After originally cancelling my membership when they dropped hd-dvd, I reactivated my account yesterday. I was charged $2 per month for the right to rent blu-rays. I hate netflix... why do I keep coming back?
I really don't understand why so many people hate Netflix. I understand being bummed when HD-DVD got dropped, but that wasn't Netlix's fault and was inevitable. I think their pricing is reasonable. I get 4 at a time for $23 with my choice of any DVD. I don't know what blockbusters service is charging, but it's very similar, I'm sure. I rent about 20 movies a month. If I rented from a brick-and-mortar it would cost me $80 and I'd have a fraction of the choice. And I 98% of the time get my movies next day.
I'm not a Netflix fanboi, but I love their service. Is my experience so much different/better than the haters? I'm curious.
"I really don't understand why so many people hate Netflix. I understand being bummed when HD-DVD got dropped, but that wasn't Netlix's fault and was inevitable."
No, Netflix made a business decision to cut all spending on new HD DVD titles. They have lost me as a paying customer for over 5 months now. I have rented (on HD DVD) Beowulf, Michael Clayton, and Into the Wild. I had to buy and re-sell (for a small profit) the I Am Legend HD DVD. I bought the Atonement (non-Combo) HD DVD from Amazon.co.uk, which I still haven't watched {and could have gotten now with a (BOGO) "free" copy of the Juno Special Edition DVD for less from Columbia house now}. So Netflix lost me as a customer because they didn't buy 3 movies. Blockbuster lost me as a customer for a good part of that 5+ months, too, because they didn't buy 1-2 movies.
I don't understand your point. Are you saying you had to buy those movies because Netflix didn't stock them in HD-DVD? and that is why they "lost you as a customer"? Does this all mean you are a Netflix "hater" or are sticking up for them? Just wondering, really.
My point is that many people hate (or profess to) Netflix because of problems with Blu-Ray availability or because they dropped HD-DVD or because they are "being charged for a service they don't use" i.e. streaming or profiles, or because those get removed/modified.
I don't understand those reasons for hating Netflix. I've always thought of them as an innovative, somewhat customer friendly company that provides a service that is vastly superior to what was available before them (brick-and-mortar locations with tiny inventories, ignorant employees, very high prices, etc.). I believe all the extras have been gratis, i.e. streaming, profiles, HD/Blu (gratis 'til now anyway).
Eric, I am not a Netflix "hater." I was a Netflix member from about 2002 straight through early 2008 without interruption.
I rented a total of 3 movies through Blockbuster that Netflix refused to buy. I cancelled my account because I wasn't going to have two accounts open at one time because Netflix thought they could save a few dollars. I rented the 3 movies I mentioned through Blockbuster over the last 5+ months. Blockbuster silently stopped buying HD DVD's shortly after Netflix, so I cancelled that account and bought 2 movies I wanted to watch that Blockbuster wouldn't buy.
I will watch what I want to watch when I want to watch (purchasing the movie if I have to), but I am not going to reward a company during this transitional period if they won't satisfy my needs at the time. I could have watched 2 of movies that I wanted to watch from Blockbuster in March and then re-joined Netflix, but I still wouldn't have seen every movie that I wanted to from Blockbuster (that Netflix didn't carry). And like I said, I am going to watch the movies I want to watch when I want to watch them. I am not going to hurry up, rent the movies from Blockbuster that Netflix refuses to buy, and then quick join back up from Netflix. I will do things on my schedule, not Netflix's.
I rejoined Blockbuster recently to see Michael Clayton on HD DVD (which either wasn't available when I quit Total Access or was made available just before I cancelled) and Into the Wild on HD DVD (which was available when I quit Total Access); I got the Beowulf HD DVD from Blockbuster back in March before I cancelled Total Access.
I am planning on re-joining Netflix this month with the extra DVD for one month that I am due from the Settlement. I am also a Netflix (and Blockbuster B shares) investor.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Eric Sullivan @ Aug 1st 2008 8:21AM
After originally cancelling my membership when they dropped hd-dvd, I reactivated my account yesterday. I was charged $2 per month for the right to rent blu-rays. I hate netflix... why do I keep coming back?
John Eckart @ Aug 1st 2008 8:36AM
The question isn't why you came back, the questions is, why do you have a blu-ray player.
elbrando @ Aug 1st 2008 8:42AM
I really don't understand why so many people hate Netflix. I understand being bummed when HD-DVD got dropped, but that wasn't Netlix's fault and was inevitable. I think their pricing is reasonable. I get 4 at a time for $23 with my choice of any DVD. I don't know what blockbusters service is charging, but it's very similar, I'm sure. I rent about 20 movies a month. If I rented from a brick-and-mortar it would cost me $80 and I'd have a fraction of the choice. And I 98% of the time get my movies next day.
I'm not a Netflix fanboi, but I love their service. Is my experience so much different/better than the haters? I'm curious.
ed @ Aug 1st 2008 10:14AM
I knew this would happend if Blue Ray would've won. And they want Blu-ray to overtake DVD's?
Leonardo DiCrapio @ Aug 1st 2008 11:25AM
"I really don't understand why so many people hate Netflix. I understand being bummed when HD-DVD got dropped, but that wasn't Netlix's fault and was inevitable."
No, Netflix made a business decision to cut all spending on new HD DVD titles. They have lost me as a paying customer for over 5 months now. I have rented (on HD DVD) Beowulf, Michael Clayton, and Into the Wild. I had to buy and re-sell (for a small profit) the I Am Legend HD DVD. I bought the Atonement (non-Combo) HD DVD from Amazon.co.uk, which I still haven't watched {and could have gotten now with a (BOGO) "free" copy of the Juno Special Edition DVD for less from Columbia house now}. So Netflix lost me as a customer because they didn't buy 3 movies. Blockbuster lost me as a customer for a good part of that 5+ months, too, because they didn't buy 1-2 movies.
shawnmos @ Aug 1st 2008 12:29PM
Good thing I never canceled.I am still renting HD DVDs along with my Blu-rays and the price hasn't gone up (yet).
elbrando @ Aug 1st 2008 12:56PM
Hey, Leo,
I don't understand your point. Are you saying you had to buy those movies because Netflix didn't stock them in HD-DVD? and that is why they "lost you as a customer"? Does this all mean you are a Netflix "hater" or are sticking up for them? Just wondering, really.
My point is that many people hate (or profess to) Netflix because of problems with Blu-Ray availability or because they dropped HD-DVD or because they are "being charged for a service they don't use" i.e. streaming or profiles, or because those get removed/modified.
I don't understand those reasons for hating Netflix. I've always thought of them as an innovative, somewhat customer friendly company that provides a service that is vastly superior to what was available before them (brick-and-mortar locations with tiny inventories, ignorant employees, very high prices, etc.). I believe all the extras have been gratis, i.e. streaming, profiles, HD/Blu (gratis 'til now anyway).
Ah, well. To each his own, I suppose.
Leonardo DiCrapio @ Aug 1st 2008 1:18PM
Eric, I am not a Netflix "hater." I was a Netflix member from about 2002 straight through early 2008 without interruption.
I rented a total of 3 movies through Blockbuster that Netflix refused to buy. I cancelled my account because I wasn't going to have two accounts open at one time because Netflix thought they could save a few dollars. I rented the 3 movies I mentioned through Blockbuster over the last 5+ months. Blockbuster silently stopped buying HD DVD's shortly after Netflix, so I cancelled that account and bought 2 movies I wanted to watch that Blockbuster wouldn't buy.
I will watch what I want to watch when I want to watch (purchasing the movie if I have to), but I am not going to reward a company during this transitional period if they won't satisfy my needs at the time. I could have watched 2 of movies that I wanted to watch from Blockbuster in March and then re-joined Netflix, but I still wouldn't have seen every movie that I wanted to from Blockbuster (that Netflix didn't carry). And like I said, I am going to watch the movies I want to watch when I want to watch them. I am not going to hurry up, rent the movies from Blockbuster that Netflix refuses to buy, and then quick join back up from Netflix. I will do things on my schedule, not Netflix's.
I rejoined Blockbuster recently to see Michael Clayton on HD DVD (which either wasn't available when I quit Total Access or was made available just before I cancelled) and Into the Wild on HD DVD (which was available when I quit Total Access); I got the Beowulf HD DVD from Blockbuster back in March before I cancelled Total Access.
I am planning on re-joining Netflix this month with the extra DVD for one month that I am due from the Settlement. I am also a Netflix (and Blockbuster B shares) investor.
zerocalories @ Aug 1st 2008 5:17PM
$1 doesn't seem bad but what's with charging some people $2?