Netflix

I haven't had regular, cable, or satellite Tv for almost two years now. I suspect I spend as much on videos as I would have on those services, but at least the TV is not on just to make noise (or waste my time). And whenever I'm in a place that has TV (car service waiting room, the local pizza place, etc.), I'm ever so grateful I don't have TV at home.

But since I do have videos, I just signed up for Netflix. Quite apart from playing dueling queues with my kids, I like the service. Movies regularly arrive the day after they are sent, and most are in pretty good condition.

However. . . when I went searcing on Google for information on just how they pull this off, I found a couple of anti-Netflix sites, including one called (horrors! gasp!) Netflix Underground. This guy's argument is that they suck you in with great service and then delay videos by a day or two so that you can never really take advantage of the 3 at a time or, in my case, 5-at-atime movies in such a way as to make it particularly financially attractive.

I can see his point, but it strikes me that to try to slow things down deliberately is more trouble than it's worth and fairly pointless. Okay, they may not have a movie in stock -- well, that's no different than the video store -- but I don't think that's happened.

In any case, the purpose of the post is to solicit comment from others on their views of the service. On balance, I like it. I think I'm taking full advantage of the plan I have, and movies seem to come when they're supposed to. The weekends throw things off, but that's not their fault.

So, any comments?

But I know a bunch of people who have been with Netflix for several years and none have ever complained about their service.

I've asked one of my neighbors to order movies for me and they've always been delivered the next day.

Personally, I love their service and have ZERO complaints, aside from the occasional (but so far very rare) unplayable disc.

What's really cool is that if this happens, we can just log on, report the problem, and they immediately send a replacement -- which arrives often by the next day.

I just don't see how they can make it "financially unattractive." It's a video rental service. I can understand some complaints about slow deliveries, and I've heard rumors there are some who've said that because they rent a LOT of DVDs, they believe that some kind of 'throttle' has been engaged on prompt deliveries. But that hasn't been our experience.

The fact is, it's saved us TONS of money, because now we rent before we decide to buy. And the incremental cost of each rental is nothing.

The movies used to take a while to get here, but then they opened up a Honolulu branch. Now movies come very quickly. I can get through 6 movies a week on the 3 at a time plan (the limiting factor is how fast I can watch them).
I have nothing but good things to say about the service. I think maybe the anti-Netfix sites are run by Blockbuster....

but they were slow from the beginning, slower in fact that they have often been since. I don't know if there are other services that are better than Netflix, but it is infinitely better than going to Blockbuster. For one thing, you can get absolutely ANYTHING that is out on DVD. That includes documentaries and foreign films you would never have a chance to see otherwise. I'm a loyal Netflix customer.

I too have had a good experience and would recommend it without reservations. I was just wondering.

And I sure would love to see the system in action, but it looks like they want to keep that behind the curtain.

--is because our nearest Netflix warehouse operation is located less than 30 mins drive from where we live. I suspect that's why we get "next day service" far more often than not.

I've heard tell that a whole lot of their operation is automated, with only minimal handling by actual people.

I also very much agree with those who've badmouthed Blockbuster. Their selection isn't nearly as good, plus they appear to engage in predatory pricing -- including attempts to drive Netflix out of business with a subscription rate that's lower... for now.

I figure that $20 rents about 5 movies at blockbuster or Hollywood (if they are new movies and including the sales tax). For a monthly fee of $20 (including sales tax) I can rent as many movies a I can watch. I have been a member for just over a month and have rented 14 movies. I figure that if I get at least 6 movies a month I come out ahead. Any more than that is just gravy. Beacause they have an office in Houston, the movies get to me usually the day after they send them. I try to put them in the mail on Monday in order to get movies by the weeekend. I just don't always have time to watch them as often as I would like.