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“A satisfied customer!”

written by Sue456 on 16/07/2014

I thought I'd add my own experience to the rather sorry tale of reviews here.

I joined Cinema Paradiso at the end of 2011 after the collapse of OutNow Entertainment - I was actually a customer of their white label service for the Lidl discount supermarket chain, known as Lidl Movies.

Since then, some two-and-a-half years ago, I've been very satisfied with Cinema Paradiso. The free trial went well and I joined on the 3 disc unlimited service and I've had several hundred discs from them. The selection is comprehensive with many foreign language titles and an excellent choice, including new titles that seem to be available immediately on release.

There has never been a problem with my billing. I have never received the wrong disc. Turnround is pretty good, almost always the same day the previous discs are received back.

That's not to say that I haven't had a few minor niggles:
- I've had a few scratched / unplayable discs (but not as many as with Outnow/Lidl) but these have always been promptly replaced.
- The company only operates Monday-Friday so if you post something back on Friday you won't get a new film until the next Tuesday at the earliest.
- They don't give a contact phone number - but then the few times I've emailed them I've got a prompt response, although some do seem just canned text.
- If you're a heavy user, it's possible to get penalised and be forced to wait an extra day for the next film. I'm retired so can get through many discs - but this situation seems to have eased the longer I've been a member
- Some films (mostly older ones on DVD or 'special editions') come on 2 discs. The company count each disc as a separate item, so it's possible to get a film spread across more than one mailing, which seems a bit silly.
- As with any postal service, delivery at Christmas is subject to delay. I have now taken to 'freezing' my subscription over the Christmas / New Year period because otherwise I would be paying for the service but not receiving any discs.

...but these are all fairly minor points.

Perhaps I'm a bit of a Luddite, but I prefer films on disc to a streaming service, and from what I've seem of Netflix at friends and relatives the choice, which at first glance seems wide, is only a fraction of what any decent rental service has especially in the case of foreign language films or anything slightly unusual.

The price is fair - but on this plan you do need to make constant use of the service. Certainly compared to current cinema prices it's a bargain, but could work out more expensive that some of the streaming services. The company also offer a 'pay as you go' option but I've not tried that.

As far as other users' unflattering comments about the service go, I honestly haven't experienced the same problems. If I had I'd most certainly say so!

I'm a satisfied customer.

Hope this info helps someone.