"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.

[Knaldskalle]

Catch-22 is a good movie. :-)

[IdahoHoops]

Spin, Cold, others. I think the big question here is what changed. I had no problems with any movies until a couple of months ago. Now my top four movies are "Long Wait" or "Very Long Wait". My memory's not that good, but I don't remember even seeing any kind of wait until last November. I've been waiting for Prince Caspian for almost two months. I personally think this is an unreasonable amount of time for a major release such as this.

I'm patient so no big deal to me, but I think a lot of us would like an answer other than "Deal with it".. Something has obviously changed and I'm just curious what it might be.

[Pihk]

I've been waiting for Prince Caspian for almost two months.

Blessing in Disguise Example #74568789564784568

but I think a lot of us would like an answer other than "Deal with it"..

"Suck on it"? ;-)

[Knaldskalle]

I think a lot of us would like an answer other than "Deal with it"

[Kaotikitty]

HA!

[ColdOne]

I think a lot of us would like an answer other than "Deal with it".. Something has obviously changed and I'm just curious what it might be.

That's not what we're offering you, despite what the RonMc's and Jason's might tell you.

We don't work for Netflix and don't have all the information at our fingertips. Even if we did work for them, we wouldn't (or couldn't) give you a full explanation of their shipping processes and trends.

What this forum does offer is a chance for intelligent people to pool their information to get a better, bigger picture for what is actually going on and to discuss possible and plausible reasons for why Netflix is doing things the way they appear to be doing them.

In this case, while we have anecdotal evidence that there are more waits we have very little clue as to what this means, if anything. No one can say for sure whether Netflix is actually slower in delivering new releases to all customers. If they are slower, is it a permanent move to cut costs or is it just a temporary miscalculation of demand. Is it slower for some because Netflix is trying to ship more discs only from local DCs? Have they changed the selection algorithm so that waits for their non-profitable customers have gone up while decreasing (or maintaining level) the waits for their best customers?

No one can (or will) give you a complete answer, so you can join us in adding data or engage in reasonable speculation on the topic, or you can just "deal with it." The "deal with it" option means that you evaluate whether the service is working for you as it is now and if not then you cancel it (and hopefully let Netflix know exactly where they're not measuring up).

The third option (made by some) is where the problem lies. Netflix's obligations are simply to be honest with us and provide us the basic service that we are paying for. There is no moral, legal or ethical reason why they should explain every detail of their business practices to us or why they can't make reasonable changes over time (which may include slower deliveries for some or all).

[ColdOne]

I've been waiting for Prince Caspian for almost two months. I personally think this is an unreasonable amount of time for a major release such as this.

Who's to say what's reasonable and unreasonable? If the service does not meet your expectations overall then feel free to cancel and find a service which does. I don't see a wait for Prince Caspian, so my guess is that you're a high turnover user and it will be difficult to find a service that will offer you the same value as you get from Netflix. If as you say, you're patient, then IMO it should be reasonable for you to wait a few months for Prince Caspian so you can maintain the price/service level that you're getting right now.

[IdahoHoops]

Unreasonable probably isn't the right word. I just have never experienced waits with Neflix before, so it may be something I'll have to try and get used to, or cancel.

I'm going to guess I'm in the high turnover category at about say 5 movies a week on average. Wouldn't the fact that I have more opportunities per month to get movies even out with preferential treatment to low turnover customers?

I'm guessing my Distribution Center is in Boise which is probably much smaller than one say in LA or NY. That probably doesn't help.

[ColdOne]

I just have never experienced waits with Neflix before, so it may be something I'll have to try and get used to, or cancel.

This is a tricky issue. Most people have very short memories and many of the people complaining vociferously about this forget about all the improvements in delivery times, selection, and other service improvements that Netflix has made over the years. Yet after all those improvements they scream in outrage at what may be a temporary slowdown in wait times.

But you don't just have to get used to it or cancel. "Dealing with it" also means utilizing the other options that you have at your control (as opposed to just whining). Some techniques have already been mentioned in the thread (e.g. filling up your queue with other equally good movies and not being a slave to new releases).

I'm going to guess I'm in the high turnover category at about say 5 movies a week on average. Wouldn't the fact that I have more opportunities per month to get movies even out with preferential treatment to low turnover customers?

The turnover rate depends also on the number of discs you have out. Assuming that you are on the 3-out plan this puts you at borderline high IMO. (Two or more per "out" I consider high.) If you changed to a 5-out plan, but watched the same number of movies you'd get new releases a bit quicker. Also, with your current plan even if you have more opportunities they are always going to give the disc first to a medium or low turnover user. In borderline situations (e.g. when it says "Short Wait"), you might get lucky that none of those users in your DC have an open slot when the disc you want is ready to ship, but they might also pass you over when it says "Now" if someone with a higher priority sneaks in.

I'm guessing my Distribution Center is in Boise which is probably much smaller than one say in LA or NY. That probably doesn't help.

It probably doesn't make a big difference in the long run. For most new releases the quantities are high enough that it will average out statistically - you will probably see more variation such as an unexpectedly high demand for some discs (maybe Prince Caspian), but you might get another one (maybe Mamma Mia earlier than those serviced by other DCs. It probably hurts you more for the titles with very few copies spread out through the nation.

[Fred]

Do we will need to justify netflix's poor performance?

[Spindaddydad]

Should those who are not experiencing poor performance sympathize with those who are?

[ewd76]

I guess if Bill Clinton could feel our pain, we can sympathize with dissatisfied Netflix customers.