printNetflix upset its fractious, spoiled-rotten patrons by raising prices (which were at a rock-bottom low), and separating its on-demand internet streaming service from the DVD-by-mail business (now called Qwikster). No sooner did Netflix customers begin whining, than the company sprung into action—within weeks.
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has been groveling to the only voters who count in the true democracy that is the free market: “I messed up. I owe you an explanation … we lacked respect and humility,” all ridiculous and untrue, but necessary if this shrewd businessman is to please his only lords and masters: the buyers.
Despite this Qwickster response, the same misguided patrons refuse to appreciate the wonders of free-market capitalism and will keep begging for more of Uncle Sam’s screw-you, coercive services.
I have been a Netflix customer since last December, mainly for video streaming. I can’t believe how people are so upset about the price increase. The new price is very reasonable compared to cable or satellite. People whine too much about the most insignificant things. I’ll gladly pay the increased fee. Ilana, I have discovered a few Canadian tv shows on Netflix. The best being “Intelligence”, made by Chris Haddock. Have you seen this? It is a great show that only lasted two seasons. I ask only because you lived in Canada. It would be great if the American people would get so up in arm about what the politicians are doing to our country. Thanks.
Full disclosure: I’ve never used Netflix and have no interest. What makes Netflix customers whiny? If people don’t like a service or the pricing, they respond in kind. That’s the whole purpose of price, no? To convey information. If people can find better options, let them and let’s not disparage them for looking for dirt cheap. [Please; let’s not distort; be precise: customers were disparaged for whining, not for looking! We are all for competition.]
My understanding is that Netflix’s streaming content offers a very limited (bordering on useless) catalogue of shows and movies, and that the buffering stream is erratic and, occasionally, of poor quality.
By the way, Hastings wasn’t responding to whiny Netflix patrons. He was performing damage control for 1 million subscribers who’d made the decision to call Hastings’ bluff and cancel their subscriptions. He wasn’t responding to verbal complaints as much as he was addressing a 24% drop in Netflix stock.
As an aside…Hastings is the same man who in a February 9, 2009 New York Times op-ed called “Please Raise My Taxes” begged TaxmanObama to raise taxes on millionaires: “Perhaps a starting place for “tax, not shame” would be creating a top federal marginal tax rate of 50 percent on all income above $1 million per year. Some will tell you that would reduce the incentive to earn but I don’t see that as likely. Besides, half of a giant compensation package is still pretty huge, and most of our motivation is the sheer challenge of the job anyway.”(http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/06/opinion/06hastings.html)
Also, on September 24, 2010 as Netflix was expanding into Canada, Hastings was asked if he was concerned that American subscribers would have a problem with the reduced pricing plan in Canada, Hastings responded: “How much has it been your experience that Americans follow what happens in the world? It’s something we’ll monitor, but Americans are somewhat self-absorbed.”
Self absorbed? Maybe. But apparently they’re paying attention to every nickle and dime, and they like being coddled and made to feel special.
Based purely on his Op-Ed, I can’t stand the guy, and I’d encourage anyone I know who wants their film and TV entertainment too look toward Redbox or Amazon.
[Any advice about a DVD-by-mail service?]
This latest move by Netflix (splitting their dvd by mail service off into a completely separate entity “Quickster”) is a bad call. Everyone who was mad about the price hike was either over it or moved on but their stock price took a dive and they panicked. I wasn’t thrilled about it myself but was leaving it alone due to the convenience. With this Quickster move however, now I’m going to be required to set up a new account on a new website and basically start all over. Their streaming selection is pretty bad, with only a few things worth watching available. I’m currently looking at other options and will probably just cancel the dvd by mail part (since I’ll have to set up a new account for that anyway) and just rent through Amazon.