Does Netflix's newest announcement change your opinion?

[mlulrich]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Netflix-CEO-Apologizes-for-nytimes-1236689230.html?x=0&.v=1

NetFlix has decided to separate their dvd-by-mail service from their instant streaming service (renaming the dvd-by-mail service as Qwikster).

Will this change your opinion of the new pricing structure? We will be sticking with our newly downgraded "streaming only" plan!

I just can't quite figure out what their angle is! wondering what everyone else thinks?

 

[marmalade]

It changed mine. I wasn't happy about the price increase but I didn't cancel because I like not having to go anywhere to get my dvd's. With this new change I am canceling my DVD portion, I will keep streaming because my kids use it.

 

[Caitriona]

Did not change mine. Anyone can try to come up with an 'excuse' to justify what they do. We used to enjoy both DVDs and streaming, but now we'll just stick to streaming (we cancelled cable so we only stream netflix & hulu). We will not be paying to watch DVDs, but it is kind of frustrating when looking for something you'd like to watch on netflix and then seeing that its 'unavailable' unless you upgrade your subscription. We did enjoy the DVDs, but instead we're just going to the library more to check our their FREE DVDs.

We like to stream Disney programs, and I wish that they included the Disney Jr shows for streaming and not just Wizards of W. P, Good Luck Charlie etc

 

[cglaura]

I canceled DVD this morning, but kept streaming (I really like catching up on shows I never watched...Lost, Mad Men, Breaking Bad).

Had they kept the sites integrated I would have not changed. I don't like the idea of having to maintain 2 queues. And if I look for a movie in streaming, and if not available, having to go to an entirely different site to look again to mail a DVD.

Also, if I had something in my DVD queue, it would automatically show up in streaming when available. That seems to no longer be the case.

I'm really hoping this restructuring will mean there will be more streaming available, or another big name will be added when Starz leaves in the spring.

I also read this on a thread over on the Community board, that Netflix may be looking for a way to get out of the DVD part, and by doing this will be able to close or sell off the Qwikster entity down the road and not negatively impact the streaming Netflix, especially if this change strengthens the amount of titles available on streaming.

 

[disneychrista]

Personally I think it is stupid and only done to "justify" what amounts to a price increase. If this was their intention all along, they should have made this "change" at the same time they changed the price.

I cancelled my Netflix service two years ago, so the changes don't effect me. It is much cheaper for me to just get my movies from RedBox.

 

[I_heart_Tinkerbell]

It does seem like they are trying to backtrack to smooth things over. I am switching over to streaming only. If there is a new movie we want to rent we'll use redbox. figure if we rent less than 10 a month from redbox we are on the plus side

 

[evandmp]

I just downgraded to streaming and 2 dvds at a time (was at 3). I believe I read somewhere that netflix had to pay higher liscencing fees for the movies they stream due to the original contract ending. If a price increase is what is needed to keep netflix running then I have no problem downgrading or paying a little more. I have been very happy with netflix and don't find their fees outrageous.

 

[mlulrich]

I find myself wondering if it will alienate even more users, since it will force members into managing information and lists on two websites now.

 

[thomas998]

I will be cancelling... before this they were a better option than blockbuster because they had both dvds and streaming... now I will just go with blockbuster, they might be a little slower in the turn around but they actually have a better selection of movies than netflix.... Now with this there is no reason to keep netflix at all.

What I really don't understand is why they are doing it... you could already just sign up for a streaming only plan... all they really needed to do was add a DVD only plan without streaming and they would have had the same thing without the added hassle of forcing users to track 2 different accounts.

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

I guess I'm easy to please.
We never used the streaming feature, so now we pay less for DVD only/one at a time. We actually only have time to watch a movie on Saturday nights, so that's great with me. Redbox doesn't work because I have to make a special trip to return it and we sometimes forget.
It doesn't matter to me what they want to call their service.

 

[RitaE]

I really don't get it either

Now in addition to a 60% price increase, they want me to have to visit two different websites including one with that really folksy yet incorrect spelling "Quikster? Qwickster? Qwikst ..." What was that again?

But supposedly this was all decided to serve me better?

It really sounds like corporate double-speak to me. So far we've been cancelled for nearly 3 weeks and not one person in the house has complained to me.

And from what I understand they are losing the rights to stream the Disney shows fairly soon.

 

[Zachsmom4]

I really don't get it either

Now in addition to a 60% price increase, they want me to have to visit two different websites including one with that really folksy yet incorrect spelling "Quikster? Qwickster? Qwikst ..." What was that again?

But supposedly this was all decided to serve me better?

It really sounds like corporate double-speak to me. So far we've been cancelled for nearly 3 weeks and not one person in the house has complained to me.

And from what I understand they are losing the rights to stream the Disney shows fairly soon.

Once they stop streaming Disney, I probablly will cancel streaming as well. My son watches the Disney shows all the time, and I think this will be the final straw for us.

 

[VirataMama4]

It doesn't change my opinion of them, I already canceled the DVD portion of our service when they increased the price. We now use Redbox when we want to see a newer movie. We will be looking into Hulu plus when/if Netflix loses Starz and/or Disney portion of their streaming...

 

[Avonlady1001]

Just canceled my whole subscription (had 1 dvd & streaming).

 

[BabyTigger99]

We only had the streaming, so no change for us. However, I am interested to see what their pricing will be for video games. We are doing a trial on GamyFly, and if Qwikster is cheaper, we would do that for a while.

 

[Dizneydaz]

I was going to sign up with Netflix (finally) and then the new pricing came out. I checked the streaming availables and wasn't overly impressed. My sister had Netflix almost since the beginning and she canceled hers after the rate increase. She doesn't do the streaming either. Right now with all the new shows starting and older shows returning we don't have time to watch any movies. But when we do, it's Redbox for us. Last year I even took a few with us to WDW. I will probably do the same this year. It worked great!

 

[melancholywings]

We canceled DVD's when they did the price hike and haven't regretted it in the least. I'm tempted to cancel streaming now too as we switched to better cable and I'd rather pay for HBO and do the occasional redbox. We seem to use that more.

 

[maggiew]

Where can I learn about the new terms? That article doesn't specify the new cost or website, etc. I tried to look on the netflix page, but don't really see anything.

Maggie

 

[mlulrich]

http://blog.netflix.com/2011/09/explanation-and-some-reflections.html

this is the link to the blog post from NetFlix's CEO last night - hth!

 

[jenny105]

After their first announcement about the price increased, I dropped the DVD option and went with streaming only. Depending on the price when they add video games, I may sign up for it again. But it sounds like they want to get away from the DVD stuff and be streaming only. It almost seems like they want people to drop the DVD option so they can turn around and say 'x number of accounts have been canceled so we're dropping the DVD service.' Just waiting for that email!