Netflix shoots itself in the foot... aka no more free streaming

bigdaddy · July 12 2011, 09:22 PM

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/0..._n_895779.html

Netflix has announced their new fucked up pricing model.

No more free streaming!

What made Netflix great is you can watch things online, mainly older things, and still get newer movies in the mail. That's all gone now.

This wouldn't be a big deal, but it's not like the newer movies are added to streaming quickly. Some are, but many are not. Until that is addressed I think this is insane.

This is just opening the door for other companies to come in, which is great because maybe then Netflix will get their had out of their ass.

Kestra · July 12 2011, 09:24 PM

No, it's not going away! I'm just complaining.

I didn't see a thread about this, so apologies if there already is one. I got an email from Netflix today saying that they're dividing up unlimited streaming and unlimited DVD plans. So if I want to keep what I have now, I go from $9.99 to $15.98 a month. That's a steep jump for me, considering I've been trying to economize a bit.

I'm torn now. I like getting the DVDs, especially since I never go to the movies anymore. On the other hand, I definitely haven't been renting as many movies and I've been streaming a lot. I'm thinking about just going with unlimited streaming which is $7.99/month but I'm considering just cancelling altogether.

Anyone else hit with a change? Any decisions?

Spot's Meow · July 12 2011, 09:26 PM

Yeah I was pretty irritated to read the email about it this morning. I really wouldn't care if there were more movies on instant. I mean, they have a huge instant library already, but I still have a great deal of movies on my DVD queue that they seem to have no intention of adding to instant any time soon. It sucks that I'm going to have to choose, because I can't afford to have both now.

Kestra · July 12 2011, 09:29 PM

Man, you beat me by two minutes! I posted about it in my own thread but hopefully the mods will just close that thread. Here was my OP:

No, it's not going away! I'm just complaining.

I didn't see a thread about this, so apologies if there already is one. I got an email from Netflix today saying that they're dividing up unlimited streaming and unlimited DVD plans. So if I want to keep what I have now, I go from $9.99 to $15.98 a month. That's a steep jump for me, considering I've been trying to economize a bit.

I'm torn now. I like getting the DVDs, especially since I never go to the movies anymore. On the other hand, I definitely haven't been renting as many movies and I've been streaming a lot. I'm thinking about just going with unlimited streaming which is $7.99/month but I'm considering just cancelling altogether.

Anyone else hit with a change? Any decisions?

Robert Maxwell · July 12 2011, 09:29 PM

Looks like this doesn't affect me since I only use the streaming and have never used the DVDs.

David cgc · July 12 2011, 09:31 PM

I made a note to switch just before the changeover (I'll be damned if they cut off my service a second before their deadline), and I'm pretty sure I'll be going to DVD-only. I rarely used streaming, but it was nice to have.

I was pretty shocked by the change, too.

bigdaddy · July 12 2011, 09:33 PM

Spot's Meow wrote:

Yeah I was pretty irritated to read the email about it this morning. I really wouldn't care if there were more movies on instant. I mean, they have a huge instant library already, but I still have a great deal of movies on my DVD queue that they seem to have no intention of adding to instant any time soon. It sucks that I'm going to have to choose, because I can't afford to have both now.

That's my main problem too. If they add a ton of movies to streaming on September 1, then maybe this works, but as of right now it's a total fail.

I go over my friend's dorm and we watch Doctor Who, and Dead Like Me and I was hoping when he came back in September we could then watch some Star Trek. Nope, not going to happen now.

It's what made Netflix special. For only $2 more you get streaming and discs. And dumbass company can have internet streaming, we have seen many fail at it, it was mainly do to Netflix being better.

Now they aren't better and some studios might see the weakness and start up their own service. Which is fine, but then there won't be 1 site with a whole bunch of shows and movies, there will be 18 with a few movies each.

Kestra · July 12 2011, 09:36 PM

Robert Maxwell wrote:

Looks like this doesn't affect me since I only use the streaming and have never used the DVDs.

Yeah, it won't affect you. I know that they need to turn a profit but after increasing the price last year, I'm not thrilled about this. I'll have to see what sort of cable options we get at our apartment in CA and see what makes the most sense financially. I want to have a way to see new releases but I've gotten less interested in movies coming out, so it might not be a big loss.

Spot's Meow · July 12 2011, 09:37 PM

I think I am going to go with instant only, because that is what I use the most. And mostly for the TV series' they have on there, I hardly ever watch actual movies on instant. This just means that I won't get to see a lot of the newer releases since I can't afford to go see them in the theater and now I can't afford to see them on Netflix. Maybe I will Redbox the ones I really want to see. Or have to wait several years for them to show up on TV...sigh.

Tan Ru · July 12 2011, 09:38 PM

I think I'm gonna cancel my account with Netflix.

I don't like all the price-jump games they're having... In this Obamaconomy where one must watch their hard-earned denero, Netflix monthly fees are just getting too damn high. (just like cable)

Plus I've seen all the classics I want to see from the Netflix library and I could care less about new movies about giant space-robots, speedy Japanese tuner-cars and/or magical British children/teens.

Robert Maxwell · July 12 2011, 09:38 PM

Kestra wrote:

Robert Maxwell wrote:

Looks like this doesn't affect me since I only use the streaming and have never used the DVDs.

Yeah, it won't affect you. I know that they need to turn a profit but after increasing the price last year, I'm not thrilled about this. I'll have to see what sort of cable options we get at our apartment in CA and see what makes the most sense financially. I want to have a way to see new releases but I've gotten less interested in movies coming out, so it might not be a big loss.

I guarantee you there's no cable deal that will come close to Netflix prices. I view the Netflix streaming as basically on-demand TV service for $8 a month. There is really nothing out there to compete with it, unless you use a competing service like Hulu. Going to a satellite or cable system? Forget it. It will cost at least three times as much, and most likely more.

This is why I upgraded my Internet service to fiber (for less than my DSL bill) and jumped onto Netflix, instead of signing up with a cable service or something.

Temis the Vorta · July 12 2011, 09:40 PM

I've never taken to streaming. I'll stick to the old fashioned DVD method probably till Netflix pries it from my cold, dead hands.

2x is good enough for me. I could probably downgrade to 1x, especially in the fall.

Kestra · July 12 2011, 09:45 PM

Robert Maxwell wrote:

Kestra wrote:

Robert Maxwell wrote:

Looks like this doesn't affect me since I only use the streaming and have never used the DVDs.

Yeah, it won't affect you. I know that they need to turn a profit but after increasing the price last year, I'm not thrilled about this. I'll have to see what sort of cable options we get at our apartment in CA and see what makes the most sense financially. I want to have a way to see new releases but I've gotten less interested in movies coming out, so it might not be a big loss.

I guarantee you there's no cable deal that will come close to Netflix prices. I view the Netflix streaming as basically on-demand TV service for $8 a month. There is really nothing out there to compete with it, unless you use a competing service like Hulu. Going to a satellite or cable system? Forget it. It will cost at least three times as much, and most likely more.

This is why I upgraded my Internet service to fiber (for less than my DSL bill) and jumped onto Netflix, instead of signing up with a cable service or something.

Oh, I think we're going to end up doing a combination of services and I just need to see what makes the most sense. Cable, or Netflix and Hulu, whatever works.

Robert Maxwell · July 12 2011, 09:45 PM

Kestra wrote:

Robert Maxwell wrote:

Kestra wrote:

Yeah, it won't affect you. I know that they need to turn a profit but after increasing the price last year, I'm not thrilled about this. I'll have to see what sort of cable options we get at our apartment in CA and see what makes the most sense financially. I want to have a way to see new releases but I've gotten less interested in movies coming out, so it might not be a big loss.

I guarantee you there's no cable deal that will come close to Netflix prices. I view the Netflix streaming as basically on-demand TV service for $8 a month. There is really nothing out there to compete with it, unless you use a competing service like Hulu. Going to a satellite or cable system? Forget it. It will cost at least three times as much, and most likely more.

This is why I upgraded my Internet service to fiber (for less than my DSL bill) and jumped onto Netflix, instead of signing up with a cable service or something.

Oh, I think we're going to end up doing a combination of services and I just need to see what makes the most sense. Cable, or Netflix and Hulu, whatever works.

Become a total recluse! No more TV or Internet or phones! It's cheap and no one can bother you!

Temis the Vorta · July 12 2011, 09:47 PM

I need to check my bill. Isn't the 2x DVD rental more than $12/month now? If so, I'm in luck since I've never bothered with streaming and don't really plan to anytime soon. I dislike watching anything longer than 10 minutes on my PC.

July 12 2011, 09:22 PM	#1
bigdaddy Vice Admiral Location: Space Massachusetts	Netflix shoots itself in the foot... aka no more free streaming http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/0..._n_895779.html Netflix has announced their new fucked up pricing model. No more free streaming! What made Netflix great is you can watch things online, mainly older things, and still get newer movies in the mail. That's all gone now. This wouldn't be a big deal, but it's not like the newer movies are added to streaming quickly. Some are, but many are not. Until that is addressed I think this is insane. This is just opening the door for other companies to come in, which is great because maybe then Netflix will get their had out of their ass. __________________ "Bqhatevwr" - Former Senator Scott Brown

July 12 2011, 09:24 PM	#2
Kestra Vice Admiral Location: somewhere beautiful	Oh Netflix, I Knew It Wouldn't Last No, it's not going away! I'm just complaining. I didn't see a thread about this, so apologies if there already is one. I got an email from Netflix today saying that they're dividing up unlimited streaming and unlimited DVD plans. So if I want to keep what I have now, I go from $9.99 to $15.98 a month. That's a steep jump for me, considering I've been trying to economize a bit. I'm torn now. I like getting the DVDs, especially since I never go to the movies anymore. On the other hand, I definitely haven't been renting as many movies and I've been streaming a lot. I'm thinking about just going with unlimited streaming which is $7.99/month but I'm considering just cancelling altogether. Anyone else hit with a change? Any decisions?

July 12 2011, 09:26 PM	#3
Spot's Meow Vice Admiral Location: California	Re: Netflix shoots itself in the foot... aka no more free streaming Yeah I was pretty irritated to read the email about it this morning. I really wouldn't care if there were more movies on instant. I mean, they have a huge instant library already, but I still have a great deal of movies on my DVD queue that they seem to have no intention of adding to instant any time soon. It sucks that I'm going to have to choose, because I can't afford to have both now. __________________ Time present and time past are both perhaps present in time future. And time future contained in time past. —T.S. Eliot

July 12 2011, 09:29 PM	#5
Robert Maxwell Cherry Chassis Location: The Track	Re: Netflix shoots itself in the foot... aka no more free streaming Looks like this doesn't affect me since I only use the streaming and have never used the DVDs. __________________ Your crash was, like, spectacular! My world simulation project! Also: Women and Men: Self-Image and Rape Culture

July 12 2011, 09:31 PM	#6
David cgc Vice Admiral	Re: Netflix shoots itself in the foot... aka no more free streaming I made a note to switch just before the changeover (I'll be damned if they cut off my service a second before their deadline), and I'm pretty sure I'll be going to DVD-only. I rarely used streaming, but it was nice to have. I was pretty shocked by the change, too. __________________ “I come here to have fun and fuck around merrily. I expect to showered by all kind of random crap.” — iguana_tonante

STAR TREK

CSI

ABOUT US

July 12 2011, 09:37 PM	#9
Spot's Meow Vice Admiral Location: California	Re: Netflix shoots itself in the foot... aka no more free streaming I think I am going to go with instant only, because that is what I use the most. And mostly for the TV series' they have on there, I hardly ever watch actual movies on instant. This just means that I won't get to see a lot of the newer releases since I can't afford to go see them in the theater and now I can't afford to see them on Netflix. Maybe I will Redbox the ones I really want to see. Or have to wait several years for them to show up on TV...sigh. __________________ Time present and time past are both perhaps present in time future. And time future contained in time past. —T.S. Eliot

July 12 2011, 09:38 PM	#10
Tan Ru Captain Location: Michigan; under the bridge...	Re: Oh Netflix, I Knew It Wouldn't Last I think I'm gonna cancel my account with Netflix. I don't like all the price-jump games they're having... In this Obamaconomy where one must watch their hard-earned denero, Netflix monthly fees are just getting too damn high. (just like cable) Plus I've seen all the classics I want to see from the Netflix library and I could care less about new movies about giant space-robots, speedy Japanese tuner-cars and/or magical British children/teens. __________________ The American Republic will endure, until politicians realize they can bribe the people with their own money. -– Alexis de Tocqueville

July 12 2011, 09:40 PM	#12
Temis the Vorta Fleet Admiral Location: Tatoinne	Re: Oh Netflix, I Knew It Wouldn't Last I've never taken to streaming. I'll stick to the old fashioned DVD method probably till Netflix pries it from my cold, dead hands. 2x is good enough for me. I could probably downgrade to 1x, especially in the fall.

July 12 2011, 09:47 PM	#15
Temis the Vorta Fleet Admiral Location: Tatoinne	Re: Netflix shoots itself in the foot... aka no more free streaming I need to check my bill. Isn't the 2x DVD rental more than $12/month now? If so, I'm in luck since I've never bothered with streaming and don't really plan to anytime soon. I dislike watching anything longer than 10 minutes on my PC.