TMFBabo (100.00)

56 Comments – Post Your Own

#1) On July 12, 2011 at 11:51 PM, JakilaTheHun (99.93) wrote:

I'm not happy about the rate increases, but I always thought that the Streaming + 1 DVD package did not make much sense from their perspective, since there's virtually no way that they could be covering their costs on the DVD side.  In essence, they were using the DVDs as a loss leader and make the profits by converting people over to streaming.

The fact that they are doing this suggests that they are going to try to sell off the DVD-by-mail business.  There's really no other explanation for it.  There are some significant risks in jacking up prices this much. And even if they want to raise the rates, it makes sense to use a bundling strategy ... if they plan on running both businesses. 

As is, the DVD-by-mail segment might not look all that attractive to outside parties since it's basically being run at a loss.  By separating the two businesses, they can run profits on both sides, and sell off the DVD-by-mail at a higher price, while maintaining the more attractive streaming business.

As for me, I'll probably go to streaming only.  I like using the DVD-by-mail service, but when I'm busy, I normally only use 2-3 DVDs per month.  At $8 per month, that's about $3 per DVD.  That's too expensive, in my view. 

I think this move will open the door for Amazon and Dish Network, so even though Netflix's intention seems clear, it's not without risk. 

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#2) On July 12, 2011 at 11:51 PM, awallejr (80.10) wrote:

I am considering ending my subscription.  I am one of those marginal users.  My question is will all things be streamable with the change unlike the way it is now.

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#3) On July 13, 2011 at 12:19 AM, TMFBabo (100.00) wrote:

@JakilaTheHun: Management is not dumb and they knew they'd ruffle feathers by not giving a bundling discount. A potential sale of the DVD-by-mail business is the only explanation that makes sense to me.

@awallejr: The streaming library only includes content from deals they've done with the providers - what you see is what you get. Given the choice, I'd go DVD-by-mail every time because of the selection.

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#4) On July 13, 2011 at 12:46 AM, shamapant (81.40) wrote:

The only problem with DVD by mail is that-well-lazy people like me aren't thinking ahead enough to order movies. Personally I find what I need in the streaming, although I agree it is very limited. I will probably end up downgrading though, I used to have order by mail too for those special occassions where I knew the movie I wanted.

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#5) On July 13, 2011 at 12:47 AM, frugala (< 20) wrote:

not sure, but i will probably cancel the DVD's and keep the streaming.  Kids watch a LOT of TV episodes on streaming, lots of disney channel content, and we have no cable.  Time to sell the stock??

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#6) On July 13, 2011 at 1:01 AM, zCreator (93.40) wrote:

I've talked about this with my friends. $16 is still less than $195 cable bills so....

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#7) On July 13, 2011 at 1:34 AM, awallejr (80.10) wrote:

Yeah well that is why I went netflix.  But many of the things I wanted to stream I couldn't. F troop reruns I couldn't stream? 

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#8) On July 13, 2011 at 3:59 AM, valunvesthere (< 20) wrote:

Netflix Raises DVD, Streaming Plan Price by 60 Percent Tue Jul 12 2011, 3:44 PM PDT

It was just a matter of time! Netflix was obviously operating at cost or loss at $9.99/month. This $9.99/month deal was intended to cripple and bankrupt its competitors (national, regional, and independant video rental chains) which it has successfully done and has demonstrated by increasing prices.

On the bright side if Netflix continues to steadily increase prices, ordinary entrepreneurs may open and get into the profitable video rental business just like the heydays of the 80's and 90's(thanks to Netflix in weakening well established mega chain video rental stores). Just imagine for a few thousands of dollars you can build a very good library of brand new unopened DVDs(if lucky Blu Rays too) and find a nice location to rent.

Then again other factors may affect your profitbility

* if its worth owning than renting (big box stores)

* pirated videos

* having to purchase videos from hollywood distributors for strictly rental business

Valunvesthere

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#9) On July 13, 2011 at 5:25 AM, ikkyu2 (99.52) wrote:

I have way more money than I have time to worry about a few bucks a month.  I'll be swallowing the increased cost with no protest because I find both halves of their service valuable.

 

Lately I've been having trouble with their streaming service; it's been out several times in the past 2 months, where it had not had an outage I was aware of in the year prior to that.  Then again, I'm using it more, or at least trying to.  I'd prefer it if more of their titles were available that way, especially old TV shows; I assume that someday when this is the case I will drop the DVD plan altogether.

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#10) On July 13, 2011 at 5:43 AM, blackmonday2007 (< 20) wrote:

Long time subscriber was only place to rent Bluray; streaming only good on blu ray player lousy on PCs will be Dvd only or hello redbox out in rain,cold or heat Plus $7moHD Dvr cuts out alot of Dvd watching. Long NFLX till 300

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#11) On July 13, 2011 at 5:55 AM, ikkyu2 (99.52) wrote:

Here's the netflix blog post explaining the situation:

http://blog.netflix.com/2011/07/netflix-introduces-new-plans-and.html

Here is the key stuff from the blog post:

Last November when we launched our $7.99 unlimited streaming plan, DVDs by mail was treated as a $2 add on to our unlimited streaming plan. At the time, we didn’t anticipate offering DVD only plans. Since then we have realized that there is still a very large continuing demand for DVDs both from our existing members as well as non-members.  

.. Reflecting our confidence that DVDs by mail is a long-term business for us, we are also establishing a separate and distinct management team solely focused on DVDs by mail, led by Andy Rendich, our Chief Service and Operations Officer and an 11 year veteran of Netflix.

That's plain enough: they're planning to spin the DVD-by-mail service off. 

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#12) On July 13, 2011 at 8:58 AM, motleyanimal (97.81) wrote:

I'll probably switch to streaming only, since that is mostly what I use.

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#13) On July 13, 2011 at 9:16 AM, CluckChicken (48.03) wrote:

I have 5 or 6 items left in my dvd queue that are not available via streaming. Once those are done I may just switch to steaming or more likely put the account on hold for a while. Does not look like there will be enough of anything out there that will make it worth the cost for either for a while.

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#14) On July 13, 2011 at 9:23 AM, bridomuga (81.24) wrote:

Probably go to streaming only eventually. Its not the end of the world the price increase isn't that bad. For a comparison my new subscriber rate just ran out for Directv so now I've got to go haggle and try to get the $20 a month knocked off my bill again. If I can do that it more than pays for Netflix. I don't see a lot of movies in theaters so I end up watching most of them on Netflix. We'll see how it goes for a few months.

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#15) On July 13, 2011 at 9:25 AM, rofgile (99.00) wrote:

I only go with streaming already, so I am fine with it.  If they raise the streaming prices, I'd quit.

Streaming is the future, as I see it.  A lot less hassle of waiting for a certain dvd to arrive, and sending it back in the mail, scratches, etc. 

I look forward to when everything can be streamed.  Then the only regular TV I would watch would be PBS.

 -Rof 

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#16) On July 13, 2011 at 9:34 AM, PsykO (69.94) wrote:

We're done with them Aug. 31st. Service has been slipping anyway.

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#17) On July 13, 2011 at 9:35 AM, TMFBabo (100.00) wrote:

Appreciate the comments thus far. I think there will be very few outright cancellations. A lot of people will eat the cost and a lot of people will downgrade to streaming only, with a few odd people like myself cancelling the streaming.

Short-term, I think the company earns more revenue on slightly fewer subscribers, which should increase operating margins. Long-term, I think content costs go up as new competitors join the content bidding and even the streaming-only plan will go up in price. Whether Netflix makes content better is anyone's guess - I don't think it's that great now and the costs are going to go up.

The price was fantastic when the DVD-by-mail service was offered at a discount, but I have to think subscriber acquisition will be harder now that the price is "pretty good" as opposed to "awesome." Moreover, there should be a short-term dip in subscribers despite the increased revenue and operating income.

I know most people will stick on, but even a 5% dip in subscribers is 5% subscriber loss as opposed to a gain. In order to grow subs from there, they must first replace the subscribers lost and then add subs on top of that. Not as easy with higher-cost plans.

The international growth is an interesting wrinkle. If the content is paid for once and can be streamed across the world, this can all work positively in the end anyway. I have no idea how that will play out, but it's pretty interesting.

I have no position, but am extremely curious to see the end result of all this.

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#18) On July 13, 2011 at 9:53 AM, PrincePal (< 20) wrote:

About 9 months ago I cancelled the cable subscription at my house. So I have no cable TV programming.  That is a great feeling! It was a burden I wasn't even aware of.  

Thinking back now, it has be many years that we have watched TV in any serious way.  No movies... couldn't tolerate the commercials on TV.  We occasionally rented DVDs. We watched some news programming especially around election time, but we have long since abandoned the obligatory evening news ritual on TV [my dad still does that ritual]. 

Neither did I go online and "try to find free TV programming."  I wasn't interested in replicating a TV experience on the computer. It was the experience itself that was the problem.

Then two months ago we cancelled our netflix DVD subscription (we do not do streaming). We occasionally go back to the local store and rent the latest DVD's if we want.

We are simply doing more interactive things.  We have tens of thousands of photos we've taken.  I'm learning a foreign language, exercise, meditate, visit my parents more often, organize google+, sell extra books on amazon.  What I really need to do is work on the house, but that is another story.  

People may discover they don't need DVD's, streaming movies, or TV programming at all!  

 

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#19) On July 13, 2011 at 9:54 AM, TMFLomax (27.13) wrote:

I'm not cancelling my subscription (I'm streaming only anyway now), but I just ended my Netflix "outperform" here in CAPS -- was just about to blog it when I saw your post. It's been a really huge CAPS winner for me over the years, but I just saw one too many times "hello Redbox" posts from people I know through social media.

Maybe this is a knee-jerk reaction on my part, but Redbox is a very formidable option for a lot of people. I reserve the right to change my mind again later (haha) but for now I think this is a short-term negative for Netflix. 

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#20) On July 13, 2011 at 10:23 AM, catoismymotor (67.75) wrote:

We just signed up last month for both services. We mostly stream. Physical movies via the mail will vanish in a few short years. I suspect the increase fee is not only to boost the bottom line but to purposely nudge more people into streaming. Once more people are streaming from Netflix they can show the numbers to Hollywood and renegotiate their deal with new releases. As it stands now new releases must be on DVD for the first 30 days.

I do not have a position in Netflix. But I may after I read more about their proposed expansion into Latin America. Time will tell.

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#21) On July 13, 2011 at 11:27 AM, chk999 (99.98) wrote:

We're dropping our subscription, we don't use it enough to make it worth while.

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#22) On July 13, 2011 at 11:29 AM, edwjm (99.83) wrote:

I guess I am the odd man out here.  I will keep my DVD by mail service and do without the streaming.

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#23) On July 13, 2011 at 11:31 AM, TMFBlacknGold (99.37) wrote:

It's called 2011. Get with it people. Who rents DVDs from anywhere? =P Streaming is what its all about (from my generation anyway). Everyone in college streams from one site or another. I don't know anyone my age that still uses DVDs.

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#24) On July 13, 2011 at 11:31 AM, Colo14ersguy (95.80) wrote:

I am on the 2 DVD/month program and that is fine for me. If it costs a couple bucks a month more that is OK with me. I have a Q of movies and enjoy just watching when I want and sending back when I want. My only regret is that I sold my NFLX shares years ago at $15. I should have been a FOOL back then.

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#25) On July 13, 2011 at 11:45 AM, TheDumbMoney (59.58) wrote:

We will probably keep both and eat the cost.  For us, the streaming content works great, because we mostly watch it for the kids shows for our 3/4-year old.  There is a LOT of kid-content.  At the same time we still use the DVD service for new releases. 

All of this is probably a preview to raising the cost of streaming, as they do more deals that cost more money in the next year or two.  With it de-linked from DVDs, they can keep the cost of that service lower. 

I absolutely don't see them selling that DVD-by-mail service.  It was that service, not the streaming, that killed Blockbuster.  I very much remember in 2006 or so when I stopped going to Blockbuster and just set up online all my Netflix movies to have sent to me throughout the month in time for the weekends.  As others have noted, the new release movie content on streaming has never been good, not good enough to compete with a rental store.  (The online downloads compete with cable, not brick-and-morter rental stores.)  They'll only sell the DVD-only business if and when it is totally clear they can have all the content they want on streaming, in order to be able to compete effectively on showing new releases.

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#26) On July 13, 2011 at 11:52 AM, GNUBEE (24.57) wrote:

+1 on the kid content, and keeping streaming mainly for that reason. I have maybe an hour on any given weekday to watch the TV (Im on my laptop most of that time), so doesn't really bother me.

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#27) On July 13, 2011 at 11:55 AM, vriguy (80.61) wrote:

I will cancel streaming - not enough stuff there that I actually watch.  I might cancel DVDs as well - I am now asking myself whether it is worth it.

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#28) On July 13, 2011 at 11:59 AM, dcgatlanta (55.06) wrote:

Will downgrade to one DVD at a time, since the selection for streaming is pretty weak.  I'll switchover to streaming once the selection improves.

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#29) On July 13, 2011 at 12:06 PM, caltex1nomad (< 20) wrote:

I will drop DVD portion but, will keep Streaming. I hope they plan on offering more Streaming...........I will miss getting the Dark Shadows Collection.

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#30) On July 13, 2011 at 12:30 PM, Borbality (52.76) wrote:

I am totally mad about it, but there's really no alternative. My wife is constantly streaming and I like being able to pick just about any weird movie I want on DVD. It's really only a net increase of about $5 for me when I get rid of the blu-ray option. I'm just on one DVD plus streaming. 

I might get rid of the DVDs once life gets busier (hoping for kids within a year or two).  

 I have no cable bill and no smartphone, and don't watch network TV besides football, so NFLX is a pretty big part of my entertainment. The streaming quality and selection seems to be growing, though. I could easily see myself dropping the DVDs in a year or so if the price keeps going up.  

 

now if TV shows like the sopranos, the wire, simpsons were on streaming, there'd be no question.  

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#31) On July 13, 2011 at 12:37 PM, smartmuffin (< 20) wrote:

My reaction is antipathy.  I feel as if I was previously getting an AMAZING value, and now, with an extra $5 a month, I'm still getting a pretty good one.  I'm amazed that there's such a strong reaction to this.  Seriously, it's $5 a month (maybe a little more if you have a different plan than I do). 

 Keeping both streaming and DVD.  People who think selection on streaming is going to improve are probably in for disappointment.  As the contracts expire and competition in this arena gets more fierce, if anything, selection will probably get worse.

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#32) On July 13, 2011 at 1:39 PM, XMFConnor (97.34) wrote:

I didn't mind-- I almost only used streaming anyways.. so I am essentially getting a better deal than before

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#33) On July 13, 2011 at 3:14 PM, leohaas (93.62) wrote:

FWIW, investors seem to think it is a good idea...

PS. Still mad about selling this one WAY early, both in real life and on CAPS!

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#34) On July 13, 2011 at 4:00 PM, dwot (99.57) wrote:

Ahh, my silliest underperform...  

 What I knew about Netflex when I added was that it was DVDs by mail, a service I would never use and really abhor.  Somewhere in the mix they added streaming and Netflex had taken off to grand totals before I figured out there was the streaming service, one that if I lived in a city with realistic services I'd be interested in.  

 They recently introduced their lower resolution service because of the broadband caps all over the place in Canada, only where I live I am not sure that even the lower resolution service would be viable because of the especially tight caps.

So, streaming was a big miss on my part, but I really should have closed everything when I pretty much stopped playing CAPS, like I exited all my positions in real life...

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#35) On July 13, 2011 at 4:22 PM, rdiazpr (< 20) wrote:

I use both…and I’m going to switch my account to just streaming. I believe RedBox is cheaper if you compare how many movies Netflix can mail you in a month. That’s around 3 movies or 5 movies depending how fast you get your mail. In RedBox for 8 dollars you have 8 movies.

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#36) On July 13, 2011 at 5:05 PM, leohaas (93.62) wrote:

For the RedBox pushers:

You cannot compare that service with Netflix. Sure, it is only $1 a pop. But you never forget to return a movie, do you? Only if you are REALLY diligent about returning movies can you say that $8 buys you 8 movies!

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#37) On July 13, 2011 at 5:25 PM, Borbality (52.76) wrote:

Redbox is cool for new movies. However, most new movies really suck. 

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#38) On July 13, 2011 at 6:54 PM, SFLogic (31.25) wrote:

I have a 1 unlimited DVD and streaming account. At $10, it's been quite a bargain. $16 is still fairly cheap for what I get from it. Hulu Plus would cost the same as streaming w/o the depth of selection. RedBox isn't even a consideration for me since the selection is pretty much limited to big Hollywood movies and the US Postal Service is much more convenient for me than RedBox locations (they're basically just a scaled down Blockbuster). I watch a lot of old and indie films (I suspect that Netflix's core users are more like me and less like RedBox/Blockbuster types). I'd prefer to just use the streaming service (obviously, it's the most convenient) but am hooked on The Wire and will certainly maintain my DVD service until I at least get through that (and probably longer if the streaming selection remains in it's relative position to the DVD selection). Remember that we're talking about $16 (for my services; a $6 increase) for extensive access to a deep selection of movies and old TV shows. I'd rather drop my $35/mo. cable bill (mostly to watch Stewart and Colbert...which I can get the next day for free on comedycentral.com...and yet have delayed doing so out of inertia...).

As far as Netflix's strategy, we're obviously all just speculating, but I have to trust that Reed Hastings and crew know what they're doing. I've seen a lot of poorly run companies, but NFLX is not one of them. It makes sense to separate the 2 units operationally. But from a user-facing perspective, they're 2 parts of the same service. There are probably plenty of new users who aren't technically savvy and still like the thought of the DVD. For those users, DVDs haven't been a loss-leader, they've been a loss. Moving as many users to streaming makes sense operationally, but not everyone will go that way and, obviously, content owners are still fighting that trend. Yeah, they'll lose some users but probably not many. They'll strengthen their margins and shore-up their cash position for getting more content, probably in the form of streaming. Of course, we haven't seen them really cross the line into current TV shows (other than the exclusive they cut a few months ago), but getting that type of content on streaming would put them right up against the cable companies, and then it could get interesting...

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#39) On July 13, 2011 at 7:25 PM, PainterPoker (21.44) wrote:

I'm kinda pissed. This is the second time Netflix has raised its prices on me in about a year. I have 1 DVD out and streaming. I think I will drop my plan and team up with my roommate who also has the same plan and add 1 DVD to his or vise versa. So we will split the subscription cost and have 2 DVD's and streaming for about the same price as before.

 

 

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#40) On July 14, 2011 at 3:52 PM, HGolf92 (91.31) wrote:

It really depends on what you're looking to get out of it. I only streamed so it's not really affecting me much.

But I do foresee this being a big discouraging factor for many consumers, especially those who aren't in need of an extra cost to their bottom line. This could hold an eventual negative effect of sorts on its share price. 

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#41) On July 15, 2011 at 4:46 PM, darroj (60.66) wrote:

I'll probably cancel all together for a few months, then go to a DVD only plan in a few months once there are more titles I want. I could do redbox, but I will pay a bit more for convenience and gas savings...

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#42) On July 17, 2011 at 2:23 PM, LifeForceDance (35.29) wrote:

When Netflix started out they charged around twenty dollars for two DVDs at a time and the streaming instant watch movies did not exist.  Sixteen dollars is still a deal.  If I cancelled anything it would be the DVDs by mail which I could replace with Redbox.  The streaming instant movies are convenient and immediate without having to waste time online.  I am going to keep both.

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#43) On July 17, 2011 at 3:06 PM, kwl1763 (76.80) wrote:

Cancelled streaming,  The selection there is inadequate to be nice. So now just 2 DVDs at a time for now.  It will be ever evolving.  I'm sure a few years from now the streaming will be able to get everything you do now.  I remember discussing just a few years ago if we would ever have any streaming worth it.  We're not there yet.

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#44) On July 18, 2011 at 11:17 AM, MondayMornings (< 20) wrote:

I'm OK with the rate increase, as long as they higher new UX designers and fix their horrid interface. I'd also like to see less downtime...

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#45) On July 19, 2011 at 11:38 AM, secretbonus (< 20) wrote:

I will downgrade from streaming+DVD to streaming only.

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#46) On July 19, 2011 at 1:28 PM, ImpetuousFool (99.70) wrote:

Still shaking my head over Alif's new direction

Oh.sorry wrong thread....Netflix?

I am the user who totally justifies their strategy. 

Consider:

1) I immediately and impetuously downgraded by 1 dvd so that I am paying roughly the same price for the lesser service. 

2) I will stick with streaming. For someone like me with no cable, Netflix streaming is ideal for getting hooked on TV series. You can then watch episode after episode of, say, Intelligence, or Weeds, and not have to wait for a DVD to come to the door. Sure, I'm always a season or so behind. But since I don't have cable I don't really care about being up to date because I have no idea what they are showing.  

3) The DVD service is for when I want the kind of new indie-type movie that, as SF Logic points out, is not going to be in the RedBox box and I'm too lazy to drive to the nearest art theater to see when it comes out. So I don't want to lose that option, but since I'm so in love with Reaper on streaming I can afford to drop down by a disc.

So in me they just beat cable, Redbox and the cinema while getting the same money from me for less. Geniuses.  

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#47) On July 19, 2011 at 2:20 PM, toufrod (49.56) wrote:

I cancelled mine. 

I didn’t use it all that much and I don’t feel their online streaming catalog is exciting enough to stay a customer.

I just use RedBox now and that does the job! I will miss the BlueRay selection but thats about all.

Just watched Lincoln Lawyer from redbox last night for a buck. 

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#48) On July 19, 2011 at 6:02 PM, ControlFool (< 20) wrote:

I have two Netflix accounts, my family's and my 87-year-old mother's. I have cancelled the streaming on both. My mother does not use a computer and does not have internet, but she definitely gets her moneys worth on the DVD rental - probably 10 -12 a month, so I'll keep the one-at-a-time for her.

As for my family, we live in the sticks and have satellite internet - not suitable for streaming due to download speeds (in spite of what they promise) combined with daily download limits. We are downgrading to the 2 a month plan because we rarely watch that many anyway. I kept the one-a-month plan for us up until now because of the added streaming which I could watch at work on my breaks. But with the price increase and the recent decrease in quality, I can read a book instead - much lighter to carry than my laptop anyway.

I have owned a few shares of Netflix for quite a few years - since the $15/share range. Of course, I wish I had bought more. But I sold the shares I owned today because at least in the short term Netflix is going to have a rough road. Even if most subscribers are not pissed off at the price increase, the size of the increase is causing almost all subscribers to re-evaluate what they are willing to pay for and to explore others options. In this economy, it is not likely to come out in Netflix's favor.

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#49) On July 23, 2011 at 9:52 PM, tomunc (< 20) wrote:

I've been a suscriber for many years now, and truth be told I have been disappointed for quite some time with the mail-order side of the business. In order to maximize profits (limit loss) the DVD's are never cleaned (checked), and many arrive cracked or filthy.

 

While relatively limited with the streaming there are still plenty of quality flicks available. I'm on the road a lot, spending 2 months/year in China (proxy server there) so the streaming choice works well for me.

 

I cancelled the home mail delivery service and saved a buck.

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#50) On July 23, 2011 at 10:51 PM, jamison777 (< 20) wrote:

Canceling the DVDs by mail, and considering dropping altogether. The streaming side just simply doesn't have the content. It's like digging through the bargain bins at Wal-Mart. Won't miss the DVDs by mail. They mostly collect dust these days. Also, I'm finding that most new movies are not worth my two hours anymore. I find myself watching more TV shows, because I only need to commit 25 minutes at a time to them... and I seem to enjoy them more. Hulu+ fits the bill just fine for this. I'm pretty sure RedBox (or borrowing really good movies from friends) will fill in the gaps.

From an investor standpoint, I'm just not confident that Netflix is the best candidate to take over the streaming world. I think someone like Apple, Amazon, or Google (with combined billions just sitting around to land the big content deals) could very easily take them out with a similar service. These players already command huge portions of media traffic on the internet (YouTube, iTunes, etc). A simple "add on" to any or all of these services, combined with a content deal.. and Netflix is done. I  think this space is going to get very crowded over the next few years, and I fear Netflix (although I've loved it for years) is now swimming in waters that are far too deep for it. 

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#51) On August 02, 2011 at 2:47 AM, BentMike (37.75) wrote:

Well, I own some stock so it is paying for itself at this point.

I partly keep NFLX the service because I want to know firsthand what they are up to - if the product is good.  I like them moving abroad.  

For me the competition is cable, but I they never give me what I really want which would be pay per view only.  A dime here to watch a 30 Rock, or an old documentary would be OK, a buck for a basketball game, but cable isn't wise enough.  

So I have internet and I like having NFLX there for something to watch which I do when I am not surfing CAPS, etc.  Streaming is impulsive, and DVD's are for planned stuff.  I will stick with both.  It isn't that much money, but I won't pay equal to basic cable, that IS too much regardless the content.  I just bought a can of Bulgarian Sheep Feta from a nearby Palestinian bakery/grocery for $10 to see if it tasted good (it did), I am that kind of guy.  My life is improved by new stuff I never thought of before,

I like the streaming content just fine.  The GUI is great and I try all sorts of odd things I would never see otherwise - sort of like why I like Pandora - surprises are fun.  And let's face it, some of the very best movies were never popular.  Lot's of neat documentary content, foreign movies at streaming NFLX.  Maybe the subtitled stuff will get a good infusion with the international expansion - looking forward to that.

My reqs: Watch "The Horse Boy."  Or the Discovery Channel doc on the history of temperature measurement. How the large collider died in the US, and why all those smart folks moved to France and Switzerland.  Soon it will be time watch "Big Man Japan."

 I don't like the experience at AMZN and the free shipping is only for the odd thing that is fulfilled by AMZN not someone else.  Prime is a bust for me so far.  Hulu and the broadcasters online are OK now and then, but nowhere near as good as NTFX streaming.  

 I am curious to see how this all turns out.  In a few years it  may all be different and I might not like how anyone is doing it.  Meanhile I think the stock will do just fine.  Hastings will try things and if they don't work he will try something else, lessons learned from Google I think.  It is a better plan to experement and respond rather than all in, all eggs in one basket. 

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#52) On August 02, 2011 at 10:14 AM, brwn8484 (91.16) wrote:

I use streaming and single DVD rental.  If Netflix raises prices again, I will cancel all service and go back to renting single DVD's. 

Price is only elastic as long as there is a perceived value.  Once that price ceiling is broken,people will flee NetFlix like Rats leaving a sinking ship.  

If mangement is greedy, they will sink this ship just like "Blockbuster" and every other service that came before.  If leadership was smart they would look at improving value not the opposite.  A true test of honest and sincere leadership is ..

"will we protect our customers by improving service through price cuts or service enhancement"  or "become like the rest of bankrupt corporations that cow-towed to stockholders" and tried to screw the client.

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#53) On August 02, 2011 at 10:15 AM, brwn8484 (91.16) wrote:

I use streaming and single DVD rental.  If Netflix raises prices again, I will cancel all service and go back to renting single DVD's. 

Price is only elastic as long as there is a perceived value.  Once that price ceiling is broken,people will flee NetFlix like Rats leaving a sinking ship.  

If mangement is greedy, they will sink this ship just like "Blockbuster" and every other service that came before.  If leadership was smart they would look at improving value not the opposite.  A true test of honest and sincere leadership is ..

"will we protect our customers by improving service through price cuts or service enhancement"  or "become like the rest of bankrupt corporations that cow-towed to stockholders" and tried to screw the client.

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#54) On August 10, 2011 at 2:18 PM, Sturmudgeon (< 20) wrote:

I recently read on barnhardt.biz, that our revered government is making "plans" to confiscate all of our 401K's, IRA's, etc. and convert them to "gov't. paper" on the basis/excuse that the 'markets' are "too risky".... anyone have anything to say on this?  I personally think that the reason is they can then use those 'assets' to offset the wild debt. with which they have saddled us...

Point: does anyone have a method whereby one can divert one's 'retirement accounts' into other assets  without invoking terrible tax penalties??

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#55) On May 13, 2012 at 1:34 AM, diegorgazzi (< 20) wrote:

TMFBabo, this is a little Off topic... just wondering how did you manage to get to 100 Ranking on CAPS. Any advice?

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#56) On May 13, 2012 at 1:40 AM, SantananTom (< 20) wrote:

just as Joanne implied I am blown away that some one able to make $6488 in a few weeks on the internet. did you see this site link (Click on menu Home more information)  http://goo.gl/FzqeD

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