[EndlessMac]

For those of you who use Netflix's online video rental, have you noticed that it takes longer and longer to get new video releases? I have about 15 new releases that I'm been waiting awhile for. Some of them I have been waiting for over a month! In the beginning (I signed up when Netflix was fairly new) Netflix was great and I usually didn't have to wait more than a few days to get popular new releases, but now that Netflix has more customers it seems like the wait has become longer and longer. Right now Netflix is great if I want to watch old movies, but to get new releases it will test your skills in patience.

Maybe it's just my account, but has anyone else noticed this too? Have any of you tried other services like Blockbuster? How's their service? Blockbuster is a bigger company so I'm hoping they will have the money to buy more new release copies. I'm thinking about canceling my Netflix account. It just seem like Netflix isn't buying enough DVD copies to handle the amount of customers they have.

[BigBadWolf]

I use Blockbuster and have no real complaints. The nice thing is that they give you free in-store rentals as well. Right now I have 2 free in-store rentals a month, but I may change it to 1 per week.

As far as getting the movies, I usually get them the day after they are shipped.

[the_glassman]

I've been very happy with my Blockbuster online account.

[BlueSky]

Depends on how fast you're sending your dvd's back. The faster you send them back, the slower you'll get other items on your list. They're trying to maximize profit, and sending you a shitload of movies per month cuts into that, obviously.

[BlueSky]

The little-known practice, called "throttling" by critics, means Netflix customers who pay the same price for the same service are often treated differently, depending on their rental patter

[PacHead]

Yep, I've read that the more you rent, the slower you will get releases. A bigtime renter who is constantly ordering DVD's and returning them quickly is not good for business.

A first time signup will get their movies quickly.

There was a class action suit against Netflix and I received an email awhile ago saying that if I agreed to the settlement, I would get 1 month of free service.

[rickey939]

Netflix is 100% totally awesome.®

[EndlessMac]

Originally Posted by BlueSky

Depends on how fast you're sending your dvd's back. The faster you send them back, the slower you'll get other items on your list. They're trying to maximize profit, and sending you a shitload of movies per month cuts into that, obviously.

Yes, I understand that, but they should not use the term unlimited in their advertising. They should say something like a maximum of 15 movies a month allowed. This way they don't have to throttle movies for heavy renters and everyone will know at the beginning how many movies you can get a month.

It's like going to an all you can eat restaurant and finding that you can only eat a few pieces of each item. Stating that their service has unlimited rentals gives a false impression and doesn't warn uses of the punishment they will get for renting too frequently. If they would have stated the amount in the first place then no one would be disappointed. This would be better than secretly punishing heavy renters and leaving them confused as to why it's taking so long for them to get their movies.

[EndlessMac]

Originally Posted by rickey939

Netflix is 100% totally awesome.®

I don't think you would be saying that if it took a month or longer to get the movie you wanted. Apparently not all Netflix customers are treated equally.

[rickey939]

Originally Posted by EndlessMac

I don't think you would be saying that if it took a month or longer to get the movie you wanted. Apparently not all Netflix customers are treated equally.

Yeah, I must admit, it's nice living within 25 miles of (2) major distribution centers.

[EndlessMac]

Originally Posted by rickey939

Yeah, I must admit, it's nice living within 25 miles of (2) major distribution centers.

That's the not the problem since I live about 15 miles from a major distribution center. When they send me the movie it arrives the next day. The problem is that is seems they are throttling frequent renters. Read BlueSky's link to a CNN article about it. I had a feeling they were doing this to me.

Basically my problem is that my movies stay in waiting status for a long, long, long time. This could be more than a month for some movies. So the issue is not delivery time in the mail but the long wait for them to even send me the movies.

[BlueSky]

Yes, I understand that, but they should not use the term unlimited in their advertising. They should say something like a maximum of 15 movies a month allowed. This way they don't have to throttle movies for heavy renters and everyone will know at the beginning how many movies you can get a month.

I guess that's why they were sued and since then had to revise their online TOS. I don't see anything about unlimited on their site now. But I agree, if they gave a solid number it would be more upfront, and possibly less profitable. I almost signed up last month, glad I didn't.

"In determining priority for shipping and inventory allocation, we give priority to those members who receive the fewest DVDs through our service," Netflix's revised policy now reads. The statement specifically warns that heavy renters are more likely to encounter shipping delays and less likely to immediately be sent their top choices.

more on throttling + netflix

[EndlessMac]

Originally Posted by BlueSky

I guess that's why they were sued and since then had to revise their online TOS. I don't see anything about unlimited on their site now. But I agree, if they gave a solid number it would be more upfront, and possibly less profitable. I almost signed up last month, glad I didn't.

The "unlimited" word is still used to describe their signup plans. The description for my plan still says unlimited next to it. I believe the only plan that doesn't say unlimited is their 2 out at a time with a max of 4 per month.

In reading some of the online TOS, I found this statement, "In our unlimited plans, we do not establish a monthly limit on the number of DVDs you can rent, however, the actual number of DVDs you rent in any month will vary based on a number of factors" which I found under the number of DVDs you can rent section. That's basically a lawyer's way of saying unlimited doesn't always mean unlimited, but we'll use it because it sounds good and it brings in customers.

Also here is a link to all their signup plans: http://www.netflix.com/HowItWorks?hnjr=3. Only one plan doesn't use the word unlimited. The problem would have been easily solved if they just gave us a choice of paying more if we wanted more movies per month instead of falsely letting us believe that. Secretly throttling frequent renters just gets them angry when they thought they were getting unlimited.

[Rolling Bones]

Corner store. 3 minute walk. 0.99 per movie.

[Philip J. Fry]

I cancelled Netflix. I noticed that what used to take a day to be received on their end for returned movies, started turning into 2-3 days, causing me to get less per month (and my account had the word 'unlimited' next to it). Even once, they claimed to ship a movie and 5 days later, I had to report it missing. Guess it's back to just watching the movies on TV when they come on the movie channel.

[Q27]

Something similar happened to me, when I used to be with Netflix. I would say that I rented quite a few movies (after all it did say unlimited). The time for them to send and for me to receive movies started increasing. Even though they kept adding more distribution centers near me. Then one week I sent a movie and they never received it. So I had to report it missing on their site, no big deal they said it happens from time to time and not to worry about it. So they released that rental and started sending in that slot. A few weeks later another one that I sent back to them goes missing. Filled out another missing movie on their site, quick and easy and they let that one slide. Then after one weekend I sent 3 back, I wait and I wait to hear from them that they received them. Over a week goes by, still no response. So I go to the site and mark them missing. They place a hold on my account saying I have lost too many movies. I am then told that I have to file a report with the post office. They give me a number to call and I call it. Dealing with the post office filing a lost mail report was torture. But I got that done and they took the hold off my account, about a month later 2 more dvds go missing in the mail. I marked them missing and they put a hold on my account again. After this I cancelled my netflix account, too much hassle. I don't know if someone was swiping them from the post office or what. Now I mainly rent from the local blockbuster. Where I know the movie has been returned.

[EndlessMac]

Here is an update for anyone who is interested. I filed a complaint to Netflix which can be tough to do since you don't contact customers service directly. I can see why the CNN article stated that there are few complaints because there really isn't a way to talk to them directly. You have to complain through the suggestion section because the customers service section is basically all automated and there really isn't a place to write to them.

Anyway after I filed the complaint, interesting enough the first movie on my wait list was sent and another movie that I have been waiting a long time for has also been sent. To me that is proof that they have been holding back my movies. I've been waiting about 2 months for the first movie on my list and now suddenly it has been sent after my complaint. I think it would be best if I just cancelled my account.

[Philip J. Fry]

Originally Posted by EndlessMac

Here is an update for anyone who is interested. I filed a complaint to Netflix which can be tough to do since you don't contact customers service directly. I can see why the CNN article stated that there are few complaints because there really isn't a way to talk to them directly. You have to complain through the suggestion section because the customers service section is basically all automated and there really isn't a place to write to them.

Anyway after I filed the complaint, interesting enough the first movie on my wait list was sent and another movie that I have been waiting a long time for has also been sent. To me that is proof that they have been holding back my movies. I've been waiting about 2 months for the first movie on my list and now suddenly it has been sent after my complaint. I think it would be best if I just cancelled my account.

Thats what I had to do. Guess I enjoyed the account too much.

[UNTeMac]

Sounds like I'll be canceling mine in a few months...probably once I start seeing movies go to any less than "Now" availability since that's what they've been this whole time. This is bad publicity.


EDIT: Here's a few lines from Blockbuster's TOS

"Selection and Allocation of Product. BLOCKBUSTER Online will automatically ship titles to you, up to your maximum number of outstanding BLOCKBUSTER Online Rentals, from and in the order that you have listed in your rental queue, subject to availability. However, 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 a 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."

[UNTeMac]

Originally Posted by EndlessMac

Anyway after I filed the complaint, interesting enough the first movie on my wait list was sent and another movie that I have been waiting a long time for has also been sent. To me that is proof that they have been holding back my movies. I've been waiting about 2 months for the first movie on my list and now suddenly it has been sent after my complaint. I think it would be best if I just cancelled my account.

What movie were you waiting so long for?

[funkboy]

I have a question: are you renting them, burning them to DVD, and then sending them back the same day? I wonder how many people do that.

[EndlessMac]

Originally Posted by UNTeMac

EDIT: Here's a few lines from Blockbuster's TOS

"Selection and Allocation of Product. BLOCKBUSTER Online will automatically ship titles to you, up to your maximum number of outstanding BLOCKBUSTER Online Rentals, from and in the order that you have listed in your rental queue, subject to availability. However, 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 a 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'm not expecting Blockbuster to be much better which is why I was hoping someone could recommend several good companies. The closest rental store to my house is inconveniently out of my way. I do like the movies waiting for me when I get home, but I would go to a rental store if it were closer to my house. Hopefully there will be more competition in the future so that companies like Netflix can't get away with this stuff.

Originally Posted by UNTeMac

What movie were you waiting so long for?

I had several but the longest was Serenity. I've been waiting since it came out on DVD which was December 2005. In the beginning new releases came to me much faster than this.

[EndlessMac]

Originally Posted by funkboy

I have a question: are you renting them, burning them to DVD, and then sending them back the same day? I wonder how many people do that.

No, I usually either watch the movie the same day or the next day. I mail it out about 2-3 days after I watch the movie. That doesn't sound unreasonable does it? Of course the less we rent the more money Netflix makes, which really is the issue here.

[Severed Hand of Skywalker]

Originally Posted by funkboy

I have a question: are you renting them, burning them to DVD, and then sending them back the same day? I wonder how many people do that.

I thought everyone did that.

[k squared]

Interestedly enough, after having 12 movies in my Queue on "long wait" status, I decided to downgrade my account from 3 movies/unlimited to one movie/unlimited starting March 1st -- the top two movies in my Queue magically shipped the next day. Actually, I placed Rent in my Queue on Sunday and I received it today. That has never happened before in my 3 years with Netflix.

[iLikebeer]

What happens if you put the movies you REALLY want lower down in your queue? Does that make them come faster for high volume renters?

[EndlessMac]

Originally Posted by k squared

Interestedly enough, after having 12 movies in my Queue on "long wait" status, I decided to downgrade my account from 3 movies/unlimited to one movie/unlimited starting March 1st -- the top two movies in my Queue magically shipped the next day. Actually, I placed Rent in my Queue on Sunday and I received it today. That has never happened before in my 3 years with Netflix.

It makes sense. The whole throttling issue is probably fully automated by now. If you switch to a lower plan then you'll get the higher priority, but that screws over people who want to see more movies a month. I actually don't have a problem with paying more for a more frequent plan. The problem is that Netflix groups all of us together so frequent renters get punished whether they are willing to pay more or not. There is no option to go to a frequent renter's plan so we suffer.

Originally Posted by iLikebeer

What happens if you put the movies you REALLY want lower down in your queue? Does that make them come faster for high volume renters?

I haven't noticed any difference. It's not really your queue that makes a difference, but your queue with people who are not frequent renters. Apparently they get first choice and then frequent renters are next.

[subego]

Originally Posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker

I thought everyone did that.

Reported.
















Psych.

[Severed Hand of Skywalker]

Hey you know they got these online rentals for porn DVD now to eh.

Might be more worth it as Porn DVD's are $50 a pop but if you rent em and burn em you are laughing all the way to the bank with your hairy palms.

[ort888]

Hopefully they dip the discs in rubbing alcohol after they get them back.

[Severed Hand of Skywalker]

Originally Posted by ort888

Hopefully they dip the discs in rubbing alcohol after they get them back.

I don't think many DVD's are like magazines and people ejaculate on the disk as it is usually safe in the DVD player.

[subego]

Originally Posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker

Might be more worth it as Porn DVD's are $50 a pop but if you rent em and burn em you are laughing all the way to the bank with your hairy palms.

Check the used section my man.

[thunderous_funker]

I had the exact same issue with Netflix when I lived in LA. Started out great, then as I got a rhythm to watching/returning the shipments got slower and slower until I just took the hint and cancelled.

[dampeoples]

Originally Posted by funkboy

I have a question: are you renting them, burning them to DVD, and then sending them back the same day? I wonder how many people do that.

About 1/2 of the customers on my mail route.

[k squared]

Originally Posted by dampeoples

About 1/2 of the customers on my mail route.

Really? Do you work for the USPS? Have you ever "borrowed" a movie? I've always wondered what happens to those lost/delayed movies.

[subego]

Originally Posted by k squared

Really? Do you work for the USPS? Have you ever "borrowed" a movie? I've always wondered what happens to those lost/delayed movies.

We get movies from the person at our street number, but a block over.

I know they're wondering "who is stealing my movies... and then returning them?"

[mduell]

Known policy, the competition does it too.

This is the biggest reason I don't have an account. I'd sign up for a service that would send my next as soon as they received my last.