Netflix (DVD Delivery Discussion Only)

[Perkins Cobb]

So, Falling Skies: Like The Killing, it's a major new TV show that Netflix only carries on DVD.

When I put the Blu-rays into my Blockbuster queue, here's how it comes up: Disc 1 - Short Wait; Disc 2 - Available, Disc 3 - On Order.

I ask you, how is that even possible?

[Matt]

My account is currently on hold, set to reactivate on July 1, and it looks like I've lost the ability to move my reactivation date further into the future. My only options are "reactivate now" and "cancel account," neither of which I really want to do.

Maybe they're just telling me to shit or get off the pot. For the past several months, Netflix has only been for me an incomplete online list of some movies and TV shows I kind of want to see at some point in my life.

[swo17]

I think someone posted here a while ago that if you cancel your account, your queue will be irretrievable if you should ever choose to return. This is in contrast to Blockbuster, who still allow me to manipulate my queue even after I've completely canceled my account.

[Perkins Cobb]

I think someone posted here a while ago that if you cancel your account, your queue will be irretrievable if you should ever choose to return.

Do we know this for sure? They actually did erase my queue when I cancelled for a few months last fall, but I assumed that was an error and not standard policy.

Matt, if your account is on hold, you're basically paying them not to ship you DVDs ... so wouldn't reactivating it and leaving the first round of discs you get to collect dust be an acceptable workaround?

[Matt]

You're not charged while your account is on hold.

Anyway, I just cancelled my (streaming-only) account, taking screenshots of my queue. I haven't used the service since February. I'll fire it back up again when there's something I really want to watch that I can't see elsewhere.

I believe they now delete all information pertaining to cancelled accounts (including queues) due to a lawsuit over their retention of user information.

[swo17]

I think someone posted here a while ago that if you cancel your account, your queue will be irretrievable if you should ever choose to return.

Do we know this for sure? They actually did erase my queue when I cancelled for a few months last fall, but I assumed that was an error and not standard policy.

I'm just going off of anecdotal evidence, so I could be wrong.

As Matt suggests, I think it's definitely worth taking screenshots of your queue just in case, if like others you use your queue to keep track of things you want to see at some point.

[Perkins Cobb]

You're not charged while your account is on hold.

Well, yes and no. You're not rebilled, but your billing date isn't pushed back -- you're still charged for whatever's left of your current month. Which you probably knew already, but given that, I've never understood the benefit of an account hold versus just cancelling and restarting whenever you're ready. Either way, you're throwing away money unless you can time your hold/cancel date to just before the rebill.

I believe they now delete all information pertaining to cancelled accounts (including queues) due to a lawsuit over their retention of user information.

Ah yes, now I remember. Details here. I'm not sure it's quite as dire as that. They can retain data for up to a year, and I don't think anyone has determined yet whether it affects the queue or just the rental history. Although I should probably remember to dump my queue into a spreadsheet next time I bail.

[Minkin]

My account is currently on hold, set to reactivate on July 1, and it looks like I've lost the ability to move my reactivation date further into the future. My only options are "reactivate now" and "cancel account," neither of which I really want to do.

Maybe they're just telling me to shit or get off the pot. For the past several months, Netflix has only been for me an incomplete online list of some movies and TV shows I kind of want to see at some point in my life.

Was feeling smug until I realized that I'm in the exact same boat as you (I've had mine on hold forever). I tried to find an explanation, and I believe this is the offending matter (also, here's Hacking Netflix's take on it).

So I guess they removed the vacation hold, thus you must either cancel or reactivate it

I believe, when your account was on hold, you could start your subscription back up at any time - and at least get the time you were supposed to have left to use - at least that's what the story sounds like from all the pissed off people - who are mad because the new change removes this benefit back - thus you must cancel your account to go on vacation - and hope your vacation falls within a few days of the billing cycle. I didn't know about any of that first hand though - since I would always put my account on hold on the day before/of the next billing cycle. Either way, it sounds like Netflix just became even shittier (if that's even possible). What a ridiculous situation. They used to be one of the best companies for the customer, now they are trying to screw every dime they can (although, to be fair - it also sucked to have to constantly shift the "reactivate date" forward another month or two).

Aside from ranting, I can't really tell how long Netflix keeps the data (our queues) - since they obviously can't hold it for a year or more (court mandated) and the Hacking Netflix page mentions 3 months (although the official notice doesn't mention any length of time). So I guess we will have to cancel our accounts and bide our time until Netflix says we can't check our queues and rental history anymore (being optimistic that they warn us beforehand).

Regardless, it's probably best to be safe and take screenshots before hitting cancel - who knows how long Netflix will want to retain our business (you can be the judge based on the last two years of precedent).

[Minkin]

Sorry to double post, but I realized that I only had one day left until my membership was to restart again.

So, I went ahead and hit cancel (having saved my queue on a word document).

And damn, this is stupid. Netflix really does cancel your account. You can still see your billing info, but nothing else - no queue, history etc.

What are you supposed to do if you actually do go on vacation then? You have to cancel your account every time? Netflix just gets worse and worse. Sure, they probably don't want to pay for the bandwidth of keeping everyone's queue, but this is just a terrible decision.

[Michael Kerpan]

Currently I'm getting errors whenever I try to add anything to my queue.

[Drucker]

Currently I'm getting errors whenever I try to add anything to my queue.

Netflix, Instagram and some other sites were affected by major power outages in Washington, D.C.

[swo17]

Netflix just started carrying Margaret on Blu-ray and DVD. However, rather than carry the DVD containing the extended director's cut (the only DVD commercially available) they have a specially manufactured rental-only DVD of the theatrical cut. So actually buying the set remains the only way to see the director's cut.

[mfunk9786]

It's worth it. Before y'all go around blaming Netflix, or even FOX, it's possible that this was part of Amazon's exclusivity agreement for the Blu-ray/DVD combo release - no streaming or disc rentals of the extended cut elsewhere.

[zedz]

Nah, let's blame Fox.

[Cash Flagg]

Several areas, including mine, are no longer receiving one-day First Class delivery from the post office, which means only one Netflix cycle per week instead of two. A CSR told me that they're currently working with the post office to try to figure out a solution, but if none is forthcoming I certainly can't see continuing to use Netflix's services.

[Perkins Cobb]

Several areas, including mine, are no longer receiving one-day First Class delivery from the post office, which means only one Netflix cycle per week instead of two. A CSR told me that they're currently working with the post office to try to figure out a solution, but if none is forthcoming I certainly can't see continuing to use Netflix's services.

Further discussion of this here. Really sucks if you're affected -- basically, all of a sudden you'd have to double your disc count to keep getting the same service. So far my delivery is the same but if that changes I won't have any real options beyond paying Netflix even MORE money.

On another note, has anyone attempted to rent O Lucky Man! from Netflix lately? The film is split across two discs (at least for the retail release) but Netflix only offers one. I'm guessing that means I'll only receive Disc 1 with the first half of the film, but does anybody know for sure?

[Minkin]

On another note, has anyone attempted to rent O Lucky Man! from Netflix lately? The film is split across two discs (at least for the retail release) but Netflix only offers one. I'm guessing that means I'll only receive Disc 1 with the first half of the film, but does anybody know for sure?

When I rented it forever ago, they sent both discs (much to my surprise at the time to have received two Netflix in the mail)

[Roger Ryan]

On another note, has anyone attempted to rent O Lucky Man! from Netflix lately? The film is split across two discs (at least for the retail release) but Netflix only offers one. I'm guessing that means I'll only receive Disc 1 with the first half of the film, but does anybody know for sure?

When I rented it forever ago, they sent both discs (much to my surprise at the time to have received two Netflix in the mail)

Netflix will usually mail both discs (in separate envelopes) at the same time for films where the feature is split over two discs. They did this for O LUCKY MAN! about two years ago and for THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING when I rented it this past April.

[Perkins Cobb]

Interesting ... I remember that from eons ago when I got both discs of The Dawns Here Are Quiet, but the NF site made it clear that it would ship both of 'em together (and in fact it still says that, even though nowadays you get neither of them, because Netflix doesn't carry the film any more; but I digress).

Anyhow, let's live dangerously and see what we get....

EDIT: Success: both O LUCKY MAN! discs shipping today. CRISIS AVERTED! My life is once again livable.

[flyonthewall2983]

They spelled Terriers wrong.

[mfunk9786]

Yes, because so many of the people that were still watching The Killing during Season 2 are way into alternative media formats

[dustybooks]

Is there any point whatsoever to using "report problem" if they sent me a P&S DVD instead of a widescreen one? Or would that be a "suck it up" scenario? (It's not an obscure film, it's West Side Story, and their page for it says 2.20:1 widescreen.)

[knives]

I'd complain, but complaining is how I breath.

[Murdoch]

Gawd, a pan and scan West Side Story is just scary

[Noiradelic]

Is there any point whatsoever to using "report problem" if they sent me a P&S DVD instead of a widescreen one? Or would that be a "suck it up" scenario? (It's not an obscure film, it's West Side Story, and their page for it says 2.20:1 widescreen.)

I'd call and complain. The reps have told me they can't tell what versions of movies Netflix has, but you if you ask for an extra rental, they'll probably give it to you if you point out the widescreen listing. Then use the "report problem" button to replace the copy you have and if you're lucky, they might ship you a widescreen version this time.