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Netflix announces price hike for subscribers
By Virginia SmithJuly 13th, 2011, 12:30 pmComments (15)
Netflix announced yesterday that it's raising prices by nearly sixty percent, and will be separating streaming and DVD subscriptions into two separate entities. Effective September first, streaming and DVD services will be offered separately for $7.99 apiece. Previously, combined streaming and DVD subscriptions had been available for as little as $9.99 per month.
Naturally, upset customers are taking to the internet to vent their rage over the change in prices, (correctly) pointing out that the company's spotty streaming selection isn't necessarily worth its own separate subscription price. The Washington Post writes, to the surprise of few, that "several people seem to have 'liked' the Netflix page [on Facebook] only to share their displeasure with the company."
On the one hand, their prices always did kind of seem too good to be true, and people on the internet are way too hasty to get up in arms about nothing. On the other hand, more than doubling your prices without adding any new services is a pretty lame move. I'd call the whole thing about even.
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Commentarium (15 Comments)
It's still a really good deal; much better value than cable TV.
I second that. I cancelled my cable and i love netflix.
so is the price going to change in Canada where we don't have DVD service?
i think it's still a good deal. what insulted me in the notice they sent was that they acted as if this was some sort of courtesy to customers, which of course it isn't. they're merely taking away the discount for bundling the services.
The problem is, they already raised prices this year. Basically they are up about 80 percent in a year, which is nuts. All this wouldn't be a problem if we could get better movies streaming - if they could strike some kind of deal with Criterion, it would be worth it.
The Criterion Collection would stand to lose a shit ton of money by teaming up with Netflix (their DVD's average around $40)
And I was just starting to think how awesome of a deal netflix was. Now it is just decent.
Don't worry, they'll catch up with cable and satellite real fast - you're all on the "bait" phase. You didn't really believe there was going to be a cheaper alternative for long when the Hollywood producers drive the actual price, did you?
Netflix has been around since at least 2003...I wouldn't really call that many years of awesome prices a "bait" phase.
Of course it is. You thought they could do their deal forever? They built a huge subscriber base, now they have to pay the rent. I admire their business acumen, but people seem to take it personally. My partner never wanted netflix - "as soon as we get used to it, they'll jack up the prices" she said.
Right again, honey.
NO CORPORATION "CARES" ABOUT YOU - EVER. YOU CANNOT AFFORD "LOYALTY" TO THEM, OR ANY KIND OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIP.
EVER.
Streaming is the future, so they're just going to make people pay for the expensive part (warehousing and shipping physical product), plus, streaming was pretty much free to the DVD set for a long time there, so people really need to sack up and pay what they owe on that front.
Exactamundo.
It'd still be amazing if the streaming quality where I live wasn't absolute monkey's ass, but as it is, streaming blows. Push Pause or Reverse or Fast Forward at your own peril.
This is really a dumb article courtesy of Virginia Smith. She said that "people on the internet are way too hasty to get up in arms about nothing." Then she contradicts herself in the same paragraph by pointing out the very reason why people are mad. People do have a right to be "up in arms" about this because, as you point out, it is a lame move and THIS IS A FREE COUNTRY! People can express their displeasure on the internet, to your face, on the phone, and damned time they want to. Read your articles out loud before you post nonsense like this.
u mad?