Seriously Netflix - call it what it is! It's a price increase. We smart enough to know how to add!

[LynneSin]

Not once in the fricking email does Netflix say the words "PRICE HIKE"

Instead the glorify it by saying "You have more options" because we are separating into 2 bills the online streaming and the dvd-by-mail services.

nice that means if you want to save money you could drop one however if you plan to keep both services you'll pay 2 bills and oh, btw you're probably too stupid to realize that when you add both services up you'll be paying $4 more a month.

I wasn't born yesterday - just call it what it is "We have to raise prices blah blah blah"

The new prices take affect 9/1/2011. I plan to keep Netflix until 8/31/2011 and then cancel for the sheer reason that these dimwit think I'm too stupid to figure out they are raising prices.

Dear Lynne,

We are separating unlimited DVDs by mail and unlimited streaming into two separate plans to better reflect the costs of each. Now our members have a choice: a streaming only plan, a DVD only plan, or both.

Your current $14.99 a month membership for unlimited streaming and unlimited DVDs will be split into 2 distinct plans:

Plan 1: Unlimited Streaming (no DVDs) for $7.99 a month
Plan 2: Unlimited DVDs, 2 out at-a-time (no streaming) for $11.99 a month

Your price for getting both of these plans will be $19.98 a month ($7.99 + $11.99). You don't need to do anything to continue your memberships for both unlimited streaming and unlimited DVDs.

These prices will start for charges on or after September 1, 2011.

You can easily change or cancel your unlimited streaming plan, unlimited DVD plan, or both, by going to the Plan Change page in Your Account.

We realize you have many choices for home entertainment, and we thank you for your business. As always, if you have questions, please feel free to call us at 1-.

–The Netflix Team

[NV Whino]

1. Yep. Got the same e-mail

I'm going to cancel the disks before September and keep the streaming. I may even cancel that. I got along fine before Netflix and I can get along fine without them again.

[LynneSin]

2. I find I'm not watching as many streaming videos

and honestly, the only reason I'm getting DVD by mail is because (really embarassed right now) - I'm rewatching Beverly Hills, 90210. Ok stop laughing at me PLEASE!

I'm in the middle of season #4 which is their first year of college. I started watching it regularly by the junion year in college. And to be honest, once they graduated the show really tanked - especially after Tiffany Amber Thiesson left. She was a really great actressed and really added fun to the show.

Usually I get current releases at my local redbox. You can even download an App to reserve a copy or find a location with the movie you want.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

23. The streaming thing often requires "settling" for what they have

It's a RARE occurrence when I've gone to their streaming vids and found EXACTLY what I wanted on the first pass.

Of course, when you add up their monthly DVD fee for one DVD out at a time, you could BUY the seasons of the shows you like by saving that membership fee over a couple of months.

My rationale for owning DVDs: I can watch them whenever I want to, without being a member of anything.

:toast:

[JonLP24]

3. I may cancel

The reason they raise fees is because they know they can. Love Netflix but this is second time they've done a price hike since I had the service.

On edit-Raise taxes? I must have other things on my mind when I made that post. :D Fixed to raise fees.

[NV Whino]

4. Yeah, they raised prices about 6 months ago

I went with that one, but this is over the top in my opinion.

[LynneSin]

5. I would not have bitched if they were just honest about what they are doing

Somehow I felt like they worded it in a way that I should jump for joy that I am getting 2 bills now.

I realize they are having issues with their streaming videos. I read where SONY did a price hike on using their movies on streaming video so to be honest, I wasn't shocked aboutu the price increase.

Just don't insult my intelligence while doing it.

[S_E_Fudd]

8. They are getting squeezed by the studios..

Raising fees for access to their catalogs...

[S_E_Fudd]

6. For some their monthly fee will go down...

Depending on what combination of services they get...

I really don't understand the hullabaloo over this. Netflix ain't a charity. They provide a great service at a (still) low price!

So they raised their prices some (max $5.99)...big deal. Still far more economical than Cable, PPV or even RedBox

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. We switched to just streaming.

[CBGLuthier]

10. Glad to know others see it that way too

I consider Netflix an exceptional value. I wish they did not have to increase prices but I can see why they are doing it. I have not yet gotten the email to evaluate whether they are somehow DECEPTIVE about it being a price increase as some would like to imply.

I really think sometimes people have absolutely no idea what it takes to grow or run a business.

[kick-ass-bob]

19. Except business sense tells you that when you bundle,

you give an incentive to do so. There is no bundle discount which the rest of the technology world uses.

Also, if it costs them so much to send so many DVDs - why don't they get rid of the "unlimited" plan and charge a fee for going over a certain number like the cell companies are for data?

[kick-ass-bob]

18. No one's will drop unless they drop services.

Mine goes up 25% as is (4.99)

I get an average of 4 DVDs a month (2 at a time). What incentive do I have to pay them $12 for 4 movies when I can go to RedBox for $4 for those movies?

[S_E_Fudd]

30. Netflix reintroduced disc only...

If you currently do not stream and only get discs your monthly fee drops by $2 by signing onto that plan

[WolverineDG]

21. Heaven forbid a company make a profit!

Their expenses went up, so they have to charge more. duh.

dg

[JonLP24]

24. More than likely

the demand has been increasing and will continue to increase. I buy the expenses went up but when dealing with expenses you charge at a rate that maximizes your profit. If you charge too much and have fewer customers you're making less money than with the current price. Businesses simply won't charge more because they have more expenses. The charge more because they can rather than they must, IE increasing demand.

They aren't the first and won't be the last business to say publicly it is the expenses when in reality it is the increasing demand. If they told the truth the public wouldn't continue buying their product. Heaven forbid consumers exercise their right to choose whether to purchase a product or not.

[WolverineDG]

25. But the licensing fees for streaming ARE going up

way up, from what I gather. So rising costs, plus rising demands = rising subscription rates. For my particular subscription, it's still a better bargain than anything else out there.

dg

[Xithras]

9. I haven't received the email yet, but we're canceling in August.

Online video quality is too low (HD has spoiled me) and Redbox is right up the road, so we don't use it heavily enough to justify the cost.

By the way, Netflix is conveniently failing to mention that their new price is for standard DVD's. If you want unlimited streaming AND a 2-dvd a month plan with Blu-Ray support, it will cost you $22.98 a month.

I can Redbox 15 BluRay movies a month for the cost of a Netflix subscription. I don't watch 15 movies a month, either online or on disc. I could marginally justify them before because they were "convenient", but this is just too much money for what they're offering.

[S_E_Fudd]

11. If I had $1 for everytime I schlep over to the RedBox and it is busted...

I would have enough to pay my Netflix subscription every month!!! :)

[Xithras]

16. I do all my Redbox reservations online.

If the machine's busted, I know it without leaving the house.

[MorningGlow]

12. Yup, bastids

Mr. MG and I were discussing what to do last night--haven't decided yet. He votes for just streaming, but I don't think there's enough decent streaming stuff to make it worth it. If they increased their streaming choices, I'd go for it and augment it with Amazon and iTunes single-rentals.

Edit: Kan't spel tuday.

[freshwest]

13. COMCAST uses the same rosy language. So do legislators in their worst bills. When anyone says...

They're gonna give you something new and better, it's a lie to get your consent to being robbed. They're screwing you with a kiss. And you can smile and enjoy it, or give the whole thing up. IMHO.

[NightWatcher]

14. I'd gladly pay the increase if they'd add more/better movies to the streaming side

if not, we may go back to the dvd red box down the street a few times a month. We've streamed everything else worthwhile, it seems

[vi5]

15. I wish they'd just say what it is and why..

"Look we have to raise prices. The studios, after having us test the waters for them, now want a bigger piece of the pie. So we have no choice but to pass that on to you."

It's just double annoying because they just did a price increase not that long ago, with the dangling carrot that it was goign to help them increase their available streaming content. Yet that service remains as slim with it's picken's as it ever was.

[kick-ass-bob]

17. I have the same plan, and I'm pissed off.

Back when they raised rates last time, I dropped from 3 to 2, which was fine.

Separating the services with no discount for having both is ridiculous. If I have more than one service from ANY company, they give me a discount on the second service. From car insurance to cable/phone they all give a discount.

Add to that the fact they only have 20% of their library for streaming, and something is overpriced.

Do they not realize how many people are infrequent users of one or the other (or both) programs and will not hesitate to cancel?

THEY ARE DUMBASSES.

And here's the phone# that you left out:
1-888-357-1516.

Call and complain.

[WolverineDG]

20. They have to raise the prices because they're getting charged more

for the streaming licenses.

My 3 dvd at a time/unlimited streaming combo is only going up $4. I only started using the streaming option recently. It's no biggie for me.

dg

[LynneSin]

28. yes but my issue isn't the fact that they raised prices

it's the fact that they wrote that dumbass letter that totally glosses over everything. Like I should jump for joy that I now get 2 bills instead of one which yes, gives me the option of only having one of the features but not the other but in a nutshell means I'm getting a $4 price hike if I don't change a thing.

[trackfan]

22. We never used the streaming - so our price actually went down

by switching to the disc only option.

[Lindsey]

27. I've pretty much decided to cancel once the rates go up.

Right now I just pay $10 per month for Netflix streamer (which I have to say I've enjoyed but I still have my cable). My rate will go up to $16 which to me is unacceptable. In fact, I'm probably going to call them tonight to let them know I'll be cancelling once the rate increases.

[graywarrior]

26. I just rec'd my last Netflix movie

I'm cancelling after this.

[Lindsey]

29. I haven't even gotten my notice. Good for you for cancelling. n/t