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

[LitmusDragon]

The price hike thing was understandable (to me at least) but this name change thing is just stupid. Apparently I am now a Qwikster subscriber. Joy. PS- I wonder if they had to license that name from Nestles. Perhaps they should use a colorful cartoon rabbit in their promotions.

[Robert Maxwell]

gh4chiefs wrote:

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Yeah I just don't get this part at all. Netflix is an established, successful business that started as a DVD business, and has an established brand name identity with the public. Why eff with that?

Maybe they decided the "Netflix" brand has been wrecked and they really want to save the DVD business, so they're giving the DVD side a new name so people won't think, "Hey, that's Netflix, those bastards!"

[JoeZhang]

Good thing, they picked a name they could get hold of on social networks...

https://twitter.com/#!/Qwikster

[Skywalker]

I think Netflix's long-term goal was always to move into streaming and eventually drop the DVD-by-mail business model, hence the separation. "Qwikster" is awkward, though, because there's no tie to its old company. Maybe "Qwikflix" would have been better. The name would still look awful, but at least it's got the "flix" connection.

[23skidoo]

The new name sounds like it was invented by a 5 year old.

Alex

[gh4chiefs]

Robert Maxwell wrote:

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Maybe they decided the "Netflix" brand has been wrecked and they really want to save the DVD business, so they're giving the DVD side a new name so people won't think, "Hey, that's Netflix, those bastards!"

Yeah but they're keeping Netflix for the streaming company. I'm inclined to think they may wreck both in the process. I'm not as convincedl, as many here are, that streaming is truly the future, what with the enactment of data caps by ISPs and the lack (or high expense) of sufficient broadband coverage in many areas.

[Brikar99]

I'm really impressed by how quickly Netflix went from having one cheap, convenient service to two less cheap, less convenient services...

[Scout101]

You'd think that from a PR standpoint, they might have been better announcing they were going to separate the 2 companies first, and then announcing the pricing scheme. At least that way, it sets people up for one real change. This way pisses people off twice in short order...

[Professor Zoom]

Ugh. You know, I was actually FINE with the price increase. I get it. I had options, and I choose both at a higher price. That's fine.

NOW, they are splitting up the company? TWO different websites? TWO different bills? Now, I'm pissed.

One site. That's all that I want. I don't want to have MORE logins, MORE places to go.

Dumb move.

[doubleohfive]

I was just getting used to the idea of paying more for both; I think (more due to laziness than anything else) I was going to just let it be. Now, I'm not so sure. I love Netflix, and I understand their desire to grow and adapt to the market, and it'll be interesting to see what happens in the coming months with them, but I've got to say, I'd be lying if I said I was thrilled or optimistic about all this.

[bigdaddy]

I'm impressed by how much they fucked this up.

Netflix will willingly admit they want to drop the DVD part of their business, but this is a complete nightmare.

Mailflix and Netflix would have made more sense. One by mail and one by the net. The name they picked that is so stupid that I won't even spell it looks like a 4 year old put some letters together.

[RoJoHen]

Well, if I wasn't dropping the DVD service before, I am now. And I've pretty much watched everything I wanted to via streaming, so I think I'll be canceling that soon too.

[Broccoli]

Skywalker wrote:

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I think Netflix's long-term goal was always to move into streaming and eventually drop the DVD-by-mail business model, hence the separation.

Yup. This is just the next step in their long-term goals.

23skidoo wrote:

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The new name sounds like it was invented by a 5 year old.

So, just like "Netflix" then?

[Spot's Meow]

We all knew this day would come eventually, when Netflix dropped DVD service to focus on streaming exclusively, but it has come way too soon! This is something that should happen at least five years down the road, when they have built up a more impressive streaming library and more subscribers have naturally shifted towards that rather than DVDs.

It was already happening to me; five years ago I used the DVD service exclusively and thought that the introduction of streaming had nothing to do with me since I would never use it. Now, my DVD queue has dwindled to a very low number while my instant queue has grown. If other customers have followed a similar trend, then in a few more years the branching off of the DVD service would not seem like that big of a deal.

However, the streaming just isn't good enough yet to justify this move so soon. Now when I think about it, I'm just paying for an online streaming service that only has a handful of movies and two or three TV shows that I even want to watch. I might as well just get Hulu Plus and be able to watch more television online. Or not pay for any such service and just continue to watch TV like I did for years. The movies on instant streaming just suck.

[Gary Mitchell]

It seems as though they are trying to wreck their company or at least lose subscribers. First they remove the community features. Then they screw up the functionality of the website. I hate the price hike but I understand it. Now this.

I was going to try alternating on month streaming and one month discs but now after my gift subscription lapses I might just drop Netflix altogether.