Netflix makes pro-consumer shipping adjustment to deal with long waits
The pessimistic among us will insist that Netflix is implementing this change in order to avoid acquiring more new releases and ditching the infamous throttling process, but we still maintain that it's better than nothing. For absolutely zero dollars more per month, Netflix has committed to shipping the next "Available" movie in your queue from a local distribution hub as well as the number one unavailable title in your list from another hub (when available) in order to better meet demand and keep subscribers happy. In essence, this change gives users a free (albeit less desired) flick while a more highly sought after disc gets shipped from somewhere else. Netflix only recently announced that this process was in effect, though it was supposedly put into place a few weeks ago -- so, has anyone benefited yet?



















I havent gotten an extra movie yet........and I have 3 movies on "Very Long Wait"(Burn After Reading, Eagle Eye, and The Mummy 3)
Eagle Eye is showing Available Now for me... its #4 in my queue.
strange.......my still says very long wait.......I wonder if it varies depending on your local distribution center.....
Now Eagle Eye has changed to Long Wait in my queue... I guess I shouldn't have said anything.
I don't know how well this is explained since Aggie didn't understand. When they ship you a title from far away (>2 day shipping probably), then they will also send you a title that is available from your local a local hub. This will most likely happen on rarer titles that they don’t have a lot of, like some catalog blu-ray releases. I like this because I’m in Indiana, and it took over a week to get a disc from Idaho once. I’m sure you will have to send both back before they send another disc. This may help the blu-ray library though because they can buy more of the popular releases without worrying about getting less popular catalog titles for every hub.
Como what?! Heck no - in my top 10 in my que 4 are short wait, 3 are long wait, and 3 are very long wait. And they keep pushing out when they'll ship my next movie! For example, last week they had TWO to ship to me and pushed the day by THREE times before they shipped anything! VERY frustrating......
Yes, this worked for me early last week. There was a note in the email saying that they'd need to receive both movies back before sending me the next movie in my queue (I'm on the 1-at-a-time plan).
Maybe that's it - maybe it's just for the 1 DVD per month plan?
This happened to me a week ago and I was pleasantly surprised. The extra movie service is definitely going above and beyond. Also, the delayed movie is the one in the extra slot, I'm on the 3-at-a-time plan and have already returned 2 movies and they still sent 2 more so I"m still at 4.
Kudos to Netflix.
The email read as such:
Shipping update
Dear Jim,
Night Watch was not available from your local shipping center. Fortunately, it was available from a shipping center in another part of the country. It's on its way and should arrive within 3 to 5 days.
You'll notice we also recently sent the next available DVD from your Queue to enjoy while Night Watch makes its way to you.
Your Queue now shows this extra DVD rental. Enjoy.
-The Netflix Team
I don't get it. I don't have ANY long wait movies at the top of my list (they are all Available NOW), yet they skip down to the 6th movie on my list to ship today. What is the point of having a list if they are not going to ship what you are expecting to get next?
I'm fairly sure that there's a priority system at work on Netflix new releases. Heavy volume renters get reduced priority for new releases while the more profitable to Netflix light renters go to the front of the priority line.
This is just one of the many reasons I love Netflix. They also have my eternal loyalty for lowering their prices a few months after I first subscribed (a few years ago). Who else does this? Blockbuster? Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!
No benefit here. I'm still waiting on Tropic Thunder. I finally took Hellboy II off my list because I got it for Christmas.
At least they are doing something about it.
I personally think they should just add all high demand movies on Instant Watch. Wouldn't hurt if they added more in HD.
One other thing. Starting next month I lowered my subscription from 3 to 1 unlimited per month because they will not ship me any new releases. At $9.99 per month, I believe I'm still getting value with Watch Instantly if I don't have a movie from queue. But that may run out before long.
Being a long time subscriber, I am very dissappointed with the way I have been treated by Netflix. I have probably convinced a dozen people to use their service over the years. No more. They have a long way to go get back on my good side.
Of top 15 in my queue - 6 very long wait, 4 long wait, 2 short wait, 3 now. No extra movies received to date. Seems blu-ray is an unsolved problem in the Netflix model.
No extra movies, but I did get "Hancock" shipped to me from South Bend, IN last week. Usually, my shipments come from Lansing, MI.
Unfortunately, I sent the movie back to Netflix in the South Bend addressed return envelope, which means that shipping took longer than usual. Now I need to wait until after new Years Day to get the replacement movie.
Hancock has been on "Very Long Wait" status for me since the date of release :(
I guess it depends on the closest hub to you? I have never had a problem with newly released movies (that I can think of) and they've been some pretty recent one for the holidays to view while the kids are home and etc. I remembered Mummy 3 shipped same day it was released. Maybe not too many people had it in their queue due to the bad reviews, but we enjoyed it. Also I've been viewing some Instant on my Tivo - Underdog, Enchanged, Who Framed Roger Rabbit and catching up on 30Rock and Heroes. Even watched The Tick- boy was that bad lol
I have gotten extra movies (like Speed Racer) when one of the better movies werent available. I like the fact that they do this. They SHOULD be doing this unless they can tell you absolutely how long you would be waiting.
Since the better blu-ray I buy, the 2nds should follow no problem
I feel that if they are going to charge us extra for Blue Ray, they should be able to stock more current release Blue Ray movies. I felt ripped off when the number of very long wait Blue Ray movies INCREASED after the subscription cost increase. NetFlix needs to explain what we got for our extra $1 per month other than a sore spot where the sun don't shine.
Wow, a lot of the people here suffer from poor reading comprehension skills.
Spiza explained it the best, and if you still don't understand, read Jim B's email.
This isnt for movies that have a long wait, this is for movies sent to you from distant hubs that will take a couple days to arrive.
I just kept reading down, expecting the next comment to be the one that pointed out that almost no one had read the post properly, and the lack of reading comprehension continued like zombies to the elevator in Mercy Hospital.
Thankfully yours came to the rescue.
I haven't seen any extras, I am on the 2 at a time plan.
First, I love Netflix. I love the selection, 'Watch Now', etc. My biggest compliant is that blu-ray movies take forever to get. I have several in my queue, and almost all of them are 'very long wait'. It's disappointing, but not enough to ditch Netflix.
I've gotten my first +(extra movie) Jet Li's Fear Less - bluray. The pic shows Asian workers, I think netflix is out out sourcing movie fulfillment to Asia, that's why my movies take soo long..
of the 53 movies in my queue, every single one of them is listed as 'now'
Maybe that's because there isn't a single movie in my list made after 1980...