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

[Kestra]

Robert Maxwell wrote:

---

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

I went through a period where I stopped picking up my phone (unless it was my parents, because they'd send out a search party). My friends got together and contacted my sister, who got a hold of me. There's no escape.

[bigdaddy]

They still should have a combo plan that is cheaper than just the two plans together. Something like $13 a month for both or $8 separately so you save a little and the price only goes up $3. A 60% increase for no added benefits (aka more movies and shows) is nuts.

[Skywalker]

I switched over to streaming-only last year, but I feel bad for those of you who were still using both services. Sorry, guys.

[Captain Craig]

I haven't been to my personal email so this thread here is my first news on it.

THIS SUCKS

I don't stream a ton, maybe 2-3 films a month but I like having had the option.

I'll just go back to disc only.

Them acting like the drug dealer who gives it for free then charges later isn't going to work on me. I'll just go back to discs only.

[RoJoHen]

Kestra wrote:

---

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?

I think I might just go to Streaming-only for $7.99. I have noticed that when I do get DVDs in the mail, they sit around my house for a month before I ever even watch them and another month before I send them back.

I stream quite a bit, and they keep adding more and more stuff that I want to watch, so I'm definitely keeping it.

The price jump was inevitable.

[Christopher]

I don't understand why they can't offer a cheaper option that lets you keep DVDs and some streaming, a finite amount per month. I would've been okay with that. But for some reason, although they have limited DVD plans available, the only limited-streaming option they have is StarzPlay.

[JoeZhang]

I don't understand why they can't offer a cheaper option that lets you keep DVDs and some streaming, a finite amount per month.

Basically revenue and to keep it simple, they actually wanted to go all streaming but there are still many people who want physical discs. The current business model is unsustainable so they either want people to jump one way or the other or to pony up more cash (to get their average customer revenue up).

[Harvey]

I can understand why they'e making the change, but that doesn't mean it's not a pain. Their selection of television shows on streaming is great, but their selection of movies is filled with unwatchable garbage.

I'm not sure which plan we'll switch to, but it's a fair bet that 15.98 a month is an increase we can't afford. Ugh.

[LitmusDragon]

I'll be switching to disc only. In fact, it will end up saving me some money. I've had bad results with streaming and so I barely use it. I think ComCa$t internet is throttling them in my area.

[Scout101]

Thinking about dropping them altogether. I use the 2x dvd thing pretty regularly, but don't return them as quickly as I could. I don't use the streaming a ton because they don't have newer things on there. If they want to go to this pricing model, you'd think they'd have the streaming up to the same par (and release dates) as the dvd media. Charging the premium, providing 2nd tier service for it. No thanks.

Most of my actual discs are newer releases, maybe i'll just quit and do Red Box, probably save a bunch of money. Had been catching up on old Stargate SG-1 episodes, but there's always other methods if they don't want my money...

[Kail]

I'm dropping streaming all together. Don't watch it enough to justify the extra cost.

[J. Allen]

Is there a new business model being followed? If there is, is it called "Fucking With Your Customers In Three Easy Steps"? I say this because just last year there was the price hike, then this year they changed up to a poorly made new user interface that looks like retarded rhesus monkeys put it together, and just a few months after that, they're splitting service plans and jumping prices much higher for both services.

They keep this up, some resourceful company is going to kick their ass and take their customers right out from under them.

[Spot's Meow]

Temis the Vorta wrote:

---

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.

That's why having the ability to stream through consoles/Roku is so great. I hardly used streaming when it was just available on PC, I hate watching things on the computer, but since being able to stream through our Wii I watch something on it almost every day.

[Snaploud]

Scout101 wrote:

---

Thinking about dropping them altogether. I use the 2x dvd thing pretty regularly, but don't return them as quickly as I could. I don't use the streaming a ton because they don't have newer things on there. If they want to go to this pricing model, you'd think they'd have the streaming up to the same par (and release dates) as the dvd media. Charging the premium, providing 2nd tier service for it. No thanks.

They do seem to be making a lot of odd decisions lately. Luckily, I'm on an instant-streaming-only plan, so their new pricing plan doesn't really affect me.

Side note: I use http://instantwatcher.com/ to avoid their new user interface, by the way. You might want to try it.

[Kestra]

Spot's Meow wrote:

---

That's why having the ability to stream through consoles/Roku is so great. I hardly used streaming when it was just available on PC, I hate watching things on the computer, but since being able to stream through our Wii I watch something on it almost every day.

Yeah, same. I've been watching some stuff on the iPad as well. It's great being able to put Trek on the TV and have it the background while I'm packing up boxes.