Netflix "Very Long Wait"

[panerd]

So I have been a member of netflix for at least 5+ years and am familiar with how sometimes new releases go on short waits and even long waits sometimes. I have almost always had the 3 disc plan and have had a Roku player for a couple of years now. My normal disc turnover is about 5 DVD's a month and there have been several times where I have gone months without watching one of the discs. (I think I had Breach for 90 days once and never even watched it) So what is happening to me pisses me off even more.

About a month ago the girlfirend and I decided to save some money and to drop a lot of our premium cable, to stop going out to the movies as much, and to utilize the "unlimited" check out plan. So we have really been going through the new releases left and right. We even figured out the perfect time to return them on Saturday and be first in line for the new releases that Netflix ships out Monday. So that brings us to this past weekend. I haven't gotten any new discs in a while and decided to go to my queue to see what the problem is. I get a notice saying that I must read their terms of service and once I scroll through and agree I get to my queue and anything released in the past 2-3 months is listed as a "very long wait". What gives with this bullshit? I guess they only like members when they don't watch movies. Anyone else experienced this? It may be time to go blockbuster or redbox. Any reason to call them and explain what I did here or should I just say fuck it and let them do what they want?

[claphamsa]

I occasionally get very long wait notices... but I have 400 movie in my queue, so something else ships. I do shift the new ones up to the top, in case i get lucky, but i never count on it. but its nice when something like terminator salvation shows up the first day its available!

[Marc Vaughan]

We use red-box for just this reason .... I loved Blockbuster when they did the unlimited rental from their stores, when they stopped doing that I stopped using them. - simple as that.

[Alan T]

I just checked my queue for netflix. Out of the 73 movies in it, I have 1 long wait and the rest are all marked as Now. I pretty much only have recent releases in it (from this last 2-3 years), including some new releases from the last few months.

Maybe my tastes in movies are just far less mainstream than yours though!

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Alan T

I just checked my queue for netflix. Out of the 73 movies in it, I have 1 long wait and the rest are all marked as Now. I pretty much only have recent releases in it (from this last 2-3 years), including some new releases from the last few months.

Maybe my tastes in movies are just far less mainstream than yours though!

I'm the same way. I have one 'long wait' out of 60-some in my queue. I have 2 kids under the age of 3 right now, so I've missed most movies over the past couple of years. I've been catching up on 'new' movies for quite awhile. Also, the convenience of keeping the disc as long as I want and stick it in the mail box with no late fees is invaluable. I'd end up racking up charges using Redbox.

Blockbuster is worthless without unlimited store rentals.

[panerd]

Originally Posted by claphamsa

I occasionally get very long wait notices... but I have 400 movie in my queue, so something else ships. I do shift the new ones up to the top, in case i get lucky, but i never count on it. but its nice when something like terminator salvation shows up the first day its available!

I have occasionally gotten a "very long wait" also but this is on all of the following...

Four Christmases
Funny People
Angels & Demons
Public Enemies
The Hangover
Sons of Anarchy Season 1
Terminator: Salvation

After getting the terms of use warning I have a feeling this is directed at me for "overusing" their UNLIMITED plan.

[panerd]

Originally Posted by Alan T

I just checked my queue for netflix. Out of the 73 movies in it, I have 1 long wait and the rest are all marked as Now. I pretty much only have recent releases in it (from this last 2-3 years), including some new releases from the last few months.

Maybe my tastes in movies are just far less mainstream than yours though!

When I was the type of user they prefer (ie Not using the service more than a couple of times a month) I would rent older movies. Now I have a better half that likes the new ones and more mainstream. I never saw a big deal with waiting a couple of weeks to watch a new release but I also think it is outragous for a company to have a "very long wait" on any release from the past month when two weeks ago they were all available "now".

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by panerd

I have occasionally gotten a "very long wait" also but this is on all of the following...

Four Christmases
Funny People
Angels & Demons
Public Enemies
The Hangover
Sons of Anarchy Season 1
Terminator: Salvation

After getting the terms of use warning I have a feeling this is directed at me for "overusing" their UNLIMITED plan.

Weird, I have Public Enemies listed in mine as "Now"

I'm confused to what an unlimited plan is though, you can have out as many discs as you want? I personally have a plan where I can have 3 out at a time and as many as I can fit into a month. I usually average roughly 16-20 movies a month myself, but haven't really ever run into issues myself.

Like Marc, I used to be a blockbuster online customer and loved the instore returns, but also left them when they stopped that. Haven't had any complaints really since I've been in netflix.

[Subby]

Originally Posted by claphamsa

but its nice when something like terminator salvation shows up the first day its available!

But then it's not nice when you watch it and it sucks!

[RainMaker]

It's called throttling. Run a Google search on "netflix + throttling". Basically Netflix neuters your account because you aren't profitable enough to them. If you start going back to renting less, you'll see it less.

Not really sure there is any way around it besides raising your total DVDs out at one time.

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by Alan T

Weird, I have Public Enemies listed in mine as "Now"

I'm confused to what an unlimited plan is though, you can have out as many discs as you want? I personally have a plan where I can have 3 out at a time and as many as I can fit into a month. I usually average roughly 16-20 movies a month myself, but haven't really ever run into issues myself.

Like Marc, I used to be a blockbuster online customer and loved the instore returns, but also left them when they stopped that. Haven't had any complaints really since I've been in netflix.

Unlimited means as many as you can fit into a month -- some netflix plans only let you get a finite number of new movies per month.

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

Unlimited means as many as you can fit into a month -- some netflix plans only let you get a finite number of new movies per month.

Oh, I guess I haven't seen this same issue then. But I also get tv series and other things in netflix too, so I guess my dependence on the new releases is less so I don't notice it as much.


Pretty much any of the hot new releases that I -must- see, I end up just running out to redbox to get for $1.00 anyways.

[panerd]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

It's called throttling. Run a Google search on "netflix + throttling". Basically Netflix neuters your account because you aren't profitable enough to them. If you start going back to renting less, you'll see it less.

Not really sure there is any way around it besides raising your total DVDs out at one time.

Just looked it up. That is it. Thanks, at least I understand how their policy works. Look like I will be calling to cancel (my membership renewed about 3 days ago) and I will mention someone told me they are probably following their throttling policy. At least Blockbuster and Redbox seem to treat all of their customers equally. First come, first serve. Not less use, better service. Who knows maybe they will offer me 5 at a time or something for one month?

I love FOFC, I can always get an answer to a variety of questions without having to surf all around the internet.

[Honolulu_Blue]

This is probably why I always get my movies right away. I think we have had all of 4 Netflix movies over the last 8-9 months. They just sit there in their little red folders, collecting dust.

I just got a Blu-Ray player and was pissed off to find that it costs an extra $2 per month to get Blu-Ray DVDs from Netflix.

[Passacaglia]

Aren't most new releases available online through the Roku? I've been thinking of getting one (or some netflix-able device), and while I knew the selection was not great, I figured most new releases would be there.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Ha, no. Not at all.

[Subby]

No - the new releases are actually very limited when it comes to their streaming offerings. We just signed up for Netflix again and stream through our Sony Blu Ray player. I really love the feature, but you are only gaining access to a fraction of their catalogue.

For what it's worth I was able to add about 100 movies and documentaries and kids' programming to my instant queue on first pass.

[DaddyTorgo]

well that's fucking stupid

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

The bulk of newer releases available online with Netflix comes from Starz network. You get the movies they have.

[Passacaglia]

Well that's weird. So I'm looking at my netflix queue now -- is it that anything with a 'play' button by it can be watched online? That's 7 of the 29 items.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

Well that's weird. So I'm looking at my netflix queue now -- is it that anything with a 'play' button by it can be watched online? That's 7 of the 29 items.

That's correct. Anything with a blue 'play' button can be streamed online or via Netflix device.

[claphamsa]

Originally Posted by Subby

But then it's not nice when you watch it and it sucks!

I was expecting very little.... so i liked it

[claphamsa]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

It's called throttling. Run a Google search on "netflix + throttling". Basically Netflix neuters your account because you aren't profitable enough to them. If you start going back to renting less, you'll see it less.

Not really sure there is any way around it besides raising your total DVDs out at one time.

Ive heard of this. but i watch 20 ish movies a month, and never had an issue, I got angels and demons and terminator the day they came out this month.

[PilotMan]

We have no cable, dish or and really very little over the air reception where we are. We use the dvd rental and instant player almost exclusively. We go through about 6-8 DVD's per month and watch 50-60 shows and movies on the instant player. With the addition of the MLB stuff last year, and now pandora and some limited internet tv stuff, it's paid for itself over and over. I used to spend more than 18 bucks per month on blockbuster alone, so it's certainly been worth it for my family. I have about 200 movie and tv shows in my instant queue to watch at any given moment. Finding something to watch hasn't been a problem so far.

I will say that I also have a laptop permanently hooked up to our tv and stereo as well, so we have the hulu catalogue, plus everything the other networks offer too.

[Subby]

We were spending about $30/month on Redbox + HBO and the Blu-Ray version of Netflix is almost half of that - pretty much a no-brainer for us.

I am also coming to realize that I don't really need about 400 of the channels that we get, so that's probably going to get pared, too.

[molson]

Netflix is the greatest, even with the occasional throttling. A lot of people get really emotional and angry about it, but it's still a far better option than Blockbuster or Redbox. Of course, I don't usually rent brand-new movies. But that's not the strength of Netflix anyway - you have access to just about every DVD ever made, in any country.

[stevew]

I had "long wait" on terminator salvation and still got it the next day.

[Galaril]

Yeah the throttling by NetFlix killed it for me to. I NEVER got any new relases for months and I was 2 or 3 DVDs at a time plan.I probably reneted around12-15 DVDS a month. Once I got through most of the older movies I wanted top see and the few new releases I wanted were not coming up I called them and complained twice with no result. I went to redbox and am much happier. I also now use Blockbuster once or twice a month and between those two I get the more current movies.Netflix was great when it came out but like all good things they got greedy and have shit on alot of there longtime customers.

[molson]

Originally Posted by Galaril

Yeah the throttling by NetFlix killed it for me to. I NEVER got any new relases for months and I was 2 or 3 DVDs at a time plan.I probably reneted around12-15 DVDS a month. Once I got through most of the older movies I wanted top see and the few new releases I wanted were not coming up I called them and complained twice with no result. I went to redbox and am much happier. I also now use Blockbuster once or twice a month and between those two I get the more current movies.Netflix was great when it came out but like all good things they got greedy and have shit on alot of there longtime customers.

How much does renting 12-15 movies/month cost between redbox and blockbuster? I guess if you're seriously disciplined, it might not cost much more than Netlifx, but that would probably cost me about $50+/month.

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by Alan T

Weird, I have Public Enemies listed in mine as "Now"

I'm confused to what an unlimited plan is though, you can have out as many discs as you want? I personally have a plan where I can have 3 out at a time and as many as I can fit into a month. I usually average roughly 16-20 movies a month myself, but haven't really ever run into issues myself.

Like Marc, I used to be a blockbuster online customer and loved the instore returns, but also left them when they stopped that. Haven't had any complaints really since I've been in netflix.

But remember, the items ship from your 'local' shipping office, not from a central office to the whole country...

[DanGarion]

My issue is with their suggestions. I've plain out put in my "Taste Preferences" that I don't want TV Shows, yet it still keeps adding TONS AND TONS of TV Shows to my suggestions. It's like I need to go through all of my reviews and remove all the TV Shot ratings I've done to get it to stop showing me shows in the suggestions.

The first page of suggestions is all shows for me...

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by molson

How much does renting 12-15 movies/month cost between redbox and blockbuster? I guess if you're seriously disciplined, it might not cost much more than Netlifx, but that would probably cost me about $50+/month.

Redbox rentals are $1 each, and if you rent alot from Redbox, they send you codes for free movies fairly often (perhaps 4 a month).

It is not a stretch to say that I can rent 16-18 movies in one month from Redbox for the same price as my netflix subscription ($12-$13 a month).

I could easily replace one with the other probably, but I end up watching a ton of movies, and I find things that I really like about both of them. I guess perhaps that is why I don't have panerd's issue is I often get new releases the day they are released from redbox and thus never have to find them in my queue for netflix.

[molson]

Originally Posted by Alan T

Redbox rentals are $1 each, and if you rent alot from Redbox, they send you codes for free movies fairly often (perhaps 4 a month).

It is not a stretch to say that I can rent 16-18 movies in one month from Redbox for the same price as my netflix subscription ($12-$13 a month).

I could easily replace one with the other probably, but I end up watching a ton of movies, and I find things that I really like about both of them. I guess perhaps that is why I don't have panerd's issue is I often get new releases the day they are released from redbox and thus never have to find them in my queue for netflix.

But Redbox has problems getting actual new releases, doesn't it? (Or maybe that's a regional thing). So if someone's leaving Netflix because they want the newest movies faster, they're going to need to go the Blockbuster route for that part at least. Which is going to end up costing way more than Netflix, I would think.

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by molson

But Redbox has problems getting actual new releases, doesn't it? (Or maybe that's a regional thing). So if someone's leaving Netflix because they want the newest movies faster, they're going to need to go the Blockbuster route for that part at least. Which is going to end up costing way more than Netflix, I would think.

Do they? They come out with new releases every Tuesday like Blockbuster and Netflix and every other store does as far as I can tell. Only issues I had with Red box was availability before I finally figured out the right way to use Redbox. As long as you log in to the redbox webpage before driving to get a movie, you can reserve your movie and know which redbox to go to in order to pick it up. You then can return it to any of them when done, not just the one you got it from.

For me there are roughly 5-6 redbox locations within 5 minutes, so I don't think that I have ever had a movie I wanted to see not available from redbox.

[RainMaker]

They just put a RedBox in at the 7-11 half a block down from me. I will have to check it out.

The throttling sucks but I still think Netflix is a great service. If you are getting hit, raise your package to a higher number of DVDs out at a time and it will fix it.

I guess one of the biggest benefits to me with Netflix is that I don't have to remember the movies or actively search for them. I add to my queue as I hear about things I may like and they eventually come up. Most of the movies I get give me that "oh yeah I forgot about that adding that one" feeling when I get the e-mail that it's being shipped. Redbox seems nice if there is something you want right away, but there are so many movies I come across through word of mouth from friends or reading the review thread here that it's much easier to just quickly go in and add to my queue than remember it.

[Galaril]

Originally Posted by molson

How much does renting 12-15 movies/month cost between redbox and blockbuster? I guess if you're seriously disciplined, it might not cost much more than Netlifx, but that would probably cost me about $50+/month.

12-15 bucks so price wise roughly the same but red box we only rent if a newer movie is available so the 12-15 was for netflix just so we could get the most out of our membership per month.

[Daimyo]

I go through 30+ discs a month with Netflix (5 disc plan) and I almost always have long and very long waits on anything newly released. Doesn't bother me too much because I have a huge queue so I always get something.

Having kids really broke me off the new release hype cycle -- we used to go to the movie theater weekly, and now I think I've been twice in the last three years. Since I'm already waiting nearly a year to see new movies, it doesn't bother me to wait a few more weeks for Netfllx to send me the DVD.

[Draft Dodger]

Netflix pissed me off in 3 ways.

1. The throttling, which is not only annoying, it's inconsistent. Back when I was using Netflix, a friend of mine often had the same new releases in his queue. He was a much heavier user than me, but sometimes he had movies available that were a long wait for me, and vise versa - we could never figure out any rhyme or reason to the system. It got to a point where it was easier for us to just trade movies between us.

2. They would routinely hold my movies an extra day when they received them to slow me down (and, again, I wasn't a heavy user).

3. I discovered (through FOFC, I believe) that the rate I was paying was not a standard rate; I was paying $1 more a month than other people here for the same plan and Netflix wouldn't adjust my price. That was the final straw for me.

[stevew]

They used to have a Hollywood Video by my house. For like 25 bucks you could get unlimited new releases. 2 at a time I think. To me, that crushed netflix. Although the selection sucked on older stuff.