All Users Apparently Get Throttled; Slow Shipping
Written: Jan 31 '07 (Updated Feb 01 '07)
| Ease of Ordering: |
 |
|
| Customer Service: |
 |
|
| Selection: |
 |
|
| On-Time Delivery: |
|
|
|
| Full Review |
Delivery speed - poor, order accuracy - poor, customer service - they have it??? and overall satisfaction - getting rid of them. $17.99 a month ($19.34 with tax) for 3 DVDs at-a-time. Prices do vary. 4 at a time is $25.99, 5 at a time is $29.99. They have up to 8 or 10 at a time.
How it Works:
You receive a DVD in a closed paper sleeve. It has free return shipping. Plans range from $17.99-$49.99 (10 at a time). You can rate any movies and even write reviews. Your ratings determine the recommendations Netflix gives you. It isn't that accurate until your rate 500 or more movies.
Netflix is a great idea but don't expect more than 4 times the number of movies a month your plan offers (example: 3 at a time equals 9-12 movies tops). Netflix "manages" your Q (the movies you want) so their "unlimited" claim is really limited.
I can drop off Netflix at the post office and it takes an average of 2 days (seen 6 days!) to show up returned. Then, despite my rental Q, they send the movies THEY want not the order I set-up. So, if you want a series (like Charmed for example), they might send you the DVDs out of order.
They supposedly tell you what is available by "Available Now", "Short Wait" or "Long Wait" on a DVD's home page. "Long Wait" and "Short Wait" on new titles is often after your first month, which means 1st month customers get superior Netflix service. After than the service drops. A movie here, a movie there. Also, they'll show "shipping today" and then it ships the next day or sometimes even the following day.
1st month customers get excellent turnaround like I did (got 15 DVDs first month, 9 the next, 12 the next). My Netflix center is one city away and apparently only has 3 DVDs in stock (hyperbole).
No matter your plan ($17.99-49.99), Netflix likes you to only have so many movies a month no matter how quickly you turn them in. Funny, there is an plug-in for Firefox's browser to analyze Netflix. Some movies, especially new releases, have tons of scratches.
If you mail movies on Monday, they receive them on Wednesday, maybe ship on Thursday (mostly Friday I've seen for me), and you might get lucky and get them Saturday.
After 1 year, Netflix gets the boot after February.
Why has Netflix gotten bad?
Too many customers and not enough DVDs in their stock seems to be the problem I see. Maybe they are a victim of their own success. Maybe the postage is getting too expensive for them but I doubt they aren't getting a really good rate with millions shipping daily. I've actually seen "long wait" and they are selling the DVD at the same time!
Throttling
Netflix is accused a lot of throttling. It means they may just not log in movies received and/or wait a few days to ship the new ones. If you rent a lot, longer shipping times was happening. The even got sued (http://redtape.msnbc.com/2005/11/consumer_to_pay.html) for it, and lost!
Buying Used DVDs from Them:
Members can buy used DVDs from $5.99-9.99. I wouldn't recommend it. Most have tons of scratches.
Recommendation:
If you are a casual movie watcher and don't care about getting less than you really pay for since you don't care, Netflix is great. If you think you'll get a ton of movies, don't bother.
How to slow Throttling:
Send movies back not all at the same time. Stagger your send backs. However, it ticks me off you have to figure out ways to beat their system!
Recommended:
No
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? Netflix 3 at a Time $17.99 a month
|
|
|
|
About the Author
Member: Cameron Rowe
Location: Pensacola, FL
Reviews written: 5
Trusted by: 0 members
|
