Lovefilm stands by Royal Mail

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 27 Oct 2009, 14:05

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009 ... royal-mail" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

DVD rental group to carry on with post service despite strikes

Home delivery DVD rental business Lovefilm says it will continue to work with Royal Mail despite disruptions from postal strikes.

Lovefilm chief executive Simon Calver said Royal Mail's service had been a crucial part of the rental company's fast growth over recent years.

"The key thing for us to be successful is good DVD watching, good bandwidth and a good postal system," he said.

"We hope it all gets resolved as quickly as possible."

Calver said Lovefilm would ensure customers do not miss out on their film allowance and that it would continue to push its on-demand service. Lovefilm has been expanding its online library of films to create a mass-market download service. But Calver says it is too early in the on-demand market and in the postal strikes to say whether the troubles at Royal Mail will boost the film download service.

A recent survey suggested that many business customers who use the Royal Mail will not be returning after the strikes by the Communication Workers Union as they are now using a new class of low-cost rivals.

A poll undertaken by IMRG (Interactive Media in Retail Group) – a community of e-retailers including Amazon, Tesco and other big names – suggested that 60% of them have full contingency measures in place to safeguard delivery of packets and parcels.

But Calver said: "We continue to work with Royal Mail."

"They are the best at first class delivery next day to the doorstep."

clashcityrocker · Post by **clashcityrocker** » 27 Oct 2009, 14:35

This is bad news.If ever there was a contract worth losing this is it.And if you do not know why you need to cover a walk with a lot of Victorian/Edwardian houses with tiny letter boxes that are too small for a DVD.It seems so pointless 739ing the thing but what do you do?Fold it in half and put it through?

Post by **piranha** » 27 Oct 2009, 14:43

Like they have a choice, their business wouldn't survive without RM who is the only final mile delivery service as we all know.

F0zziebear · Post by **F0zziebear** » 27 Oct 2009, 16:37

LoveFilm is an example of a company that needs RoyalMail at the moment, but as On Demand increases they will move away from delivering physical DVDs and allow people to download instead. This can be applied to deliveries of other music/film. I expect this to be the norm within 5 years.

Post by **kingtubby** » 27 Oct 2009, 16:54

F0zziebear wrote:...I expect this to be the norm within 5 years.

Agreed, with the proviso that on-demand requires investment in the equipment needed to watch downloaded files on your TV.

axeman · Post by **axeman** » 27 Oct 2009, 17:32

another strange anecdote from fozz ... if you download your are not renting but buying the film ? .... may as well go down to your local virgin store and have it cheaper and a hard copy + you never know it might be at a knockdown price as films are 6mnths old before hire comes into play aren't they ?

fishtank · Post by **fishtank** » 27 Oct 2009, 17:39

axeman wrote:another strange anecdote from fozz ... if you download your are not renting but buying the film ? .... may as well go down to your local virgin store and have it cheaper and a hard copy + you never know it might be at a knockdown price as films are 6mnths old before hire comes into play aren't they ?

Sorry axeman but you can rent a download sky does it and you can even do it on your xbox 360.

F0zziebear · Post by **F0zziebear** » 27 Oct 2009, 17:47

Didn't realise my posts were considered strnage and or anecdotal. Still an improvement on being called other things.

Post by **Wessex** » 27 Oct 2009, 17:51

Agree with Fozzie Bear that downloads will eventually take the place of the hard copy which RM delivers at present,but think that other types of internet goods ,hopefully will take its place.

Post by **dvbuk55** » 27 Oct 2009, 18:26

So glad that Omar remembers his roots.

axeman · Post by **axeman** » 27 Oct 2009, 19:12

yes indeed you can 'purchase' films on 'sky' but do you not have to have a tv station to do it or is sky going to subsidise lovefilm ?.............kind of down stream access

fishtank · Post by **fishtank** » 27 Oct 2009, 19:29

axeman wrote:yes indeed you can 'purchase' films on 'sky' but do you not have to have a tv station to do it or is sky going to subsidise lovefilm ?.............kind of down stream access

Sorry axeman i have skyplayer on my laptop don't need a t.v. download and watch its the future so they say.
Lovefilm have always intended to move completely into downloads ,much higher profit margins lower overheads etc and they don't slide out of your bundles.

axeman · Post by **axeman** » 27 Oct 2009, 19:53

so sky is free on your pc then ? rather watch a film on my large screen thanks no doubt they will eventualy become downlodable when tv's have built in p.c capabilities (not just the ability to conect a laptop) but for the moment we live in this world not one depicted on the gadget show

opgpat · Post by **opgpat** » 27 Oct 2009, 20:52

When I saw iLoveFIlm DVD's amongst the mail on Sat. after strike day I made sure they went in the frame to go out that day. We should make the effort, this is good news for us (well except those on rounds with the narrow boxes!). I always find they can be tucked away somewhere. If housholder had to trek to the DO every week they would probablly cancel their membership. Can we ask ILF to print - 'Leave in a safe place' - on front so we can't get sacked for doing out best for the customer???? Do you think they know what we do for them and the risks we take???

not me · Post by **not me** » 28 Oct 2009, 11:15

axeman wrote:so sky is free on your pc then ? rather watch a film on my large screen thanks no doubt they will eventualy become downlodable when tv's have built in p.c capabilities (not just the ability to conect a laptop) but for the moment we live in this world not one depicted on the gadget show

depends on your set up?
my PC streams over to the TV via a PS3,360 or popcorn hour.no need to wait for TV's to catch up
you can get sky via the PC if you are a sky subcsriber.this will be available on xbox 360's soon too
ive bought a few PC games lately via digital delivery and steam http://store.steampowered.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; has been going for yonks
ive lost my old half life discs ages ago but because i registered them on my steam account i can redownload them on any PC i need

digital delivery is the future but and its a big but
the whole infrastructure isn't there
we have a poor internet infrastructure and even on cable you get traffic shaping so whilst companys want to push digital dleivery its a long long way being able to stream/download HD content as a day to day thing

ROYALMAILCHAT

Lovefilm stands by Royal Mail

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