Poll: Will Netflix's new Blu-ray rates cause a change in your subscription?
By Richard Lawler 
posted April 1st 2009 12:00PM
posted April 1st 2009 12:00PM
posted April 1st 2009 12:00PM
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I have contacted Netflix to express my dissatisfaction, and have asked them to reconsider this huge price increase. If they don't do so, I'll cancel and join Blockbuster.
Another disturbing thing I found out (confirmed by Netflix CSR) is that customers who view and exchange fewer movies per month under the same plan as other customers get priority in being sent the short supply of new releases. That makes no sense. So on top of the price increase, Netflix penalizes its best customers, the very people who are more likely to stick with Netflix and even upgrade their service to one with more movies per month. Amazing!
Technically the heavy users are their "worst" customers as they cost more overhead of shipping discs etc. The best would be those that have the big plans but rarely exchange discs.
"BLOCKBUSTER Online reserves the right to determine product allocation among members in its sole discretion. In determining product allocation, we use various factors including, but not limited to, (i) the historical rental volume for each subscriber, (ii) historical number of outstanding rentals relative to the maximum number of outstanding BLOCKBUSTER Online Rentals allowed under a subscriber's plan, and (iii) the average rental queue position of BLOCKBUSTER Online Rentals that have shipped to a subscriber in the past."
I have been considering canceling for a while now, but this is pushing me closer.
My buddy has already canceled.
I think this definitely leaves the door open for a BB comeback. That is, if they take advantage of this opening. Won't get my hopes up too high though.
I've been considering cancelling my blu-ray access anyways. Has anyone else with netflix been getting cracked blu-rays that don't work?
In the past month I've received 12 blu-rays. 10 were cracked and unreadable, 1 was cracked but still played, and only 1 blu-ray out of 12 didn't have a crack
Customer service is nice, but there are some serious blu-ray issues. I'm definitely not going to pay more just so I can receive the same cracked blu-rays I always do!
I'm not too upset at the increase, but I'm only on the one-at-a-time unlimited plan. If I were still on the three plan, I might cut it down one.
Now I just need to get a blu-ray burner...
You guys are hilarious. $3 more a month is too much? If you really care, don't get starbucks for a day.
I'm on Blockbuster atm and have had Netflix before, my only qualm with Blockbuster is their new change where they don't send out the next mailed movie until I return the one I got from the store. But still, I get a free game rental every month which I keep for 3-4 weeks usually. That's worth it.
Netflix needs more streaming stuff, in a month I watched everything half decent.
Before I comment, I have to say Miggity, you are on a roll today, and deserve props.
And now for my comment...
I'm not happy with this. Seriously. But what am I going to do? Blockbuster is SLOW, and if I wanted to get crap in store, I'd get their in store plan like my useless in laws have. I have been burned buying blu rays that I haven't watched (I got Terminator 1 from netflix, loved it and bought it as a set with T2, and was not happy with T2, as an example), so I have a policy never to buy blu rays that I haven't personally seen unless it's Star Trek.
That leaves me with one option: Suck it up, pay the 5 extra dollars a month and rub the discs in between my butt cheeks as a protest before I send them back.
I think they should have include "I'm switching to Blockbuster online" in there poll it seems a lot of people here are considering that switch.
I am considering dropping the BR option. Mine went up to $5...that is BS. BR's are way too expensive as it is for something that is not that much better.
I won't buy them for the price that they are asking and I do not want to rent them for a higher price either.
Had the Blu-Ray plan, dropped it as soon as I heard of the price change. Reason? I've had the same DVD unwatched for at least four months now...I've been streaming this whole time.
Blu Ray Discs cost a whole lot more for Netflix or any other company to buy from the studios than normal DVDs, therefore it's common sense that they need to charge a little more to rent them, otherwise, how are they supposed to make money. It's only a dollar, which is a very small increase. You save way more than that on the gas you would have to buy driving back and forth to blockbusters or redbox everytime you want to rent a movie. People just like something to complain about without thinking "why" first.
Well I cut back my subscription. I had 6 out at a time but that has been way too many for a while. I was wanting to drop down some and this new Blu-ray charge got me moving fast to cut it down. I cut it in half to a much more manageable amount. I would have done this anyway but like I said this action by Netflix had me rushing to change this. I have been a member since 2003. I think they are crazy to do this. I think after renting Blu-rays from them for over 2 years I think this is total BS.
I'm keeping mine. I only have the 2 a-month plan so the extra $2 subscription per month isn't really a big hardship. Even with the fee, rental from Netflix is still less expensive than, say, pay per view from the cable company (now that is a rip-off).
So far most of the Blu-rays on my Netflix queue are listed as available "Now". The only one not available is Slumdog Millionaire which is listed as a "Short Wait" (queued it just now). Also have 2 Blus at home from them - IronMan and Quantum of Solace.
I also have Blockbuster service and all Blu-ray titles in my Blockbuster queue are listed as a "Long Wait". Only thing I like about Blockbuster is they still stock HD DVDs (I have a combo player).