text:
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Price change for access to Blu-ray movies
213 comments:
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 10:39 AM
This stinks. You should be giving us Blu-Ray at no extra charge at all, not looking for ways to milk us more than you already do.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 10:43 AM
I can't see how the cost difference is affecting the bottom line. I'm sure there are over 800 titles that cost significantly LESS than most Netflix movies too. I'm betting 10x that. Granted, those movies aren't rented as frequently, but I don't see Netflix charging 1$ LESS for those movies. (Online viewing isn't an option for us Mac users either, and until it is, that isn't a valid argument either)ReplyDelete
I don't buy the "extra" cost option.ReplyDelete
Amazon offers bluray movies from $13-$30 range.
How much extra is that costing you over new dvd releases?
So 800 movies on bluray... I don't have interest in even watching all of them, maybe 10 of the current offerin (maybe 30?) So you're going to punish me to use blueray?ReplyDelete
Don't think so.
Cancelled the blueray option the moment it was announced and I'm not shopping for another service that doesn't feel like robbing me $1 a month for the 'privilage' of watching blueray, something I should have been already paying for (and was).
I am seriously thinking about leaving netflix over this. I understand Blu-ray costs more. I wouldn't mind the upcharge if I could get Blu-ray discs as fast as DVD. Everytime I add a Blu-ray to my query it says "Very Long Wait" or "Long Wait". Why would I want to pay more for the same unpredictible service. I don't think we should pay more if the service levels haven't changed at all. I used to get a movie, watch it and return it right away so I could get the next one. Now, with Blu-ray, I check to see how long I will have to wait. If it is a long time, which it always is, I'm not in a rush to send it back. Then I feel like netflix isn't worth it to me. Therefore why should I have to pay even more when Netflix is less of a value to me?ReplyDelete
To add since blogger doesn't allow for edits:ReplyDelete
Pardon the typo, I'm now looking at the competition, even though I've been a subscriber for 3 years.
Only reasons there should ever be a reasonable price increase on netflix: postal rate increases or minimum wage increases.
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 10:58 AM
How much did you people pay for the Blu-Ray players? You're going to complain about $1 per month. I could see an issue if they were charging and extra $5 or $10, but a buck? Come on...you go ahead and go to Blockbuster...I hear they have a wait on everything....ReplyDelete
If you have to own the latest and greatest, expect to pay for it.
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 11:03 AM
I didn't buy a Blu-Ray player, per se but, own a PS3 which just happens to play Blu-Ray discs.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 11:07 AM
I don't have a problem with it, but if you'd like to discuss it, there's also a discussion going on at Get Satisfaction, a site netflix refuses to acknowledge exists:ReplyDelete
A 20% increase for the $4.99 plan ($4.99 + $1 for blu-ray), which I have. Seems like a lot for 2 movies a month. Blockbuster Online is $3.99 for the same plan and that already includes blu-ray. No brainer for me to switch.ReplyDelete
These complaints are pretty ridiculous. It's just $1.ReplyDelete
I WOULD pay an extra dollar (or two) per month if the Roku streaming movies were higher quality. The Voodoo has increased to nearly blu-ray quality... hopefully you guys won't disappoint me there.
- TW in FLOctober 8, 2008 at 11:14 AM
These comments will most likely not be read by those who make the decisions but we as patrons should be heard and vent. We pay our hard earned money every month to have the movies of our choice delivered to us in a timely fashion. I was an early subscriber to netflix due to my disgust with Blockbuster. Upon receiving the email regarding Bluray price hikes I was less than thrilled. I looked at my queue and dicovered that Most of the movies in my list were not available in Bluray and the 15 or so that were in Bluray had a Long or Very Long Wait on them this my friends is an unacceptable practice We demand to have services that we pay for to be provided not met with additional rate hikes. Perhaps Pay-Per-View is the next option seeing as DirecTV offers new releases in HD. If the movie is that great I will just Buy the damn thing and keep it. In this ecomomy it's business practices such as this that remind me that netflix after all is a LUXURY service that we can and maybe should LIVE WITHOUT.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 11:19 AM
I have no problem with an increase of a dollar. I do have a problem when opening an envelope is like flipping a coin. I'm getting really tired of the cracked disc issue and I'm getting tired of Netflix playing the "isolated incident" response card.ReplyDelete
It's not isolated. It's widespread and widely reported. I had to send another disc back this week. Yet Netflix continues to just brush the issue aside.
Maybe this price increase is actually due to the delivery failure rate of Blu-Ray discs. Netflix must be going through a lot of catalog having to keep replacing damaged units.
If we are going to get a dollar increase then I want to see the service improve. Use that money to despatch Blu-Ray discs in light cardboard sleeves. Not the cheap paper sleeves that have resulted in at least 15 damages discs this year.
Maybe if the packaging was better, Netflix wouldn't continuously burn through copies of movies.
I don't have a problem with it, as yes, there is a noticeable price difference in the formats. Let's see... the new Indiana Jones movie comes out next week, and I'm fairly sure that that will be a big mover. Let's take a look at the prices on it:ReplyDelete
Blu-Ray - $26.95
Those prices come from Amazon, and while I'm sure Netflix doesn't pay retail, there's still going to be a price difference. Of course, Netflix isn't going to buy just one copy of the movie, so it adds up.
Let's do a little math. That's an $8 difference if you or I were to buy it, but let's say Netflix gets a huge discount and only faces a $1 price difference. Let's also assume that they buy 200 copies to meet the demand: that's an extra $200 compared to the DVD edition. Oh, and there's 800 different Blu-Ray titles with more coming out every week, so $200*800 movies=$160,000 to support this format. And you're going to gripe about a buck?
Also, by charging an extra buck, I'd assume that they would be able to buy extra copies of the movies in this format to cut down on the waits.
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 11:26 AM
I joined netflix because there was no additional charge to get bluray movies. Now that there is hmm... It causes one to reevaluate the other options available. If there is going to be a price increase there should be more blurays available and not have them buried underneath genre. That is not even mentioning the wait times.ReplyDelete
Also, to the anonymous above me who mentioned broken discs: I can't speak for everyone, but I've been a member since May 2004. In that time, I've received a grand total of three or four broken discs. If you're getting fifteen per year, you might want to have a talk with your local PO.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Why would you assume they would buy more copies? You can't assume you would be able to get a blu-ray disc faster than a month wait!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 11:31 AM
If the difference in price was such an issue you should've had this $1 increase when you started offering Blu-Ray, it would have been easier to accept.ReplyDelete
And on more than one occasion I've had trouble even getting the Blu-Ray version from Netflix to begin with. They always seem to be out.
It's the little things that add up. Is $1 a big deal? No, not really. But it matters and I'm started to feel like I'm being nickel-ed and dimed by Netflix, I company I've been a huge supporter of for many, many years.
Should I expect an extra charge to watch movies on my Xbox 360 when that service launches later this year? If so, that'll be the last straw.
I guess I can cope with $1 if it was just $1. But I still can't watch stuff instantly on my Mac, or on Firefox. Blu-Ray availability has been scarce sometimes...it just adds up.
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 11:31 AM
It would be one thing if it was only a dollar and I *could*actually*get*a*bluray*movie* from my queue...ReplyDelete
As it is the top 4 movies in my queue are all Long Wait / Very Long Wait, and have been that way for over 6 weeks - and they're all blu-ray.
I haven't seen a blu-ray movie home in about 2 months.
So... $1/mo for something I want, but can't have is not acceptable.
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 11:33 AM
Chad... You sound like you work for Netflix!ReplyDelete
What a rip-off. I don't buy the argument at all. I'm going to look into switching providers.ReplyDelete
Prior to the price upgrade, you were paying the same as everyone else but getting more (assuming you were getting Blu-Ray). So, why would they want to buy enough stock so that everyone could get their movies in this format with minimal wait? They're paying more per copy, you're paying the same per month as if you were getting it on DVD.ReplyDelete
With 6 million members, let's say that 1% use Blu-Ray. That's 60,000 members, which equals $60,000 per month of extra income. I'm sure they'll pocket some of that, but I'm also sure that a good chunk of it will go to buying more titles on Blu-Ray (and more copies).
I expected that "I work for Netflix!" deal. Nope, I have my gripes as well - I hate the "New Releases" page and I was bitching about that just like all of you. I just don't see a problem with this, and in fact, I think it's a good thing.ReplyDelete
These complaints posted are just nonsensical.ReplyDelete
I actually applaud Netflix for this reasonable change. I understand the significant cost of Blu-rays and $1 is more than fair.
Just one question, will availability increase as it is a bit low at the time.
Keep up the good work.
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 11:45 AM
I will be canceling, you have just made Blockbuster more attractive.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 11:46 AM
when I can get "B" movies for 1$ less or watch them on my Mac, then I'll call it fair....ReplyDelete
or...when someone actually posts numbers that affect the bottom line in a negative way. Offering blue-ray to BEGIN with has upped the bottom line, without raising the prices.....greedy much?
Show me the figures. Show me in numbers, how it's hurting the bottom line, and I'll buy it...
SHOW me why.
Who cares what the reason for the price mark up is? It's an additional service and Netflix should have the right to charge whatever they want for the service. For me, it's only $1 and not that big a deal. For you, maybe $12/year is a big deal.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 11:54 AM
It seems like alot of posts are trying to justify this increase. I don't think Blu-ray discs have increased in price since they came out. Usually price goes down over time. Why didn't netflix charge this when they offered the first Blu-ray disc? Sounds like the drug dealer mentality to me... the first hit is free.ReplyDelete
Even if a Blu-Ray costs five dollars more at retail, or, let's say for the sake of argumant $10 more to license for rental per disc, Netflix surely saves money due to the Durabis coating (I have never received a BD with ANY scratches, whereas nearly every DVD I have received is in some state of disrepair, and 1 in 20 are cracked or unplayable); as well as the robust copy protection (BD-R media is prohibitively expensive, decoding programs are not widespread, storage space is a concern for pirates).ReplyDelete
I call BS and price-gouging on Netflix. Which really isn't a big surprise considering their throttling practices. They're just trying to squeeze their consumers by pinching pennies in a segment which they think will pony up more dough.
I canceled my account over this and the mac streaming issue about 10 minutes ago. Unfortunately they didn't give a comment box for me to let them know why I'm canceling my account. I'd come back if Blu-rays were the same price.ReplyDelete
When I looked at my queue and saw only 3 blu-ray titles I realized it wasn't worth it.
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 12:03 PM
Considering that Blu-ray movies cost on average 30% more the standard dvd, I'm surprised the extra fee wasn't charged from the beginning. Now you have to listen to all the whining. For those who are thinking about transferring over to Blockbuster, they are planning to charge a premium soon too.ReplyDelete
No thanks. I'll downgrade my plan to two at a time and use the extra $4 to get two blurays a month from my local video store where they don't charge more and are always in stock.ReplyDelete
If that works out, maybe I'll cancel completely.
Here's the thing. I WOULD care if I actually watched Bluray movies. To be honest, I only had Bluray enabled to encourage you guys to get a good selection going.ReplyDelete
But until Sony provides a preference to never contact the internet when I load a Bluray movie into my PS3 (instead of the two current default options of Always Ask to Contact and Contact Without Asking), I have told them I won't purchase or view any more Blurays. And I'm standing by that. There's not a huge enough difference in the quality to put up with the damn format going "Can I invade your privacy now? How about now? Now? Okay... now?"
You guys could possibly be getting that extra $1/mo if Sony had this feature. Have your buyers swing some of that Netflix weight at them and mention this? Not to mention, have them lower the price of Blurays! They should be like $2 more than a DVD max in a store if Sony really wants to make inroads in the market.
How about making it so when I rent a new blu ray it doesn't sit there for months on very long wait!!!! I seriously thinking of going to blockbuster.ReplyDelete
I'm happy to pay an extra $1/month for this, but I do hope that the Blu-ray selection increases quickly. Right now, less than 10% of my queue is available on Blu-ray (and many of those are not immediately available to rent)--paying more for months in which I don't even get a Blu-ray disc seems a little sketchy.ReplyDelete
But if the extra dollar is getting funneled into purchasing more Blu-ray discs, I can live with that, too.
A very small percentage of movies in my queue are Blu-ray. There are not enough Blu-ray movies that I want to watch for this to be worth it.ReplyDelete
If the system instead billed me $0.50 or even $1 extra at the end of the month for each Blu-ray movie that I watched, that would be much better for me.
I will be removing Blu-ray access.
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 12:53 PM
put the money towards better stock and shipping from a warehouse near me and I'll be fine with it. You have until Christmas to show improvement.ReplyDelete
I see folks who don't see it as a big deal and I wonder if they have bluray.ReplyDelete
I also wonder how many movies on their queue are blueray if they do have it. I, for one, could go an entire month renting movies without ever seeing a title that had a blueray option.
I therefore shouldn't be punished because there was a chance I could receive a blueray disk.
Maybe if I rented more than 3 or so movies in a month on blueray I could see the justification, but for the option to just be sitting there? That's what I don't accept.
Hmmm... I must say i am really not stingy at all with money but if you want to say shipping cost is youre reason for increasing cost or something along those lines ... sure but this is kind of bull. I would much prefer to go to blockbuster where it may cost more but there is no blue ray option and if i want i can trade the online movies in for ones from the store. I never watch movies on my computer either so why would i ever use that. That's why i payed too much for an entertainment system ...ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 1:03 PM
If I were Sony I would be very concerned about these price increases.ReplyDelete
I would also be very pro-active in trying to commercialize the format on competing terms with the other formats (DVD).
Ever since the video rental here and at the store I do business with I STOPED renting them.
Even though I do have a Blue Ray reader (lucky I can play games on it at least ;o) ) I refuse to cash in for the slight increase in quality.
I already enjoy HD from broadcasts anyway.
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 1:04 PM
In the world of business, everyone who removes thier blu-ray option is considered "collateral damage". I run a company myself and sometimes to increase the bottom line, we know we will lose some customers over a price increase. If you look at it from a strategic stand point, this is purely a "profit increasing" move. Otherwise Netflix would have charged the increase at the time the started offering Blu-ray. If it truly is due to the cost of the Blu-ray, then their executives are terrible at looking at future gross margins when they decided to introduce Blue-ray. Either way this is netflix's fault. Not the cost of Blu-ray. Oh, and by the way it's not the $1 that bothers me, it's the principle.ReplyDelete
Extra $1, sure, I'll pay it for Blu-Ray.ReplyDelete
Now how about knocking $1 off for us Mac users who can't use the "Watch Instantly" feature?
How's it fair to charge extra for blu-ray and not give a break for those who can't use watch instantly?
wow!! what a crappy way to nickel and dime your loyal customers of many years. I'm now shopping around for a new service. Sounds like just a "easy" way for netflix to make a few extra million a month with-out improving there service or time it take to get movies. shame on you!!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 1:29 PM
I just want to point out that this is poor implementation, and that should one receive a bluray in a given month then the $1 charge should apply. Just having access to rent blurays in general should not justify an overall price increase. There have been some months when I did not rent any blurays at all.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 1:57 PM
I'm just about done with Netflix. I'll be canceling the blu-ray option. I'm going to consider getting rid of Netflix all together,ReplyDelete
I wonder if there will now also be a price hike if we choose to watch netflix on the xbox...ReplyDelete
I also wonder how many poor people won't pay enough attention to their e-mail or this blog and get hit by this as a rude surprise.
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 2:16 PM
What I think is funny is all of the WHINNING. Uh, listen up Miracle Ears...when you grow up and own your own company, you can charge whatever you would like as well!!! What a concept.ReplyDelete
Another thing, you stupid shortbuses, is that this is America. Go somewhere else if you don't like it.
I'm just waiting for one of you babies to start a petition. Haha
What a joke.
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 2:17 PM
Blockbuster charges 16.99 for their mail only 3 at a time plan - there does not appear to be a premium for blu-ray. Or you can choose the mail \ store plan for 19.99 whihc appears to be a great value if you have a blockbuster nearby.ReplyDelete
I think I'll be switching before the month is over.
- 2McAbreOctober 8, 2008 at 2:36 PM
Good Grief there are a bunch of whiny people out there!ReplyDelete
Look "YOU" chose to buy early into the Blu Ray tech, out of 90,000+ titles available at Netflix only 1094 are Blu Ray. Why should those of us happy to view the other 90,000+ standard DVD titles have to foot the bill to buy more expensive copies of BD disks?
The one thing that is an absolute fact, and a right...
If you don't like it then downgrade to SDVD and wait for BD to catch up, or simply quit and go to BB. Who BTW is shy on BD titles vs. NF by almost 400 titles!
Why? because they only provide "Censored" versions of movies that fit their moral standards.
Oh and for the Mac users whining about IW... Stop beating the dead horse will ya? Why should you get a discount for something that nobody is being charged anything for.
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 2:50 PM
I dropped Blu-Ray access today because, being a careful shopper, I'm not used to paying more for high definition. Especially since less than 10 percent of the videos I watch are even available on an HD format.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 2:58 PM
I used to be a Netflix costumer, and I'm now with Blockbuster. The reason was the lack of recent releases on bluray. I had recent releases in my queue for two months and they are still tagged "very long wait". It's not so with Blockbuster, I still have half my queue on a long wait, but the other half will be sent. "The Happening" and "1408" are on there way. With Netflix, I might have got those in two months. I would have definately paid more to stay with Netflix, unfortunately I don't think it will increase their inventory to meet the bluray demand.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 3:04 PM
I cancelled my subscription today. You might want to rethink your increase. Subscriber for 6-7 years. JPHReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 3:04 PM
Blockbuster. Half the bluray movies that Netflix had a "very long wait" are available in my queue. I'm VERY happy!!!!!ReplyDelete
I dont rent unless its blu-ray.ReplyDelete
I dont watch TV unless its HD.
I dont go to theaters unless its IMAX.
Thanks Netflix, luv ya.
I seriously hope that this extra fee goes to buying more copies of blu ray movies. Right now, I seem to be perpetually waiting for them to returned. If you want to charge extra for HD movies, you better make damn sure that you have them in stock.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 3:17 PM
I can't believe you're going to raise the price ( even if it's just a dollar PLUS tax ) in times like this when so many people are looking at ways to cut cost. Netflix isn't a necessity, and I hope everyone did like I did and cancelled the Bluray option the second they learned about it. I joined Netflix BECAUSE you were the underdog, now you seem like all the other CORPORATE GREED HOUNDS.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 3:27 PM
I think it's perfectly reasonable to pay an extra dollar per month for Blu-ray discs. The thing that bothers me is that it seems to be an opt-out program.ReplyDelete
Automatically raising my rate under the assumption that I want to be in a program is sneaky. It should be opt-in. The only reason I found out about this is because I came across this while searching for something else (an update on instant viewing for Macs, to be specific).
Automatic sign-up for a program that costs me more? Not cool.
- BunkatorOctober 8, 2008 at 3:34 PM
Blu-Ray disengaged and I drop from 3 to 2 discs ... Blu-Ray is the future and DVD is the dinosaur, so essentially you plan to charge us more for the future, well you may ultimately lose a customer by raising your rates and I use Blu-Ray once or twice a month tops, I can get plenty of HD movies from my cable provider.ReplyDelete
I won't be manipulated into higher rates to have up to date technology.
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 3:39 PM
Canceling my subscription. The Blu-ray option was the only competitive advantage keeping me here.ReplyDelete
The DRM-laden IE-only "watch-it-now" already didn't work w/ FF or my Mac, so it wasn't an option anyway. Now without equal-access to Blu-ray, I can save this $1 increase *and then some* by going somewhere else.
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 3:42 PM
"If you don't want to pay $1 more a month for access to Blu-ray movies, simply remove the Blu-ray access on your account and your monthly subscription cost will stay the same."ReplyDelete
What a joke Yeah right! Netflix is kidding themselves if they think that Blu-ray users are going to go back to watching DVDs.
I've already cancelled my account over this and am switch to BB.
- rick cookeOctober 8, 2008 at 3:58 PM
Since you decided to raise my fee by a dollar, I have reduced my membership from 4 at a time to 2.ReplyDelete
Netloss of around $9.00 for Netflix.
Should you decide to reverse the dollar increase, I may reconsider going back to four.
I encourage members not happy with the increase to drop their subscription back 1 or 2 to let them know we are not happy
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 4:13 PM
At what point, as blu-ray disk prices drop, will this surcharge be dropped?ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 4:54 PM
Great, I have rented 6 Blu-ray movies and have had trouble with 2. It's not my player, updated the firmware and tried them on a different player. Bad condition DVD for a $1 more. What a deal.ReplyDelete
- CaseyTheBrashOctober 8, 2008 at 4:57 PM
Sony has jacked the prices on Blu-Rays to pay for the re-tooling of all the old DVD lines and to make some money while they control all interests in the format. They control the market, they control the price, God bless a monopoly.ReplyDelete
Netflix should take this argument to Sony and nickle and dime them over the issue...our rely on the fact we're so apathetic to cost increases we don't say anything. Needless to say I canceled my "Blu-Ray" option and lost five movies out of fifty or so. Then I realized how useless it was to me. I'll most likely cancel my Netflix account at the end of the month when it expires. I have paid Netflix since 2005, time to try Blockbuster.
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 4:57 PM
I don't think that any extra cost should be added just to watch the bluray movies, it is unfair. If they are going to start nitpicking and charging for every little thing, I will cancel my membershipReplyDelete
- Jason H.October 8, 2008 at 5:17 PM
I totally disagree with the CHANGE in EXISTING terms. Especially since Blu-ray movies have been dropping in price. I have reduced my plan from 2 unlimited to 1 unlimited to maintain the amount we budgeted and still have Blu-ray. This for Netflix is a loss of $5 per month in revenue indefinitely for just 1 subscription. Poor decision to raise revenue.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 5:18 PM
My God—amazing! You have to charge an extra dollar for Blu-ray when you milk out of the members a hell of a lot more than that every month, and to top it off, on such an awful market??? What retard proposed this plan at this particular time for the company? Just when I've been thinking that maybe I'll bail out entirely from Netflix... this BS just makes it easier.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 5:51 PM
My wife uses the in-demand video on our DTV more than we watch Netflix vids anyhow, so canceling will be a pleasure.ReplyDelete
Netflix was a good concept but its time to go. Bye Netflix.
you cheep as moter fkrs.ReplyDelete
oh yea, wouldn't it be nice if you supported mac. i keep waiting for things to get better with you guys. charging me more money does not make it bedder.ReplyDelete
I don't own a Blu-Ray player.ReplyDelete
I will say this: for the "option" to rent Blu-Ray, $1 is not fair.
If I rent 1 Blu-Ray a month and a lot of older movies on regular DVD, is that worth the increase? If Blu-Rays were as available as regular DVDs, $1 is fine. $1 for less avialability I can't agree with.
As many others have mentioned. For that extra dollar those waits had better reduce to nothing. It's a shame you couldn't wait a little long on this new "feature." Because, honestly, bragging that there are 800 Blu-Ray titles available isn't really that compelling an argument.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 8:44 PM
Time to switch to Blockbuster.ReplyDelete
No additional fee for Blu-ray.
Maybe they'll actually ship out movies more quickly, also.
It's at least worth a free trial.
Why do people assume that the price of blu-ray discs is fixed?ReplyDelete
The reason they cost 30% more is that the MPAA decided they would. They don't cost that much more to produce, and what real differences there are, are falling fast.
If Netflix won't stand up for its customers and fight to get the cost of these discs reduced then why should we support them?
Grow a pair Netflix and pass the pain back to the real thugs, the MPAA, not your customers.
- PatrickOctober 8, 2008 at 10:05 PM
I agree. Not all movies are available in the Blu-Ray format so $1 surcharge is inappropriate. Thats #1.ReplyDelete
#2 The long wait for some Blu-Ray titles would also be intolerable with an extra charge.
I'm a Mac user so the NetFlix "on-demand" feature is useless for me. I have suggested Netflix support loyal Mac users but that suggestion fell on deaf ears.
What a stupid decision given the state of the economy.
I thought I was a loyal customer but I'm considering a switch. Hope corporate is listening...
As long as Blu-Ray discs have a higher price, I understand a slight premium. But since Netflix's inventory has such a small percentage of Blu-Ray movies (is it even 1%) how about adding the premium if the customer has a Blu-Ray any time during the month.ReplyDelete
It's unacceptable to pay a premium if you have requested a premium service and you (Netflix) can not provide that premium service during that month. The implication that all movies should be in 1080p is implicit here.
- PatrickOctober 8, 2008 at 10:22 PM
One more thought. If NetFlix truly cares about customer service they would invest in greater Blu-Ray supplies before the rate increase. I've read several blogs that a price increase would allow the investment in greater copies of Blu-Ray discs. Come on, that is backwards thinking. NetFLix is a highly successful and profitable company, they should only ask for more money if all titles can be supplied in the format.ReplyDelete
I'm going to monitor this very closely
Careful Netflix
First of all I wouldn't mind the price increase if Blu-Ray's were actually AVAILABLE!! Every time i add a Blu-Ray movie it is either a VERY LONG WAIT or LONG WAIT!!! If you're going to charge us more get more copies of the new movies so we don't have to wait foreverReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 8, 2008 at 10:54 PM
I think it is ridiculous to pay extra for bluray movies. The services are supposed to be a package deal. If they are going to nickel and dime, why not charge extra for instant watching. Why not charge extra for new releases like going to blockbuster does. Why not charge extra for movies that are the most popular. The reason people use netflix is to get the movies they want at a flat rate, not to be nickel and dimed. I hope this is not a new trend for netflix to have a subscription that does not include all there services.ReplyDelete
- PatrickOctober 8, 2008 at 11:59 PM
Perhaps Netflix partnering with Microsoft's Xbox vs. Sony's PS3 has some part in this? Why doesn't NetFlix allow on-line viewing with the PS3 but they do with the xBox?ReplyDelete
NF may be making a huge strategic mistake here.
I will not tolerate a BluRay disc tax.
- AnonymousOctober 9, 2008 at 4:50 AM
I've been a Netflix user for just a few months and chose Blu-ray from the very beginning, so it seems strange that it just occurred to you that Blu-ray users should be charged more. It seems you should never have offered the plan for 4.99/month.ReplyDelete
I think a whole whopping $12 extra a year is a small price to pay for an expanding format with far better picture and sound quality. If $12 is too much for you, maybe you shouldn't have Netflix at all. It's their service and they can charge whatever they want.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 9, 2008 at 7:17 AM
I enabled Blue-Ray access from August onwards and have been charged $1 extra since then. So why announce now when you have been charging me $1 extra already from August 2008?ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 9, 2008 at 8:30 AM
Of course,I will pay the extra $1.00 ( it is nothing ).ReplyDelete
But ,the regular DVD's are cheaper week after week.
To be fair, Why You Netflix ,don't give your customers a credit of al least $3.00 every month ?.
Why we have to wait weeks to watch a Blu-ray movie ? It is no fair either from Netflix.
I love Netflix , but at the same time ,the must fulfill the customers expectations.
I have no problem with this price increase AT ALL. I think blu-ray is a better product and am happy to pay $1 more for it. if you don't like it, go BACK to the DVD option and save the money. The extra revenue will allow Netflix to accumulate more titles on the better format.ReplyDelete
Why does everyone always have a problem with a company trying to offer a better service and make a better profit at the same time. This isn't a 'reduction' of service, this is the realization that Netflix was losing a lot of money on the blu-ray product. Accordingly, the charge helps them to maintain the service instead of cancelling it.
Guess I better put my whopping 26 Blu-ray titles at the top of my queue, watch then fast, and cancel the Blu-ray option before the price increase kicks in.ReplyDelete
I can understand the rationale, but feel it should ONLY be applied when I ACTUALLY get a Blu-ray disc.
- AnonymousOctober 9, 2008 at 9:09 AM
I'm actually cancelling my subscription to Netflix, and just going back to HD channels on TV (HBO, etc) with Tivo. Admittedly i was on the fence for a while about continuing my subscription, but this pushed me over the edge. The $1 by itself not so much, but I've gotten tired of being nickelled and dimed every where I turn. You boys are big enough now(Netflix), start having some conversations with the studios, if BluRay is going to succeed, its has to be the same price as DVD. And your smug assertion "We think you'll agree", actually, for various reasons posted by other bloggers and my own, no, I don't agree, nor understand quite frankly. If you have to change your overall subscription price, fine, or discontinue BluRay, also fine, but these add on are driving me nuts.ReplyDelete
But specifically going after the BluRay renters, ie early adopters, ie hard core, ie your biggest supporters who built Netflix by word of mouth......do yo see where I'm going? Thanks for rewarding those who are the ones that ultimately are pushing the technology forward that you are benefitting from.
As I wrote at the beginning, good luck to you, I'm parting ways as of today (account already cancelled).
- AnonymousOctober 9, 2008 at 9:30 AM
One extra dollar is not much a month, that is true...and that is why they raised it....they are betting people won't care. truth is, they are taking advantage! 800 titles...c'mon....that's nothing.ReplyDelete
We should deactivate the Blue Ray Disc option and see what they do with them then!!
Let's come together on this... I already deactivated mine!
I agree with a lot of the comments. This is a bit confusing. The prices of DVDs are going down also. Shouldn't this help balance out the additional cost? Didn't DVDs cost more before Blu-Rays were out? I get the business point of view and I can appreciate that there would be a small added cost when buying, but after the purchase it's sunk cost. I can even appreciate the capitalism of it all, but it still feels a little strange.ReplyDelete
I blogged about this more on my LJ at http://dark--soul.livejournal.com/12210.html
- AnonymousOctober 9, 2008 at 10:02 AM
OK Jessie (VP of Marketing) question for you... were you guys under the influence when the idea of Blue Ray Disc price hike came about??ReplyDelete
I only say this..because you only need to know basic math and consumer behavior to realize that, this is a BAD idea.
Let me explain to you, what you just did....
First, you pissed off a LOT of people off.... result threefold...
1) A small percentage of your customers will cancel their subscription for feeling cheated. based on all your plans...I would say that this is at least an average of $15 dollars less a month of income coming in.
2) A small - yet bigger percentage will only be pissed off enough to downgrade their plan. From this we could easily calculate about $5 less a month in revenue.
3) A big chunk of your customers will just deactivate the functionality overall.. thus no extra revenue for you.
That leaves, the rest of your subscribers that would willingly be cheated on a extra dollar, for a service that thus far, let's be honest....it sucks! and this is not me just talking, read the blog on what other people think about your Blue Ray option....
So....let's gather up all the points above and do a little math here shall we?
Eventhough Netflix will lose revenue of about $20 a month on a small percentage of ex-subscriber and current subcribers and no revenue at all on another percentage of customer. You have to now pray that for every scenario 1 and 2 that happens, you have 20 customer that will pay up the extra dollar...and this is just to break even!!! hmmmmmm.....was it Jose Cuervo you were drinking? I heard it leaves a mean hang over!!
- AnonymousOctober 9, 2008 at 10:20 AM
On my current queue I have 134 movies. Out of 134, 13 are available in Blu Ray and the great majority of the 13 were not my favorite choices. If more movies were available in Blu Ray I would not have a problem with this extra charge, but for 13 out of 134? How often will I even get a Blu Ray? -- but I will still have to pay for the option. Doesn't make sense to me. Why don't they just charge you when you actually use a Blu Ray?ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 9, 2008 at 10:35 AM
I won't mind paying $1 extra, provided Netflix adds more Blue-Ray titles and there is no waiting period.ReplyDelete
dumb dumb dumb dumb.. the resounding statement by the commenters here on the official blog of netflix are that this is a bad idea...ReplyDelete
Marketing sure didn't do a good job of making the customers feel good about spending an extra dollar. Isn't that part of the job?
Just cancelled my netflix account!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 9, 2008 at 11:39 AM
this totally stinks. i used to think you were cool, netflix.ReplyDelete
Don't bait and switch your customers. Most of them don't even read your stupid blog, nor will they see one line in an email and realize you're going to automatically opt them in for an extra $1/month that they don't need. Stop kidding yourselves. Blu-ray won't pass DVD in market penetration until at least 2012 and you're going to be ripping a lot of people off.ReplyDelete
I recently upgraded to Blu-Ray and was fully expecting to pay more for my subscription. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this was included as part of my existing subscription.ReplyDelete
However, the catalog of available Blu-Ray movies is very limited and so most of our movies will likely continue to be standard DVDs anyway.
I'm not opposed to paying the extra $1.00, but based on the limited catalog of Blu-Ray, I would prefer that Netflix leave the price alone.
- AnonymousOctober 9, 2008 at 11:53 AM
Increasing the price of my subscription by $1 for Blue-ray access is aggravating. I had Netflix and cancelled my subscription. After several solicitations from your company both by mail and email to rejoin, I reluctantly did. That you are now arbitrarily changing my billing rate because your company just now notices that Blue-ray discs cost more is quite a lame excuse. Who is advising you? I strongly suggest you rethink your business strategy as I rethink the cancellation (again) of my account.ReplyDelete
I'm very disappointed with your company.
By the way, In regards to "Watch Instantly," when is your company going to catch up with most of the rest of the world and become compatible with Apple computers.
- AnonymousOctober 9, 2008 at 12:02 PM
Bottom line, if the queue for Blu-ray movies doesn't change for the better, NO MORE NETFLIX for me. I have been a member since 2001 and the LONG WAIT queue is becoming untolerable.So, netflix I hope you are spending that extra dollar for extra copies, instead on your lame "instant" and download service. Why I want to go back to sub-dvd quality, (VHS was better)ReplyDelete
I have been a netflix customer since 2003.ReplyDelete
Today I called "Susie" and told her I wanted to cancel my account. She did not ask why.
At the end of the call, she said well we will keep your data on file for up to 2 years if you decide to come back.
I said, well, if netflix ever decides to repeal their blu-ray surcharge I will.
Susie said ... that wont be happening.
Icing on the cake to saying so long to netflix.
You guys punting on my $20/mo over $1/mo ... good business decision.
Also great timing on pinching consumers for more money!
- AnonymousOctober 9, 2008 at 12:08 PM
If you make Blue-Ray disks not "Very long wait" I am willing to pay. I will give you 1-2 months after the price hike before I leave. I hope for your sake, there is a difference.ReplyDelete
vote with your dollar people ... if you dont like the decision, drop that netflix revenue line. If enough folks don't put up with this nonsense, all the folks saying what a great deal it is will benefit from our steadfastness and they will be rewarded. When/if we ever come back to netflix... WE'LL BE WELCOMED AS HEROES! WITH HONOR!ReplyDelete
As others have said, for every one of us that cancels over this ... Netflix has to have 20 existing and/or new subs opt in for this surcharge ... and that is to break even.
Calling to cancel or threatening to cancel will get you no where ... their customer service folks are powerless to offer you any compensation. JUST CANCEL!
I don't buy the story about the increased cost of the Blu-ray disc. It's true they often cost more, but that just means it will take a little longer for Netflix to make their money back on the disc. Once it's paid for, all rentals on the disc show an increased profit margin. Bad move by Netflix, especially considering the current economic climate. A year ago, no big deal. Today, every dollar counts.ReplyDelete
I have to agree with most of the posters in that even with a price difference in blu ray vs. standard, the service does not support it. I have already turned off blu-ray as well.ReplyDelete
I just hope they don't start charging xbox users extra for that service on top of their already high xbl subscription rates.
- AnonymousOctober 9, 2008 at 1:32 PM
I have been with Netflix since 1999 - yes, one of the originals. I have never, yes - not once, received a cracked disc. I have in the past received a few that have been scratched and has some playability issues but can't even remember the last time that happened.... griping about a buck a month? Seriously? Skip the Snickers bar in the vending machine at work tomorrow and you have your extra buck... give me a break. With the increase in postage, packaging and everything else that has increased in relation to running a business lately you ought to be glad that a dollar increase is all you are seeing. If you are that hard up, then stick to watching movies on TNT and TBS - until the cost of your cable goes up.... Me, I am more concerned about the 40% my 401k has dropped this year than the buck a month Netflix is increasing in order to provide me with Blu Rays.... Don't sweat the small stuff people.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 9, 2008 at 1:40 PM
I think since they lost so much money due to Blu Rays arriving cracked, they are implementing the price hike to make up for it. I called to ask if this extra dollar was to be going toward sturdier mailers (which would eliminate the cracked disc problem), they said no. It is, however, going toward buying more copies of titles so the wait times will be reduced.ReplyDelete
If I pay this extra dollar per month and still only get 3 out of 10 Blu Rays that actually work, I'm switching back to Blockbuster.
Completely tasteless timing, I may add.
It's obvious now more than ever that Netflix cares more about it's shareholders than it's paying customers. Else, we wouldn't be getting nickel and dimed.
I'm actually disgusted by this, as DVD prices continue to drop as more people opt for Blu Ray. Charging extra for something that seems inevitable is a blatant opportunity for Netflix to squeeze more money out of it's customers.
As of right now, I'm downgrading my plan to 2 at a time, instead of 3 and I'm giving you 4 weeks from the price hike to prove to me that Blu Rays are actually going to arrive undamaged.
Pathetic, Netflix. Really.
Facebook group going for our protestors of this surcharge to stay in touchReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 9, 2008 at 1:51 PM
C'mon - have you ever seen a publicly traded company that doesn't care about the shareholder??? They have no choice but to placate the shareholder - and yes, that means you pay an extra buck in order to do so...deal with it because without the investors you would be paying a whole lot more than you currently do - and how many of you that are complaining about this dollar increase pay an extra $10 a month to DirecTV for HD programming - that is what I thought.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 9, 2008 at 2:10 PM
I just wanted to add something to my post a couple up regarding the cracked problem. There's no option to edit, unfortunately.ReplyDelete
I LOVE Netflix, that's why this price hike seems tasteless during these rough times. And it's especially frustrating since I haven't been able to enjoy even having Blu Ray since nearly 70% or more come cracked.
I meant that after the hike, if 4 weeks later I am still receiving cracked and unplayable discs, I will be switching back to Blockbuster. I can't afford to pay for a service I'm not actually getting.
It's not the measly one dollar that concerns me, it's the fact that I enabled my account with no hint there would ever be a price hike. And like I said, most of the discs I get are cracked anyway, so paying extra just sucks.
I'm not sure why people are so disrespectful to those who don't like this change.ReplyDelete
There is one fact that drives me nuts on this: $1 more a month for bluray when you may not even see a bluray disk in that month.
You're willing to pay extra for something that you don't even get to enjoy the benefit of? Please explain, to me it makes no sense.
If there was a premium charge whenver a bluray disk was shipped (and returned without complaint of cracking) I could accept that, say, $.25 each with a max of $1/mo? But I can't accept paying for something I may not even be able to use.
I kept my unlimited plan, but downgraded from 3 to 2 at a time. Net less of a couple bucks for netflix. Not much, but at least it's not coming out of my pocket.ReplyDelete
Businesses should never add fees unless they are prepared for customer backlash. That's just the way the world works. If Netflix had started with the $1 fee to start off with, then this whole conversation wouldn't be happening.
Imagine for a minute that they had always had the $1 fee... if blu-ray took off and netflix could afford\decided to discontiue the $1 fee, they would have ecstatic customers instead of what now appears to be a small contingent of frustrated and unhappy customers.
- AnonymousOctober 9, 2008 at 3:52 PM
I find this decision sad, and am reacting to it by CANCELLING my Netflix membership, at least until you rethink the policy.ReplyDelete
There aren't THAT MANY Blu Ray dvds out there yet,
and most are not priced much more than conventional releases, especially new releases.
What's next? Extra charges for Criterion DVD releases...as those are priced more than regular dvds?
You have lost me as a customer with this stupid, stupid marketing move. With the economy tanking, and with people re-examining their entertainment budget, now is NOT the time to nickel and dime your loyal customer base.
Bad decision. I'm quitting my membership today.
- AnonymousOctober 9, 2008 at 4:22 PM
I am an ex Netflix customer who canceled my membership 12 months back because I ended up getting DirectTV. Today I decided to sign up again but saw the release on the $1 charge for Blu-ray. So, I signed up for Blockbuster 2 week free trial instead. After the trial the 3 movie unlimited will cost $15.99 a month with no extra charge for Blu-ray.ReplyDelete
With the small number of Blu-ray disks aqvailable I can't imagine anyone willing to pay an extra $1 a month to receive the small number of Blu-ray new releases each month.
I really would have preferred going with Netflix.
- AnonymousOctober 9, 2008 at 4:47 PM
I should hope that netflix will start stocking more blu ray titles if they are going to charge more just for blu rays. 800 compared to "over 100,000 dvd titles" is pretty sad.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 9, 2008 at 4:49 PM
Hi Jessie Teitz, what are you talking about? I have been paying $1 more since Aug 2008, So why this stunt now? I didn't expect this from Netflix.ReplyDelete
I don't see a problem with the increase at all. Netflix has been one of the most reliable services as far as pricing and quality since it's creation. My only hope is that they indeed increase the amount of discs they purchase per BluRay title with this bump. It's 12 dollars per year people. If you're that upset go to Blockbuster. Then when they jack up their prices or do something you hate, which they will, you can complain and come right back.ReplyDelete
"Then when they jack up their prices or do something you hate, which they will, you can complain and come right back."ReplyDelete
I will come right back when they repeal this surcharge ... at which time you can thank those of us who took a stand on your behalf.
sound good?
- AnonymousOctober 9, 2008 at 6:32 PM
Netflix is becoming a victim of its own success. I have been a member off and on since the beginning of Netflix, and it is becoming impossible to get a new release in any acceptable time frame.ReplyDelete
Less than a year ago if something was in my queue the day it was released, I would often get it that day, perhaps the day after if I was due a movie. "Baby Mama" has been at the top of my queue ever since it was released as have other new movies, today i got a movie that was listed like 9th in my queue.
Netflix needs to buy more copies of new movies or you are going to lose my business. Today I went to Blockbuster and rented Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2 days after release) because there is simply no telling when I might get it from Netflix.
I supported this company when it was a start-up, now they have broken a Guinness world record but at what cost if I can't see a current movie.
- Hokie WatcherOctober 9, 2008 at 7:55 PM
Ok, a $1.00 isn't going to break the budget. However, I feel their shipping technique stinks for Blu-Ray disks, as we have had 4 broken disks in the past few months and find it really annoying to have to return them again and again. I don't blame the post-office, as the cracks are always in the same location (inner portion of the disk, protruding out radially).ReplyDelete
How come the Blu-Ray players can travel 1/2 around the world in well engineered pacakaging, but NetFlix can't provide a sleeve that protects for a 90 mile delivery. Also, we have yet to have any normal NetFlix DVD break in the same manner. Customer satisfaction is not aligning to their up-charge of $1.00.
- Sean M.October 9, 2008 at 8:34 PM
I just canceled my account. I did it because you have no way to reach customer service by email. I am currently living abroad and am unable to call a US 800 number. I had been a member for at least the last three years. A situation that could have been easily resolved and seen my membership continue instead has led to my leaving Netflix, never to return. You should try a little harder. Even on the survey asking about my cancellation was multiple choice with no applicable choice and nowhere to explain. I had been a pretty fervent proponent of Netflix, encouraging friends and family to join. Now I will discourage any and everyone.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 9, 2008 at 10:07 PM
Your post implies that the increase is automatic "If you don't want to pay $1 more a month for access to Blu-ray movies, simply remove the Blu-ray access on your account and your monthly subscription cost will stay the same."ReplyDelete
I hope is is a user's choice to get Blu-ray (which is useless to me currently).
I vote on the side of no increase necessary to cover costs, particularly when your costs to implement the format will decrease over time but the fee is unlikely to ever drop.
- AnonymousOctober 9, 2008 at 10:32 PM
12 bucks more a month isn't that big of a deal, no, but these companies, Netflix included, were a big part in the failure of HD-DVD. And you know what? HD-DVD was cheaper to produce (and a superior format). So they basically forced the consumer into a more expensive product, and then charged us for the "right". Yeah, don't think so.ReplyDelete
I called and said, you know what, you do this and I'll just cancel. And they said, "You can always watch on your computer!" No. I have a Mac. They said "Oh, that'll be fixed in two months." Do you know the last time they told me that?
Two months ago.
And the two months before that.
So no. No thank you. I don't trust Netflix anymore. And, frankly, when Netflix said they were going to drop HD-DVD I went to half Netflix half Blockbuster. Guess what.
Blockbuster has been the superior service. Better site. Less wait. Nice customer service.
Adios Netflix. It was nice knowin' ya.
I, along with many other people on here, agree that if you're going to raise the price for me to enjoy the 'privilege' of renting Blu-Ray titles, then it stands to reason you should STOCK MORE.ReplyDelete
I'm sick of waiting weeks for a title as silly as BABY MAMA. If you charge more, it better be to raise stock levels so we don't have to wait a month for a single title. That's beyond ridiculous.
- AnonymousOctober 10, 2008 at 12:47 AM
No. You're not going to charge me more for Blu-ray unless you stop sending me broken discs and stock more of the movies I want to see on it. I still can't use your instant watch service on my computer and now you want to charge me more money? Completely ridiculous. You're not going to charge me more because I'm through with you. Learn to deal with consumer issues effectively instead of brushing off legitimate complaints and offering more hollow promises.ReplyDelete
$1, "modest increase" don't put your shoulder out patting yourself on the back, jessica.ReplyDelete
all blu-ray renters should downgrade
their accounts one level, i did.
that takes care of their $1 gouge.
- AnonymousOctober 10, 2008 at 6:15 AM
I downgraded my plan to compensate for this. Add me to the unhappy list of consumers.ReplyDelete
- Mike T.October 10, 2008 at 7:36 AM
Why so nasty, People? You'd think we were at a Sarah Palin rally!ReplyDelete
But some of the objections, if not the attendant frothing, make sense; like why should people pay more when the waits are so long and so many discs arrive damaged?
But the wait times are obviously one of the main reasons they're doing this, knowing that a lot of cheap bastards I mean valued members will opt out, making more discs available to those of us that think that it's worth paying $1 more a month for all the extra features and far superior image quality. And who's to say they don't intend to buy more copies? If the waits stay this long, people can simply opt out down the road.
As to the number of discs that arrive damaged, I'd suggest that some of the additional revenue go towards designing a stiff but lightweight inner sleeve to help protect them. Although, let's be clear here, this is 100% Sony's fault for manufacturing such a lousy product in the first place, notoriously vulnerable to both scratching and cracking as these things are. RIP HD.
- AnonymousOctober 10, 2008 at 7:58 AM
Marketing Research – Final TestReplyDelete
Question 49: You are the CEO of Flixsnet, a major online rental video store. You've noticed that since the Economy is tanking, that more and more people will stay home and rent more of your videos for entertainment. As the greedy CEO that you are, you immediately start thinking how you can take advantage of this situation. The same day you call a meeting with all your top executives to brainstorm. J.T., your VP of Marketing has an idea. "Why don't we charge an additional $1 a month for Blue-Ray rentals? We'll come up with some lame excuse that it more expensive to purchase and since it is only an additional $12 a year, our customer won't really care, meanwhile we get richer!"
Additional Info: Flixsnet Customer based is a million strong, though only 20% of their customers own a Blue-Ray Disc Player. Of those 20% percent, only 50% are content with the service, since availability of Blue Ray titles are low and wait times are high.
Plan ranges from: $4, $10, $16, $20, $24, $30 – Average plan is $12
After hearing JT's idea, do you:
A) Praise him for being so smart and give him a big fat Bonus (AIG style)
B) Fire him on the spot for trying to insult your intelligence!
Answer: B
Explanation: Since Flixsnet has a million customers, but only 20% of them have the capability of playing a Blue Ray Disc, the potential for the additional revenue falls on 200,000 customers. And since of those 200,000 customers only 50% are happy with the service, it is safe to assume to only 100,000 might be willing to pay for the extra $1 a month for the service. So at first sight, it may seem that Flixsnet could profit $100,000 more a month if implementing the new charge. Unfortunately, J.T. did not think about the basic elements of Consumer Behavior when he thought of his brilliant idea. Since, it is now safe to assume that, conservatively, 7% of the 100,000 customers that have Blue-Ray players and are not happy with the service, will cancel their membership. While, another 10% will downgrade their membership for various reason related to this price hike. If we assume the average plan is $12, right off the back that's an $84,000 reduction in revenue a month. Plus, if we assume that the membership downgrade costs Flixsnet $4 a month, that's another $40,0000 less revenue a month. If we add the $100,000 of positive revenue, we end up with a deficit of $24,000 dollars a month of loss revenue!!!
And this does not include the effect of negative 'word of mouth' from unsatisfied customers. Thus, decreasing the number of new subscribers for Flixsnet .
- AnonymousOctober 10, 2008 at 8:46 AM
netflix are sihtheads,they rip you off when it takes 5days to send a video form cal to ny,when in that time i could have got a video watched it and sent it back in 3 days. so adding another dollar for a blu-ray for the same crapy service ya get for a dvd. netflix does'nt give two sihts about you. all they care about is your dollar.ReplyDelete
This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyDelete
Really? One dollar is that big a deal?ReplyDelete
Ok, so they didn't charge you the extra dollar when the program for Blu Ray started. Maybe that was to gauge what interest there was in Blu Ray rentals. I mean, why go out and buy hundreds of copies of something if only a handful will want it right? Just like they don't buy a lot of unpopular movies/tv shows, and get rid of ones that don't get frequent rents.
Now that they see the interest, they've probably got lots of complaints about people not getting movies quick enough, and stuff is getting damaged, so they need to invest in bigger inventories.
But hey, go to Blockbuster. The reason they have so many titles can't be because they dick their customers around worse than any other online rental company. It's not like they haven't more than doubled the price of their 3 at a time unlimited exchange program. (and really, whats 5 exchanges a month when you can get unlimited downloads instead?). It isn't as if they're incredibly slow with turn around either. You pay more for less with Blockbuster except at their most basic level...and if Netflix has a price increase, Blockbuster will too. But it won't be optional.
Just a suggestion, but if the movies you want aren't around now, wait a couple months then see what's there - availability's going to go way up with this revenue increase.
But too many of you are too busy screaming about how you're being ripped off and how the competition's so much better to think about the realities of the situation.
I agree with many of the above posters regarding this change. I don't feel that charging subscribers $1/month to enable the option is a fair increase. If there were a surcharge per Blu-Ray that we actually receive, that would make more sense. Many Blu-Ray titles have a long wait, and there are an even greater number of titles that aren't available on Blu-Ray at all. This means the the majority of the discs I receive are NOT Blu-Ray, though I do have the option enabled (currently).ReplyDelete
I'm also concerned that when I received this email, I had no other way to respond or give the company feedback aside from calling customer service. It's pretty ridiculous for an internet based company not to have an email system for customer feedback!
I did call about five minutes after I recieved the email and registered my dissatisfaction. I can only hope that it got to the right place (since it was feedback, and not an account issue).
This is the first real issue I've had with NetFlix, and although I don't think I will cancel my account, I am tempted to opt-out of Blu-Rays and reduce my per-month limit.
I just wanted to say to Netflix that I am very glad that they aren't doing an across-the-board price increase. Since I'm not even considering buying a blu-ray player for at least another six months, raising my costs because of something I don't use would have left a much worse taste in my mouth.ReplyDelete
As it is, I see it as about the same as paying a little more to get three discs at a time instead of two. You get more, you pay more. That's the way life works.
Maybe you should do a better job of taking care of your customer's needs before you start charging more for an inferior service...it's bad snough that I send in a movie on a Monday and don't get another until Saturday (one business day my ass),this is a regular occurance; but, then you make me wait for 3 or 4 days to send me a movie from a different distribution center when you could instead have just sent me the next available movie in my queue and put the current selection on long or short wait...oh, wait, then I would be getting satisfaction instead of more upset...oops, my bad...just sayin'.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 10, 2008 at 2:02 PM
I am glad that Netflix isn't passing the Blu-Ray cost along to those of us who don't rent Blu-Ray discs. I'm sure they'll get lots of hate mail about it, so I wanted to be sure to put in my 2 cents.ReplyDelete
I've been very pleased with my Netflix service for the entire 4 years of my membership...keep up the good work!
- AnonymousOctober 10, 2008 at 2:09 PM
True, it is only a dollar. It will now be a dollar that I am NOT giving to Netflix. I have just cancelled by account any started Blockbuster.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 10, 2008 at 3:33 PM
I'll probably downgrade to 2 at a time. Enjoy your $4 net loss.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 10, 2008 at 4:00 PM
Ah yes, now I can pay another dollar to have new release blue-ray movies sit in my Queue with LONG WAIT by them.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 10, 2008 at 7:59 PM
I just want to chime in that I also downgraded my service to a net loss of $5 a month for Netflix. I have no problem with a surcharge for movies I actually do rent that are Blu-Ray. However, charging me $1 for the privilege of adding Blu-Ray discs to my Queue that I will likely wait months for is ridiculous. I'd even take a per disc fee that is added every time I ship Blu-Ray. I am appalled that Netflix thinks it's customers should pay for "possibility" and not "service".ReplyDelete
- MichaelOctober 11, 2008 at 7:12 AM
I agree with everybody that if there is going to be a price increase there should not be any wait time to get Bluray movies shipped. I usually wait to mail my bluray movies back on Saturday. Sometimes this works to get a new release but rarely do I get a new release shipped to me before it is put on the long or very long wait period. I hope the wait period is reduced or like or members I will try Blockbuster to see how long it takes to receive Bluray moves from them.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 11, 2008 at 7:25 AM
I would be willing to pay the extra $1 per month if I could actually GET blu-ray discs... I've had Vantage Point on top of my queue since the day it came out (over 2 months now)and it's still listed as "very long wait" and I have yet to see it. Most new Blu-Ray releases are like this, and that's what upsets me. If I'm paying extra, then I should be able to get the movie within the first month.ReplyDelete
For the 100 people who are actually using Blu-Ray, I think this is very fair. I personally will never support Blu-Ray, which is just an attempt by the movie industry to control & copy protect ALL of our films in the STRICTEST manner possible. And who cares about the SLIGHTLY increased quality of Blu-Ray? Normal DVD quality is outstanding enough for just about everythingReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 11, 2008 at 9:04 AM
Maybe the Fed can give part of the bailout to help the Blu-ray whiners. $12/ year = STFP!ReplyDelete
I don't want a lot of Blu-Ray because there isn't currently a large selection of Blu-Ray movies I haven't already seen. I converted two of my computers in order to watch Blu-Ray. Blu-Ray movies cost way more to buy than rent. So the added cost to rent is really not that bad because there is no way I'm buying any Blu-Ray movies at the current prices. I'd rather spend that money on a new rifle scope for hunting.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 11, 2008 at 2:09 PM
Well Teit-head, you're wrong, we don't agree.ReplyDelete
That's fine. The rate went down $1 last summer, and now it's back up to where it was when I first joined. What's the big deal?ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 11, 2008 at 3:05 PM
I hope the decision to add a blu-ray surcharge results in a Netloss.ReplyDelete
I canceled my unlimited plan and am doing a blockbuster trial before I decide who is worthy of my $24/mo.
I may look at adding HBO HD.
I think this increase is perfectly reasonable. I get Blu-ray movies all the time, granted they are mostly back catalog and new releases do usually have a wait. They are more expensive than DVDs and $1 per month isn't much unless your on the 4.99 plan. For those saying your going to switch to Blockbuster I switched last year for a couple months because they have that exchange in store feature but a couple months after I joined they changed it where there was a certain number of times you could do that and the plan I was on increased in price so I came back to Netflix. I don't see how they are nickle and diming us. This is an optional feature and the reason they most likely didn't charge the premium when Blu-rays were first available is because of the amount of content available. There weren't very many movies on the format but now a lot of new releases are on both formats and older titles are coming out all the time, this has got to be costing them a lot of money. But this is the internet so I shouldn't expect anything less than phony rage and statements of anger at evil corporations.ReplyDelete
This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 11, 2008 at 8:40 PM
This reeks of desperation. They know they only have a couple years left before everything is streaming through your cable anyway. However, customer backlash is a beeatch and you cruddy company will be folding sooner than you thought. Enjoy the net loss of this decision clowns.ReplyDelete
I think the negative feedback is stemming from the fact that the price increase was announced without it's supporting reasoning. Perhaps a reassurance from netflix of it's plans or reasoning would help to dissipate customer backlash. I'm hoping someone at netflix will confirm one of the following guesses is true, but wasn't released due to the pr departments structuring of the announcement:ReplyDelete
Since there are increased numbers of blu-ray titles coming out, the purchasing department can't keep up it's per title count while maintaining it's bottom line, so the price increase is to ensure that the blu-ray wait times don't get even worse in the future
With the additional revenue from the price increase, orders of existing blu-ray titles will be increased to help ease the wait time issue many users see with current new releases.
- AnonymousOctober 12, 2008 at 7:55 AM
I hope that a lot of people cancel due to this paltry increase, that will make my wait time for a movie less.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 12, 2008 at 8:57 PM
Yeah, Blu-Ray costs more now, but look at how much the price of DVDs have come down over the past several years. I'm sure Netflix is still making their bottom line even without the price increase. I dropped the Blu-Ray option from my account and am not planning on re-instating it until it is included in the base price again.ReplyDelete
Anon @ 8.57 pm said "I dropped the Blu-Ray option from my account and am not planning on re-instating it until it is included in the base price again."ReplyDelete
Hey, "up high" Anon @ 7.55 am. They're dropping like flies!
- AnonymousOctober 13, 2008 at 6:43 AM
TO SEND A LOUD AND CLEAR MESSAGE TO NETFLIX, EVERYONE WHO DIAGREES WITH THE BLUE-RAY CHARGE SHOULD OPT-OUT OF IT BEFORE THEY CHARGE YOUR ACCOUNT. OPT BACK IN AFTER THE POINT IS MADE. STAND-UP AND BE HEARD !ReplyDelete
Out of the three BD I have right now, two won't play DD5.1, and the other won't play at all. Standard DVD's work great. It seems the the format is still not set, and you want us to pay more?
For those of us on the Unlimited 1 at a time plan, that amounts to an over 20% increase. Given I get maybe 60% DVDs, no I don't think it is fair or a good value.ReplyDelete
I will never, ever subscribe to Netflix again as long as you advertise with those disgusting, maddening pop-ups. Why do you think I have a pop-up blocker? You are one of a very few firms that have found a way around it, and you insist on sticking your foot in the door like a rapacious salesman. I reserve the right to boycott you. Stop using pop-ups, and I'll subscribe.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 13, 2008 at 1:13 PM
I don't have a problem with the $1.00 'surcharge' for bluray titles. I DO have a problem with the "long wait" or VERY long wait status on virtually every bluray title I put in the queue.ReplyDelete
Can I expect this to improve? If not, may reconsider netflix.
For the Linux users out there, you may want to look into using the free GPL program, VirtualBox; which works well with Netflix. Web address is here:ReplyDelete
It is similar to wine as a windows emulator but appears to work much more effectively.
- AnonymousOctober 13, 2008 at 7:11 PM
I have been a Netflix subscriber for a little over 3 years. I completely disagree with Netflix on this. If, maybe they had a decent explanation for it I might agree, however they don't. They are just trying to make more money and using this to nickel and dime their customers. I am deleting my blueray access and will be shopping around.. perhaps blockbuster. Why should I pay extra to wait longer to receive my movies?ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 13, 2008 at 7:46 PM
No brainer on this. I just cancelled and signed up with Blockbuster. I refuse to pay $1.00 more. It's an excuse to sqeeze just a little more money out of us.ReplyDelete
I don't use Blu-Ray. I think it's unfair to charge me extra to pay for Blu-Ray titles that I can't use.ReplyDelete
Service is already poor with constant long waits on new DVDs, especially tv shows. Charging more is not a solution. Customers will only accept additional charges if service is great, not mediocre. I still use netflix for convenience but never recommend it anymore.ReplyDelete
Well let's see...ReplyDelete
$1.oo is indeed modest.
So is the number of good titles available on Blu-ray.
Also modest the number of Blu-ray discs Netflix has in inventory, based on how long you have to wait for one.
Additionally modest is the improvement of Blu-ray titles over modern DVDs viewed on a good up scaling DVD player/monitor.
All this modesty is offset, of course, by the bodacious hype around Blu-ray.
Nonetheless, I shall fork-over the buck, but may withdraw if all this unwanted modesty persists. No sense in encouraging unearned price increases.
I'm still a little peeved at Reed Hastings' comment some months ago about weak rentals of Blu-ray and HD-DVD titles when I had a dozen or so in my queue flagged long wait.
- AnonymousOctober 14, 2008 at 7:55 PM
Zeedee, and others - Just make sure that the blu-ray option on your account page isn't checked, and you won't be charged. Please try to pay attention!!ReplyDelete
- GettnPissedOffatNetflixOctober 14, 2008 at 10:46 PM
what happened to the upgrade to another movie button that used to be on top of the queue??? so i can add an extra DVD for the weekend since you guys decided not to send my DVDs i sent back on tuesday... i just upgraded to 2 dvds at a time and all of a sudden im having this problem again just like when i used to rent 3 at a time... when i had 1 at a time you guys never had a problem getting me my 2 a week total out to me... but as soon as i upggrade a week ago im gettn jipped on my membership amount you guys send out 2 batches a week only when you feel like it.. WHY ARE THERE NO $1 WEEKLY RENTALS to solve this problem i suggested this last year... do you know how much money you guys are missing out on by not offering weekly rentals... hundreds of thousands a year atleast... crazy.. make it so we can rent the movies at $1 each for a week .. if the person doesnt send the movie back in a week you charge the card another $1 each week until they do... this way when you guys dont get the movies redistributed ontime (like now) you can still make money off of the weekly rentals... id be buying one right now at the expense of youre guys mistakes if i could... WEEKLY RENTALS!!!! get it set upReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 15, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Because I can't get the streaming option of my subscription (Mac User), can I get a dollar discount and have my subscription stay the same?ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 15, 2008 at 11:27 AM
I was really enjoying netflix over Blockbuster at first until I got this announcement. This would be fine if the Blu Ray selection was chock full of stuff you would want to watch, but it isn't and the things you do want to watch have a very, very, very, very, very, long wait. I may as well buy a used one from Amazon. My entire que is like this and it is absolute crap. Thanks for squeezing the teet Netflix. Appreciate it.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 15, 2008 at 12:26 PM
From March of 2001 until October of 2004 I paid $24.95 per month - until the price DROPPED to $21.99 where it has stayed since 2004! How can I complain about a $1 increase for Blu Ray since my membership has not increased in 4 years - what other service can claim that? Certainly not cable, phone, internet or any other.... hmmm.. let me think how much postage, labor and materials have risen since 2004... A LOT people!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 15, 2008 at 3:29 PM
The Blu-Ray increase is ridiculas, how ever small. Blu-Ray still does not have the amount of titles available as standard DVD. Not to mention I've only used the (Online viewing a couple of times, the quality is horrible.), besides that I'm on a Mac and can't watch them unless I use my daughters PC. I've been a customer for many years and I just canceled my subscription completely. Looks like my AppleTV will be getting used more now.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 15, 2008 at 8:24 PM
I canceled my subscription within 5 minutes of receiving the email.ReplyDelete
I then called Netflix to make sure they knew why I canceled because the exit survey doesn't give you option of telling them the cancellation was over the BluRay price increase.
I know I could have simply removed the Bluray option from my account, however I wanted to go for the maximum punishment that I could inflict on Netflix over this issue.
Around my house having unlimited movies coming in the door every week is more of a burden than a benefit anyway. It was always a struggle for me to feel like I watched enough movies to justify the subscription cost. BTW...I had the unlimited one at a time subscription. I ordered movies that I didn't even watch before I sent them back just to make sure that I got movies sent to my home to justify the expense.
- AnonymousOctober 15, 2008 at 8:38 PM
I don't think this is smart duringReplyDelete
this tough economy and also why
charge for blu ray when you have
less blu rays available then dvds
no thanks ill stick to dvds or go
to blockbuster for blu
- AnonymousOctober 15, 2008 at 8:42 PM
All i have to say is Long Wait!ReplyDelete
Or very long wait no thanks netflix
- AnonymousOctober 16, 2008 at 12:05 AM
I actually just signed up for netflix in anticipation of being able to watch movies over Xbox Live, but then I went to your website and found browsing movies sucks. I couldn't find "Iron Man," which came out a month ago, even though I search for it nine ways to Sunday, including using the new releases scroll function. It only came up when I typed in its name. That's great; but, as I need a reminder of what movies I told myself I wanted to watch, I want to be able to find movies that might interest me. I knew Iron Man did, but I couldn't find it (or any of the other ones I can't quite remember the name of). Thus I canceled. Whoever thought of that side scrolling thing is... well, I'm canceling. It took too long to scroll through that piece of ... only to not find any of the movies I was looking for. Can't list them all on one page, huh? Had to do something fancy (and useless)? I even called customer service to see if there was a way to find Iron Man, etc. Even they couldn't help me. I was a member for 15 minutes; I will not be back even with the idea of watching over Xbox Live. What a waste of time!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 16, 2008 at 12:10 AM
P.S. I can scroll down 174 comments quickly and easily on the blog, but I can't scroll down 174 movies on the Netflix website to try to find a movie to watch. Hhmmm.... Way to take a technological leap backwards!ReplyDelete
- BHurcheyOctober 16, 2008 at 11:21 AM
ya i just want everyone to know that this system STINKS.ReplyDelete
ok, so i didnt mind paying the 8.99 a month, and when they went to 9.99, i still didnt mind. the problem is that they dont have ANY blueray IN STOCK when i want it.
it aggravating. i called them to say basically what the heck, and they tell me that "it sounds like the service isnt right for you"
why because im been trying to get iron man, forgetting sarah marshall, and indiana jones for the LAST MONTH!
so sorry netflix that i signed up with you thinking that i would be able to rent NEW BLUE RAYS!!!
- AnonymousOctober 16, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Currently I do not have a Blu-Ray Player, but I was toying with the idea of getting one. Now, I'm not so sure. On the one-hand this seems like a 'nickle and dime' move by Netflix (isn't that why Netflix got started in the first place - to get away from Blockbuster's 'late fees'?); on the other hand, what's an extra $12 a year for unlimited Blu-Ray Movies (subject to plan limitations and availability)? All told, I'ld rather pay the extra $1 and continue to enjoy the superior service Netflix offers. Hence, if the extra $1 is going to help Netflix shorten the line to get Blu-Ray discs, then I'll eat the $1 extra a month (as soon as I get a Blu-Ray player that is).ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 16, 2008 at 4:33 PM
So most ppl fall in two camps. 'Meh' and 'grrr'.ReplyDelete
I think I fall in the middle.
If, as part of this premium service you get every blueray you put on your queue nice and fast after this, it was probably worth it.
But I also expect for that extra premium fee to see a lot of disc offered in blueray that are on the market as such but not available right now (like tv series that have blueray versions).
On the other hand, why should I pay for said premium service if I'm renting older disks in a month or just no blueray?
$12 is a lot of money when you may only use $6 of it. Would anybody here walk into a fast food joint and buy a meal and walk out after only paying for it?
That's what the forced extra dollar a month seems like to me...
In the end, Netflix, you made this bed by going only blueray (what happened to all those HDDVDs you bought?) and should have known what you were getting into at the start.
Then it would have felt like you cheating us but instead like we were paying for some premium.
We've already had the milk, you shouldn't make us buy the cow at this point.
- AnonymousOctober 16, 2008 at 5:25 PM
I think it stinks as well. So I downgraded my account to two titles a month. I'll be buying my favorite blurays from now on.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 16, 2008 at 11:37 PM
Thank you, Netflix for doing the right thing and not forcing those of us who have no interest in Blu-Ray to subsidise those who want it.ReplyDelete
I haven't ever watched a movie on Blu-Ray, and I'd be upset if I was having to pay more for a service I never wanted to use.
You did the right thing, despite the whining of those who're actually using the service and think they should be subsidized by DVD-only members. Guess what guys - you don't want to pay, you don't have to. Just watch on DVD instead.
I would love to add Blu-ray but the site keeps telling me that there's a problem with my credit card. Can someone please help me before I cancel the subscription out of sheer frustration.ReplyDelete
MF Bauman
- AnonymousOctober 19, 2008 at 10:26 AM
Blockbuster By Mail does not charge extra for Blu-ray. And their 3-at-a-time unlimited plan is $1 CHEAPER than Netflix (15.99). Maybe we should switch to Blockbuster.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 19, 2008 at 10:36 AM
I don't agree in charging extra just for the CAPABILITY of renting Blu-Ray. What if for a particular month we don't actually receive any blu-ray discs? We will still get charged the extra dollar! What if they just charge an extra quarter or something small like that only if we actually receive a blu-ray disc in a particular month? That I can agree to.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 20, 2008 at 10:08 AM
More nickel and diming hey! Time to go back to Blockbuster!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 20, 2008 at 10:11 AM
After reading the comments; Netflix better reconsider their Blu-ray policy or they are going to lose a "boat load" of customers! Typical corporate behavior!! I say, "Cancel" the subscriptions to Netflix and see how long this company stays afloat! Go ahead netflix- put on a $1 surcharge and see how long I stay a customer!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 20, 2008 at 1:53 PM
I must say I find this new policy very disturbing. Blue Ray prices if pruchased when movies are released are consistent with the price of movies just a few years ago and the price of Blue Ray discs continues to fall. Since Netflix did not drop my price when DVD prices fell over the past few years. I have to agree with others that this is just a way for Netflix to milk me for more cash. Especially given that of 200 movies in my queue only about 30 of them were blue ray. Its not like every movie I get will be on Blue Ray. Maybe then I would not be as angry. I am still a customer, but I find myself willing to do what I have not been willing to do in years and that is evaluate other alternatives dare I say BlockBuster.ReplyDelete
Please reconsider this plan quickly and bring back the Blue Ray for no cost and find other way
- AnonymousOctober 20, 2008 at 5:24 PM
Sorry I cancelled Blu-Ray . I have only been a member for a few months and already the price is increasing. I watch some Blu-Ray movies but not a lot. A PS3 upgrades a Regular DVD and it does look good. I would probably go along with the extra money on the months that I do Order a Blu Ray movie but not every month and not on months I do not rent any.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 21, 2008 at 7:59 AM
Blu-ray costs more? I seriously doubt it, that would be a complete change in how Netflix does business. They currently don't pay a DIME for the movies, studios supply the movies for a % of the rentals.ReplyDelete
Sounds like BS to me.
So I'm supposed to pay a $1 for "Very Long Wait" or "Long Wait".........
- AnonymousOctober 21, 2008 at 11:19 AM
I wouldn't mind the buck extra -- if that would mean that Netflix would stock more Blu-ray movies. Currently, every single movie in my queue is "Long Wait" or "Very Long Wait" and I have nothing at home and no discs being shipped. It's a standoff, I tell ya. I've watched and watched until my queue is down to about 8 or 10 movies that Netflix can't seem to send to me.ReplyDelete
I'm not renting blu ray yet (still waiting for the price on the players to come down) but I don't mind paying an extra $1 for blu ray when I've got my player.ReplyDelete
You guys are complaining over nothing. $1 extra a month is reasonable.
Just to balance out the negative commenters...ReplyDelete
I have no problem with the $1 extra. What's weird is that I've been paying it since I turned on blu-ray back in August. The post seems to suggest the surcharge doesn't take effect until Nov 5th.
If you can't appreciate the difference between HD and DVD just turn off the feature. I do agree though that it would be better if the $1 surcharge kicked in only if I got one or more BDs in a month.
I don't know where you people live where you have all these Very Long Waits for BD disks - I have never encountered that (granted, it's only been 2 months) and have gotten all the movies in BD that I wanted (mostly newer releases too) immediately. I live near Detroit.
- AnonymousOctober 23, 2008 at 12:00 PM
At least since you are ripping us off for another buck, you should actually SEND SOME OF THESE BLUE RAY DISCS OUT?!>?! I have seen my queue stay the SAME for over a month, all I see is LONG WAIT or VERY LONG WAIT...yeah great value we are getting here...thinkg about CANCELLING this "service" and heading back to blockbuster!!!ReplyDelete
What a load of whiners!ReplyDelete
If you don't want to pay the extra $1 per month, go on back to BlockBuster. But I don't think you are going to get a better deal there. And how long do you think they will be around?
"If you don't want to pay the extra $1 per month, go on back to BlockBuster. But I don't think you are going to get a better deal there."ReplyDelete
That's what a lot of us did. For the record, Blockbuster was $3 cheaper after the blu-ray surcharge is taken into account.
As far as how long Blockbuster will be in business ... well, seeing as how they have been around since 1985 (12 years longer than Netflix) I think your concern is ill-advised.
Enjoy paying your extra buck to wait a very long time!
If $1/mo is nothing to you perhaps we could exchange paypal info so you could start paying it to me mr money bags?
- AnonymousOctober 25, 2008 at 1:51 PM
It really stinks because many blue ray dvd's have very long waits on them, so if you call and complain they have this speech already prepared... bla bla bla. Its just another way to syphon more money from their loyal customers. This is bad service. And we're all paying the extra money for them. Ugh.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 25, 2008 at 9:42 PM
It seems like most large companies, Netflix is forgetting that there is a reason they are sucessful and big. With this announcement, the consumer is once again being gouged for updating the technology he/she owns. It is more than the dollar for the virtually non-existent price difference (bluray being about $5-$10 retail higher, although many titles can be purchased at the same price). I admit I do not know if the licensing for bluray rental is higher, but I doubt it is since it's the film's title that's licensed, not the technology it comes on. I asked for my gift subscriptions. I do not think I will ask again and if this policy remains in effect, I will look for someone who thinks of the customer and not how the company can get yet one more dollar from me.ReplyDelete
Netflix, shame on you for forgetting who it was that made you the on-line leader.
- AnonymousOctober 26, 2008 at 8:00 AM
Does anyone know how to indicate you want to get the movie in blue ray format?ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 27, 2008 at 7:50 AM
This is fucking bullshit! The average price of a BR DVD is no more than the cost of a regular DVD at the time Netflix began their service.ReplyDelete
Just one more way to squeeze customers for more money.
I'm quitting Netflix. I've been with you for 7 years, but this is the last straw. Netflix prematurely needed HD DVD support, even thought HD DVDs were cheaper. This helped end HD DVDs. Now they want to charge us extra for Blu-Ray. Well, good bye.ReplyDelete
Seriously - why do some of you even have Netflix accounts? I think you really would be better off just sitting at home watching whatever schlock comes on cable or getting the newest new releases from Blockbuster. If that's all you're using Netflix for, then maybe there are better options for you.ReplyDelete
I live in Hampstead, MD, and I remember driving to Towson, Baltimore, Frederick, even Pennsylvania - literally hours out of my way - to rent movies from small, independent shops BECAUSE BLOCKBUSTER DOESN'T HAVE THE INVENTORY. Guess what? They still don't and they NEVER WILL. I jumped on Netflix the moment I saw it - nearly on day one - and I haven't looked back since. By the way, my Netflix bill has actually gone down since day one. Hrm.
No one is forcing you to pay this. Netflix is not "wringing more money" out of you. You are subscribing to a luxury service. If Harrison Ford's 5 o'clock shadow being sharper-than-real-life isn't worth an extra dollar to you, then by all means UNSUBSCRIBE.
But let's have some perspective.
You live in a society where you can sit on your $3k leather sofa in front of your $5k HD plasma big screen watching your $30 Blu-Ray DVDs on your $400 player and you want to complain about $1/month?
This isn't corporate greed. Corporate greed is Monsanto poisoning the milk your children drink and then actively suppressing news stories about it. Corporate greed is removing entire mountain tops in West Virginia and dumping the waste into public drinking supplies because it's quicker and therefore cheaper. But I can understand how that extra three cents a day matters to you - after all, it's probably what the kid who made your designer sweater gets paid.
New comments are not allowed.


text:
- Filed Under
A Portland man has been accused of entering a rural Jay County woman's home without permission, then shoving her and punching her in the face.
Korey L. Ellsworth, 25, 511 E. High St., was arrested Saturday on preliminary charges of battery and residential entry. He was later released from the Jay County jail after posting a $4,500 bond.
Formal charges had not been filed as of Tuesday afternoon.
Ellsworth was convicted of two crimes in 2007, possession of marijuana in Jay County and voyeurism in Adams County.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
I'm the luckiest girl alive. Lunar New Year is possibly my favorite holiday of the year and GODIVA SENT ME CHOCOLATES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Godiva has honored my favorite holiday with a limited edition Year of the Goat gift box. I was lucky enough to receive the Mid-Autumn Festival "mooncakes" from Godiva last year, which were deeeelicious. I was very much looking forward to another collection of Belgian chocolates with Asian flavors. This is one type of fusion I can stand by.
Similar to the Mid-Autumn Festival box, this box showcased three special chocolates: one dark, one milk, and one white.
There were also some other classic Godiva chocolates along with the mix. Only six lucky goats (choose who'd you like to share with wisely).
For this blog post, I'm featuring the lucky goats. Continue reading


text:
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Renasant Bank recently donated funds from their Blue Jean Friday account to Jesse's House in Cumming.
Jesse's House is an emergency and long-term shelter for at-risk female youth between the ages of 7 to 17.
It provides structured and nurturing care to these youth and offers services to adequately prepare them for their future.
The girls they serve have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect and/or delinquency.
Renasant Bank's donation comes from weekly bank employee contributions to wear jeans on Fridays. These funds go directly to the girls Jesse's House serves through activities, clothing and nutritious food.


text:
Chavez describes himself as Catholic, but his religious beliefs are eclectic. He has at times also expressed faith in folk deities such as Maria Lionza, an indigenous goddess venerated by some Venezuelans who pay homage through candlelit rituals and shrines.
Despite his recent expressions of faith, the president has had a rocky relationship with Catholic leaders. He has accused priests of siding with the country's wealthy rather than the poor and in a particularly heated clash in 2010, suggested that Christ would whip some church leaders for lying after Cardinal Jorge Urosa warned that democratic freedoms were being eroded in Venezuela.
Chavez insists his faith goes back to his days as an altar boy, and long before his illness, he was calling Jesus Christ "the greatest socialist in history."
Still, his increasing appeals for help from Christ have shown supporters a vulnerable side to a leader who for more than 13 years in office has projected power and vigor.
"We'd forgotten for so long that Chavez is simply a man like any other, a man of flesh and blood," said Florencia Mijares, an office worker who prayed for the president at a Caracas church. "For many Venezuelans, Chavez is a savior who arrived to help everybody else and now he's the one who needs help, and many of us fear all will be lost if he dies."
Chavez has been receiving radiation therapy in Cuba, the latest phase in treatments that since June have included chemotherapy and two surgeries that removed tumors from his pelvic region, though he has not said what sort of cancer he has.
Despite the long absences, Chavez has been leading opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles by double digits in recent polls.
Some of his supporters said they see Chavez's increased devotion as a natural evolution for a president in a dire situation.
As soon as Chavez revealed he had a tumor removed last year, a pro-Chavez group called the Council of Christian Public Employees organized dozens of prayer meetings across the country, several of which were broadcast live on state television and Christian radio stations.
"The president could have decided to distance himself from God or not believed in him due what he was going through," said Linda Aguirre, the organization's president. "I thank God that he's chosen the most important decision of his life: to embrace our Lord."
Indian shamans wearing parrot feathers and beads also held a healing ritual for Chavez at a Caracas plaza last month, performing traditional dances and chants, and kneeling on the ground in prayer.
"The objective is to inject the leader of the Bolivarian Revolution with positive energy," said Jesus Antonio Juagivioy, a chieftain from the president's home state of Barinas who participated in the ceremony. "We pray for his total recuperation and we know the spirits of our ancestors will help."


text:
what are your opinions on this picture?
But yay for bfing!
I love the picture Expect that is a very awkward way to nurse and baby looks suffocated.
I understand they wanted a "nursing" photo but in this case I think the newborn simply laying on her breast looking to her face would have made more sense.
Quoting SadieJames:
Take dad out and I like it. He just looks like an overgrown third baby to me.... But the actual babies are super cute. I agree that there is a lot of awkwardness going on...