Fatso, Movieshack & DVD Unlimited Merger

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James Bond

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Topic # 26758 2-Oct-2008 11:45

Just got this email from Fatso

New Zealand's favourite online entertainment services Movieshack, DVD Unlimited and Fatso will soon join forces to become one…

The benefits for everyone will be far reaching. Loads more movie titles to choose from across all genres. Plus a brand spanking new website packed full of great features, making it even easier to find the movies you’ve been searching for.

In a couple of months, everyone will be with Fatso. We've chosen one name and one website for everyone to use going forward. In a couple of months we'll launch a new-look Fatso that will include the best features and benefits from all three entertainment services. User friendly and loaded with features, we promise you’ll love the new Fatso.

Moving forward with Fatso will be a breeze. You don't need to worry about any scary, complicated changes to the way you order your favourite DVDs. We’ll look after all of your details and move them to where they need to go - including your login and password. Pure and simple, 100% hassle free for ALL members.

So what do I have to do now? Nothing! Just keep doing what you're doing. Rest assured we'll keep you in the loop over the months ahead. In the words of five-time Emmy-award winning Anchorman Ron Burgundy, "Stay tuned and stay classy, New Zealand"…

I'm hoping this will bring more Blu-ray titles. Anyone here using these rental services?

So did SKY sell DVD unlimited? or did SKY buy Fatso and Movieshack? Anyone know?

magu

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Reply # 168596 2-Oct-2008 12:14

Hopefully Sky sold DVD Unlimited (to which I subscribe) and we'll finally see the right movies delivered for a change, together with some faster-responding customer service (some of my open calls have lasted for 2 months).

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old3eyes

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Reply # 168599 2-Oct-2008 12:22

Sounds like another Sky monopoly to me.

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Old3eyes

richms

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Reply # 168712 2-Oct-2008 23:09

Fatso didnt answer my request for a new direct debit form (twice) didnt answer my request to just close it since they cant handle getting a direct debit form sent out, and then didnt respont to the hell no you dont when threatning it going to collection.

Gotta love customer service mail systems that email back confirmation of them recieving all the details so they cant say they never got it. Thankfully once you dispute with baycorp things tend to happen.

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Nety

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Reply # 168733 3-Oct-2008 06:41

James Bond:

So did SKY sell DVD unlimited? or did SKY buy Fatso and Movieshack? Anyone know?

Sky have brought the lot... afraid this is very bad for online video rental. It is not exactly in Sky's interests to make these companies sucessful now is it

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Bung

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Reply # 168737 3-Oct-2008 07:10

Nety:
Sky have brought the lot... afraid this is very bad for online video rental. It is not exactly in Sky's interests to make these companies sucessful now is it

If you look at what they dish up on the movie channels you'd think they were trying to promote DVD rental.

freitasm

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Reply # 168739 3-Oct-2008 07:20

Bung:
Nety:
Sky have brought the lot... afraid this is very bad for online video rental. It is not exactly in Sky's interests to make these companies sucessful now is it

If you look at what they dish up on the movie channels you'd think they were trying to promote DVD rental.

There goes competition... VideoEzy and Unlimited Video must be going to the bank now to cash mre cheques. DVD rentals via post is not something I've heard of taking off in New Zealand and certainly not now.

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magu

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Reply # 168754 3-Oct-2008 09:14

I had the pleasure of being a Netflix subscriber in the US and I can tell you this: NZ's DVD rental service (at least from DVD Unlimited) sucks so hard I'm amazed VideoEzy didn't start a mail-2-u kind of service yet.

Please bring Netflix to NZ!

On a side note, all these NZ sites are powered by the same crappy DVD rental system designed by a company in the UK. It powers dvdunlimited.co.uk as well, and they all suck big time in terms of usability.

Long since I've subscribed to DVD Unlimited I thought of putting something together as a proof of concept to them, but time is a valuable asset ~~at the moment~~ as always. If only...

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rhysb

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Reply # 168798 3-Oct-2008 12:42

I'm with Fatso and I've found them to be very good. Quick turn-around and they send out replacements for damaged disks in addition to your normal rentals. I just hope that if they are now owned by Sky the quality of service doesn't deteriorate.

I have a mate who was with Movieshack and he has had all sorts of problems.

r0bbie

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Reply # 168820 3-Oct-2008 13:58

I used DVD unlimited for 2 years and found them great, they even rang me up asking why I cancelled lol

I thought they were already merged anyhow because their pages and dvd selection at one point - looked similar

cuddlytoaster

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Reply # 168936 4-Oct-2008 02:52

we use fatso. They are fairly quick, and have a rather large selection. Although movie shack has other series which we would like to see, with the merger we'll have it all. As long as they don't put the prices up

James Bond

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Reply # 169062 5-Oct-2008 01:05

More info from the Fatso website

http://fatso.co.nz/news/

Will the monthly fee increase once the 3 companies merge?
Not at all! It doesn't matter what plan you are on or which service you belong to, prices will not be going up.

When will we start using the new Fatso website?
The joining of the three companies is scheduled to take place late November this year. We will keep up-to-date with regard to the exact date closer to the time, so make sure you check your emails.

Will my personal details be secure on the new Fatso website?
Yes, we use the best encryption technology to ensure all your personal details are stored safely.

Will I need to re-register or change my direct credit/debit card details to pay with Fatso?
No, you don't have to do a thing. All your details, including your payment details will be transferred to the new Fatso website.

I prefer the website and features with my current rental provider - what can I do?
That's OK, we've been listening to what you've been saying, so we're confident the features that will appear on the new-look Fatso site will be the features you've come to love from each of the three online DVD rental companies. We're taking the best of the best to give you an unprecedented online DVD rental experience.

Why have the 3 companies come together?
DVD Unlimited, Fatso and Movieshack have come together to provide a bigger and better online DVD rental service. By coming together we can bring you a bigger range of titles, more copies of each movie, a more user-friendly website with loads of new features and a superior movie watching experience.

What will be the benefits of the new service?
You'll still receive your DVDs via the post as you do now, however, the new service will have the best features from each of the online DVD rental providers. Fatso will have a more user-friendly website, making it easier to find and rent movies. We will have more titles and more copies of each title than ever before. All-in-all, you'll experience a far better service than ever before.

Which website do I need to go to?
Keep using the website you use now. If you're a DVD Unlimited customer - still go to www.dvdunlimited.co.nz. If you're a Movieshack customer, still use www.movieshack.co.nz. Fatso customers still use www.fatso.co.nz. We will keep you well informed closer to the time as to when the new website is ready for you to go to. We'll make sure you won't get lost.

Will I have to re-sign up to Fatso when the merger takes place?
No, all the work will be done for you! Whether you're from Movieshack or DVD Unlimited, you'll be able to log in as you would normally - using the email address and password you use currently. The only difference is that you will now log on at Fatso.co.nz. No hassle, no fuss.

Will my rental queue still be there when I start using Fatso?
Yes - all your details, including your rental queue, your rental history, ratings, reviews and recommendations will be transferred to the new site.

Will my rental history be transferred over to the new Fatso website?
Yes - all your details, including your rental queue, your rental history, ratings, reviews and recommendations will be transferred to the new site.

Can I still use my old Movieshack or DVD Unlimited return envelopes?
Yes, you can! Use your old DVD Unlimited and Movieshack envelopes until they're all used up. We will start sending you the new Fatso envelopes with your first lot of Fatso DVDs.

I purchased a gift voucher for Movieshack, DVD Unlimited or Fatso - will it still work?
Yes, any gift vouchers you have purchased from Fatso, Movieshack or DVD Unlimited can be used at the new Fatso website.

Who owns the company now?
Fatso is operated by Screen Enterprises Ltd, which is jointly owned by SKY Network Television, Movieshack Ltd and Westside Media Ltd.

What do I need to do when the new website is launched?
Absolutely nothing! That's the best part of it all. In November (we'll tell you exactly when closer to the time), go to www.fatso.co.nz, log in and rent DVDs the same way you would normally, we will have done all the hard work for you. All your details, including your rental queue, rental history, ratings, reviews, payments, login and password details will be transferred to the new site. We'll let you know when it's time to start using the new website; www.fatso.co.nz.

Will you have more copies of the DVDs in your library?
Yes, plenty more! With the three sites coming together we will now have many more copies of the all the movies, TV shows, documentaries, exercise videos and DVDs you want to watch. We will be New Zealand's largest rental store by far!

Who do I contact if I have any questions?
If you have any questions regarding your regular DVD rental service, contact your current DVD rental provider.

gehenna

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Reply # 169075 5-Oct-2008 09:04

I've been using Movieshack for about a year now, started with tv shows, then dvd movies, then started getting Blu-ray titles when they came out. I've been through most of their catalogue so I hope this brings an expanded library too!

allstarnz

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Reply # 169249 6-Oct-2008 10:09

i used to belong to DVD Unlimited, I didn't have a major issue with them. The DVD's i wanted would often spend a long time on the list, but other than that, their service was fine.

I just left, as I personally wasn't getting value for money from it.

James Bond

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Reply # 169790 8-Oct-2008 09:21

Apparently this was old news

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10517301