Hands-on Review: Walmart/VUDU Disc-to-Digital

I decided to try out the Walmart/VUDU Disc-to-Digital service. The experience turned out to not only be a first-time for me, but everyone involved.

I went to my local Walmart (Porter Ranch, CA) and brought 2 DVD’s: Goodfellas and Pulp Fiction. I knew Pulp Fiction was not a valid title but decided to bring it anyway just to see how well the folks at Walmart handled curve balls.

I went to the photo center and asked about the service. The associate confessed this was the first time he had been asked about the service and brought out a manual with steps to assist me. I was then given a form and after closely inspecting the instructions, I realized the form was supposed to be used by Walmart associates, not the customer.

After completing the form, I handed the associates (a team of two now) my DVD’s and they used a computer to validate my information (email/phone number). The associate noticed Goodfellas was already in a work queue (probably from my conversion movie list I setup on VUDU.com).

Once confirming Pulp Fiction was not available and quoting me $5 for Goodfellas, the process took a few clicks and the associate rang me up. Before I could escape, the associate said he needed my Goodfellas DVD and went back without notifying me why. When he returned, I opened up the DVD case to see he had stamped the discs (reads “WALMART ENTERTAINMENT”). He even stamped disc 2 although that was just extras. He noted the step was necessary because of licensing. Luckily the marking can easily be removed with a little rubbing alcohol (I’m guessing your mileage may vary depending on the image print type on your disc).

I came home and the title was added to my collection as expected. An overall easy process that will surely be quicker once the folks behind the counter get some experience.

6 thoughts on “Hands-on Review: Walmart/VUDU Disc-to-Digital

  1. Drew

    I had a similar experience. I brought a copy of Batman Begins on DVD and The Dark Knight on Blu Ray and I swear it took a team of seven (I might be exaggerating) of them 20 minutes to figure it out.

    Reply
  2. Pingback: Fox To Lower Price of Digital Copies and Release Them Earlier | [wu-e] | We Unite - Entertainment

  3. Doug

    I wish I had a better experience.

    It all started when I wanted to take advantage of the 5 free movies when I bring in my own DVD’s to be converted to digital. According to Wal-Marts website, the offer was ending that day.
    So off to my local Wal-Mart, about 1.4 miles down the road. To begin with, no one was available at the photo center at 9:25 AM. I actually had to go find a Wal-Mart employee to help me and then found out that they could not, but could call someone. Five minutes later, still no one. So I get another Wal-Mart employee and they call again. Ten minutes later I finally have someone to help me. They tell me that they can’t process my request because their “system” is not working. I asked if they could call the next closest Wal-Mart and see if their “system” is working so I can take advantage of the 5 free movies promotion which ends today? He agrees and calls a nearby store. They state that their “system” is not working either. So he then calls another store. Their “system” IS working. So off I go, 7.1 miles (14.2 round trip) to the next Wal-Mart after 40 minutes wasted.

    At the next Wal-Mart store there is someone there to help me right away. The problem though, is that she needs a password to access the “system” to process my request. After looking through manuals with no success, she finally contacts one of her co-workers to inquire about a password to access the service. He provides one and they successfully enter the “system”. With my order form in their hands, they try to locate my account on Vudu but they can’t find my account by phone number nor e-mail address so they can not process my order.
    I’ve been successfully using their service since January of 2011 (22 months) and even logged on recently, yet they can’t find my account. I even confirmed that the email address and phone number were correct on the printout.

    Another half hour wasted plus driving time.

    How do they propose to make money on a service they can’t deliver?

    I think the service has such a great potential but so far a very poor execution.

    Doug

    Reply
    1. Mark Azali Post author

      DOUG,
      It sucks that VUDU is owned by Walmart. I hate going there. I went to the same location months after my first visit and the photo center service rep said the system was unavailable. I suspect she was just being lazy.

      Reply
  4. Pingback: Back to the Future III – shots shot shots | [wu-e] | We Unite - Entertainment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *