Free Postage

Your DVD's will arrive with a postage free return envelope. Don't lose it or your return time will be delayed while waiting for a replacement envelope. A special envelope is required to avoid damaging the discs

No Late Fees

Don't get caught again. But watch out for a few services that charge if you swap too many DVD's in one month

No Due Dates

Hold onto your DVD and watch it when you want. Just remember you don't get a replacement until you return it.

Unlimited Movies

Most services offer plans with unlimited movies per month. Every time you return a movie you will get another to replace it.

Multiple Discs

Depending on your viewing habits there are different plans available that allow you to have multiple discs at one time. Each time you return a disc a replacement is choosen from your queue and posted back out to you. Most people find that a 3 DVD package suits them best.

Games

Some services offer games for rent. However some require that you pay extra for that priviledge

Reducing Your Costs

Watch out for hidden costs in some limited plans. When you reach your limit more DVD's are sent at an extra charge. WebFlicks and BigPond do this, but BigPond have a $15 cap, or allow you to disable it so that you don't make a mistake. However this might be useful compared with Quickflix who will simply not send you any more movies till next month. BigPond offer discounts for signing a year contract. However they do not offer unlimited plans, so the hidden costs may outweigh the discounts for you.

The Queue

Your selections are made on the website and are added to your queue. You account may have multiple queues, or you may be able to assign movies to people in your household.
You may also be able to assign a priority to a movie. Movies are not sent in order. They are sent based on availability, as well as variables such as different queues, person assignment, priority etc.
Keep a reasonable number of DVD's in your queue or you may have to wait for an available DVD, 30-50 is the usual recomendation.

Box Sets, Tv Series, Bonus Discs

Multi-Disc packages come seperatly, one disc at a time. The larger companies (QuickFlix, BigPond) send the disc's in the right order within that set, but they won't send multiple sets in the right order (for example Season 1 and Season 2 of a TV Series). It is recommended that you wait until you have finished one set before adding another if you want to watch them in the right order. Some of the smaller companies require that you do this with every disc even within the set.

The Movies

Most services will have a wide range of selection including box sets & TV Series, much more than your local video shop. The website's have features to help you select movies, such as Critic's recommendations, Special Lists, Other member reviews, other member lists etc. Some servies have extra benefits such as Games, HD DVD, Blu Ray, Adult movies (access can be blocked).

Free*

Delivery is free! But again, watch out for a few plans that charge for over use.

Australia Post

Most services are Australia wide and all deliver by Australia Post. You will get a return envelope (free postage). You must use this envelope to avoid damaging discs. In some cases you can put multiple DVD's in one envelope.

Speed

The speed at which you recieve DVD's will depend upon your location. With the larger companies (QuickFlix, BigPond) if you live in a major city you should get DVD's in 1 day, sometimes 2. You can speed this up by giving notification that you put the DVD in the mail*. You should also make sure your queue has a reasonable amount of DVD's to be sure something is available.
* Note that BigPond's "With Me Now" is a bit suspect. According to their website this is only available if you have already returned at least one DVD... Does that mean one oustanding DVD, or one DVD returned at some time in your account history? If its one outstanding DVD then why haven't they already sent a replacement?