"Very Long Wait", "Long Wait" - The New Release New Norm

[Waba]

How many others are getting caught in Netflix's cost cutting measures and seeing new releases with "Very Long Wait" and "Long Wait" as their status? Outside of 'Speed Racer' and 'Journey to the Center of the Earth' I haven't received any popular (subject to interpretation). Currently I have:

'Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian'
'Wanted'
'WALL-E'
'Kung Fu Panda'
'The Happening'
'Tropic Thunder'
'Hancock'

I have a friend I converted to a Netflix fan who has pushed his discs down to just one "for old movies" since he can't get new releases in a timely manner.

I called customer service about the issue and they said they suspect this is because they have closed their used disc store.

Netflix loses much of its appeal if you can't get the movies you want is a timely fashion. Should they not have enough copies to satisfy their customers within a month? ('Kung Fu Panda' & 'Tropic Thunder') Isn't two months too long? ('The Happening').

I've giving this until after the holidays before I found my friend - if I don't just suspend my account all together.

[RonMc]

I could give the standard condescending comment that is prevalent on this website("If it were THAT important, you should have watched it in the movie theater"). With so many millions of Netflix members, it is hard for NF to carry enough copies(a million?) to satisfy everyone on a popular release in its first week.

1. All other video outlets(Blockbuster, Hollywood, etc.) have the same problem as there aren't enough copies available to buy from the distributors. This has been a problem for 30 years in the Bricks & Mortar stores. You wanted Star Wars-The Empire Strikes Back, but had to pick something else since all the copies were rented. That's why you stupidly rented Ishtar instead("Honey, it has Dustin Hoffman & Warren Beatty, so it HAS to be good!"). Then came back to return a movie and check again a few more times.

2. What do you do with a "million" extra copies once the popularity has decreased(Hancock is NOT that good of a movie- who'd buy it?).

3. Get ready to have those popular titles to be shipped from across the country for 6 days, because your Local NF was out-of-stock.

I know it's personal preference, but I'd rather watch a 4.5 star movie that I didn't know, than a popular current stinker. I realize that you want to be able to have an opinion of the newly-released with your friends("I thought it was Great/Awful).

[borkabob]

omg i didnt know ronmc made yet another numbered list !!! ahhh santa did answer my letters after all!

[Aces]

Be sure that you have an open slot on the Monday before the DVD is realeased because new releases are usually shipped on that Monday. Getting those returned DVDs in the mail Friday night should mean that NF gets them on Monday and if you have new releases on top of your list you will have a shot at getting them.

The Happening isn't worth any wait. I imagine NF is running low on them because massive amount of people are breaking the DVD after watching it in an attempt to save the rest of us.

I don't think NF's decision to stop selling used DVDs has anything to do with wait status. I bet they will buy just as many or even more new DVDs and probably sell all the used ones to one source.

[Kaotikitty]

LMAO on your The Happening theory! I actually enjoyed it, so I'm not one of the people breaking the disc.

[Biff]

I actually liked the Happening as well. I thought the cause of the event was a little silly, but found the idea intriguing. Just think what a scary thing it would be if something caused us to lose any sense of self preservation. Would have liked a better expalination, but still liked the idea of the film.

[Slappy]

8+ million people subscribe to Netflix, the newest releases are always going to be in such high demand that they cannot get all their customers the movie on time. It was the same way back when BB was the only real place to rent from unless you knew a mom & pop place, or when Hollywood video finally hit the scene. Think it was bad for movies it was even worse for video games, they would only have 2-5 copies of them it could be 6-12 months before you got to get your hands on what was a new video game to rent. BB is named for the movies they target and would still be rented out on new release day and for weeks after usually. This is an ongoing problem that rental consumers have to live with to avoid buying every movie they want to see. If the only thing you are interested in is new releases I suggest that something like Red Box may please you more than almost any other rental option. Many members here have even stated that they keep NF for all their uncommon rentals and use Red Box for new releases.

[Waba]

So based on the responses here, no one else has noticed an uptick in the number of "Very Long Wait" and "Long Wait" for new releases in the last month compared to the summer? Taking Slappy's 8 million subscribers and assuming half the subscribers want 'Kung Fu Panda', according to Netflix's policy (Very Long Wait: This means that there is extremely high demand, limited availability and/or a very long wait for this title. Usually the wait is less than 30 days, but could be longer if, for example, the movie is out of print or we are otherwise unable to secure additional copies.), they should have have a million copies - assuming a one week turnaround on each copy.

Or what about 'The Happening' which has now dropped to "Long Wait" (Netflix policy -"This means there is a serious demand for the title and the wait is generally less than 14 days."). With its Oct 7th release date, this means 20% of Netflix subscribers are trying to get this horrible movie or assuming only 20% want this movie they have 50,000 copies assuming everyone is holding this for a week. You see, it merely a question of weight ratios…

I also suspect the holidays cause Netflix's hold time per title to go up but I would assume the more experienced subscribers know this and it happens every year.

Maybe they need another level 'Very Very Long Wait'?

I still go back to my conversation with the customer service rep that almost admitted as much ("nothing official but that's what we suspect since they closed their store (used copies store)".

(I have play the 'open slot' game with some success this summer but no joy on these titles in the last 30 days.)

[ewd76]

Some of mine say "very long wait infinity."

[ColdOne]

How many others are getting caught in Netflix's cost cutting measures ...

Is this just idle speculation or has Netflix actually announced that they are buying fewer discs recently?

and seeing new releases with "Very Long Wait" and "Long Wait" as their status?

Are you turning over discs at a higher rate than you had before? Even a few extra discs per month might push you down the queue. So if you really want new releases promptly and there is not much in Netflix's catalog that interests you then stop turning over so many discs and you will get those new releases much quicker. Alternately you can bump up the number of discs on your plan.

I called customer service about the issue and they said they suspect this is because they have closed their used disc store.

They were probably just fishing for an answer to make you happy.

[RonMc]

if you really want new releases promptly...then stop turning over so many discs and you will get those new releases much quicker.
So your solution is to Throttle yourself. If you don't order ANY discs, just think of how many Hi-Demand movies you WON'T be able to see(but they will be "Available" sooner). UNBELIEVABLE!

Alternately you can bump up the number of discs on your plan.
This must be the "Premium" service you're touting. Under this suggestion, you pay More to get the same amount of "Less". NF gets to throttle even MORE of your movies. INCREDIBLE!

ColdOne either works for the Marketing dept. or is a Beancounter of NF. There is no other reason for this stupidity.

[Spindaddydad]

ColdOne either works for the Marketing dept. or is a Beancounter of NF. There is no other reason for this stupidity.

Neither, he just understands how Netflix works and is trying to enlighten others.

[ColdOne]

is trying to enlighten others.

A near impossible task, it seems.