Filed under: Business, Internet, Video
We think we just saw Ashton Kutcher, cuz you just got Netflix'd!
Netflix users are in an uproar, and rightfully so.If you're not familiar with what Netflix is, then sorry...please move along.
Kidding...you can rent movies online, and you can create a queue of what you want to see, and they'll mail them to your house as they're available. It's like an autopilot feature and it frakkin rocks.
A few months ago the company put out an even cooler feature that let Netflix account holders create multiple queues under one account. So basically your baby daughter, mom, uncle Steve, and your parrot Whiskers could have their own queue of movies that they want to see.
Such a time saver, such a great function that really reminds you why you use and love (and pay for) Netflix.
Don't go and try to sign up just for that feature though, because Netflix just announced that they're taking it away.
You read it right...do not pass go, do not collect 300 movies. Gone, nada, zip, outro, peas out., Seacrest OUT!
This is what folks are in an uproar about regarding this:
Here's the email from Netflix:
Wow, way to irritate the people who pay for your service Netflix!!!!!
Why should we have to make separate accounts now and pay differently for them when we were given this feature to spend time on? Have you ever spent time with your Netflix queue? We have. And we've spent hours on it. Who doesn't want Rocky III at the top and on it's way ASAP?
What say you? Are you a Netflix customer? Are you crabbypatty about this? Be heard!
[via ars technica]
This is what folks are in an uproar about regarding this:
- The feature was just introduced and now it's gone
- The sub queues will be deleted September 1st
- You can't migrate those sub queues into your main queue...so basically all that time you spent building them? WASTED!
Here's the email from Netflix:
Wow, way to irritate the people who pay for your service Netflix!!!!!
Why should we have to make separate accounts now and pay differently for them when we were given this feature to spend time on? Have you ever spent time with your Netflix queue? We have. And we've spent hours on it. Who doesn't want Rocky III at the top and on it's way ASAP?
What say you? Are you a Netflix customer? Are you crabbypatty about this? Be heard!
[via ars technica]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
MilesLocMan said 3:19PM on 6-20-2008
Not A Good Move at all Hope they have something good up their sleeves
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Cath said 3:22PM on 6-20-2008
What really bugs me about Netflix is that only the main account can take advantage of Watch It Now content. I had a sub-account of my own under my girlfriend's account but when I saw only her login could access Watch it Now content I pretty much never signed in again.
This is a sham though and I agree wholeheartedly, except that was maybe two too many exclamation points for a reputable tech blog.
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Drew Olanoff said 3:46PM on 6-20-2008
I tried to capture the uproar heh.
eppyjerk said 3:28PM on 6-20-2008
Weren't profiles introduced years ago? I had them when I was a subscriber...which was years ago. What's with the whole "just introduced and now it's gone?"
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Tom said 6:30PM on 6-24-2008
Yeah, they're not new. I joined in 2006 and used them in 2006.
brandon said 3:41PM on 6-20-2008
Multiple queues is something I never used, didn't even know it existed, and I rent from Blockbuster (in store only), but even I'm totally pissed off at Netflicks!!!!!!!
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Scott said 4:12PM on 6-20-2008
The biggest problem with all of this, if you had friends on your sub-account... GONE, all your movie ratings... GONE, movie reviews...GONE. This is taking all the social data I had there and is removing it.
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Chris said 4:27PM on 6-20-2008
I'll second the "netflix has had multiple profiles for ages" mantra. I've used them since I graduated college 4 years ago. 1 queue for me, 1 for the missus, 1 for TV shows, that way we'd pretty much get 1 movie/show of our choice a couple times a week.
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Rkmase said 4:38PM on 6-20-2008
I thought the same thing - been using it for years. Will be downgrading my account now because of this crap.
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Dino said 4:42PM on 6-20-2008
This was _the_ killer feature that Netflix had that made me switch to them in the first place...I'm pretty sure I'll be canceling my account after this, given that I'll be waist high in souk DVDs by then.
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Drew Olanoff said 4:43PM on 6-20-2008
Does Blockbuster even have a similar feature? If not, they should now.
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Alan Silcott said 6:58PM on 6-20-2008
Nope.....wouldn't be a bad idea for them.
Wyn said 8:33PM on 6-20-2008
We just got that e-mail ourselves, and will be promptly calling the 800# to make sure at least one real person hears how mad we are. I wonder if an executive email carpet bomb is in order? Either way, this sucks. We've used this feature primarily because we have a child and we keep his queue separate from ours. That way there is always a child friendly movie on its way.
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Insomnic said 11:42PM on 6-20-2008
Me and my wife used netflix for years without caring about the profiles feature. We just adjusted our single queue as we needed.
I can see the usefulness of the feature but it also creates uncharged membership profiles (essentially) that probably generated more cost and trouble than they expected. Especially as they try to get into the set top market.
I'd be curious to know what real number of members actually used it. I've seen 1% and 5% quoted but nothing specifically from Netflix -- only from "Netflix customer support". Even if it's only 10% - that's enough people not using it to get rid of it.
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Michael said 12:43PM on 6-21-2008
Didn't use it much, but now that it's gone, maybe their site won't bring my browser to a crawl. The thing that ticks me off about Netflix is the queue limit. Blockbuster doesn't have one, but since I go through movies like you wouldn't believe, the current limit doesn't cut it. I still subscribe to both, but lately I spend more time at Blockbuster because of that.
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BC said 4:43PM on 6-21-2008
Wow. I read the first part and thought, "it's finally time for me to join NetFlix". Then I read the rest and thought, "nope." The feature would be a deal-maker for me.
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Drew Olanoff said 8:16AM on 6-21-2008
I'm with you on that. I didn't know it existed, and now that it's gone, I'm so out.
Ryan said 7:57PM on 6-21-2008
Well I just got Netflix last week and have been enjoying it SO MUCH. I didn't even know about this feature so no love lost for me. Netflix is still freaking awesome.
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Phil J Leitch said 12:26AM on 6-22-2008
This has been a feature for as long as I can remember, it wasn't introduced only months ago, As many others have already mentioned.
One comment suggested this caused extra work and cost for Netflix, I don't see how that is possible. Either way they are placing DVD's in envelopes and sending them to me. So what if it comes from 1 list or 4. The ultimate master list they are picking from is the same regardless.
I also don't think that if it is only 10%, 20% or even just 1% using it that is a good reason to get rid of it. The investment has already been made in the code to manage the extra lists. There really shouldn't be any extra costs and like I just said I don't think splitting my list into two ultimately has any effect on the cost/time of sticking a dvd into an envelope.
Technology is supposed to make our lives simpler by reducing the time we spend doing things. This is a perfect example. I applaud those that manage their queue without multiple profiles but do you realize you could save 5 minutes a day (and 5 minutes is a lot of time these days) not having to worry about checking your queue to make sure your anime dvd isn't next in line after you walk the chick flick your wife just watched to the mailbox.
Let technology handle that for you. That's the point.
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Eric said 10:13AM on 6-23-2008
I'm also pretty mad about this move, by netflix. Hopefully they add they decide to add the ability to add more queues under the main account like how they added one for the Instant watch movies. I could care less about having my own profile, I just want my own queue!
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