Netflix is pissing me off...

[cynatnite]

A week ago I sent the three DVDs back. The day before yesterday they processed one of the next three on my quere. Today they are now doing the other two. It feels like they are intentionally slow in order so I will get less movies per month.

We started the service a few years ago and the turnaround was great then.

[Cerridwen]

1. Same experience here, and yes, it's intentional...

There was a thread here at DU some time back...I think it's called "throttling" or some such where they make sure you don't receive too many DVDs during a period of time.

I'll search and let you know what I find.

edit: it's called throttling, not choking.

Trying to find article now.

edit to add link to one of several articles found when googling netflix throttling

Frequent Netflix renters sent to back of the line

[MrCoffee]

5. Seems like i read an article in Time or Newsweek or one of those rags

about this practice.

i know, what was i doing reading filth?

[Poiuyt]

6. Throttling

While Netflix's service is frustrating, they still have a better selection than any video store. If you're looking for something foreign or obscure, it's still the best game in town.

[cynatnite]

11. According to that article we're heavy users...

We average 10-12 per month or so. We keep them about a week so everyone gets a chance to watch what they want. Hubby's out on the road so I hold onto them until the weekend.

[Xeric]

12. we get throttled too

I think it's a sleazy business practice on their part.
What we do is, when they start throttling, we close the account and start a new one with the significant other's name. Back and forth every 6 months or so.

[Cerridwen]

14. We're getting read to do the same...keep signing up as new...

guess you have to "game" the system if you want to be treated like a valuable customer.

[radfringe]

19. delivery slow here too

our local rental place charges $4-$5 per DVD

we originally went with netflix because of the selection, price and the fact we do not have to rush to the video store to return tapes/DVD...

ennywhooo - I like your idea of switching names on accounts... I'm going to talk to my partner about that

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

2. Pretty fast here.

Sometimes we have one fall a day behind, but generally, we have new movies within 2-3 days of mailing another back. I think they must have a distribution center in the Chicago Area.

[ixion]

3. my experience with them has been exactly the same.

great turnaround at first, and now it takes them a week. I told them I'll be cancelling if it does not improve.

[kenny blankenship]

4. did you send them all back on the same day?

stagger them and see if they don't get better about their turnaround times.

[cynatnite]

8. That's how we've been doing it since we started...

I will try that plus send off an email to them.

[Kadie]

7. I have been with them for a couple of years. No problems at all.

Usually 2-3 day turn around.

[Onlooker]

9. Their turnaround time is slower for frequent movie watchers

I contacted them about this after reading an article that stated just that, and they confirmed it, claiming that they give a little extra priority to people who watch fewer movies. That said, I still think NetFlix is terrific.

[MrCoffee]

10. Here's a link...they settled a class action re: this practice in May

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12584258/

[Mz Pip]

13. No problems here

Maybe it's a local thing? Our turn around is almost immediate, though it did take awhile for us to get "The 40 Yeat Old Virgin." Guess the demand was pretty high for that.

Most of the stuff we watch has been outy for awhile so there isn't the demand that there might be for new releases.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[kstewart33]

15. 48 hour turnaround here.

We're in Denver where one of their warehouses is located.

[Warpy]

16. There have been articles out there

about how they intentionally slow service for the heaviest users.

They're in the business to make money. Heavy users can break the bank.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

17. Keep records on their turnaround and...

...show them how substandard the service is compared to what it was and ask for some kind of cash credit to your account or an extension without charge on your contract. Also, let them know that you're internet savvy and intend to share your experience with them (good or bad) far and wide.

Take a polite, tactful tone in doing this rather than an overtly threatening one, but get the message across.

See how they respond.

[mcar]

18. Same experience with Blockbuster online

I just cancelled my account after 3 years. I had 18 titles in my queue, half of them "available now" and I got nothing for more than a week. I sent an e-mail; their reply was doublespeak about distribution centers but their main gist was that I should have more titles in my queue.

For a year, they've been sending me things on the bottom of my list while my top choices, even though they were available, didn't get sent for months.

I've decided to go back to my local store for a while and then maybe try Netflix.

[cynatnite]

20. Even as pissed at Netflix as I am right now...

they do have a far better selection than just about everyone else.

I did try Walmart's...yeah, I know..I know. I thought I was saving money.

Their selection was bad, one DVD was so badly scratched it wouldn't play and I got two cracked ones in the mail. We were back at Netflix in under two months.

[Greyhound]

21. 3 or 4 weeks to get through this season of West Wing and then we're

quitting. This is just the BS corporate model of taking a good idea and then fucking it up for a few more cents of profit.

[WolverineDG]

22. If they don't process my returns timely

then I make a "lost disk" report. Each time I do that, the disk "magically" appears at the Netflix facility & the next one is on it's way.

dg

[LostinVA]

23. They are -- it's called throttling

I'm THIS close to canceling. When I wrote them about it, they basically blew me off.

I used to mail on Monday, and have a new one shipped Tuesday, get it Wednesday. NOW, it's way longer. And, if they say I'll get it Thursday, I'll get it Friday or bSaturday...

[calico1]

24. There was a story in the news about a year ago

about just this kind of thing. Some guy from California I think. He was a heavy user but netflix was very slow in sending him stuff in his queue. Apparently, they offer all the DVDs you want a month. They just won't let you get all the DVDs you want per month. Become a heavy user and they will be very slow.

Another thing they have done to me TWICE is to send me the wrong movie version. I like classic movies. Twice they sent me a remake of the movie I had in my queue.

Thanks for the reminder of how they suck. I had been meaning to quit and just keep putting it off. I will remember now!

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

25. i've only had one problem with them

so i called the movies in as lost and they expeditied my next set.

the 'missing' films turned up 4 days later when they finally processed them


otherwise, i've had nothing but great luck with them.

just rented 'this is what democracy looks like' it's about the 1999 seattle wto protests. a must-watch

[Deja Q]

26. Same experience here too - I'm about to cancel...