VideoStripe

If there is one pastime that a lot of people enjoy, it has to be propping up your feet on a couch, munching on a bowl of popcorn while watching a good ole movie. Watching the latest movies on the big screen definitely tops the bill here, but it can also put a hole in your pocket costing you an average of $8.12 for a big summer movie. That is why video-on-demand services, like VideoStripe, have become very popular these days. And in a NY Times article, even television series have gained traction in this popular medium.

VideoStripe is a legal video-on-demand provider that allows you to search, explore and watch movies. As a member of their service, you get to have unlimited access to their growing movie database, which you can enjoy as much as you want free of any kind of advertisement. The movies can be viewed with high-quality services and features, like HD, Dolby Digital Sound and offline watching. This puts home entertainment viewing to a whole new level.

I was certainly quite impressed after reading through the snippets of VideoStripe’s features and what it can offer for their members. However, when I went on to look into their movie catalogue, I was quite disappointed. Some VODs would have a list of the movies that they have in their library to let their members know what to expect and what they can find even before they make a registration. In the case of VideoStripe, their library is nowhere to be found on their site. I really wanted to see their movie database first before signing up to see whether their list is updated with the latest films or not.

Also, unlike other VODs that offer television series, VideoStripe does not seem to have a library of small screen series. Of course, when you are simply browsing through their site, you will never know this because, again, their database cannot be found on their site unless you make a registration first.

Another thing is that there are no guidelines on the format of the movies or the specification requirements that are needed to play the videos. They did mention that there will be no annoying buffering that will be experienced by the users. Again, because of the lack of information on their site, it is unclear whether users would need a high-speed connection to stream a video or the movies will be downloaded first so that users can watch the films even offline.

But one thing good about their site is that there is a very short clip, which serves as a sample of film, that is posted on their landing page. In a way, I was quite impressed with the quality of the film, as the video looks HD and the audio is very clear. So, it somehow shows that the quality of films you will be able to catch in their movie database will be of good.

VideoStripe has two subscription plans that they offer for their users. They have the 30-day access plan, which costs $49.99. They strategically market their plans by stating that this cost means that you only get to pay $1.60 per day. They also have a 1-year access plan for $499.99, which means that it will only cost you $1.30 per day. Unfortunately, I tried clicking on this plan but it is currently not available.

The good thing about VideoStripe is that registration is open worldwide. However, they cannot guarantee that every single video is available in a given country.

Also, another great thing about VideoStripe is that they have a 7-day Free Trial Offer for you to see whether their service and the movies that are in their library are what you are looking for. All you need is to create an account by registering your valid email address and providing a password. From there, you will be asked to also provide your credit card details. You should take note that only one account is per credit card and email address is allowed.

But there is one detail that you really need to take note. While they offer a 7-day Free Trial, a $1 verification fee will be charged to your account. This is to verify whether the card you provided is valid and operational. This amount will, however, be refunded to you after you make a cancellation before the trial period ends.

If you are not satisfied with their service and movies that are available, make sure that you cancel before the trial period ends. If you like their service and do nothing, you will automatically be extended to their premium or 30-day access plan and be charged with an amount of $49.99.

I was searching online for other user reviews. Unfortunately, I did not find any review that would be of substantial help in assessing the quality of the films that they have and their service. I mostly found complaints about users being surprised about being charged with the $1 verification fee and the premium plan cost after they did not cancel. That is why it is extremely important to read the fine prints.

On a good note, they have a very good Support page system. You can get in touch with their technical support via their site chat system. You may also fill-up their contact form to cancel your account, as well as a US toll free number, a Skype call access and email account to send in your queries. This somehow shows the dedication that they have in providing the best and quickest possible service to their clients.

In summary, the VideoStripe 7-day Free Trial Offer is a good VOD service to consider, that is if you base it simply on the short descriptions that they have on their site about their services. But, because there is nothing much to be gleaned from the site, I am really not keen into recommending on taking advantage of their service. It would have been nice if they have shown their movie library to let us see the films that we can get from them. But, the trial period is a good deal to take advantage if you really want to see what they have to offer.