GameFly rate increasing by $1 due to mail and game cost
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Jun 5th 2007 at 4:55PM }
GameFly announced today that they'll be increasing their subscription fee by $1 across all plans. It was bound to happen, and after five years it isn't so bad. GameFly says the increase is due to the postal rate hike and higher cost of console games ... and we're sure the new distribution center had a little something to do with it.A $1 hike isn't really something we can complain about, considering the service saves us, at least, $120 to $200 in game purchases per month. They've even updated the GameQ to more efficiently order your games -- and if you want to just buy, their store deals are the best. There's also a silver lining in the understandable, but still bad, news. GameFly is offering loyal customers the option to lock in discounted rates at 3, 6 and 12 month increments. That way, if you pay upfront, you can get a subscription for cheaper than what it costs now. A good deal if you know you're gonna stick with the service.
We've placed the new billing structure after the break.
All accounts billed on or after June 18 will be charged at the new rate:
- One game plan: $15.95
- Two game plan: $22.95
- Three game plan: $29.95
- Four game plan: $36.95
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jason @ Jun 5th 2007 5:04PM
Someone explain why this is better than GameZnflix. I just signed up for their 1 game out $8.99 a month plan and its seems to work so far? Also they claim to have distribution centers on the east coast and west coast and elsewhere akthough my first game came from KY when they have a FL distribution center and I am in florida.
losttoys @ Jun 5th 2007 5:07PM
GameFly is generally very fast in turnarounds and has good stock. I hear major complaints about GameZnflix and other services just not being able to provide the titles in a timely manner.
I've been very happy with GameFly with only a couple of notable disappointments.
Geo @ Jun 5th 2007 5:10PM
Im really considering getting a DS, and thus changing my sub from gameznflix to gamefly. They are more expensive (especially now) for less games, but have ds titles. Can anyone attest to their service?
jason @ Jun 5th 2007 5:13PM
I had Gamefly a while back and my only complaint was their lack of an east coast distribution center. I didn't like how long it took to ship to FL and back. I think they were adding more distribution centers and maybe they have one on the east coast by now?
M.Christian @ Jun 5th 2007 5:19PM
Blech -- hate them (and not just because of the their pop-up ads). I had them for a few months then dropped them: slow, slow, slow.
Geo @ Jun 5th 2007 5:16PM
I've had gamesnflix, and they kinda suck. Cheap, and when it works it works well (3 games, 16.99!), but I only have two of three games now, have ten games/movies in my queue that have been released but are "on order", and have been sans games for more than a week a couple times. Their customer service is email only, and is a laborious process to get the answer you seek.
They have screwed up in my favor a couple times, though. That's nice.
SecretCow @ Jun 5th 2007 5:17PM
Gamefly has been awesome for me, I have gotten all of my games within 1 day of mailing them back. It does help that I live like 15ish miles away from their West Coast Center though.
Geo @ Jun 5th 2007 5:17PM
yeah, gamefly now has one in pittsburgh.
Casey @ Jun 5th 2007 5:19PM
I have gameznfilx currently. I used to have gamefly, but their rates were ridiculous. I can now have 3 out at a time and pay 10 bucks less, then what I paid for 2 out with gamefly. Plus, I get to rent movies too!
gb @ Jun 5th 2007 5:22PM
I've had GameFly for almost 4 years. Saves me a ton of money. No real complaints.
GabooN @ Jun 5th 2007 5:25PM
GamesNflix has a horrible turnaround and a much smaller video game library for the Xbox 360 then Gamefly does. GamesNflix is cheaper but I had to wait 10 days after they received my game for command and conquer which I had in the Q for a month before they even had copies to ship out, this was a month after the game was released. Gamesnflix is cheap and you get what you pay for but its extremely slow turnaround and don’t expect new games as soon as they are released count on a few weeks to a month.
fsunole1998 @ Jun 5th 2007 5:28PM
I just cancelled Gameznflix the other day. It seems they stopped using fast return and all of the new games were always on order. Also the last 4 games I had were sent back to KY instead of FL where used to be returned to. I have to wonder if some locations have been closed.
Shockgamer M2B @ Jun 5th 2007 5:30PM
Gameznflix is total garbage and I'm glad that I'm cancelling them out for good.
Both times I tried Gamznflix I got DVDs and Games that were damaged to the point of unplayable. Both times I had to deal with not being able to have new releases -in the queue- until up to two months after they came out. And both times the games I wanted were never sent to me, despite them being at the top of my list and the availability bar nigh full. They passed over 13(!!) games in my queue and gave me the 14th and 15th on my list. Both games (Lost Planet and COD 3) being old news.
And don't forget those cheap-o envelopes with covers that stick to the return envelope. I swear if you open them too rough you'll rip the thing apart.
Being Gameznflix only recognizes the games you returned by the number on said return envelope (something I learned the hardway when they told me I returned something I didn't and kept something I didn't), that can be a problem.
Overall, you get what you pay for. Gameznflix is fine for people who are willing to play less for a ghetto service and don't care when and if they ever get the titles they want. I'm just fine with shelling out for Netflix and Gamefly. At least I get quality service that way, and with Gamefly now servicing my state (MI), I've no complaints.
Ghen @ Jun 5th 2007 5:42PM
I use gamerang just because its cheaper than gamefly. Turnaround is slightly slower.
There's one secret to gamefly's turnaround though that noone else does (that I know of). When you are returning a game it is concidered "arrived" when it hits your local post office, not when it actually gets back to the distribution center. This shaves a day or so off your return times. Couple that with the east coast distribution center (which previously only gamerang had) and gamefly becomes your best friend for a slightly higher fee.
Dan @ Jun 5th 2007 5:56PM
Just to add my two cents... when I first got Gamefly the turnaround was horrible living on the East coast as I do. But it has been steadily gotten better over time with their policy of sending you a new game as soon as they know the post office has the old game and now the new distribution center.
Still, the second when/if Netflix gets games, I'm switching.
Alex @ Jun 5th 2007 5:57PM
i have had Gamefly for 2 months and am very happy with it. My first month was $10 or so and I got to finish God of War 2. I see it as saving money, not spending money haha
Jeff @ Jun 5th 2007 5:58PM
I have had both Gamefly and Gamerang. I live in Manhattan and had real problems with Gamefly's turnaround the first time I signed up. I switched to Gamerang (I can practically SEE the distribution center) and it was the same. By the time I re-signed up to Gamefly they had fixed the problem (this was before the EC distribution center) and I rarely see mor than 2 days between sending it back and the next one on the way.
PhoenixSS @ Jun 5th 2007 6:06PM
I JUST signed up with Gamefly a week ago. The price hike is a little disappointing, but so far the service that I've experienced is tremendous. I put Viva Pinata and Forza in my GameQ Immediately after signing up. This was on Wednesday, (Forza 2 was released on Tuesday), and BOTH games shipped out the same day I signed up. By Friday I had both games in my mailbox. (And Forza 2 brand new!) Oh and I'm located in Denver, CO so not bad at all.
Otis Whitaker @ Jun 5th 2007 6:31PM
"Im really considering getting a DS, and thus changing my sub from gameznflix to gamefly. They are more expensive (especially now) for less games, but have ds titles. Can anyone attest to their service?"
Why not just buy a DS Simply and a 1GB MicroSD card? Sure, it's not exactly LEGAL, but it's not that far removed from renting either.
Anonyma @ Jun 5th 2007 7:05PM
I use GameFly, but the quality of their service has degraded considerably since when I first signed up with them several years back. Not only do games take longer to get here, but most of the good games are always on Short Wait. They also seemed to have taken away the "Fast Return" thing I used to be eligible for. Quite frankly, the only reason I still use them is because I'm too lazy to look for a better alternative.
I've also purchased a game from them, and was angered when I received the box -- it was in terrible condition.
Michael McGuire @ Jun 5th 2007 7:37PM
I've had GameFly for about a year and a half now. The service started out and was wonderful. In the past 6 months, it has definitely gotten worse. I live in AZ, only one state over from their West Coast distribution center. The whole "fast return" thing is anything but (it used to show up on Fast Return the day after I returned it, now it can take 2-3 days). The next game doesn't arrive for another 2-3 days after that. It can sometimes be a turn around time of 6 days for a game.
I might be canceling soon because I don't see the point in paying for a service where nearly a quarter of the month is spent waiting for a game. I've had NetFlix and Blockbuster Online and both of them were much faster than where GameFly is today.
todzilla @ Jun 6th 2007 3:56PM
used gamefly in the past, but that was before the east coast distribution center opened so turnaround from cali was too slow. currently using gotaplay and haven't had a single problem with their service.
James @ Jun 6th 2007 7:56AM
Their service is still a bargain and i've never had major delays in delivery. Ups and downs but for the most part consistent. the new distribution center speeds things up across the board. The price would have to go major high before I'd consider dropping. For now, their the only one I'd recommend.
Ken Clunk @ Jun 6th 2007 9:59AM
Why do so many people still use these game services? I have my Blockbuster movie subscripotion which is $17.99/3 per month and I get two in store Game rental coupons each month. The games have a normal week rental but the "buy" date is listed on the receipt which is another week after the due date. Thats 2 coupons for 2 week rentals each month. Oh yeah and I get movies too!
al proco @ Jun 7th 2007 1:31PM
i have gameznflix.... the truth is gameznflix is almost half the price of gamefly.... yes, gamefly might be & probably is a little better with inventory.... but at almost half the price... i will take the satisfactory service at half the cost, anyday.... plus... gameznflix is improving... now, the search feature is aided by GOOGLE... and now they do have an 800 # to call if u have any questions about your service.
jimmiesner @ Jun 14th 2007 2:10PM
I got an invitation to join Game Fly.
I've had it for a couple weeks, and the turn around is pretty good. I love it.
Jim
al proco @ Jun 19th 2007 9:55AM
gamefly vs. gameznflix, the truth....
inventory.... advantage gamefly
website, ease of use... slight advantage gamefly
distribution centers/delivery... advantage gameznflix
movies too.........advantage gameznflix
cost.....advantaqge gameznflix
customer service..... even......
bigger/visible company.... gamefly
al