Is GameFly Fast Return a Scam?

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There have been more than one occasion where I log on to my GF account and see that a game has been marked "FastReturn" and my next game is listed as "in process". Then when I go back to check on it, like the next day, the FR mark is gone and the in process game is back in the queue, as if FR never happened.

This makes me very suspicious that GF has done a manual cancel of the Fast Return to purposefully slow down my turnaround cycle (which is already crappy since I'm on the east coast).

I sent them an email asking why they did the hokey pokey with my FR and here's their reply:

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Thank you for contacting GameFly. Our apologies that your game did not ship out when it was first in process. Our system was attempting to fulfill your order and upon not being able to at the end of the day, it was then dropped back into your GameQ.

"Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney" shipped out to you on Monday 6/26.

If you have any further questions please feel free to contact us.
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As you can see, doesn't really answer my concerns. I interpret this as saying since the top pick from my queue was on "short wait" status, this delayed it by a day, but it doesn't explain at all why the FastReturn status was given and then taken away. It just seems like they're trying to placate me and make me go away by expediting the next game on my queue.

Anyone have any insight here?
 
I don't know if it's that suspicious offhand--they make absolutely no guarantees about the FastReturn service and it's possible it works by immediately attempting to ship out the next game, but is cancelled if it can't by the end of the day. Was the game shipped between your e-mail and their reply? How long was it after the FR was apparently cancelled?

All that having been said, their receipt/delivery consistency is sporadic, at best. Sometimes FastReturn gets the next game sent out in two days, sometimes I don't get FastReturn, sometimes my next game ships without getting either a FastReturn or a regular We've Received e-mail, sometimes the entire process takes an extra two or three days for no apparent reason.
 
I know that netflix will flag accounts who don't keep dvds long enough (ie: it seems like a burn n return) and intentionally slow down their rate.
 
They may not guarantee it's reliability, but they certainly try to leverage it as a service feature. Perhaps I am being reactionary with the conspiracy theory, but it's really disappointing to see it working one day then seemingly canceled the next with no explanation. An isolated incident is acceptable I guess, but this has happened to me at least three times.

At a minimum, they should fix their IT so it doesn't display a false positive and annoy customers.
 
[quote name='zebbers']I know that netflix will flag accounts who don't keep dvds long enough (ie: it seems like a burn n return) and intentionally slow down their rate.[/QUOTE]

I don't believe that for a second. I have been getting the top5 new movies every week for the last 3 years from then. Every Tuesday, they are here. Every Wednesday they go back. Like Clockwork....
 
I don't believe that for a second. I have been getting the top5 new movies every week for the last 3 years from then. Every Tuesday, they are here. Every Wednesday they go back. Like Clockwork....

Then you are a very lucky individual. There was enough suspicion that a lawsuit was filed, which Netflix settled (of course without admitting any wrongdoing). It makes perfect business sense for them to throttle customers, so it is perfectly believable to me.
 
Sometimes they will fast return 2 games at the same time. Not always. Gamefly has been pretty good to me. In the past month I've rented 8 games, so that's not that bad of a turnout rate. I do wish it went faster, though. I would say on average, if you do the fast return thing, it will be 3-4 days before the next game is at your doorstep. Which isn't that bad. I'm a patient person, though. If you aren't, just return one game at a time at 3 day intervals, so that way you always have something to play if your some kind of speed player or something.
 
I just signed up for a free trial (plus the free month in the other thread)

How do you do fast return, or what is it???

EDIT: Nevermind, I browsed the FAQs and it was right there. =)
 
It's been months since I've had a turn-around of under 7 days, and I'm in Seattle. I average 3 or 4 games per month, keeping them only 1-3 days each. I probably spend less than 7 days a month total with a game at my apartment, and the remainding three weeks waiting.

I'm going to start a log to record when I send/receive games.

During my trial, they did the fast return. I would get games 2-3 days after I put mine in the mail, and often I'd receive what they send before they even make the previous game as received.
 
yeap. Gamefly cost the same as going to the video store and renting games (maybe even more)


If im lucky and games get fast return its a 4 day window (1 day fast return and 3 days waiting)


play games 2 days with 4 day wait Add day for sunday) 4 per month turn

1 at time = 4 games 14.95
2 at time = 8 games 21.95

Local video store where you get get 1/2 everything if you buy a card for 10


4 games at 3 per game 12 bucks /2 6 bucks + 10 = 16.00
8 games at 3 ___ 24/2 - 12 bucks + 10 = 22 Bucks


I can rent 8 games r at the local video store then Gamefly charges + i get 1/2 off all movie rentals



Now if i dont get fast return it takes 3 days there and 3 days back + 2 day gameplay

3 game turn around per month


SO if no fast return

Gamefly 3 games per month
Video store 4 games per month + 1/2 price movies all month

same price


Just shows how badly gamefly sucks at pricing.

Only if VIdeo stores rented PSP and DS games I wouldnt need gamefly at all


There is a rumor going around Gamefly MIGHT be dropping prices

1 game flat 12.95 per month
2 games 19.95 per month

but dont count on it cause they just raised the 1 game at a time
 
I've used gamefly for probably 7-8 months total. I've gotten fast return on my games exactly 1 time. I tried every post office near me and even asked the employees if they could scan them but nothing worked. When I finally left it was 10-12 days from when i'd drop a game off at the post office untill the next game arrived to me. (Cincinnati) It was still a good deal though because my local rental options suck ass and I always used the 2 month prepaid $22 cards from Best Buy. I left them in May supposedly they are trying to get faster..... They are cracking down alot harder on multiple accounts as well.... I gotta start paying full price if I come back. :(


I decided to give Gameznflix a try and signed up for the 3 games for $16.99 plan. I added 2 360 games to my queue + LotR 360 that comes out next week. One of the games shipped today and one is still short wait. I've seen mixed reviews for this place so I had to try for myself.... I'll post how things are going in case anyone gives a rats ass.
 
That is an extremely cheap video store you shop at. Blockbuster (the only store near me) charges seven or eight dollars to rent a game for one week (two if you abuse the new lenient return policy).
 
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