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MyMovieStream has gone from strength to strength since its early 2005 launch, attracting many customers disgruntled with the larger companies. We like the simple web design, but they've added plenty of content. Their DVD info layouts are comprehensive, with hyperlinked entries for actors, director, and genre. We also find their simple 5-level rating system with big stars refreshing. The impressive 19 genres to search and browse, plus a separate keyword search function (which seeks out actor names and such as well as titles), are also plusses. They're one of the few companies to offer a handy Account Pause feature for 1, 2, or 3 weeks for when you go on holiday.
This company has come a long way, and we've gradually raised it up our table based on glowing customer reviews and out own test subscription. In March 2006 they came in a close second in a Webuser test of top UK DVD rental services. In 2008, Which? even found gave them their top rating of all companies surveyed. In short, we've been impressed with them, probably the quickest growing DVD company in the UK behind market leaders Lovefilm, Blockbuster, and Amazon, even acquiring rival Moviemine in April 2007. In fact, they probably have the best customer service in the business, hence their 5-star rating. If they keep this up, they may well challenge the current market leaders in a year or two.
MyMovieStream are well known for their swift DVD turnarounds, and if new customers sign up and add movies to their list by 3pm weekdays, they promise to dispatch the first available free trial titles the same day, so they should arrive by the next day. They have added a new movie trailer feature through Allocine, one of the few companies to do so, so you can get a sense for a film before you commit to rent. We hear from our sources that they have many new features and a title expansion soon to roll out, and we'll detail them here as they're implemented. We like their new Members Lounge for a start, with various movie quizzes, trivia, and competitions. MyMovieStream also powers the Wilkinson Plus DVD rental site, which appears to be a clone of the original--we'd skip the middleman and stick with MyMovieStream if you like their system.
Their recent site upgrade addressed our main quibbles with the site; the old queue management system used to be time consuming and clunky, now its streamlined and allows you to make multiple changes in numerical rankings, a major improvement. Likewise, it has a more graphical and less text-heavy feel, better search engine, Coming Soon category allowing pre-release bookings, and an improved DVD recommendation system.
Each film is listed as Available Now, New Release (may take awhile given high initial demand), Short Wait (short delay), Medium Wait (2-4 week delay likely), Out of Print (will buy when they can), and Low Demand (as more people add to their queues, they will purchase a copy, but not until then). This can be misleading when you sign up, as these very useful descriptors aren't listed, saying only Sign Up Now until you subscribe. So you may find some titles you'd really wanted when initially browsing the site are unavailable"Low Demand" or "Out of Print"--a minor point, but something to keep in mind. Likewise, as a smaller outfit, they don't buy as many new releases as quickly as Blockbuster/Lovefilm, but this shouldn't bother most customers.
Prices: MyMovieStream offer a free trial of 14 days, though they have a new option to "cash in" your free trial and get half price for your first two months instead (saving 15 quid on their 3-disc tariff, definitely the way to go if you think you'll stay with the company). Their tariffs are £12.99 for two discs out at a time, £14.99 for three discs, £19.99 for four discs, and a whopping six disc tariff for £24.99. The have also started with smaller capped rentals; 2 total per month for £4.99 and 4 total per month for £7.99.
In May, they started a special offer where you get 2 free tickets to a Cineworld cinema if you try them out.
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Featured My Movie Stream Customer Review
Una from Cambridge, November 26, 2007
Having tried other major suppliers (Tesco, Lovefilm, Blockbuster, Cinema Paradiso etc etc) I arrived at the My Movie Stream site with little hope or expectation of anything better. How wrong I was! They are, in my experience, the best in every way - so much so that I have been with them for well over a year now and intend to continue.
The turnaround time is almost always next day, wth only rare exceptions which being realistic are bound to happen occasionally for all sorts of unavoidable reasons.
While they do encourage you to send more than one disc back at a time to reduce postal costs, they still give the same level of service if like me you want to do a rapid one at a time. Extra envelopes have been supplied immediately on request.
On the couple of occasions I have needed to contact their customer service department (by email) I have received speedy, courteous and helpful replies. When I reported that a disc I had returned had not reached them (after only 4 days) they immediately sent out my next disc without waiting any longer.
I must admit I do not know how difficult it is to get new releases as my interest is in older material, particularly TV series, which by the way they have always sent in the correct order as listed. Also the more recent series seem slow to arrive on their listings, but I have plenty to entertain me still so can wait a while longer.
The only star I have deducted in my rating is for the design category - I find their search facility more cumbersome and less easy than some to navigate, though the rest of the website is well presented and user friendly.
I had sufficient confidence in them to take up a discounted 12 month subscription, and intend to do the same if still on offer when this one expires. I am delighted that I no longer have to trawl through and try different rental sites looking for one that lives up to its advertising. My Movie Stream is the best - long may it continue!
Value:   Design:  Service: 
Most Recent My Movie Stream Customer Reviews
Stefan from Lincs, April 25, 2008
Cannot believe this club is No 3 in the lists. Out of a list of 20 consisting mostly of classic films only one or two were ever available. The postage of my latest request of a title that was "available now" has been "pending" for nearly a week. No replies via e-mail to my concerns. I hope they will let me cancel.
Value:  Design:  Service: 
Richard from Herts, April 1, 2008
My neighbour has been a big fan of My Movie Stream for over a year now - spurred on by him trying to benefit from their Tell a friend scheme I thought I would give them a try.
Signed up and hoped for the best.
They sent an Email to let me know my discs were on the way and the first discs promptly dropped on my doormat the following day.
Watched them - popped them in the envelope they provide - sent them back. (Isn't it simple!)
Received email to let me know discs had been returned and more were promptly sent out.
I have had to call customer services there a few times, and they are all really chatty and helpful - even suggesting I add more to my list of titles to ensure a good turnaround of titles.
Trial ended, so I decided to remain a member - I prefer their no nonsense website to the bells and whistles cluttered look of their competitors and their staff actually seem pleased to assist you.
Definatley worth the monthly fee. Thanks MyMovieStream!
Value: Design: Service: 
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