service varied depending on the number of movies rented at a time. For example, a 3-movie plan might cost around $20 per month.
- Additional fees might apply for special features, such as Blu-ray discs or 3D movies.
Decline and discontinuation:
- With the rise of streaming services like Netflix, Blockbuster's mail plan became less popular.
- In 2013, Blockbuster filed for bankruptcy and closed many of its physical stores.
- The company eventually discontinued its mail plan, focusing on its remaining physical stores and online streaming service.
While Blockbuster's mail plan is no longer available, it remains a nostalgic reminder of the early days of home video rentals.