I wanna die in bed surrounded by fat grandchildren, but guess that's off the menu.

Jenny ,'Bring On The Night'


Natter 40: The Nice One  

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


§ ita § - Nov 19, 2005 6:27:36 pm PST #5572 of 10006
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

Addition of cereal:

We reserve the right to allocate and ship DVDs among our subscribers in any manner that we, in our sole and absolute discretion, determine.

...

In determining priority for shipping and inventory allocation, we give priority to those members who receive the fewest DVDs through our service. As a result, those subscribers who receive the most movies may experience that (i) the shipment of their next available DVD occurs at least one business day following return of their previously viewed movie (ii) delivery takes longer, as the shipments may not be processed from their local distribution center and (iii) they receive movies lower in their queue more often than our other subscribers. Other factors that may affect delivery times, include, but are not limited to, (i) the distance between the distribution center from which your DVD was shipped and your delivery address, (ii) the timing of your placement or adjustment of movies in your queue and (iii) circumstances impacting delivery by the U.S. Postal Service.

That seems pretty clear to me, Gus--why do you claim they're lying?


Matt the Bruins fan - Nov 19, 2005 6:30:05 pm PST #5573 of 10006
"I remember when they eventually introduced that drug kingpin who murdered people and smuggled drugs inside snakes and I was like 'Finally. A normal person.'” —RahvinDragand

Yes. Add to that the fact that I've been able to rent obscure movies that no video store within driving distance of me would have, like Reason to Believe and Nowhere (which I actually got to see before it was supposed to be released in the U.S.) and Netflix is well worth my pittance each month. Especially since having to return movies within a specific number of days—different for each of the three local stores I frequent—is a big annoyance to me. My last Blockbuster late fee alone is still larger than what I've paid so far for Netflix membership in total.


Gus - Nov 19, 2005 6:30:48 pm PST #5574 of 10006
Bag the crypto. Say what is on your mind.

Still waiting for someone to address the Netflix dishonesty. ita's Libertarian points aside.

They are Bad Guys. Their service is not a square deal.


JenP - Nov 19, 2005 6:31:25 pm PST #5575 of 10006

As far as #2 goes - I sort of see it as up to me whether I make it a good deal. Pretty subjective. I pay $18 a month, and I average at least nine DVDs a month. To me? Totally worth the hassle free receipt of cool things to watch. If (the general) you don't think it's a good deal, don't sign up.

#3 - I don't understand this one. Is Netflix any different from a bricks and mortar movie rental place in terms of having the right to rent DVDs?

#1 - They have a policy of not being as speedy for some customers as others without stating that explicitly? (ETA: apparently not, according to ita's cut and paste; seems pretty up front to me) That would be wrong and annoying, I'll admit. (Personally, I've not noticed any overt slugishness... except on my part in getting things back in the mail.)

So. I'm still good with my Netflix, though, in my opinion, they should fix #1 if that's really what they do (ETA: Actually, since they do state their policy for me to find and decide whether I like, #1 isn't an issue). It's up to me whether I find their shipping policy acceptable, and if I don't, well, I have the option of cancelling.


§ ita § - Nov 19, 2005 6:32:57 pm PST #5576 of 10006
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

Still waiting for someone to address the Netflix dishonesty.

I'm assuming this is a crosspost -- if you say they're lying, it's most rigourous for you to start off with some evidence. I'm not sure where they make the claims that you yourself claim, since I can find their own words that agree with what you're saying they actually do.


JenP - Nov 19, 2005 6:33:22 pm PST #5577 of 10006

Still waiting for someone to address the Netflix dishonesty.

Didn't ita's cut and paste from (what I assume is Netflix service agreement) do that? The fact that they state their policy so that I can find it if I want to pretty much clears up #1 for me.


Gus - Nov 19, 2005 6:35:41 pm PST #5578 of 10006
Bag the crypto. Say what is on your mind.

Ok. We are getting into cross-posts, here. Give me a moment to go back.


§ ita § - Nov 19, 2005 6:35:55 pm PST #5579 of 10006
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

Sorry--you're right, Jen. Netflix terms of use.


Gus - Nov 19, 2005 6:46:37 pm PST #5580 of 10006
Bag the crypto. Say what is on your mind.

Ok. I have read the policy statements.

The lawyers among us will say this is enough. Caveat, frakin' emptor!

Here is the thing, though: The bills will keep coming, even if you do not want the items offered.


§ ita § - Nov 19, 2005 6:50:47 pm PST #5581 of 10006
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

The bills will keep coming, even if you do not want the items offered.

And? If they're providing a service you don't want, stop buying the service. I don't have sympathy for people who spend money on anything they're not getting value from. You can't fault the company for that.

I don't see why you're mad at them for having some stupid consumers. I can't imagine any service provider/vendor that doesn't have any. They can't all be bad guys.

Also -- you haven't actually explained the lack of ownership angle. Do they not own the DVDs?