LOVEFiLM Review Good or Bad?
June 28th, 2010 Filed under: Movies — Movie Critic
So, I was talking to a friend of mine a while back, and the topic of conversation, as it often does, moved onto that of movies. It transpired that we enjoyed the same types of film and the conversation continued in this vein. It was around then that he told me about a service he was using called LOVEFiLM. I wasn’t a stranger to the idea of LOVEFiLM, however I had always thought that it was a complex system, so I asked him to clarify a few things for me.
I have to admit, I was incredibly impressed – I had made assumptions that turned out to be incorrect. So I’ll share a few details I was a little murky on. But first I’ll give you a quick overview of how LOVEFiLM works. You may sort of know the stuff in the next part – if so, feel free to read forward. Also look out for the LOVEFiLM promo code at the end of this article.
How does LOVEFiLM work?
In short, you create an account, select a package type – I’ll explain those shortly – and then you can start borrowing movies. Select your movies and they’ll pop along in the post to you. When you’re done with them, post them back and choose some more. Great idea, don’t you think? If, like me, you have more questions about how it all works, read on, and hopefully I can answer them for you.
How many films are there to choose from?
For some reason I had it in my head that they didn’t have very many films to choose from. My friend said that he actually found it hard to find movies they didn’t have. My subsequent research has told me that, indeed, they hold over 67,000 movies, so the issue of choice isn’t really a problem.
Can I borrow Blu-rays?
Of course you’d expect that you could borrow DVDs, but the cool thing is that you can borrow Blu-rays too.
How long do I have to wait for the film(s) to arrive?
My friend told me that they usually arrived the day after he ordered them, or the day after that, depending on the time that he placed the order. Packages are usually received the next day, as they’re posted out first class. This is not bad at all.
Will they have trouble delivering the films to me?
They aren’t packed up inside their DVD cases, so the parcels are very small and not very thick – basically you should have no problem having them delivered to you.
But what if I don’t get the chance to see the films?
The cool thing is they have really thought about this, and have come up with a solution. You’re encouraged to hold onto films for as long as you need them, and you send them back once you’re done. LOVEFiLM have no concept of charging for borrowing things for longer.
How much does it set you back to send movies back?
I was trying to factor in postage into everything, so that I could come up with a fair overall cost, however it turns out they’re one step ahead of me (again). They provide postage-paid envelopes in which to send movies back.
How many movies can I borrow at a time, and how many can I borrow over the course of a month?
This is where it does get a little more complicated, though thankfully not by much. LOVEFiLM will have a package to suit your needs – whether you watch a few of movies every month, or a few every day!. The simple answer here is that you can borrow from 1 to 3 movies at a time, and, while light users can only borrow 2 movies per month, users at the other end of the scale can borrow as many as they like – it’s truly unlimited. Of course the package costs reflect this, but as they range from £3.99 per month to £15.99 per month, there should be something for everyone in there.
What if I decide it’s not for me?
As there’s no contract, there’s no commitment, so to cancel would offer you no hurdles.
That sounds pretty cool. What else do they offer?
In addition to these services, LOVEFiLM also provide a bunch more, which I’ll try to go into now.
Buy movies
If you fancy keeping a film forever, you have the option of buying a copy from LOVEFiLM too. You can buy brand new movies or second-hand ones. The cost for new movies is comparable to what is available elsewhere in the market, but if you don’t mind buying a second-hand disc, you could save a lot of cash.
Catch films online
If you like to watch movies on your computer, then you’ll probably find something that interests you on their site. While there are some completely free to watch movies, most are pay-per-view. In addition, some of the movies are free for anyone, whether they are signed up or not. Offering movies to watch online does seem to be a new string to their bow, so I imagine this area will grow and offer more over time.
TV shows
It’s not just films available for borrowing – they have TV shows as well.
Video games
Additionally, there is a large collection of console games to choose to borrow from. You’ll find many games for many consoles, including PS2, PS3, PSP, Xbox, Xbox 360, Wii, DS and Gamecube. If you are into gaming, do bear in mind that you can keep hold of these games for as long as it takes to finish them! The games plans are a bit more costly but in my opinion, if you’re a gamer they are well worth it.
So, any good?
I was undecided before talking to my pal, but he talked me into it. I’ve received my movies when expected, and sending them back is as effortless as popping them into the nearest post-box. To me, the 1 month free trial made it a no-brainer – I could try it out without any commitment. I’ve not rented any games yet, but if it’s as simple as borrowing movies, which I imagine it is, it should be great too.
Can I recommend the service? The answer to that question is a resounding YES! It’s just an easy to use service and you can tell that they’ve polished it to perfection. It really is a well-oiled machine and I wish I’d joined earlier. It’s funny, but as I write this, I’m actually quite excited about choosing the next films I’m going to see!
Do try to make use of this LOVEFiLM free trial, if you’re going to give them a try. Enjoy!
