Netflix BD disc rental discussion thread - Page 11

The source of this seems pretty clearly to be the studio, not NetFlix. I've heard this story before - that the studios are throttling NetFlix, not that NetFlix is throttling their customers. They (the studios) want you to buy, not rent. I also heard that NetFlix's allotment will increase in March.

Where did you "hear" this from? Can you reveal your source?

My brother-in-law was told this by a NetFlix CSR. Can't get much more authoritative than that!

Unbelievable. Why can't they offer both?

I finally called it quits and gave up on them. Blockbuster's blu-ray catalogue seems smaller, but at least I can try and rent movies in store.

I elected to use my bonus disk (that they gave me for calling and complaining) today even though I've had 3 open spots since Monday). Miraculously, 3:10 to Yuma went from very long wait to shipping Monday. I find it really interesting that it was updated on a Saturday, when in my past 2-3 years of service, nothing's ever been updated on a weekend.

Same for me also got the message about them not able to buy enough copies for all their customers, instead they should put something in their page that says:" Movie studios want you to go out and buy this movie instead of renting"

I just deleted a ton of titles from my Queue. Right now, I have 36 titles listed, and only two are available "now". I left the titles that have priority on the list, so they can't jump down to my 66th pick!

It might take a little longer this way, but I am willing to give it a try.

Funny thing is that after I did this, despite having 36 titles in my queue, at the bottom it says "Attention: For Better Service Add More Titles to Your Queue"!

At best I get my 3 movies a week. Regardless if I mail them in on Monday, I still can't get 3 new ones by Friday or Saturday. The shipping center is only an hour drive away but the turnaround time is horrendous. That and everyone in the Boston metro area must have picked up a BR player this past few months cause my queue skips over 80% of the BR's and goes to the SD dvds. Very disappointing

For those of us complaining that Breaker Morant went to a long wait, the reason is IE delayed release to February 5.

Oh great...

First Blade-Runner, now Rendition.

I see a trend starting here...

What is it with this "Not Enough Copies" bullcrap??

same here

They're sending me "Cars" today, must say I am pleased with that!

Perhaps Netflix is having problems with getting help and keeping them. Wouldn't know how much they pay but it cannot be very much. Besides that, I'd probably would end up going cuckoo after working there a couple of weeks no matter how bad I needed the money.

When I see something sitting as available and it gets skip fro something further down in the queue, things going from available to a long wait, returning 3 movies by Monday and not getting two till the following Saturday, etc., that's when I raise a red flag. It usually was pretty good all in all until the last few months.

Hey folks, I thought about this and realized that HDM is a small market currently. Netflix will not buy a bunch disc they can’t move. If you put only HDM in your queue, not only does that limit you to mediocre movies, but it almost guarantee you will not see many movies at your door step this early in the HD game.

If 99% of us are in long wait or very long wait for blu-ray discs, then Netflix certainly can buy more discs and STILL move them.

I think the biggest problem they're having is people holding on to them forever. How many here get a Blu-ray disc, watch it immediately and send it back? Probably not many...

Netflix won't buy a bunch of discs they can't move?

What are you talking about?

The whole point is that we all WANT these movies, but we can't get them because they all of long waits. I.e., Netflix is NOT meeting demand. They need to buy more HD movies, or they risk losing customers..

I normally watch the movie that evening and return it the next day

Exactly, I kept "Spartacus" for 3 weeks!

Supply will meet demand is what I'm talking about and there's no need for a combative tone in your text. Must every conversation be an argument? I'm sure they are looking at how many people are renting HDM and what is the inventory limit for them to not lose money on overstocking disc.

Once HDM takes off, Netflix will jump on board and order more inventory I'm sure. Look I get frustrated to, however I'm attempting to look at both sides of the issue.

Let's look at it this way. Blockbuster at my local store carries perhaps 100 copies for a popular new release. They are forced to do so to meet demand. Now obviously those all become not rented after a few months if even that long. There is no option. They are a video rental company. Netflix will need to meet demand eventually as suggested or lose customers.

Where things differ is more folks will come aboard to HD. Netflix will have those discs as their new customers will want to rent them eventually. If not, start selling some of them as used as video stores do.

Maybe more than you think. I turn movies over very fast, but I'm a single bachelor living by himself. I make all the rules about what is watched and when, so I'm not be the norm. I typically watch every movie I receive that night, and at the most I've kept a movie 3 days I believe.

Still, most people realize that because Netflix is a flat-rate monthly fee, the more movies you watch per month the more value you're getting out of your subscription. Netflix makes higher profit margins the longer people keep a movie. So if people just want a movie to hold onto for a week, they might as well rent at Blockbuster on a per-rental basis. Also, the only way to get the next movie you've been waiting for is to make sure you've returned your other movies...so that's another incentive.

I wouldn't be surprised if the majority of subscribers hold onto a movie for a week (especially when they have kids that want to see the movie 400 times) or more, but there are incentives to get other movies back as fast as they can.

Brandon

However, holding onto a rental for three or four weeks will cost you a lot, with netflix you are charged a flat rate regardless, so it can work both ways.

I watch it that night and send it back the next day. Why wouldn't you? You aren't getting the most for your money if you don't. Although, lately I'm not watching anything because every single Blu-ray on my queue is in waiting. I'm calling tonight complain and/or cancel. I just watch shows from the major networks website now through my MacBook plugged into my TV. A lot of them are even in HD and there are some tricks to get them to fill your whole TV perfectly. Only stereo sound but can't complain for free.

*edit: That may not have made much sense. Since all the movies had waits, I was basically just renting TV shows on DVD. Since TV shows are now free online...

Many of us have other demands on our time, for example a good book or a wife who demands the TV that evening or some other activity. I'm on the 1 at a time no limit on the amount during the month and feel that as long as I get three a month it'd be cheaper than renting BD movies at the local Blockbuster. Of course the more you watch in a month your cost per view would be less but you're still paying the same amount.

I don't mind so much since i've been buying some BDs and i just got my PS3 so gaming also takes up time.

I see lots of whining in this thread, so I've come to propose three solutions to all your "Very Long Wait" problems!

1) Buy the movie you want instead of Netflix-ing it. Even if you don't want to keep it, you can re-sell it on eBay and possibly make money.

2) Call Netflix and tell them you're switching to Blockbuster or cancelling. Forum posts won't change their ways, but losing money has a chance to.

3) Move to Seattle. I have consistently gotten the top 3 movies in my queue regardless of format or "wait" status. I have 29 HD-DVDs / Blu-Rays in my queue at the moment, and every single one of them (except 3:10 to Yuma) is available "Now".

Because we have a life.