Netflix changes again! Anyone get this email?

[The Mystery Machine]

I actually believe that is what Netflix wants to happen. Months ago (even before the price increases) I heard a rumor that Netflix wanted to get out of the DVD business and just do instant streaming.

When they increased the price a lot of people canceled the DVD part of their membership and now that they have made it inconvenient to have both even more people are going to cancel. If enough people cancel the DVD part then they can send us an email stating there isn't enough people taking advantage of it to keep it running.

You are probably right and it stinks.

For example, right now I am catching up on the "Vampire Diaries", last season, before I watch this season obviously.
I will not go out and buy it. I hate buying DVDs.

I need to keep the dvd part so I can see stuff that is not available otherwise.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I continue with the streaming. I look at it as for 8 dollars I am not giving all my money to the cable providers. I have hulu and there are a few other places that I get streaming in for stuff. I am happy that way.

 

[HM]

I agree, I think that's exactly what they want to happen.

That's really too bad if it's true. Netflix before streaming was great. Adding streaming made it awesome. Now, I don't know what it is.

 

[kamik86]

I don't know if anyone explained the licensing stuff so I'm going to (I only read the first and last page)

When netflix wanted to start streaming more in order to have better streaming content of more current movies they started making deals not to have new releases for DVDs until after x number of days in order to be allowed the rights to stream the movies.

Do you see the reason for this yet? If they split into two companies then Netflix wont' have those new releases on DVD. They can keep streaming what they have and depending on how the contracts are worded even get new stuff while all the while the other company is renting DVDs from the release date.

 

[kamik86]

For all those above that want to be able to rent video games there is a service called gamefly that does that.

It is great to try out games that your not sure you want to buy (basically an extended demo) or to get games that have 0 replay value. (like the puzzle games I like. once you beat the puzzles you know how to do them and it wouldn't be any fun to play them again).

 

[HonnyDipp]

For all those above that want to be able to rent video games there is a service called gamefly that does that.

It is great to try out games that your not sure you want to buy (basically an extended demo) or to get games that have 0 replay value. (like the puzzle games I like. once you beat the puzzles you know how to do them and it wouldn't be any fun to play them again).

We tried Gamefly this summer it was terrible. It took a good week to get the games in the mail. Plus their customer service is awful. No 800 number you had to leave an email and wait for a day to get a response. I expected better paying $22 a month for 2 video games!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

We tried Gamefly this summer it was terrible. It took a good week to get the games in the mail. Plus their customer service is awful. No 800 number you had to leave an email and wait for a day to get a response. I expected better paying $22 a month for 2 video games!

Yes, I heard it was awful too.

I will reserve judgement on Netflix to see what they are offering.

If I could get great turn around and be able to rent between Wii and XBOX, I might check it out.

 

[PeterPan09]

We tried Gamefly this summer it was terrible. It took a good week to get the games in the mail. Plus their customer service is awful. No 800 number you had to leave an email and wait for a day to get a response. I expected better paying $22 a month for 2 video games!

I wasn't happy with it either. Too rich for my blood.

 

[kamik86]

I wasn't happy with it either. Too rich for my blood.

My DH seems happy with it. It wasn't worth it for my stuff just because I'll go through a streak where I play a game alot and then not pick it up for ages because I'm so busy then play a bit more etc. Also generally the games I really like and want to play my DH likes enough that he wants to own. My puzzles were really the only exception and I would just ask him to get me one of those on occasion.

I don't think DH ever had an issue where he had to contact customer service though so that may have helped.

 

[HonnyDipp]

Gamely was so frustrating! We mailed games back my boys were excited because the games they wanted were at the top of the queue. By the time they received the games, 5 days later, the games were no longer available.

They need to have better inventories, need more US hubs and better customer service to get anymore of my money!

The RedBoxes in our area are starting to carry video games too. I think I will try them out but I don't think my sons will like giving the games back the next day.

 

[Dax]

I love my Gamefly...I usually get around a 3 day turnaround...but there is also a hub in Tampa for me...so that helps a lot. They also have in my area a "rapid return" policy. Basically once it hits the post office, it is scanned as returned, so they immeadietly ship me my next game..I love it!

 

[phorsenuf]

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/netflix

 

[Sparx]

Price Gouging?? Are you serious?? Its less than $10 a month for access to over 10,000 movies and TV shows. How is that price gouging??

Everyone forgets that its the studios who are price gouging...the agreements to stream movies to netflix was costing them about $100 million will soon be costing them in the BILLIONS.

I don't feel price gouged at all.

A sixty percent price increase on a lesser product is price gouging, no matter what the price is. Over night, large portions of my streaming queue disappeared due to contracts ending, and then my prices go up? Nope. Doesn't work like that.

 

[ChrisFL]

A sixty percent price increase on a lesser product is price gouging, no matter what the price is. Over night, large portions of my streaming queue disappeared due to contracts ending, and then my prices go up? Nope. Doesn't work like that.

You may want to get your facts straight, the 60% increase wasn't for streaming content, it was for DVD's plus streaming.

 

[SookieStackhouse]

Well, I thought I was special because I got an email from the CEO...so he sent this out to everybody? I do not feel special anymore.


I am not going to take time to email him back, I think my cancellation speaks for itself.