Toward Blockbuster Online Rental Queue Perfection

Those who have used Blockbuster Online on a regular basis are familiar with the various Availability values:

Available: Title is currently in stock, and we anticipate that it will be available for shipment when requested.

Unavailable: We don't currently have any copies of this title in stock.

Unknown: Motion picture was released theatrically and the studios have not yet announced a DVD release date.
Coming Soon: Title is either on order or is not currently available for rent. Please check the Release Date on the product detail page for title specific information.

Short Wait: Title currently has a few more requests than copies available for shipment. We anticipate that the title will ship within the next 2 weeks.

Long Wait: Title currently has a high number of requests compared to the number of copies available for shipment. It may take 2-4 weeks before we can ship you the title.
Very Long Wait: Title either has a limited number of copies or an unusually high number of requests. It may take 6 weeks or longer before we are able to ship you the title.

This is fine as far as it goes, but if you're like me you'd like a little more specific information. I have a suggestion. It's not an original idea, but is based partly on the system used by my local library and uses information Blockbuster already has. I think it would give welcome new information to users and give them a better feeling about how Blockbuster is treating them:

I'm on the 3-at-a-time plan. This means potentially I could have 3 simultaneous requests for new titles from my queue. Any item in the top 3 in my queue with one of the "wait" statuses should have a special status that's just for me and that particular item. As soon as an item enters the top 3 it should go into a specific queue for that title. For an item in the top 3, I could click on the Availability of that item to get the special status. The special status would tell me where my item is in the special queue, how many copies of that title exist, how long other people have been waiting and an estimate of when my item will get to the head of the queue. If my item is not at the head of the queue, Blockbuster should go ahead and send me an available item while I'm waiting. If I take the item out of the top 3 then put it back in I would get a new place in line.

For example, in my queue I would see:

[ 1] The IT Crowd: The Complete First Series (2006) TVY7 DVD Very Long Wait

If I clicked on the status (Very Long Wait) I would see:

165 are before you for: The IT Crowd: The Complete First Series (2006).

Blockbuster has 22 copies to satisfy the request(s).

This item has been waiting at the top of your queue since 1/15/2010

Total waiting 342; next request has been waiting since: 12/17/2009

By telling me my place in line, even if I am far down on the list, at least I have the impression that I am being treated fairly.

Knowing the number of copies that Blockbuster has gives me more information and adds to my perception of fairness.

Telling me how long my item has been counted as waiting lets me compare my wait time to others who are waiting for the same title. This date would be when my item entered the top 3 (or number of titles I have out at a time).

Knowing the total size of the queue shows me that others are behind me in line and again adds to my perception of fairness.

Telling me when the next person in line started waiting allows me to anticipate when I will get the title without explicitly making me a promise. In the example, the next person in line has been waiting since 12/17/2009. I have been waiting since 1/15/2010. If today is 2/3/2010 I may calculate that it has taken 7 weeks to get to the front of the line and I can anticipate getting to the front on 3/5/2010. I have not been promised that I will get this title on 3/5/2010 but at least I have some idea of when I may get it.

So, Blockbuster, now it's up to you. Make it so.