Anyone else have a bizarre personal Netflix story to tell?

I just have to tell this to someone. It's been a few weeks now, but I
just can't get over this. If you're sick of people bitching about
Netflix, or you're one of those ironic people who like to respond to a
bitchy post by bitching about that person bitching, please don't read
any further.

I rent a lot from Netflix. How much? Well, let's just say that the
first 15 movies in my queue are recent releases that I won't get until
I'm dead. ...perhaps longer. I hope my great, great grandchildren
enjoy "Madagascar".

Anyway, when I first started renting from Netflix, I always tried to
watch my movies immediately and send them back the very next day.
Especially the new releases. I did this for three reasons: First of
all, I wanted to see as many movies as possible and get my money's
worth (naturally). Second, I didn't want to hog up all the new
releases by keeping them forever, as many selfish clods do. Third, I
stupidly assumed that Netflix kept track of people who rapidly returned
new releases, and gave them preferential treatment in return for
keeping things moving.

Anyway, enough generalized bitching. We all know the deceitful little
tricks they use to slow down our queues. What I'd like to focus on now
is the truly weird netflix stories. Things that seem conspicuous as
all hell. Personal Netflix stories that make absolutely no
sense....unless you're dealing with an unscrupulous corporation that
doesn't mind cheating its customers to maximize profits.

MY WEIRD NETFLIX STORY:

Many months ago, I learned that Warner Bros. was preparing to release
"Superman the Animated Series, Season 2". I immediately went to
Netflix to put it on my quere, only to find that there wasn't a page
for it yet. Week after week, I kept checking back, but nothing ever
appeared except the page for "Season 1". The release date came and
went. Still nothing.
Finally, out of frustration, I sent Netflix an e-mail asking if they
intended to carry the DVD. I wrote my e-mail late at night, when I do
most of my web surfing.
.......The next morning, no more than 9 hours after I'd sent my e-mail,
I was elated to find that there was a page dedicated to "Superman the
Animated Series, Season 2". A wave of warmth passed through me as I
had "happy bunny" thoughts about Netflix's quick response to my
inquiry. HOWEVER, when I put the DVD on my queue, it said VERY LONG
WAIT!!!
WTF?!?! How, without any "saved" page dedicated to the DVD, and
without ANY notification that they now carried the DVD, did so damn
many people suddenly become aware that Netflix had it? And why, after
several months, does my queue STILL say that it has a "very long wait"?
I smell a rat. Did Netflix go shopping for the disk in the middle of
the night? Did every Superman fan with a Netflix account suddenly
awake at 3:00am so they could see if Netflix got the disk yet? Does
Netflix even HAVE the damn thing? --?!?!?!?!


I long for another "DVD rental by mail" company with Netflix's
selection. One that doesn't pull the same B.S. as Netflix. One that
doesn't constantly say "shipping tomorrow". One that doesn't
periodically get the "rated" version of a film instead of the "unrated"
version. One that doesn't send you DVDs from the other side of the
country, and then wastes even MORE of your time making you send it BACK
there!!

.....And did anyone else notice that Netflix never sends a courtesty
E-mail asking if a LATE movie arrived? I only get those e-mails
whenever they manage to send a DVD earlier than usual. Hmmm. Someone
more cynical than me might conclude that they have more control over
shipping than they want to admit.

I'm done. Anyone else have a story?

hobnoblin@hotmail.com

I get courtesy emails when movies arrive late.

I had nothing but trouble with Blockbuster, including receiving movies
7 days after they were supposed to be mailed.

I don't like that netflix throttles users, but I haven't had as good
service from any other system and still get movies turned around in one
day.

Don

bbcrock@gmail.com

() wrote in alt.video.dvd:
> Finally, out of frustration, I sent Netflix an e-mail asking if they
> intended to carry the DVD. I wrote my e-mail late at night, when I do
> most of my web surfing.
> ......The next morning, no more than 9 hours after I'd sent my e-mail,
> I was elated to find that there was a page dedicated to "Superman the
> Animated Series, Season 2". A wave of warmth passed through me as I
> had "happy bunny" thoughts about Netflix's quick response to my
> inquiry. HOWEVER, when I put the DVD on my queue, it said VERY LONG
> WAIT!!!
> WTF?!?! How, without any "saved" page dedicated to the DVD, and
> without ANY notification that they now carried the DVD, did so damn
> many people suddenly become aware that Netflix had it?

Or, it could just be that the release of that set slipped by the Netflix
team, and you alerted them to it. They created a database entry for the
set before they had any copies anywhere in stock (exactly like what would
happen if you had placed it in your queue 3 months before the release
date).

Thus, since there were no copies in any Netflix warehouse, and no projected
return dates for any copies "VERY LONG WAIT" was how they described the
situation.

Tell us, how long did you actually wait for the first disk from that set?
I'll bet it was just about as long as it took Netflix to buy some copies
of the set, plus mailing time.

--
Jeff Rife | Sam: Hey, how's life treating you there, Norm?
|
| Norm: Beats me...then it kicks me and leaves me
| for dead.

Jeff Rife

Jeff Rife wrote:

>>......The next morning, no more than 9 hours after I'd sent my e-mail,
>>I was elated to find that there was a page dedicated to "Superman the
>>Animated Series, Season 2". A wave of warmth passed through me as I
>>had "happy bunny" thoughts about Netflix's quick response to my
>>inquiry. HOWEVER, when I put the DVD on my queue, it said VERY LONG
>>WAIT!!!

> Or, it could just be that the release of that set slipped by the Netflix
> team, and you alerted them to it. They created a database entry for the
> set before they had any copies anywhere in stock (exactly like what would
> happen if you had placed it in your queue 3 months before the release
> date).
>
> Thus, since there were no copies in any Netflix warehouse, and no projected
> return dates for any copies "VERY LONG WAIT" was how they described the
> situation.

AAMoF, "Very Long Wait" is now pretty much ONLY used to denote
out-of-print or acquisition-pending copies--
The tactful version of "We ain't got one/yet."

While, with the new surplus of regional centers, anything that *does*
have a long wait has been downgraded to simply "Long Wait", while they
try to find an outside center to import the title from...IF they feel
your queue merits the effort when an otherwise available title's at #2.

Derek Janssen (who just saw one of his longtime VLW's downgraded to
"Short Wait")

Derek Janssen

wrote:
> I just have to tell this to someone. It's been a few weeks now, but I
> just can't get over this. If you're sick of people bitching about
> Netflix, or you're one of those ironic people who like to respond to a
> bitchy post by bitching about that person bitching, please don't read
> any further.
>
> I rent a lot from Netflix. How much? Well, let's just say that the
> first 15 movies in my queue are recent releases that I won't get until
> I'm dead. ...perhaps longer. I hope my great, great grandchildren
> enjoy "Madagascar".
>

You know if your that desperate to see Madagascar why not try your
local public library?

I take my Grandkid down to this reading program (they run out of the
childrens section) once a week and I found out to my delight that they
have tons of DVD titles in the library, and the best part is that they
are all for free!

And I am not talking about crappy titles either, as not only have I
already seen Madagascar (weeks ago) as of right this second I am
literally watching "The Island" and I have as well to watch four other
titles I checked out (up to 6 titles for up to 2 weeks at a time at
this particular library)this week such as the movies"Dark Water"
"Finding Nemo" "Lilo & Stitch-2" and a "Herbie" movie (GOD I hate
Herbie,frankly at this point I hope that in the next movie they make
Herbie will simply go to Hell)!







> Anyway, when I first started renting from Netflix, I always tried to
> watch my movies immediately and send them back the very next day.
> Especially the new releases. I did this for three reasons: First of
> all, I wanted to see as many movies as possible and get my money's
> worth (naturally). Second, I didn't want to hog up all the new
> releases by keeping them forever, as many selfish clods do. Third, I
> stupidly assumed that Netflix kept track of people who rapidly returned
> new releases, and gave them preferential treatment in return for
> keeping things moving.
>
> Anyway, enough generalized bitching. We all know the deceitful little
> tricks they use to slow down our queues. What I'd like to focus on now
> is the truly weird netflix stories. Things that seem conspicuous as
> all hell. Personal Netflix stories that make absolutely no
> sense....unless you're dealing with an unscrupulous corporation that
> doesn't mind cheating its customers to maximize profits.
>
> MY WEIRD NETFLIX STORY:
>
> Many months ago, I learned that Warner Bros. was preparing to release
> "Superman the Animated Series, Season 2". I immediately went to
> Netflix to put it on my quere, only to find that there wasn't a page
> for it yet. Week after week, I kept checking back, but nothing ever
> appeared except the page for "Season 1". The release date came and
> went. Still nothing.
> Finally, out of frustration, I sent Netflix an e-mail asking if they
> intended to carry the DVD. I wrote my e-mail late at night, when I do
> most of my web surfing.
> ......The next morning, no more than 9 hours after I'd sent my e-mail,
> I was elated to find that there was a page dedicated to "Superman the
> Animated Series, Season 2". A wave of warmth passed through me as I
> had "happy bunny" thoughts about Netflix's quick response to my
> inquiry. HOWEVER, when I put the DVD on my queue, it said VERY LONG
> WAIT!!!
> WTF?!?! How, without any "saved" page dedicated to the DVD, and
> without ANY notification that they now carried the DVD, did so damn
> many people suddenly become aware that Netflix had it? And why, after
> several months, does my queue STILL say that it has a "very long wait"?
> I smell a rat. Did Netflix go shopping for the disk in the middle of
> the night? Did every Superman fan with a Netflix account suddenly
> awake at 3:00am so they could see if Netflix got the disk yet? Does
> Netflix even HAVE the damn thing? --?!?!?!?!
>
>
> I long for another "DVD rental by mail" company with Netflix's
> selection. One that doesn't pull the same B.S. as Netflix. One that
> doesn't constantly say "shipping tomorrow". One that doesn't
> periodically get the "rated" version of a film instead of the "unrated"
> version. One that doesn't send you DVDs from the other side of the
> country, and then wastes even MORE of your time making you send it BACK
> there!!
>
> ....And did anyone else notice that Netflix never sends a courtesty
> E-mail asking if a LATE movie arrived? I only get those e-mails
> whenever they manage to send a DVD earlier than usual. Hmmm. Someone
> more cynical than me might conclude that they have more control over
> shipping than they want to admit.
>
> I'm done. Anyone else have a story?

tabernacle2002@hotmail.com

wrote:
> I just have to tell this to someone. It's been a few weeks now, but I
> just can't get over this. If you're sick of people bitching about
> Netflix, or you're one of those ironic people who like to respond to a
> bitchy post by bitching about that person bitching, please don't read
> any further.
>
> I rent a lot from Netflix. How much? Well, let's just say that the
> first 15 movies in my queue are recent releases that I won't get until
> I'm dead. ...perhaps longer. I hope my great, great grandchildren
> enjoy "Madagascar".
>

You know if your that desperate to see Madagascar why not try your
local public library?

I take my Grandkid down to this reading program (they run out of the
childrens section) once a week and I found out to my delight that they
have tons of DVD titles in the library, and the best part is that they
are all for free!

And I am not talking about crappy titles either, as not only have I
already seen Madagascar (weeks ago) as of right this second I am
literally watching "The Island" and I have as well to watch four other
titles I checked out (up to 6 titles for up to 2 weeks at a time at
this particular library)this week such as the movies"Dark Water"
"Finding Nemo" "Lilo & Stitch-2" and a "Herbie" movie (GOD I hate
Herbie,frankly at this point I hope that in the next movie they make
Herbie will simply go to Hell)!







> Anyway, when I first started renting from Netflix, I always tried to
> watch my movies immediately and send them back the very next day.
> Especially the new releases. I did this for three reasons: First of
> all, I wanted to see as many movies as possible and get my money's
> worth (naturally). Second, I didn't want to hog up all the new
> releases by keeping them forever, as many selfish clods do. Third, I
> stupidly assumed that Netflix kept track of people who rapidly returned
> new releases, and gave them preferential treatment in return for
> keeping things moving.
>
> Anyway, enough generalized bitching. We all know the deceitful little
> tricks they use to slow down our queues. What I'd like to focus on now
> is the truly weird netflix stories. Things that seem conspicuous as
> all hell. Personal Netflix stories that make absolutely no
> sense....unless you're dealing with an unscrupulous corporation that
> doesn't mind cheating its customers to maximize profits.
>
> MY WEIRD NETFLIX STORY:
>
> Many months ago, I learned that Warner Bros. was preparing to release
> "Superman the Animated Series, Season 2". I immediately went to
> Netflix to put it on my quere, only to find that there wasn't a page
> for it yet. Week after week, I kept checking back, but nothing ever
> appeared except the page for "Season 1". The release date came and
> went. Still nothing.
> Finally, out of frustration, I sent Netflix an e-mail asking if they
> intended to carry the DVD. I wrote my e-mail late at night, when I do
> most of my web surfing.
> ......The next morning, no more than 9 hours after I'd sent my e-mail,
> I was elated to find that there was a page dedicated to "Superman the
> Animated Series, Season 2". A wave of warmth passed through me as I
> had "happy bunny" thoughts about Netflix's quick response to my
> inquiry. HOWEVER, when I put the DVD on my queue, it said VERY LONG
> WAIT!!!
> WTF?!?! How, without any "saved" page dedicated to the DVD, and
> without ANY notification that they now carried the DVD, did so damn
> many people suddenly become aware that Netflix had it? And why, after
> several months, does my queue STILL say that it has a "very long wait"?
> I smell a rat. Did Netflix go shopping for the disk in the middle of
> the night? Did every Superman fan with a Netflix account suddenly
> awake at 3:00am so they could see if Netflix got the disk yet? Does
> Netflix even HAVE the damn thing? --?!?!?!?!
>
>
> I long for another "DVD rental by mail" company with Netflix's
> selection. One that doesn't pull the same B.S. as Netflix. One that
> doesn't constantly say "shipping tomorrow". One that doesn't
> periodically get the "rated" version of a film instead of the "unrated"
> version. One that doesn't send you DVDs from the other side of the
> country, and then wastes even MORE of your time making you send it BACK
> there!!
>
> ....And did anyone else notice that Netflix never sends a courtesty
> E-mail asking if a LATE movie arrived? I only get those e-mails
> whenever they manage to send a DVD earlier than usual. Hmmm. Someone
> more cynical than me might conclude that they have more control over
> shipping than they want to admit.
>
> I'm done. Anyone else have a story?

tabernacle2002@hotmail.com

I don't currently belong to Netflix, because I think it's silly to pay
for the service between November and January when the mail is so
screwed up and nobody is paying a lick of attention to their jobs
because of illness and holiday distractions. That being said, I'm
considering rejoining. I don't consider myself a heavy user. 12-13
discs a month is about all I'm capable of watching. Still, I felt I
was subject to some throttling before I quit last fall, especially in
the area of new releases.

I watch mostly TV series with a smattering of movies mixed in.
Something that happened several times, and infuriates me, is they would
ship two discs of the same TV series on the same day. There were only
ever two outcomes to this. 1) Both would arrive the same day. 2) The
latter disc would arrive first, and the earlier disk in the series
would arrive the next day if I was lucky, 2 days if I wasn't. Try
watching "24" out of sequence, or most other shows that have any kind
of story arc whatsoever. The 2nd scenario happened to me several
times. I never got the earlier disc first. Never, ever. A very
subtle form of throttling if you ask me. Everytime I proffer this
theory a bunch of people jump on the "it's the post offices fault" or
they "came from different distribution centers" despite having the same
return address on both discs.

Netflix has admitted they throttle, and with computer controlled
distribution (which the post office also uses) they probably have a
fair amount of control over shipping and arrival times.

-beaumon

lorincantrell@yahoo.com

<> wrote in message
news: ups.com...


Snip


It means that they do not have it at all.

kaydigi

Jeff Rife wrote:
> () wrote in alt.video.dvd:
> > Finally, out of frustration, I sent Netflix an e-mail asking if they
> > intended to carry the DVD. I wrote my e-mail late at night, when I do
> > most of my web surfing.
> > ......The next morning, no more than 9 hours after I'd sent my e-mail,
> > I was elated to find that there was a page dedicated to "Superman the
> > Animated Series, Season 2". A wave of warmth passed through me as I
> > had "happy bunny" thoughts about Netflix's quick response to my
> > inquiry. HOWEVER, when I put the DVD on my queue, it said VERY LONG
> > WAIT!!!
> > WTF?!?! How, without any "saved" page dedicated to the DVD, and
> > without ANY notification that they now carried the DVD, did so damn
> > many people suddenly become aware that Netflix had it?
>
> Or, it could just be that the release of that set slipped by the Netflix
> team, and you alerted them to it. They created a database entry for the
> set before they had any copies anywhere in stock (exactly like what would
> happen if you had placed it in your queue 3 months before the release
> date).
>
> Thus, since there were no copies in any Netflix warehouse, and no projected
> return dates for any copies "VERY LONG WAIT" was how they described the
> situation.
>
> Tell us, how long did you actually wait for the first disk from that set?
> I'll bet it was just about as long as it took Netflix to buy some copies
> of the set, plus mailing time.

Sorry Jeff, but you'd lose that bet.

The disks were released by Warner Bros. on 12-6-05. My letter to
Netflix would've been written shortly thereafter, but I don't have an
exact date. I'd guess that it was between 12-10 to 12-15.

Jeff, I never GOT any of the dvds. After all this time, they're still
sitting near the top of my queue. All of them STILL say "Very Long
Wait". Nothing has changed.

If you're really interested in my situation, I encourage you to put
"Superman the Animated Series, Volume 2" on YOUR queue, just to see
what it tells you. Please let me know. Does it say "Very long wait"?
If so, are you a frequent or infrequent renter?

Thanks in advance,

Chuck


>
> --
> Jeff Rife | Sam: Hey, how's life treating you there, Norm?
> |
> | Norm: Beats me...then it kicks me and leaves me
> | for dead.

hobnoblin@hotmail.com

Derek Janssen wrote:
> Jeff Rife wrote:
>
> >>......The next morning, no more than 9 hours after I'd sent my e-mail,
> >>I was elated to find that there was a page dedicated to "Superman the
> >>Animated Series, Season 2". A wave of warmth passed through me as I
> >>had "happy bunny" thoughts about Netflix's quick response to my
> >>inquiry. HOWEVER, when I put the DVD on my queue, it said VERY LONG
> >>WAIT!!!
> > Or, it could just be that the release of that set slipped by the Netflix
> > team, and you alerted them to it. They created a database entry for the
> > set before they had any copies anywhere in stock (exactly like what would
> > happen if you had placed it in your queue 3 months before the release
> > date).
> >
> > Thus, since there were no copies in any Netflix warehouse, and no projected
> > return dates for any copies "VERY LONG WAIT" was how they described the
> > situation.
>
> AAMoF, "Very Long Wait" is now pretty much ONLY used to denote
> out-of-print or acquisition-pending copies--
> The tactful version of "We ain't got one/yet."

I don't think so. According to my queue, the following movies are said
to have a "very long wait". All of them were released just this week.
"Ultimate Avengers", "Aliens Gone Wild", "Ant: America's Ready", and
"Lie With Me".

Wait a second. I went back to check on the status of Superman vol.2,
and now it says "unavailable". What the hell is the matter with those
people?!?!?

I'm starting to have serious thoughts about cancelling my subscription.



>
> While, with the new surplus of regional centers, anything that *does*
> have a long wait has been downgraded to simply "Long Wait", while they
> try to find an outside center to import the title from...IF they feel
> your queue merits the effort when an otherwise available title's at #2.
>
> Derek Janssen (who just saw one of his longtime VLW's downgraded to
> "Short Wait")
>

hobnoblin@hotmail.com