Netflix for HD DVD Rentals is Awful! - Page 4  

Instead of using a cancellation form to inform NetFlix of the problem, why don't you contact them now? You have read many posts here of people without your problem. This yields a guess that your account may have something wrong with it.

I am glad to read your post about this problem, and NetFlix's ability to fix it. I have wondered before if some bug in their software occasionally causes this problem as many users do not have the problem. So if one thinks they have the same issue, trying contacting NetFlix. Luckily for me, I have never had an issue like this.

I've had great success with new releases on HD DVD via Netflix. Maybe it depends on your locality because they probably have multiple warehouses in every state.

I don't understand how you all get HDDVD's from Blockbuster. I cancelled my membership there because all I can see is BR. I haven't started a Netflix account yet, but planned on it 1st of year. (I'm getting my hddvd player for xmas)

have you looked at the stickys at the top of this forum? the one that says blockbuster online direct to que hd dvd links?

Lately it seems all the HD DVD's in my queue are 'long wait'. Perhaps it's all those A2's that were sold over the past few weeks?

I don't mean this to start a flame; but either there are less people on Netflix ordering Blu-rays or Netflix orders A LOT more Blu-rays, because I seem to get the BD's on my queue a lot sooner.

I have been a Netflix customer since they launched - 1998? I just cancelled my membership for two primary reasons

1. I live in New York city, the ship time seems to be good ie not many long waits but i pre-ordered several titles on HD-DVD and was sent an SD dvd instead. The netflix site makes you choose from a list of feedback items none of which is specific to this problem. When i got the Bourne Ultimatum as a regular DVD despite having the HD version as my preference for months i was not too happy.

2. Their website has been down A LOT. When i think of a movie i want to quickly get it in my queue - not have to wait days for a site to come up.

I dont/wont use blockbuster but i will use the XBox marketplace to download 720p rentals and buy what i really need until there is a better answer.

Netflix seems like a good idea that is failing in execution.

Using cancellation to report a problem is backwards. Use the problem reporting page on the NetFlix site (or phone them) and then reap the rewards of the problem being solved. NetFlix does not send SD disks when there are too-few HD disks. Your account was broken and needed fixing.



I have not noticed this. Every time I hit the site it comes right up. This may be a time-of-day thing, I do not know. I wonder if others are having problems getting to their site as well? Did NetFlix give a response when you reported this problem to them?

Most Blockbuster stores do not have any HDDVDs. This thread is in reference to the Blockbuster Online service, which has many HDDVDs.

This statement is based on what?

I figure it is an effect of the large increase in HDDVD players in the past couple months. Netflix will probably ramp up the volume they order to match. I just hope they do this sooner than later.

You are responding to a 4 month old post.

It was new to me.

How would I know that Blockbuster online has HDDVD if I didn't have this thread, though? They have a full search for BluRay, but nothing for HDDVD. Even if you click on the links at the top of this thread they show the SD versions of the movie if you click on the HD version that it puts in your queue. So if I had never come to look here, how would I have known?

I'm getting throttled on HD DVDs after only a month or so. They shipped me my 8th choice from Iowa two days after they received a return. Two unplayable discs in one month. Not a happy camper.

It has to be a "where you live thing", it can't be any better then what I'm getting. 3 day turnaround, 1 day ship to them, 1 day they rec and send another back out and I recieve it the next day (some may call that a 2-day turnaround). Pretty much all HD DVD's are in stock and not a bad one yet, haven't seen downtime on their site either, and I can only say trust me, I'd hammer them if they deserved it. Sacramento, CA area.

Can you look to see if the Simpson movie and Harry Potter/Phoenix are listed for you as available now. Mine show Short Wait and Very Long Wait respectively.

The waits for new HD DVDs and Blu Rays for me have been horrendous for new releases. It is taking them WEEKS to send me some new releases. Very frustrating. This seems to have started just a couple months ago.

Simpsons - Short Wait
H.P. - Very Long Wait

I will update my statements; the movies I have and are wanting are coming in at a very nice clip. That doesn't mean every movies is always readily available and I can understand that. Now if you want to play the new release game there are a couple of ways to do that, here is one method:

1. Have it at the top of your list and even better not have anything else on your list.
2. Make sure the movie you returned was rec'd on Sat. by netflix.
3. On monday they will then pick you almost always to get the first release of said new movie.

Now you can play a little from there... in other words:

If you only want new movies from now on: Lets say you want 3 new release movies per week, put next weeks 3 new hot movies only in your que right now. Make sure you get your current movies back and in their possession by Saturday.

If you have only next weeks new releases in your que and you have a 3 movie plan you should be in pretty slick shape come Monday when the system makes the picks for you. Once you got this down then you can start playing on how to get some catalogs into the mix without messing up your new releases.

And finally if you miss the first release of a hot movie, simply expect a wait, it’s numbers plain and simple. If you have a large que, expect issues getting new movies timely as well. Yep folks there is a game here, but it’s also pretty logical.

I have to say i am surprised by all the Netflix complaints. I have the 5 out at a time plan, rent both BD and HD DVD and have had no issues. I mean sure the odd HD DVD comes damaged, but only 2 which were kids HD DVD's wouldn't be reconized by my A35. Many other rented HD DVDs have issues with playback but that is due to my overly sensitive A35 and the lack of scratch protection on HD DVD not anything i can fault Netflix for. For BD i have never had a playback issue since the ps3 is bulletproof and the scratch resistant coating really helps prevent rental damage. In terms of turnaround, I live in Boston and almost always have 1 day turnaround. Put the discs in the mail monday, it is recieved tues, and i have a new disc wednsday. Also as long as i have returned a disc by saturday, i almost always get whatever new release i have at the top of my queue on tuesday.

im in ny as well but have never had a sd dvd sent to me instead of hd or blu. The website if it is down has never been long for me and its usually at like 2-5 in the morning if it is.


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Ive been with netflix I think since 2003 or 2004 and have never had an issue. I always get new releases for the most part. The only time I ever had an issue getting a movie was Bobby and that was this past year. Never any issues with movies other than that. Theyve been great for me

Have you tried getting a popular HD DVD or Blu Ray release a few days after the release? I've had some luck getting such titles on release day if a slot was open. But sometimes a slot is not open, and if you miss that window initially it takes WEEKS to receive most titles IMO.

Even worse, once you miss a title you have to leave an empty spot ALL THE TIME so that when the title finally becomes available they will ship it to you. If you have all slots full then you miss each opportunity and chances of getting it are slim. So for instance I am on a 3 at a time plan but can only have 2 out at a time often to keep a spot open for a new release. Two new releases coming? Then I can only have one out.

Bottom line - Netflix needs to make some serious changes when it comes to stocking popular new releases in HD formats...

I agree....but then that's why I use NetFlix 90% of the time and 10% local stores and blockbuster as I'm in the BRD camp.

Update: I see now the Simpson's movie on Blu Ray has changed from a Short Wait to a Very Long Wait. This is typical of what I've seen with other releases. Basically means it will be at least 2-3 weeks, maybe more, before they ship that movie to me. And on top of it I'd have to keep an empty spot open all that time "just in case" one copy became available during these next few weeks. That's just not right, especially when I am paying for 3 at a time.

I changed to Netflex 2 months ago and have been very displeased with there service always a long wait for new release even when they are SD DVD contacted about the problem but not even a response think this will be my last month with them.Never had a problem with Blockbuster just the price increase

I also signed up with Netflix 2 months ago after getting my A2, strictly for HD-DVD titles. I am very dissapointed at their turnaround time. I live 40 miles from a shipping center. On my trial, everything was superfast. I would send a movie back, and two days later I got the next one. Once the trial was over, delays started happen. Right now turnaround time stand at 7 days. Im going to cancel before my next billing cycle so I can at least use the "Watch Instantly" while Im at my in-laws for the holidays.

I might give blockbuster a try. Does blockbuster also use throttling tactics?

IMO it's all math... I see what the main complaint here is and that is new releases. Obviously they can't buy a copy for each member so everybody gets the new release on the first day. That would me they would get like $1 for the life of that DVD. The goal for any business is to make more then what it cost you. So they need to make $25-$30 on each DVD they buy to turn a profit. So that means 1/20th (guesstimate) of their membership can get the new release on the first day, any thing close to 1:1 means they will go out of business. So then the consumer has a choice, they play the game where they have a great shot of getting new movies, low que going into Monday with only new releases in it or try something else. If you miss out there will be a delay, if you miss out and only keep those new releases in que it could be a while before you get another movie. I never noticed anything like throttling, I notice very logical patterns. Go into Monday with the new releases at the top, once those ship put some catalogs in there for mid-late week. Rinse and Repeat.

Pride and Prejudice: LONG WAIT (HD DVD)
Zeppelin: VERY LONG WAIT (HD DVD)
Live Free Die Hard: VERY LONG WAIT (Blu Ray)
Potter/Phoenix: VERY LONG WAIT (HD DVD)
Simpsons Movie: VERY LONG WAIT (Blu Ray)
Bladerunner Final Cut: VERY LONG WAIT (HD DVD)
Shrek 3: LONG WAIT (HD DVD)

Absolutely absurd. I don't mind the fact that I don't get these on release day, and wouldn't mind if I had to wait a week or so. And in a few cases I've been able to get a new release immediately. However with in-demand new releases such as the above I'm often having to wait WEEKS and keep a slot open to boot that whole time. Totally unacceptable IMO.

Here is my queue:
Balls of fury: Long Wait(HD)
Pirates of the Caribbean:worlds end: Long wait(SD)
Underdog: Long wait(SD)
Harry Potter-Order:Very long wait(HD)
Stardust:Very long wait(HD)

This happens consistently. I have it times so I have two slots open on Monday and sometimes I do get a new release but not often. Then they go from their release date right to short wait then long wait.

Well Blockbuster raising my sub next month by $8 won't help you guys over on Netflix

Right, exactly. And the worst part is that they STAY at that status for weeks! As I mentioned before, I wouldn't mind as much if the wait was only about a week or so. But waits can go even longer than 3 weeks!

My guess is that us HD Netflix customers represent a small fraction of their overall subscriber revenue, and yet purchasing the HD discs must be much more expensive then SD. So effectively this means that we are also less profitable revenue compared to non-HD customers. So if these assumptions are right I guess its easy to understand why this problem exists in the first place and why it has not been solved yet.

My absolute guess is that Netflix needs to be purchasing at least TWICE as many HD DVD and Blu Ray discs for these bigger releases as they are now... That should effectively cut the wait in half. Meaning 2 or 3 week waits become 1 - 1.5 week waits which are much more acceptable IMO.