Netflix screws up, Again!

[ChromeFoundry]

Reed Hastings, Co-Founder and CEO, Netflix, announced that Netflix will be split into two different companies. The DVD Mail Delivery business will become "Quickster", and the Internet Streaming business will remain "Netflix".

Oh, and the websites will not be integrated with one another; billing will be separate; queues and search will not be integrated... This is how he "fix" losing a million customers when they changed their pricing structure, by communicating this to his remaining customers:

I messed up. I owe everyone an explanation.

It is clear from the feedback over the past two months that many members felt we lacked respect and humility in the way we announced the separation of DVD and streaming, and the price changes. That was certainly not our intent, and I offer my sincere apology. I’ll try to explain how this happened.

For the past five years, my greatest fear at Netflix has been that we wouldn't make the leap from success in DVDs to success in streaming. Most companies that are great at something – like AOL dialup or Borders bookstores – do not become great at new things people want (streaming for us) because they are afraid to hurt their initial business. Eventually these companies realize their error of not focusing enough on the new thing, and then the company fights desperately and hopelessly to recover. Companies rarely die from moving too fast, and they frequently die from moving too slowly.

...

So here is what we are doing and why:

...

So we realized that streaming and DVD by mail are becoming two quite different businesses, with very different cost structures, different benefits that need to be marketed differently, and we need to let each grow and operate independently. It’s hard for me to write this after over 10 years of mailing DVDs with pride, but we think it is necessary and best: In a few weeks, we will rename our DVD by mail service to “Qwikster”.

We chose the name Qwikster because it refers to quick delivery. We will keep the name “Netflix” for streaming.

Qwikster will be the same website and DVD service that everyone is used to. It is just a new name, and DVD members will go to qwikster.com to access their DVD queues and choose movies. One improvement we will make at launch is to add a video games upgrade option, similar to our upgrade option for Blu-ray, for those who want to rent Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360 games. Members have been asking for video games for many years, and now that DVD by mail has its own team, we are finally getting it done. Other improvements will follow. Another advantage of separate websites is simplicity for our members. Each website will be focused on just one thing (DVDs or streaming) and will be even easier to use. A negative of the renaming and separation is that the Qwikster.com and Netflix.com websites will not be integrated. So if you subscribe to both services, and if you need to change your credit card or email address, you would need to do it in two places. Similarly, if you rate or review a movie on Qwikster, it doesn’t show up on Netflix, and vice-versa.

...

Both the Qwikster and Netflix teams will work hard to regain your trust. We know it will not be overnight. Actions speak louder than words. But words help people to understand actions.

Reed Hastings

See entire blog here: http://blog.netflix.com/2011/09/explanation-and-some-reflections.html

[dkf]

1. I thought this was satire at first. Sad.

[Cid_B]

97. I got it around 5 am as I was going to work...

... and after I read it I thought. What was the point?

I still have my netflix streaming but I cancelled my DVD service and told them way after the initial price hike.

The guy didn't say anything of substance other than "We will make it even more inconvenient for you"

Big whoop. I am also becoming a bit dissatisfied with the streaming selection. It seems to be getting worse with nothing but B and F level movies.

[MorningGlow]

115. Streaming selection is going to get worse, too

Starz bailed on them.

[eShirl]

2. sounds like Nestle Quick flavored Twizzlers

:puke:

[Auggie]

3. "Quickster" -- I hate that name. Sounds dated and so un-cool.

[Graybeard]

27. Isn't that the gadget that mixes your peanut butter?

Really lame.:thumbsdown:

[Xithras]

89. I'll be shocked if Flixter doesn't sue them for name confusion.

Qwikster - Flixter. Two entertainment sites that both deal with movies and DVD's. One is the most popular service on the Internet and mobile apps for reading movie reviews and checking showtimes. Flixter ALSO offers full length streaming movies for FREE via an arrangement with Hulu.

Flixter, which also controls Rotten Tomatoes, is a subsidiary of Warner Brothers, so they certainly have the financial muscle to do something about it.

[trueblue2007]

105. NETFLIX.... YOU STINK

just talked with hubby. this new thing is too complicated. We will be quitting. we have COMCAST and get LOTS OF movies on Starz... so if we want to rent movies, we will go to the $1.00 a movie place at Fred Meyers. Netflix, you lost another customer

[Codeine]

106. Too complicated?

It's two queues, just like before. Just gonna be on separate websites soon.

Honestly, it really is two separate services. Different sites makes sense.

[NeedleCast]

117. Brought to you by the same people who lose their minds when Facebook changes their layout

[NickB79]

126. It makes me think of QuikStar, the Amway spin-off. NT

[trumad]

4. Honestly---I don't know what the fuss is.

I stream my movies and the Netflix cost to do it... 8 bucks per month, is perfectly reasonable to me.

[MarianJack]

12. Agreed.

We may can the DVD service, but, for our family, the streaming MORE than pays for itself.

PEACE!

[spinbaby]

63. Not everyone can stream video

Those of us in the boonies who have to rely on expensive and slow satellite service, can't begin to think of streaming video.

[MarianJack]

88. I Understand That,...

...which is why I said that it's a good deal for MY family.

PEACE!

[Cestode]

30. Second that.

If you're just using the streaming service, it's pretty fantastic for $8.00/mth.
A good variety also.

[Hosnon]

62. I agree. Netflix streaming + redbox = everything I want for less than $10-$20 per month. nt.

[qanda]

5. Left Netflix when they increased the pricing

And I haven't looked back. The people *can* speak with their actions. I wish fixing the government was as easy as hitting an unsubscribe button.

[RKP5637]

28. What are you using as an alternative? n/t

[Xithras]

104. Dish Network will be announcing a new streaming service at the end of this month.

Dish Network already has the rights to a huge library of TV shows, and their purchase of Blockbuster not only gave them access to several decades worth of movies, but more importantly to longstanding contracts that will allow them to stream movies over the Internet before NetQwikBox is even permitted to offer them for rental. The current Blockbuster pay-per-view system will be eliminated in favor of a subscription plan that they have already suggested will be cheaper than the Netflix service.

Oh, and they reportedly have a $2 billion bid in to by Hulu, have been on a wireless bandwidth buying spree, and filed papers three weeks ago asking the government for permission to build a new nationwide high speed wireless network. They're not simply trying to copy Netflix, but apparently have their sights set on something much bigger.

[RKP5637]

122. Thanks! n/t

[truebrit71]

37. I did the same thing...it was a terrible business decision and I"m glad they've paid a price for it.

'Quickster'? Really, something that rhymes with 'Shitster' was the very best idea their marketing department could come up with?

[Logical]

90. If they were losing money what should they have done?

[FSogol]

101. They are obviously paying Reed Hastings too much. Also, any money they spent on the name, Quickster

was wasted.

[n2doc]

They seem to really be trying to lose customers

Frankly I am not sure I will stay one. I wish there were better alternatives in streaming. None of the ones I have tried has much content that I'm interested in.

[trumad]

8. I don't understand...

It's 8 bucks per month... is that to much?

My kids love it---thousands of movies at their finger tips... for 8 bucks PM.

[n2doc]

13. My kids have exhausted what they are interested in on streaming

And The reason they are splitting things is so they can raise prices more quickly. Unfortunately, this always happens, a company comes up with a good, reasonable plan and the media companies screw it up in their endless quest to screw customers. Happened with Cable, will happen here.

[ChromeFoundry]

16. If you do not subscribe to DVD delivery...

You couldn't understand. Try to manage two different queues... one with "very long waits" and the other one being a constantly changing "play it now" queue which has titles added and removed every few hours. Imagine having to use Google search for searches on certain topics, and Bing for all other searches. By offering non-integration between the two service offerings - a feature already included - customers will be confused, frustrated and will feel that they have lost part of their services - with the recent pricing increases, added insult to injury.

[CBGLuthier]

22. I do both. I fully understand. I will give it more than a chance.

I already manage two queues. I don't have long waits but I don't really care for brand new movies.

I already use multiple search engines for Netflix. I use instantwatcher.com, feedflicks.com, The PS3 search interface, the Roku custom developed InstantWatch search interface and even sometimes the classic Roku Netflix interface.

Every once in a while I will even use the netflix.com interface.

[ChromeFoundry]

26. Some will love - Some will loath the change

it all depends on how you use the different services.

[RKP5637]

31. Same here, we use streaming all of the time. I guess one can go to

amazon and pay almost $3/movie and feel good, but I think 8 bucks a month for unlimited streaming is damn cheap, I mean how much cheaper can it be ...

[trumad]

11. BTW: there are other alternatives...

ROKU brings you Amazon.... and several other type channels with free streaming. They just don't have the library that Netflix does.

[MorningGlow]

6. Ugh.

Mr. MG thinks that Netflix is trying to suck intentionally, to drive their value down so someone like Amazon will buy them out (and, likely, get rid of Netflix altogether). I dunno; if that's the case, this is a silly way to go about it. But then, I think all Big Business is essentially silly at heart. :shrug:

[newspeak]

111. well if amazon buys them out

I just quit amazon over their treatment of labor. I mean if you are going to literally run a sweatshop, I'm not going to be buying.

[MorningGlow]

116. I don't know that it would be Amazon

Someone LIKE them--a competing company that wants to drive them out of business.

[hlthe2b]

7. Makes Blockbuster's boneheaded moves in recent years...

almost seem strategic--and we all know how THAT turned out... Geebus.

Yet we are supposed to worship business CEOs as the "all wise" who should lead this country? Right. :eyes:

[Xithras]

112. Well, NOBODY on this board should be "worshipping" Netflix's CEO anyway.

The guy is a huge Republican. He is also a former teacher, and was one of the Gropenfurhers appointees to the California State Board of Education until the Democratic majority in the legislature got sick of him and threw him out.

Nowadays he's not only a huge advocate of privatized schools, but he's one of the founders of Aspire and has dedicated a small part of his own fortune to building and expanding charter schools to displace public schools. He's publicly advocated making public schools openly COMPETE for students with charter schools, and flat-out said that he wants them to be run like private businesses.

Netflix may have been an innovative company, and I get that many people here still like its service (I was a customer myself until last month), but Reed Hastings isn't a guy I'd be interested in being buddies with.

[Uben]

9. Oops! That's a deal breaker for me. Adios Netflix!

I have had Netflix for a few years now. I have watched all the good streamed movies I want to and now am relegated to just getting the DVDs.
The addition of new content is sparse, so I'm dropping the service. Netflix is going down. Like many businesses, the greed of their success has became their Achilles heel.

[SpiralHawk]

10. They shall remain...

[ananda]

14. I changed to streaming only on Saturday.

Then this morning I got the letter about the split. My attitude: who
cares.

If the streaming only fizzles out for me, then I'll quit Netflix altogether
and try something else.

[trumad]

15. Exactly...

[lame54]

17. Netflix is one corp that...

thrived and grew because of the Post Office

[CBGLuthier]

19. and they will get hit very hard if USPS drops delivery days.

I enjoy getting 4 discs a week if I "work" at it. Losing Saturday would really suck.

[lame54]

21. and your monthly fee for qwikster will shoot through the roof...

just before it folds completely

[CBGLuthier]

25. and I will lament its passing and move on.

I don't really expect companies to operate at losses for my own personal gain.

[Occulus]

69. As a postal employee, I have been told more than once that

Netflix is one of our biggest customers.

This will not help the USPS. At all.

[shanti]

85. it would suck if saturdays are lost

and we both know why ;-) i get 3 a week because i never go out to see first run movies, i wait until they hit dvd.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

96. I know.

I can watch two movies on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday and get two more for Saturday night.

[CBGLuthier]

18. This is a very smart move.

Changes to the USPS will kill the DVD by mail business probably a lot sooner than we think. Some people are very happy with only one of these services. They are still one of the best values if you enjoy movies and old TV shows.

It will be interesting to see how much the games option costs.

Back when I still sucked on the cable teat they would raise their prices every time ESPN told them to. They would drop channels if they felt like it and refuse to carry what I wanted. Netflix has changed their prices and the nature of their business but what they offer is still basically the same. I can still get damn near any DVD or BD in existence and more than enough streaming content that I like. Sure I wish the price did not change but it is still a great value.

I also applaud their telling Starz to stuff it. Starz encodes are shoddy and never in HD. Starz tried to make Netflix into a half-ass cable company and create a tiered approach to pricing. Fuck Starz. Once I get through all of the Have Gun, Will Travel episodes I won't even miss them.

I use Netflix, Hulu+, and the occasional Amazon on demand. If something actually better than Netflix comes along I may consider it but such a thing, as of this moment, does not exist.

[ChromeFoundry]

23. Most ISPs are in process of implementing Bandwidth-Caps

see AT&T's new limit of 150GB per month. With the HD content, plan on only watching a few streams per week or be prepared to pay the $10 for every 50GB of usage. This maneuver will certainly be putting Netflix up against bittorrants as the competition.

[Xithras]

86. The new AT&T limits are about 3 hours of HD Netflix per day.

It's 150GB per month, and the average Netflix movie is about 3.5Gb. A 30 minute TV show like Weeds will consume about 800Mb. That works out to an average of three hours of Netflix watching a day...if you don't do ANYTHING else with your Internet connection like download files or surf the web. If you do, you'll cross the cap. Of course, Netflix is also coming under some pressure to increase their HD quality too...it's currently 720p, and there are a lot of people asking for 1080p. If they do that, you can cut these numbers in half. 90 minutes a day, less than the length of a single feature movie, will be enough to incur extra charges from AT&T.

And if you hit the limit? $10 per 50Gb, which will work out to about $1 per extra show.

You can avoid this by not watching anything in HD. SD quality movies are much smaller, and you'd have to watch them more than 12 hours a day, every day, to hit your limit.

This was one of the many reasons I finally dumped Netflix last month. The price hike was just the last straw. This new announcement just confirms my choice.

[Codeine]

61. You're right about the quality of Starz stuff.

Downright unpleasant to watch at times.

[FSogol]

20. Geez, sounds like Netflix's board needs to fire Reed "Bad Idea" Hastings ASAP.

:shrug: Yeah, I wanna switch back and forth between 2 sites to see whether I want a movie streamed or mailed to me.

[NRaleighLiberal]

24. my last 5 DVD rentals were damaged. we just went to stream only.

It is clear from looking at/trying to play their discs that they were trying to push people to streaming, sending out stuff that looks like it was used in ultimate frisbee games.

[LibertyLover]

29. Years ago, Amway spun off one of its business models as

Quickster and it was a disaster as I remember. I had friends who were trying to do Amway and had bought me a distributorship as a Christmas gift one year. I never did much with it and after a few years of buying ok-but-not-great products at not-great prices I got out. Just about the time of the Quickster move. My friends stayed in for another year or so and then got out themselves. Good luck to Netflix with this.

[trumad]

32. I think it was Quickstar...

I remember an acquaintance trying to hook me in and swearing it wasn't Amway. He's no longer my acquaintance.

[DCKit]

33. It ain't broke, no damn reason (except more $$$$$) to fix it.

I'm going to have to look long and hard at the upsides of my membership.

However, there's no damn reason they can't continue to run the two separate departments as a linked entity. We have the technology.

If nothing else, someone has had a long, seriously drawn-out brain fart over this, and I don't see the upside.

[Codeine]

58. They're aiming to get out of the disc business.

Separating the operations will allow for the disc side to slowly be spun down or sold off. Mailing out discs was a great idea for a while, but technology has supplanted it and they are looking to move on.

[DCKit]

74. I'd pay more if they offered new movies in streaming HD...

and the S.O. could cancel some of the movie channels.

But that's not going to happen.

[DaveJ]

34. Great comments by Hastings

I especially liked "Companies rarely die from moving too fast, and they frequently die from moving too slowly."

I stopped using DVD rentals a couple years ago and have done streaming ever since. It seems like such a waste stamping out physical media. Same with books and music. Why use resources you don't have to? I guess it drive people nuts when they just want pleasure, and here I am taking the environment seriously.

I admit though I'm using Hulu now (since they have Colbert and Stewart). If cable lowered their bills to something reasonable I'd use them.

[dixiegrrrrl]

35. By haiving 2 companies, they can sell off Quickster with no harm to streaming side of business.

or they can just dump DVDs all together, or lose money at it for awhile, with less overall bottom line impact.
However, with Netflix streaming accounts now being limited, and ISPs starting to balk at carrying the streaming "free" on their bandwidth, plus the "here one day, gone the next" streaming content, I am not sure Netflix can develop the streaming side as well as it would like.
Right now the revenue from streaming is coming from expanding customer base in Canada and other countries, but as the problems continue, it will lose customers.

As I mentioned when I posted this story earlier this am,
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=441x1288


Netflix stock is down 40% this year.

[Shagbark Hickory]

38. Ding ding ding ding. Tell her what she's won Johnny!

[ET Awful]

36. That e-mail was that motivated me to finally go cancel my account

Screw Reed Hastings.

[mopinko]

39. yeah, i'm done.

i got on demand. i will survive.

[sfpcjock]

40. Cud they just call it "gangster bankster" now, please?

:rofl: Is this place run by Grover Nobody now? OMG!

I mean, we know that every ISP hates their guts, but geez, us too? LOL

[David Sky]

41. FUNNY how I'm seeing an ad for Netflix at the top of

this thread page!!!! Coincidence? I think NOT!

[Hoosier Daddy]

42. Can our democracy survive this???

:rofl:

[Sedona]

43. "Amazon Prime"

I live in the boonies and $75 a year to get free shipping on deliveries AND returns was a bargain. I use this service almost weekly.

Now Amazon offers tons of free streaming optons to its "Amazon Prime" customers?

Bu Bye Netflix

Three out of the last 6 or 7 DVDs came damaged anyway.

See ya
:hi:

[dixiegrrrrl]

45. You must have good bandwidth.

I live in the boonies but Netflix streaming meant constant buffering and then crashing.

Plus, neither Amazon or Netflix stream to Linux.

[sfpcjock]

51. Me three!

Hey DUers, Amazon Prime includes the same movies and documentaries like PBS for FREE with the free 2-day shipping. The product reviews alone if not the hours wasted in stores, and the 15% more off on discounted product subscriptions will save you the cost of the free shipping for a year, so consider it. We "subscribe" to about 20 food items that are rare and wonderful--many of them. Amazon is just unique, what can I say?

[supernova]

44. We do streaming only

and have done for several months. We dropped the DVD option when then implemented to new pricing structure. And ;yes, we got at least one DVD a week that didn't play.

Time warner already has a tiered speed bandwidth pricing structure. bastards. We chose a slightly higher one justifying on the terms that the SO works from home frequently (sys admin work).

I stream only now and wouldn't want to mess with DVDs in the mail anymore. I sure as hell won't be signing up for quickster.

[Lucian]

46. Why do people bitch about this?

I don't understand it. I'm paying $8/month for unlimited streaming from Netflix and I have been very satisfied.

I guess some people want a free lunch.

[Harmony Blue]

49. I think Netflix is overrated

I don't see the value of the service they provide.

[Codeine]

53. I used the hell out of their DVD service for years.

Their library of classic and foreign films is outstanding, and I watched a number of television programs I never had the opportunity to see. I was turning over six to nine DVDs a week for a while before I cut back and tried to get back into reading books again.

These days I stream lots of things from them -- working my way through the last few episodes of Mad Men right now via Netflix on my Roku box.

They provide a fantastic value for my entertainment dollar, perhaps the best value for money in that regard I've ever received.

[PCIntern]

107. i just finished Mad Men and am so upset b/c

I can't watch 15 episodes a week anymore...

:(

[Codeine]

109. I felt that way the time I realized

that I had just watched an entire season of Dexter in one day off from work and there was no more to see.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

95. I'm sorry, what?

You don't think people should spend money on movie rentals or streaming video?

[Codeine]

50. Change frightens some, even inevitable change.

Physical media is going bye-bye and people just don't want to face that.

[William769]

59. I'm tired of eating the same lunch!

New content has been slow coming. As someone that has been with them for years, I feel it's time to move on.

[Lucian]

66. Where else are you going to get unlimited streaming for $8/mo?

[William769]

68. Who knows.

But why pay for something that is not being used. I remember 3 to 4 Months ago Netflix said they would be adding more streaming video on a monthly basis.

Now I know politicians lie to me all the time, but I'll be damned if I'm going to let a company that I pay for service lie to me.

[Hosnon]

120. +1. For the price, Netflix instant is a steal.

I would like to see a viable direct competitor though (but perhaps it isn't necessary - plenty of competition to go around in the broader industry).

[Sal Minella]

124. Streaming is a mess for me -- it's constantly stopping to recalculate

something or other and then it stops to announce something technical I don't give a damn about and then it stops to do more buffering and then (frequently) it just stops altogether.

I'd much rather deal with the occasional broken DVD (they send replacement immediately if you notify them of receiving a broken disc) -- and I can back up to
slo-mo frames that went past my old eyes too fast, and can get SUBTITLES.

The lack of subtitles option alone would keep me out of streaming -- love the foreign films too much.

[lady lib]

47. "...many members felt we lacked respect and humility"

Notice he never apologizes for treating their members with a lack of respect and humility - he's sorry that we felt we were treated that way - as in the equally weasely "mistakes were made."

And Qwikster? Did they pay some marketing genius to come up with that name? Seriously??

Clueless.

[LuckyLib]

75. Qwikster sounds too much like "trickster" -- he clearly never took an anthropology course.

[Codeine]

48. Not sure why everyone is so pissed.

Is it really that much of a chore to manage two queues? :shrug: It's clearly two separate businesses (one of which is rapidly headed to the Bin of Outmoded Technology) and it makes sense to have them running as such.

I recently went to one disc at a time because I was streaming most everything anyway. Sure, lots of films/programs aren't available that way yet, but when DVDs first kicked off it took a while to get some material in the format -- this will help ramp things up even faster. Physical entertainment media is going the way of the dodo.

[ChromeFoundry]

67. Maybe for you...

To most others it is video entertainment, same product, different mode of transport. This is exactly why superstores are so successful... one stop shopping.

I have enough problems trying to explain to my mother that not all of the movies she wants to watch are on the "Blu-Ray's - Netflix - thing" as it is right now, she can search from the PC or from the Netflix app on her Blu-Ray, and see instantly if she can "play it now" or is available on "disc only". Now she will need to look in multiple places!?!? They will certainly be losing her business.

I think splitting the business into two will prove to be an epic facepalm. I'm be anxious to see how Netflix shareholders react to this boneheaded move as the value hits an even lower low. The only benefit I see is that they will now be offering game console rentals via their DVD-by-Mail service... I'm certain that will cost more than a single DVD at a time, offering.

Oh, and in the day of everything being part of a mash-up, managing two queues won't fly. Unless a third part steps up to the plate to offer an easy solution to merge the management of the queues back into one... both of their new companies will suffer.

I give it six months before Reed Hastings is thrown out the front door, tarred and feathered.

[WolverineDG]

118. Because they think things should be given to them for free

and think that companies should let rising costs eat away their profit margin until they're bankrupt. Another example is the McDonald's owner in San Francisco who opted out of offering a dollar menu because she wasn't making enough to keep people employed & the doors open. You'd have thought she was advocating public executions of the homeless for all the caterwauling about it.

dg

[Motown_Johnny]

52. Netflix always intended to be streaming only, they are just making the move to soon

I quit them the day they announced the change, and I didn't even get to finish out the month I had paid for. They canceled me that day.


Screw 'em. The field is wide open for someone like Blockbuster to be what Netflix was and to run them out of business. I can only hope someone takes advantage of their error.

[Codeine]

54. They aren't making the move too soon.

Everyone else is making it too late. This will be the catalyst that finally pushes the majority away from physical media for casual movie watching.

[Xithras]

91. No, it won't.

All it did was push me to Redbox (and occasionally back to PirateBay).

The problem here is simple. Netflix wants to go streaming-only. The studios that actually OWN that content aren't playing along, which means that Netflix streaming is stuck with crappy old TV shows and outdated movies.

You can't lead the way into a new technological future by offering third-rate content, and the studios have made it clear that they want FAR more money before they're going to allow that to happen. I'd pay more money for GOOD content, but Netflix isn't offering that.

[Hosnon]

103. I largely agree. Netflix occupied a sweet spot for several years because the industry didn't

recognize the direction technology is taking us (surprise, surprise).

I'd pay upwards of $20 per month if Netflix received movies as quickly as redbox. However, even if it stays as is, I think the price is right. We'll have a nice 3-tiered system that I think is amazingly efficient:

1 - Theater: $10 per movie for new releases
2 - redbox: $1 per movie for fairly new releases
3 - Netflix: $? per movie (max of $9 but depends and can easily be as low as 50 cents per movie) for everything else

[Motown_Johnny]

125. This isn't going to be the catalyst for anything

Most people don't have their computer hooked up to a TV, much less multiple TVs. On the other hand they spent pretty good money on DVD and Blue Ray players for their living rooms and children's rooms.


They are not going to change just because Netflix wants them too.


The change should follow the demand, it can't create the demand.


If movies were available to stream as quickly as they are available on DVD it would not be as bad, but Netflix makes you wait far to long before streaming is even possible.



They should have waited and tried to phase things in, maybe a 50 cent surcharge for DVDs being delivered would have been a good first step. The change was to extreme and now they are paying for it.

[Codeine]

127. Those BluRay players are often capable of streaming, however,

as are the video game systems they also have attached to their televisions.

[Motown_Johnny]

128. ask the people you know who have them

The ones I know just don't stream video that much, if at all.

IMO the move was to soon and I think the fact that they are scrambling to mitigate the damage is evidence in my favor.

[William769]

55. This is my last Month with Netflix.

They are not adding fast enough for streaming content. I have been with them for years, and it's just not worth it anymore.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

56. I just went to their site to cancel

my account. I have repeatedly received an error message.

I have a feeling they are going to make this very difficult.

Jerks!

[William769]

57. Just call them.

[Beartracks]

60. Confused. Was "QuickFlix" taken??

The "flix" in the name is an important part of the branding. "Quickster" sounds generic and, frankly, recycled.

--------------

[fishwax]

92. apparently (by an australian company)

http://www.quickflix.com.au/

I agree that Quickster is a horrible name.

[Hosnon]

64. How is this a screw up? nt.

[Codeine]

65. Exactly my reaction.

Looks like a sound and forward-thinking business decision in the face of economic and technological realities to me.

[ChromeFoundry]

70. This sums it up nicely...

http://bradcolbow.com/archive/view/the_brads_-_how_netflix_is_getting_easier/

[Codeine]

72. That's nonsense.

If I feel like watching Thor now (eww, Thor?!) I check my TV via the Roku and if it's not streaming I go to my PC and add a disc to the queue. Click click click.

After the switch if I check the TV and it's not streaming I'll do the EXACT SAME THING but I'll click the Qwikster bookmark instead of the Netflix bookmark. Click click click -- absolutely no difference whatsoever.

The people in that cartoon ain't bright. ;)

[ChromeFoundry]

77. And tomorrow it gets added to streaming

but you cannot look at both queues at the same time. Hopefully you remember that you have it in your DVD queue, and remove it, when you start watching the full length movie on streaming.

(The Movie, not the cartoon, but you'd know that if the search results in the streaming interface showed the available DVDs, like they do now. Thanks for proving my point.)

[Codeine]

79. "The cartoon" referred to the cartoon in your post.

Or maybe I'm just not getting your post? :shrug:

[ChromeFoundry]

80. Thor is a cartoon and a movie

but you'd never know that from an instant queue search... it will only show what is available on the instant queue. Right now in the current interface you can search and add movies that are not even released on DVD yet. You will not be able to do that on the streaming interface. Also, if you use the Rating features of Netflix, those will no longer offer suggestions across both platforms.

[Hosnon]

99. Meh. I'd just get off my a--, drive a few hundred feet to the redbox, and rent it for $1.

No waiting "a few days".

[ChromeFoundry]

108. And a competitor gets your business...

This is precisely why it is a screw up move. They lost at providing a service to a current customer, to a competitor. If redbox proves to be a better option, and always has the movies that Netflix cannot stream, or your queue queue wait time is more than a few days - you will drop netflix/quikster and use redbox in favor.

Having everything in one place and having the ability to ad items to your queues from any of the interfaces just makes sense. Keeping your ratings of titles you have already seen and offering suggestions on the shared platform, just makes sense. It is all about ease of use and giving the maximum number of choices to your customers.

The only way this makes sense is if the USPS stops Saturday delivery, then it would be easier to dump the entire DVD by Mail side as a single asset.

[Hosnon]

110. This move has nothing to do with that.

The newer releases were never available on instant (and therefore took a few days to receive). Unless Netflix cuts a deal to provide redbox-type movies instantly, it will lose business to redbox.

Creating a new website exclusively for the by-mail product didn't cause that problem for Netflix either.

[ChromeFoundry]

113. But changing the search content, does!

Not being able to manage your by-mail queue from your instant device is technically, a backward move.

If you are happy with getting less from each service offering...
having to pay two separate monthly bills for what you used to play in one...
use multiple devices to plan your entertainment...

Fine, maybe there are enough people like you to keep both companies afloat. I'm a bit more skeptical.

[Hosnon]

114. I don't think separating the billing is a big hassle because you are required to use a card.

So it's not like you have to write two checks now (or even log into two accounts and pay). Plus the total will be the same: "There are no pricing changes (we’re done with that!). If you subscribe to both services you will have two entries on your credit card statement, one for Qwikster and one for Netflix. The total will be the same as your current charges."

And a good chunk of your issues can easily be solved if they just link the two queues (more manageable; one device).

None of this affects me at all because I dropped down to "instant only" long before they increased the fee for instant plus by-mail. I was quite pleased actually because they decreased the cost of instant only by $1 (10%) when they changed the plan structure. I'm simply getting the same service (not "less") for less cost.

[marlakay]

136. Not in my town

Small rural towns don't have red box or I would have streaming only. Until then stay with both.

[Hosnon]

139. Good point. nt.

[NeedleCast]

119. Or You Could Bookmark the site and set your Firefox to remember your Login

But, you know, then you wouldn't have anything to complain about.

[OhioChick]

123. From the PS3 instant interface...

Ummmm yeah, it's not a browser. No bookmarks.

:eyes:

[ChromeFoundry]

76. Stock fell (-24.11%) since last week. "Fuck up" more accurately describes. n/t

[Hosnon]

100. I highly doubt much - if any - of that drop was caused by merely creating a new website. nt.

[meow mix]

71. glad i just canceled too

what a bunch of bs

[OhioChick]

73. What a fucked up idea...

Reed surely did "mess up."

[bikebloke]

78. They never informed me of the price rise.

I'm on the 2 DVD's-out-at-a-time plan. Streaming is impractical for me due to the unreliability of Comcast. I discovered the price rise while checking my bank account. Changed it to DVD's only.

[Javaman]

81. They lost Starz. that's a big hit for them...

the field is changing for streaming. netflix isn't the only game on the block anymore.

if reed is trying to convince everyone with this smoke screen, he's failing.

The reality is: back in '09 Reed state that he wanted netflix to be streaming only by '12. By creating the new pricing scheme, he tried, ham handedly, to make folks choose on or the other instead of getting both at a reasonable price. But sadly, that didn't work. many people, now having other options, started to bail on netflix.

netflix loses Starz because Starz realizes that netflix isn't the only game in town and can use their massive library as leverage. netflix offered Starz 300 million, but Starz told netflix to get lost.

now in steps reed with the new "quickster", while he is desperate to convince users that quickter is still "netflix" that couldn't be further from the truth.

Expect "quickster" to be sold off to another corporation within the next 2 years. Thus allowing netflix to continue with their streaming only format.

The massive over arching problem with all of this is: netflix misread the public. They believed that the public was reading for a streaming only model. The public is not quite there.

If netflix tried this a year from now, I think they would have been in a better position, but with the loss of Starz and this marketing/publicity screw up, they now are in a bad promotional discussion.

Reed should have just kept quiet. Kept the nexflix name for both divisions. Or called the DVD division Netflix DVD. But as I stated above, he can't do that, because it will eventually be sold and no one will by it with that name when they will most certainly have to change it.

I have netflix. I have the streaming only and frankly, while it is getting better, I find the choice of titles to be grossly lacking.

The upshot to all of this is, I now frequent my local video store again.

[Desertrose]

82. Shoulda used Netflix and Netflow...idiots.

Greedy idiots.

[Codeine]

84. "Netflow." I like that. nt

[SpiralHawk]

87. Shoulda hired Desertrose as marketing consultant

and given her a whopping hugh bonus for BRILLiance !!!!

[Desertrose]

94. Hee....

:loveya:

[dana_b]

121. nice - I like that!!

I think that they are doing this purposefully so that they can dump the DVD portion soon. I just hope that they get a better selection of streaming movies soon. I love the documentaries but hate waiting for new releases.

[shanti]

83. sooooo stupid!!!

i woke up to this email too :mad:

[Tatiana]

93. How dumb is Reed Hastings? He really misread how people view video.

I used to have the streaming plus 2 DVDs out at time option. I cancelled when they announced the new pricing structure.

I get that Netflix wanted to get out of the mailing DVDs business. But their customers were still satisfied with the DVD mail service. Until the streaming options matched the mailed DVD catalog, they should not have split the services into separate companies. Certain videos that I wanted to view via streaming were not available... that's when I used the DVD queue.

Not to mention, internet service providers are starting to go to tiered packages for those using a lot of bandwidth to view video content. Having a comparable video library (compared to the mailed DVDs) and the availability of reasonably-priced high-speed internet service should have been prerequisites before Netflix switched models.

Hastings must be trying to run Netflix into the ground to sell later. I can't believe he is this stupid.

[Scout]

98. i use only DVDs anyway ... i think i watched one program streaming

i just switched to 3 DVDs at a time, unlimited qty per month.

now i pay less than i did before, and i'm still getting the same amount of entertainment.

[Skip Intro]

102. Don't see the big deal. It's still the best deal out there. Needs more streaming content though. nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

129. Qwixter?

[kath]

130. Great cartoon on the issue:

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/netflix

(don't know how to post the actual comic here - if anyone does, feel free)

[ChromeFoundry]

131. +1 - Too Funny n/t

[Lydia Leftcoast]

132. I don't know why people think there's too little available on streaming

I have 184 titles in my streaming queue. If I find out that something is about to go bye-bye, I move it to the top.

Here are the first twenty titles in my queue:

1. Michael Palin's Himalaya
2. New Street Law (British series)
3. Buddy (Norwegian film)
4. The Sting (Yeah, it's old, but I've never seen it.)
5. Ponyo
6. South of the Border
7. Frontline: Law and Disorder (missed this when it ran on PBS)
8. Dorm (Thai ghost story)
9. My Winnepeg
10. Vital (Japanese horror film)
11. The Other Conquest (the conquest of Mexico from the point of view of the Aztecs)
12. OSS117: Cairo: Nest of Spies (French comedy)
13. The Bothersome Man (Norwegian film)
14. Sherlock Holmes: The Eligible Bachelor (missed this when it ran on PBS)
15. Troubled Water (Norwegian film)
16. Green for Danger (classic British mystery)
17. Rembrandt's J'accuse (documentary)
18. King Lear (with Ian McKellen)
19. In Search of Beethoven
20. Omagh (drama about the troubles in Northern Ireland)

The first five are going away soon. However, if you are willing to look beyond the recent blockbusters and venture into TV series and foreign films, there is more to watch than I possibly have time for. (And much of what isn't on Netflix is on Hulu Plus, including the entire Criterion Collection of foreign classic films.

In addition, Acorn Media has a new limited streaming service with a rotating set of options. An annual member ship of about $27 gives you access.

On the DVD side, I'm currently on the two-at-a-time plan, but I may knock that down to one after I finish the TV series I have at the top of my queue.

[Codeine]

138. Most people seem interested only in the newest big name films.

I have none of those in my stupidly-long queue, just a lot of docs, foreign films, and British television series.

[EnviroBat]

133. I think I'll just stick to drawing, playing guitar, and building things...

To fuck with all of this hand-wringing about which time-vampire service to throw money at. My new wife and I just completed a 400 sq ft paver patio by ourselves, complete with a fire-pit. Sunday night we had our first fire out there and we simply sat and watched the wood burn while we sipped wine and reveled in our ability to accomplish anything we put our minds to. I didn't miss the T.V. There was nothing else I would have rather watched...

[Catherine Vincent]

134. Greed

They had a good thing going but they got too greedy.

[supernova]

135. Witness the demise of the DVD

You heard it here first. It will all be digital streaming in probably two - three years. The DVDs you have now will become collector's items lik LPs today.

[nomb]

137. You. Are. Wrong. Seriously wrong. Simply put:

Most people, right now, could not stream a movie at any speed. Most of those who could, can not even consider streaming at HD, let alone blu-ray quality.

And let's just say that those of us that could stream, tried. The infrastructure is not there.


And if the providers win in the end and get to charge by usage or destination? Who here would pay an internet bill that increased with usage? And then switch their viewing habits to that medium of pay for show + pay for flow?

2-3 years? Not a chance in hell.