Netflix spins off its DVD-by-mail service as Qwikster

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  • Reply 41 of 127
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by katastroff View Post


    Quitster.





    A.K.A. Trixster
  • Reply 42 of 127
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stevetim View Post


    Wow! how stupid. They have this great brand name. Technology would allow them to integrate the services like they are currently doing. But now they want us to go to two different websites and have two different logins. This makes no sense!



    I'm sure their thinking was that if they split the brands, then charging for each separately will look better to consumers: "Look, we're not doubling your charge, we're splitting it into two separate charges."



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Jsyedinak View Post


    Same here. I am amazed at how bad the Streaming Movie selection is - mostly B movies and seeing the same ones at that for many months. On the DVD Side, the wait is glacial compared to what i could get for cheap at the local rental store or Redbox or Itunes or....



    The selection seems to change almost daily, but I generally find plenty of choices. You don't really expect a huge selection of newly released films for what they charge, do you?



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by msuberly View Post


    What was AOL dialup great at? I remember back in the 90's getting endless busy signals until AOL was sued for breach of contract. What was Borders great at? Barnes and Noble always had a better selection of books. I finally stopped referring to Borders as a bookstore.



    AOL was fine until it grew too big for itself and before Internet access became commonplace. Borders had a better magazine selection and had a much better music department with some great listening booths. I discovered a lot of new music their back in the day.
  • Reply 43 of 127
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by jhende7 View Post


    Imagine that.... content providers jack up the wholesale price, and the retailer (Netflix) is forced to increase the selling price to consumers! Oh lordy, what has this warld come toooo.!



    But we will blame Netflix, because we don't know any better and because they have the logo, the catchy name, etc.



    We will scream foul when the CEO says hes splitting the company into two distinct entities, not because we ourselves have any knowledge of business (ie the fact that all other Countries besides the US have streaming only and will benefit from said separation).



    We, the ignorant manifesties, feverishly looking for the next corporation to attack with our pitch forks and flaming torches.



    I say Netflix is just the tip of the iceberg. Lets stick it to the real villains! Like jewelers who tell me I have to pay more for engagement rings because the price of gold, platinum and diamonds has increased! How about the evil grocery stores who increase the price of my most favourtist tasty cheeses when the price of dairy increases!



    Let them allllllll buuuurrrrn!



    1. Don't be a dick. 2. If unsure, see rule 1.



    (Sarcasm = being a dick)
  • Reply 44 of 127
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by jhende7 View Post


    Imagine that.... content providers jack up the wholesale price, and the retailer (Netflix) is forced to increase the selling price to consumers! Oh lordy, what has this warld come toooo.!



    Absolutely - I didn't understand the huge backlash. Most of us have been getting away with effectively paying $2/month for unlimited streaming of content - far less than that service's value, and now people bitch because the cost is going up to what we probably should have been paying in the first place.



    If you're so pissed off, dump Netflix, pay for Amazon Prime (which I was happy to do before they offered unlimited streaming as part of the service), and use that instead. The selection is far more limited, but hey, it's a lot cheaper...
  • Reply 45 of 127
    Mr. Read. Nice try but you have failed. This has never been a problem of the ?announcement?. There was a value in the combined services, having a single login, having a single search to see what is available on DVD, streaming, or both. I liked when a movie on my DVD list became available for streaming I could clearly see it and remove it from the DVD list.
  • Reply 46 of 127
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by lamewing View Post


    1. Don't be a dick. 2. If unsure, see rule 1.



    I didn't see this post as 'being a dick' - I saw it as pointing out why those who have been bitching about the cost of goods going up as being dicks.
  • Reply 47 of 127
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Apple ][ View Post


    For DVD customers, this might be a bad thing, but for streaming only customers, I see it as a good thing. No longer will useless DVD results show up when I'm searching for something. Netflix is expanding globally, and streaming will be a big part of that.



    Netflix clearly sees the Streaming and DVD through mail business as being two different things, and the DVD business has got to be much more costly to operate than streaming, with physical media, distribution centers to operate and mail delivery, all of which adds to the costs. People who want physical media should pay more.



    Netflix is most likely not a bunch of socialists and the streaming people shouldn't have to subsidize the mail rental people. I can totally see why they would want to separate the two businesses from each other.



    Netflix started as DVD rental by mail service, then they added free streaming. Seems more like DVD was subsidizing streaming if anything. And people who want physical media isn't asked to pay more, just pay what they were paying originally before streaming came along and was free.
  • Reply 48 of 127
    LOL so just because you have 2 different products, you need 2 different companies? Good god man.
  • Reply 49 of 127
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by katastroff View Post


    Quitster.



    Quitster indeed!



    Does Reed Hastings have some sort of substance abuse or bipolar problem we're not aware of? This move - totally severing whatever synergy there was between the delivery and streaming businesses - seems insane.



    Telling those of us who made great use of both the delivery and streaming services that our queues, recommendations, ratings and history are now unlinked is like inviting us to go elsewhere.



    With this move Netflix has effectively leveled the playing field and brought themselves DOWN to the level of the competition in their individual businesses.



    #FAIL.
  • Reply 50 of 127
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Apple ][ View Post


    As for Netflix splitting their business in two, that is a good move. Streaming is where the future is at and DVD rentals through the mail is a dying business.



    LOL...talking about "parroting".



    Bandwidth caps are coming, in many cases they are already here. Streaming quality doesn't come close to what is available on disc. HD streaming content has even a more limited selection then the pathetic choices of "standard" quality streaming.



    I think this announcement is a huge win for Blockbuster. Netflix and their spin off company will be dead in under 3 years.



    -kpluck
  • Reply 51 of 127
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by lamewing View Post


    1. Don't be a dick. 2. If unsure, see rule 1.



    (Sarcasm = being a dick)



    I'd like to point out two things.



    1. This whole thread is riddled with misconception, a lack of education on the subject matter, whining, ignorance and gloating. All actions, deserving an equal and opposite reaction, I have provided a response that is equal (ie poorly written and arrogant sounding) and opposite (full of reason, logic, knowledge of the material at hand).



    2. If me using sarcasm constitutes me being a dick, then you sarcastically mocking my sarcastic posts makes you a double dick, or some unnamed organ or appendage that is twice as insulting to use.
  • Reply 52 of 127
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by kpluck View Post


    LOL...talking about "parroting".



    Bandwidth caps are coming, in many cases they are already here. Streaming quality doesn't come close to what is available on disc. HD streaming content has even a more limited selection then the pathetic choices of "standard" quality streaming.



    I think this announcement is a huge win for Blockbuster. Netflix and their spin off company will be dead in under 3 years.



    -kpluck



    Umm, streaming quality DOES come close. Maybe your connection is just too slow. An HD stream looks about as good as HD from my television provider.



    The quality alone doesn't justify separating the two things anyways.



    Also, where did you hear about a cap on landlines data? I'll lose my shit if Comcast tells me I can't go over a certain amount. Streaming movies and downloading games from Steam alone uses a ton of data :/
  • Reply 53 of 127
    Quickster = New Coke = massive fail



    "Goodbye Netflix and goodbye Qwikster". Was a great quote earlier in the thread. Oh, lookie here.... I mis-spelled their new company name in my first sentence even after seeing it 30+ times.



    What they fail to understand is that I as a customer do NOT want:

    Two queues,

    Two logins

    Two websites,

    Two places to update for address, credit card...



    I was barely OK with the 60% price hike because I expected Netflix to go out and buy new & better streaming content.



    Way to utterly destroy your brand.
  • Reply 54 of 127
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by xSamplex View Post


    Netflix => Tailspin



    They will auger in soon. Hulu & Blockbuster say thanks



    Apple probably not too upset either...



    Not so sure about that. Netflix can see where their business is going to be in the future and they're doing something other companies don't always do: they're trying to adapt and prepare for the future before a competitor (like Apple) comes in and messes up the party. I can understand the logic behind their move and making changes to stay ahead of this is the right thing to do. I suppose some people may not see this, but the technical aspect of keeping both elements of the company merged would be a significant impediment against the agility and speed which they may require in the future.



    As a Netflix customer, though, I'm a bit sour about how they've handled it. I don't like that I'm now paying more money for less features and a less inconvenient product. It makes me a little more eager to ditch them. And Qwikster? Who the hell came up with that? They should be fired and they should correct that mistake before it hurts even more to do so. I think Gruber hit the nail on the head there. What about something like Mailflix? Something which takes on a sense of immediate familiarity with users—something which is only a partial atrocity against the English language.
  • Reply 55 of 127
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by chronster View Post


    Umm, streaming quality DOES come close. Maybe your connection is just too slow. An HD stream looks about as good as HD from my television provider.



    The quality alone doesn't justify separating the two things anyways.



    Also, where did you hear about a cap on landlines data? I'll lose my shit if Comcast tells me I can't go over a certain amount. Streaming movies and downloading games from Steam alone uses a ton of data :/



    There is no data cap. Comcast calls it "Excessive Use" and they say it presents no issues for 99 percent of their uses.
  • Reply 56 of 127
    Right now I am looking at going amazon and getting rid of Netflix does anyone out there have any suggestions for a Netflix replacement.

    Thanks for any help
  • Reply 57 of 127
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Xian Zhu Xuande View Post


    As a Netflix customer, though, I'm a bit sour about how they've handled it. I don't like that I'm now paying more money for less features and a less inconvenient product. It makes me a little more eager to ditch them. And Qwikster? Who the hell came up with that? They should be fired and they should correct that mistake before it hurts even more to do so. I think Gruber hit the nail on the head there. What about something like Mailflix? Something which takes on a sense of immediate familiarity with users?something which is only a partial atrocity against the English language.



    I think fired might be a little drastic. Maybe demoted to one of the guys that handles licking the envelopes and sending the DVD's out :-)
  • Reply 58 of 127
    Who cares? I mean really. I am not upset about this split at ALL. Seriously. Just a bunch of whiners IMHO. Personally, i dropped the DVD service awhile ago. Unlimted streaming of movies for $8 a month is the best deal in town. Having said that, Netflix DOES need to improve it's catalouge of older titles. Especially if streaming is the future. My favorite genre is foreign movies, and their selection is getting pretty slim. I mean they have 6 badly dubbed cheesy Italian Hercules movies, and like ONE Fellini film! Thats insane. Something is wrong with that. Lol. Seriously. Less Hercules Vs The Ninjas, and more Fellini, Truffaut, Kurosawa etc.



    Do that, and you have a loyal subscriber.



    When i need a new new title....i either go to the Red DVD Kiosk at the supermarket across the stree, or stream it from itunes for $4.99 in a pinch.



    Perhaps Netflix will start offering this option in the future.



    Personally, if Apple ends up pulling a Netflix and offering reasonable monthly streaming subscriptions...i will jump ship for sure. But until then, Netflix streaming is still a GREAT deal.



    DVDs are on their way out. I think when Apple finally releases their optical driveless macbook pros this January...it will be official. :-)



    I think those complaining that Netflix is seperating their businesses, are just clinging to the past. Get over it. :-)
  • Reply 59 of 127
    how does the disc by mail as a separate business enable you to add games etc?



    as press releases go "Netflix Now Offers XBox and PS3 Games by Mail" would be much more effective.



    if the two businesses have such different cost structures etc just run them as two wholly owned subsidiaries or something.



    hmm, if this trend catches on we'll soon be buying Apple iPhones, Orange iPads, and Banana Notebooks.
  • Reply 60 of 127
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by mrstep View Post


    The idiocy is taking your well-know brand name that stands for movie rentals (whether dvd or streaming) and calling it something completely different, billing separately, managing the website side separately.



    Bundling it and using the brand name keeps people using that product. A '$2 off per month' when using both DVD and streaming deal would help with the same. Calling it Inprise instead of Borland doesn't. (Oh, sorry, just thinking of other completely asinine moves like that. ) You lose the entire brand for no reason.



    There's no reason that Netflix can't have 2 units with independent heads running them - make sure you have synergy where appropriate, but that each person can focus on running the best version of their particular business. You don't have to dump your company name - unless you're really trying to destroy your own brand for some reason. Maybe the guy shorted his stock or something.



    For that matter, 'Hi, I'm the largest hammer maker in the world. I'm going to stop making hammers now and focus on enterprise software because it has higher margins.' has to go down as another piece of lunacy. Replace hammer with PC, obviously. And of course people make these terrible decisions and walk away with huge severance packages when the ouster comes. C'mon, _I_ can make bad decisions and take a lot of money for it, where's my gravy train?





    I think you have the wrong metaphor. Try this one

    "Hi, I'm the largest buggy whip maker in the world. I'm going to stop making buggy whips and focus on the new fangled automobile because they are the future."



    Other than for a very short period of time, DVD rentals by mail never made very much business sense. I'm sure Netflix wants to get out of it as quickly as they can.



    I do agree that their exit plan has not been excuted at all well.
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