Lovefilm/Easycinema BluRay service getting worse?

*andythescientis* · 20-05-2009, 9:11 AM

Has anyone else noticed blu ray service from lovefilm/easy cinema getting worse recently. Delivery of big titles has been slow up to 12 weeks for some new releases before i gave up..

Then there are other titles not making it into the list.. eg Underworld 3, released on monday but still unconfirmed for release date, and unavailable to rent?

I prefer easy cineama because of its pay as you use system rather than set monthly fees, but the service really seems to be going downhill with respect to blu's..

Noggin1980 · 20-05-2009, 9:18 AM

The thing that annoys me about lovefilm, is you create the account online, you deal with them completely online, you pay online, and the service and the customer service is all online but if you want to cancel then suddunly you need to ring up, made even worse by the fact the call centre is in india.

Goooner · 20-05-2009, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andythescientis

Has anyone else noticed blu ray service from lovefilm/easy cinema getting worse recently. Delivery of big titles has been slow up to 12 weeks for some new releases before i gave up..

Then there are other titles not making it into the list.. eg Underworld 3, released on monday but still unconfirmed for release date, and unavailable to rent?

I seem to get plenty of Blu Rays off them, at least 1 a week normally. Have to say I'm not bothered about getting big new releases quickly, I'm happy with them turning up as and when. I know it probably defeats the object a bit, but if there's a really big release that I'm desperate to see, it's usually something I've seen or know I will like and I end up buying it.

As for Underworld 3, is it in EIV release? If so, they don't do Blu Ray for rental, so Lovefilm aren't officially allowed to rent them out (although I've had the odd EIV release from them in the past).

There's a thread somewhere which a guy involved in the rental industry participated in which goes into a bit more detail. I think the long and the short of it was that rental BD versions weren't cost effective for EIV or something.

*andythescientis* · 20-05-2009, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goooner

As for Underworld 3, is it in EIV release? If so, they don't do Blu Ray for rental, so Lovefilm aren't officially allowed to rent them out (although I've had the odd EIV release from them in the past).

That would make sense.. but if that's the case why have the film on their list if they have no intention of stocking it? Particularly when it's available to rent elsewhere.. blockbuster have it online and instore for example, which makes me wonder how they are allowed to rent them if lovefilm aren't? Unless it's some kind of exclusive deal with blockbuster?

Goooner · 20-05-2009, 8:49 PM

I don't think they are allowed, the just do

If you ever rent one from them check the disk and see if it says "not for rental" or something on it. I suppose if nobody complains, they'll carry on doing it.

blaster9999 · 20-05-2009, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andythescientis

That would make sense.. but if that's the case why have the film on their list if they have no intention of stocking it? Particularly when it's available to rent elsewhere.. blockbuster have it online and instore for example, which makes me wonder how they are allowed to rent them if lovefilm aren't? Unless it's some kind of exclusive deal with blockbuster?

blockbuster own eiv

(used to be a joint venture with woolworths)

nwgarratt · 21-05-2009, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noggin1980

The thing that annoys me about lovefilm, is you create the account online, you deal with them completely online, you pay online, and the service and the customer service is all online but if you want to cancel then suddunly you need to ring up, made even worse by the fact the call centre is in india.

I cancelled online only a couple of months ago.

Up to then I was getting around 12 Blu Rays a month sometimes more.

A lot of EIV stuff is not for rent. It fills out there BD catalogue so it looks more than they actually have. When I tried the awful Blockbusters last year. They put films in their BD list not even out and so far they still haven't been released. Das Boot was one. They also liked to insert films out in the US in case a UK version comes out.

kbfern · 23-05-2009, 10:24 AM

I have been using Lovefilm for about 16 months now and have had around 180 movies from them.

That's an average of nearly 3 a week almost exclusively hd dvd and blu ray titles.This has cost me less than £1 per movie I think that's great as buying would have cost me a fortune.

I seem to get quite a decent amount of new releases within the first week or two they come out.

I have not noticed a downturn in the quality of their service lately.Sure once in a while they take an extra day to send out a movie but I can live with that.

The only real gripe is that you can't specify which movie they will send out at a given time.But if you want a particular movie rent it at blockbuster that will cost you at least £3.99 (IIRC).

dl2004 · 24-05-2009, 2:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noggin1980

The thing that annoys me about lovefilm, is you create the account online, you deal with them completely online, you pay online, and the service and the customer service is all online but if you want to cancel then suddunly you need to ring up, made even worse by the fact the call centre is in india.

Do it online after midnight and you dont have to speak to anyone.

nwgarratt · 24-05-2009, 3:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dl2004

Do it online after midnight and you dont have to speak to anyone.

I did mine about 8pm.

Hawkesley · 29-05-2009, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andythescientis

Has anyone else noticed blu ray service from lovefilm/easy cinema getting worse recently. Delivery of big titles has been slow up to 12 weeks for some new releases before i gave up..

Well I changed most of my titles to the blu-ray version when I got my player back around February time. I've noticed that I never get the new releases for ages. I'm still waiting to watch Tropic Thunder which I've had on "high priority" since it came out.

The latest disc they sent me was from my medium priority section as they obviously didn't have any blu-rays available from my high priority selection. I'm on the 3 discs a month package and I don't know if this makes a difference to how quickly you get the latest films?

kbfern · 29-05-2009, 2:31 PM

I had Tropic thunder on blu 19th May and it wasn't even on my priority list.

Mind you I thought it was a poor movie anyway

vader100 · 12-06-2009, 4:50 PM

Last couple of weeks I have had a lot more Blurays through from LF. Maybe they have got lot more in stock recently.

blaster9999 · 15-06-2009, 5:18 AM

Just tried blockbuster they don't do free trials of lovefilm length, but if you are a paying customer worth trying. Just got not only a one day turn around (which love never did for me), But it was Grand Torino which was my list no. 1 on launch. Never got a blu that quickly from lovefilm ever. Also lovefilm wont have this until the end of June !!

vader100 · 15-06-2009, 6:56 AM

I got Slumdog millionaire and the Wrestler BD's on the day of release with LF.

blaster9999 · 15-06-2009, 9:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vader100

I got Slumdog millionaire and the Wrestler BD's on the day of release with LF.

maybe LF have increased the no. of discs ? As I said never happened with me, at least it earlier than LF

jon12355 · 16-06-2009, 4:29 PM

Quick question, I am new to lovefilm, usually I dont add 2 disk blu-ray to my list because I assumed that the extras would take up an extra disk. However, I wanted to see Benjamin Button. It said today that "Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The - BLU-RAY Version - Feature" had been added. I thought this was the extra disk but then Benjamin Button was removed from my list. Will I get both disks in one? I have a 3 disk package with 2 at home at the minute.

Thanks

Goooner · 16-06-2009, 8:20 PM

Normally, in my experience anyway (also on the 3 at once package) you'll just get the feature. Then you can either delete the extras disc if you don't want it or leave it in your list if you do.

kbfern · 18-06-2009, 8:15 AM

The Benjamin Button disc shows as 2 disc's but you can't seem to delete the extras disc.I have tried to delete the extra disc but this deletes the whole movie.

I hope this only counts as one choice as I am only on the 2 disc at a time package.

Goooner · 18-06-2009, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbfern

The Benjamin Button disc shows as 2 disc's but you can't seem to delete the extras disc.I have tried to delete the extra disc but this deletes the whole movie.

I hope this only counts as one choice as I am only on the 2 disc at a time package.

Once you've received the first disc (or even as soon as it's allocated on your rental list) you should be able to go in and delete the extas disc.

chrisuk01 · 08-07-2009, 6:11 PM

whats the legal situation if i rent a dvd one o0f the places mentioned in thread.

Is it allowed to put the movie onto your computer so you can watch at a later date ?

Or do you need to actually own it to do this.

thanks

Goooner · 08-07-2009, 9:10 PM

I doubt it'd be legal, strictly speaking, but who would know if you did it anyway?

vader100 · 15-07-2009, 7:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisuk01

whats the legal situation if i rent a dvd one o0f the places mentioned in thread.

Is it allowed to put the movie onto your computer so you can watch at a later date ?

Or do you need to actually own it to do this.

thanks

Whether you own it or not it is illegal to rip it because you are circumventing the copyright protection on the disc.

kbfern · 14-08-2009, 9:01 AM

I have been happy with lovefilm but in the last few weeks their service seems to have deteriorated.

If I have sent 2 disc's back to them at a time they send 1 new disc out generally the same day they have received it. But they do not send me a second disc out for at least an extra day (or as in this weeks case 3 days and still waiting for the second disc to be sent out to me).

Then this morning I had this e-mail from them:

Dear Keith,

Thank you for your recent email.

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused.

We can confirm to you that you have added only blu-ray version discs to your selection list and please be advised that the copies of these versions available will be less than that of the standard DVD versions. We can see from our records that these are presently in high demand and delays are likely to occur as this was a recent addition to our DVD rental service.

Could you please add more standard DVD version titles to your selection list as soon as possible, so that we will be able to dispatched the next set of available titles from your selection list soon after.

Should you have any more questions, please do let us know and we will be happy to assist you.

Please let us know if this answered your question.
If yes, click here:

I am not happy about this and have sent them a reply along the lines of if you cant guarantee prompt turn round on movie's (bluray only) as I have no interest in standard dvd perhaps I need to look for another supplier.

I appreciate that they will stock less bluray than sd dvd but as numbers of bluray users is increasing they need to ramp up supplies to reflect this.

I usually keep 10-15 disc's in my to watch list so they should have no difficulty keeping me supplied.In fairness to them in the past things have been good but lately their service has got worse and I am not willing to put up with it.

I will let you know what they say when I get a response.

Goooner · 14-08-2009, 9:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbfern

I have been happy with lovefilm but in the last few weeks their service seems to have deteriorated.

I am not happy about this and have sent them a reply along the lines of if you cant guarantee prompt turn round on movie's (bluray only) as I have no interest in standard dvd perhaps I need to look for another supplier.

The trouble is, there are pretty much no other suppliers now, Lovefilm having bought out most of the competition

kbfern · 14-08-2009, 9:56 PM

Agreed,but if they don't pull there socks up I shall have to rent from a blockbuster store again.

They have been having a few deals on lately 4 for a £10 (sd dvd or bluray) and at least you can pick what you want on the night unlike lovefilm where they send whats available from your list.

I would prefer to stick with lovefilm but if they start to muck me about I will give them a miss for a while.

I have been adding movies that I have not been that bothered about seeing anyway as there have not been that many must see releases this year.Maybe just go with Blockie's for a few months and just see what I want to see on the nights I want to see them.