Netflix does a "takesy backsy"

[Cid_B]

Anyone not see this one coming?
___________________
Netflix (NFLX) has abandoned its unpopular plan to spin off its DVD-by-mail service and rename it Qwikster, saying it will continue to offer both services through its flagship web site.

The movie renter told customers in an email and blog post on Monday that they will continue using "one web site, one account and one password" under the Netflix brand for both streaming and DVD-by-mail services.

The decision comes just three weeks after the company initially revealed plans to separate its DVD service and operate the brand under Qwikster.com. It had intended to use Netflix.com for its streaming-only service, forcing dual-service customers to use two separate accounts.


Read more: http://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/2011/10/10/netflix-keeps-dvd-service-under-netflix-brand/#ixzz1aOPoq3Ig

[JVS]

1. What about the pricing?

[ananda]

2. Pricing.

Unlimited Streaming alone
7.99 a month

Unlimited Streaming
+ 1 DVD out at-a-time
$15.98 a month

Unlimited Streaming
+ 2 DVDs out at-a-time
$19.98 a month

Unlimited Streaming
+ 3 DVDs out at-a-time
$23.98 a month

Unlimited Streaming
+ 4 DVDs out at-a-time
$29.98 a month

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. dvds without streaming, 4 out, 21.99

heh..I saved money by not having streaming, which I cannot watch on Linux anyhow.

"unlimited" streaming is NOT unlimited, btw.

[kath]

15. So what are the actual limits on the so-called "umlimited" streaming?

How many films per month, or whatever?

[Motown_Johnny]

26. when I was with Netflix, none

You could stream movies 24/7 if you had someone there to click on a new one every time the last one ended.

[kedrys]

3. The decision comes just 3 weeks after they realized they forgot to buy Qwister.com

from the dope fiend who owns it. :P

[sandyj999]

4. Too little too late. Seen their stock lately?

Voices DO count! Well sometimes...............

[still_one]

5. If they really wanted to get back subscribers they would reduce the price of the combined service

from 10 to 12 dollars a month, instead of their 16 bucks a month for unlimited streaming and 1 DVD at a time/month

[Goblinmonger]

19. Do you really think it is that unreasonable?

16 bucks a month gets you like 4 movies at a rental place if you still have one. That covers, easily, the DVDs shipped not to mention the late fees that I always. Then add in the unlimited streaming and you have one hell of a bargain.

Seriously. Find a better deal.

[still_one]

25. Obviously they lost subscribers because they thought it was unreasonable. It wasn't because they

split their business.

You are charging people 10 bucks, and then you increase the price 60%, and at the same time say it had nothing to do with increased costs sure doesn't pass the smell test

You increase prices gradually, not like they did.

Also, their stock ended up down today, so the market didn't believe they will get back the lost subscribers that quickly either

[blackball]

6. Hard to justify at any price

I don't see how netflix plans to compete with piracy; the whole paid streaming idea just isn't going to work when it's so easy for people to steal.

[Codeine]

8. Not everyone is a thief.

I don't pirate music or film out of respect for the creators, and I'm not alone in that.

[dana_b]

17. no you're not

I don't pirate either and I know a lot of people who don't.

[Xithras]

21. Streaming is easier.

I pull stuff from PirateBay on a semi-regular basis. I can't remember the last time I pulled a movie from there. Why? Because I can whip out my remote, click a button, and have nearly any movie streaming to my XBox via Netflix or Hulu within seconds. If I flip over to my DVR, I can use my Blockbuster Movie Pass (which I just got, and which is replacing my Netflix account as of this month) to pull down brand new releases in realtime.

If I want to pull a movie off PirateBay, I have to jump on my computer, search the website, find a torrent with enough seeders to pull it down at a reasonable speed, fire up the download, twiddle my thumbs until it's done, unrar the damned thing into a useable format, verify that it's actually a decent HD rip (skipping back to step 2 if it's not), and then either move the thing to a location where it can be streamed across my network, or burn it onto physical media so I can watch it on my television. On a good day, it generally takes 30+ minutes to download a new release movie. On a bad day, it might take hours. With streaming, I can have a movie playing in SECONDS.

Sure, streaming costs more, but you know the quality is good, and there is no wait. Given the choice between a low cost product with good quality and convenience, and a free product of unknown and probably poor quality and lousy convenience, and most people will choose the first option if they can afford to do so.

[elocs]

9. I cancelled one dvd out at a time and stuck with streaming.

The dvd was worth it for a couple more bucks a month, but I had to work to find a dvd that I wanted. For me it was more trouble than it was worth.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

11. Me too.

I just didn't turn them over quick enough to make it worth while.

For me, it's streaming, Redbox and, when I want instant gratification, pay per view on the cable box (which I was doing occasionally anyway).

[Goblinmonger]

20. That's what I do, too.

The streaming is awesome. I can watch on my smartphone at the Y, too, so I far more get my money's worth.

[vi5]

13. You had to work to find a dvd you wanted?

From a selection that includes almost every movie or tv show available on dvd?

Yet you stuck with and presumably had no problem finding something to watch via their streaming selection which is little more than a vast collection of direct to video B movies, years old major studio fare, and old tv shows?

[elocs]

28. Yes I did and it was a pain in the ass.

Streaming is not a hassle. Screwing around with physical dvds and having to mail them was a pain. I was perfectly happy to cancel the dvds.

Isn't it odd how we are not all the same?

[vi5]

30. Well that makes more sense.....

I can understand the mailing and everything else being a hassle. That's a different story from the dvd selection not good but the streaming selection is.

It just confused me a little to read that you had trouble finding a movie among a massive, gargantuan library of movies on DVD but yet didn't have trouble finding something amidst a collection that was at most a small fraction of that much larger collection.

[sandyj999]

24. I did the same and also have Hulu plus. n/t

[RebelOne]

27. Actually, Hulu is the only way to go.

Why pay when you can get movies and videos for free or at the fraction of the price of what Netflix is charging.

[dixiegrrrrl]

10. And in my inbox just now:

The announcement from Netflix, with this sentence:
While the July price change was necessary, we are now done with price changes.

So, if they ever ever change prices, THIS note will come back to haunt them.
I am keeping it.

[dixiegrrrrl]

12. Wonder how the "new" CEO of Quickster feels now????

[mfcorey1]

14. This just shows the power of the consumer. That is why the power of the people at OWS will

be significant.

[Matariki]

16. Wondering if BOA will follow suit on their $5/mo ATM fee

It must be decimating their customer base. Probably their stock price too.

[LondonReign2]

18. They've had their "New Coke" moment

n/t

[Gormy Cuss]

22. It's nice to see what happens when consumers just say no to stupid changes. n/t

[Xithras]

23. Unfortunatly for them, I've already switched to the new Dish/Blockbuster Movie Pass.

It's cheaper, and it works beautifully. Unlike Netflix streaming, it has new movies too.

Netflix's problem now is that they've already chased a lot of customers away, and it's going to be hard for many of those customers to justify coming back.

[NuttyFluffers]

29. meh, my county/community college/university library system does better.

oh well, extra money in my pocket again. tried to raise prices at the wrong time; too bad, so sad.