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Netflix raising price for Blu-ray access

post #1 of 90
3/30/09 at 11:28am
Thread Starter 
Just Got latest price increase for renting Blue Ray tiles,First they
charged a extra dollar which didn't seem too bad ,but getting new
Blue Rays would always take a long time.Now they made that a extra 3 dollars
a month
this is insane!!
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post #2 of 90
3/30/09 at 11:30am

Netflix raising price for Blu-ray access

Just got an email from Netflix, which says they are raising the prices for Blu-ray access again.

They started a $1/month charge for Blu-ray access last year, now they are raising the price for Blu-ray access to $4/month for me (I have a 3 out at a time plan). Price increase supposedly varies based on your plan.
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post #3 of 90
3/30/09 at 11:37am

Re: Netfix says srew you Blue Ray fans

Just changed my plan from 3 to 2 a month. Total price for monthly will stay the same for me, but I just get fewer movies. Not happy.
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post #4 of 90
3/30/09 at 11:40am

Re: Netfix says srew you Blue Ray fans

I like the way engagetHD put it:
Quote:
In a move that will undoubtedly cause an incredibly raucous stir, only to fade away as movie renters realize that Netflix is still the best deal going, America's most adored by-mail rental service is hiking the price of Blu-ray rentals once again.
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post #5 of 90
3/30/09 at 11:44am

Re: Netfix says srew you Blue Ray fans

It's business. I understand it, and I don't mind the price hike personally. Frankly, it always seemed that the $1 increase was too low for what they were providing.

I also understand those who would be turned off to the increase and will no longer rent Blu-rays.

It is what it is. I also like how engagetHD said it, because Netflix is still an incredible deal.
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post #6 of 90
3/30/09 at 11:59am

Re: Netflix raising price for Blu-ray access

I guess my deeper frustration is with the price of Blu-ray software in general. One year ago, when I made the plunge and bought my PS3, I didn't envision paying $25-30 for new titles a year later. I certainly didn't pay that much for new HD-DVD titles before the format war ended. And please don't take that as trying to reopen the format war...
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post #7 of 90
3/30/09 at 12:12pm

Re: Netflix raising price for Blu-ray access

My local video store and my version of netflix (zip.ca up here in Canada) have not raised the price of a Blu-ray rental over SD DVD one penny (and the same was true of HD DVD as well when it was still around for rental). So I'm happy on that front compared to what's going on with Netflix. I would NOT be very happy if zip.ca started that policy (the carrying cost for BD cannot be significantly greater than for SD DVD, considering there are many BD titles that sell for less than a number of SD titles).
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post #8 of 90
3/30/09 at 12:41pm

Re: Netflix raising price for Blu-ray access

I just dropped my Blu-ray access.

Totally not worth it for me.
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post #9 of 90
3/30/09 at 12:50pm

Re: Netflix raising price for Blu-ray access

hmm, this gives me an OUTSTANDING reason to cut back from 3 out to 2 out, I'd been thinking of doing that anyway, now I almost certainly will. 1$ was reasonable, 4 is not. that's quite the price hike all at once. They should remember the story of how to boil a newt. :-p
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post #10 of 90
3/30/09 at 12:56pm

Re: Netflix raising price for Blu-ray access

The Netflix deals still look pretty good, but I've never had a Netflix membership because I like to pick up new releases on Tuesday when they come out. I pay a little more to rent BDs locally, but I can get them on the way home from work Tuesday mornings and don't get put on a weeks (or in some cases) months-long waiting list.

Quote:
I guess my deeper frustration is with the price of Blu-ray software in general. One year ago, when I made the plunge and bought my PS3, I didn't envision paying $25-30 for new titles a year later. I certainly didn't pay that much for new HD-DVD titles before the format war ended.

You didn't buy too many titles on LD did you, Chris?

I do agree the prices are still too high (mainly because I got spoiled on low cost SD-DVD) so I limit my purchases to used titles or Amazon deals. Basically, if a title costs over $15, I don't buy it. The Star Trek BD set will be the only exception to my rule this spring.

I believe companies need to lower the MSRP of BD hardware and software if they wish to seriously compete with entrenched SD-DVD in a badly sagging economy, but that's just my take on things. I'm no economist, just a realist.
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post #11 of 90
3/30/09 at 1:01pm

Re: Netflix raising price for Blu-ray access

The problem is that while the dollar continues to get inflated, that $25 is the equivalent of $15 from 10 years ago.
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post #12 of 90
3/30/09 at 1:06pm

Re: Netflix raising price for Blu-ray access

Quote:
Originally Posted by Clinton McClure
You didn't buy too many titles on LD did you, Chris?

No sir I didn't own an LD player.
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post #13 of 90
3/30/09 at 1:22pm

Re: Netflix raising price for Blu-ray access

I wouldn't mind paying the extra $4 per month PROVIDED Netflix starts getting me new release Blu-ray's more timely. If they continue to take 2-3 months after release date to get me the titles that I want, I may have to stop using Netflix and start buying more movies.

There have been numerous times I have had a Blu-ray title at the top of my queue and haven't received it until it had been out for at least 4 months.

So they better step up the number of copies that they have available because I'm not willing to absorb such a step surcharge if they continue to take months to send me the titles that I want.
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post #14 of 90
3/30/09 at 1:35pm

Re: Netflix raising price for Blu-ray access

I think a big problem for BD is that DVD is actually "good enough" for a lot of people, so that might keep demand for BD lower than would justify cost-of-provision. That's a terrible position for an offering to be in. You never want to price based on cost, but rather value, but when value is lower than cost, you have no choice but to charge higher than value.
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post #15 of 90
3/30/09 at 1:39pm

Re: Netflix raising price for Blu-ray access

Just noticed this email as well -- I'm a four-a-month subscriber, and it's an increase of $5 a month to keep the Blu-ray. I'm going to keep BD rentals at least initially, and I'll see in a month or two if I'm using it enough to justify it. I don't think it'll be that big of a deal for me.

I still think Netflix is a great value.
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post #16 of 90
3/30/09 at 1:53pm

Re: Netflix raising price for Blu-ray access

Well Netflix just saved me money. I am so ticked by this increase I not only dropped my Blu-ray access but also lowered my plan a couple notches. Thanks Netflix! I hope you enjoy less of my money!
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post #17 of 90
3/30/09 at 3:13pm

Re: Netflix raising price for Blu-ray access

I got my e-mail today as well and I'm not really happy about it. Many of the new releases in my Q are taking 2-4 months to get shipped out to me. If I have anything in my Q that is not blu-ray such as TV series or whatever, those are always nearly the first to ship no matter how far down on my Q they are. And I can't believe how many of the blu-rays that I get from Netflix play with pixle glitches in them, even though the surface looks clean. They need to really improve in order to justify this increase or I'm dropping them and not looking back.
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post #18 of 90
3/30/09 at 3:34pm

Re: Netflix raising price for Blu-ray access

Netflix has no competition to keep the prices low so they got ya by the B****!
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post #19 of 90
3/30/09 at 4:58pm

Re: Netflix raising price for Blu-ray access

Interesting. although I have come close more than once, I still have not signed up for NetFlix. I never liked the idea of waiting for my movies. I am an instant gratification kind of guy. If they don't have the movie I want at one rental place, I will go to another.
The blockbuster closest to my house has vanished. My girlfriend picks up SD DVD's at the redbox down the street (even though she knows I am an HD snob!). Therefore NetFlix was finally starting to sound appealing to me. I would only want BluRay from them though. After hearing the wait times some of you experience, I am scared away. If I am paying more, I want more.
BD's are the the thing of the future. I think all discs should be Bluray, and have a SD track on them for those non-converted. That way there would be no time delay based on definition.
How about we start a movie sharing program on HTF?
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post #20 of 90
3/30/09 at 5:17pm

Re: Netflix raising price for Blu-ray access

Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg_M
Netflix has no competition to keep the prices low so they got ya by the B****!

$21 a month is still hella low in my book. (3/time + BD) Then again, I don't drink coffee ($4-8 a day), or have cable, or any number of things I find not worth the price, so it's all relative.
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post #21 of 90
3/30/09 at 5:17pm

Re: Netflix raising price for Blu-ray access

Quote:
Originally Posted by brandonchenry
Interesting. although I have come close more than once, I still have not signed up for NetFlix. I never liked the idea of waiting for my movies. I am an instant gratification kind of guy. If they don't have the movie I want at one rental place, I will go to another.
The blockbuster closest to my house has vanished. My girlfriend picks up SD DVD's at the redbox down the street (even though she knows I am an HD snob!). Therefore NetFlix was finally starting to sound appealing to me. I would only want BluRay from them though. After hearing the wait times some of you experience, I am scared away. If I am paying more, I want more.
BD's are the the thing of the future. I think all discs should be Bluray, and have a SD track on them for those non-converted. That way there would be no time delay based on definition.
How about we start a movie sharing program on HTF?
I have about 40 of those--they're called HD DVD combos.
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post #22 of 90
3/30/09 at 5:26pm

Re: Netflix raising price for Blu-ray access

Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg_M
Netflix has no competition to keep the prices low so they got ya by the B****!

Not really true in my experience. Blockbuster Online works fine for me -- and I seem to get my new release BD rentals way faster than most Netflix customers w/out the extra charge. I don't need any gimmicky Netflix movie profiling/recommendation software (and their "hip/cool" brand name) for my rentals though, so I've been fine w/ Blockbuster so far. Of course, I also don't use it as my primary source for prepackaged movie media (like some do) either, so YMMV as usual...

_Man_
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post #23 of 90
3/30/09 at 7:03pm

Re: Netflix raising price for Blu-ray access

I also find that Blockbuster works well for me. I have several stores close to where I live so I also take advantage of the in-store exchanges. The Blu-ray sections at the store are decent and growing. Anything I can't get in store is usualy available without much of a wait online.
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post #24 of 90
3/30/09 at 7:09pm

Re: Netflix raising price for Blu-ray access

Even the $1 increase was just a backdoor way of raising their rates without being overt about it. As everyone switches over to BluRay, the result is Netflix has a price increase.
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post #25 of 90
3/30/09 at 9:27pm

Re: Netflix raising price for Blu-ray access

$3 a month is only $36 a year. Totally worth it in my book!!!
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post #26 of 90
3/31/09 at 2:31am

Re: Netflix raising price for Blu-ray access

BB online is still a great deal. The in store exchanges are what keeps me signed up.
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post #27 of 90
3/31/09 at 6:09am

Re: Netflix raising price for Blu-ray access

I haven't received a notice. I'm already on one-at-a-time, 2 per month deal, so maybe they won't increase it. I've always been happy with Netflix, and feel the cost is very reasonable.

Doug
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post #28 of 90
3/31/09 at 6:12am

Re: Netflix raising price for Blu-ray access

Some interesting insight by Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter.

Quote:
Michael Pachter, analyst with Wedbush Morgan Securities in Los Angeles, said he estimated the cost to Netflix for a standard DVD is about $1.20 per use, and the cost of a Blu-ray title is around $1.80. He estimated that the average Netflix user watches six movies per month, including two that are Blu-ray.

The analyst said the incremental cost associated with the two BD titles is $1.20 ($1.80 - 1.20 = $0.60 x 2 = $1.20), which he believed Netflix had been covering.

“We don't expect this surcharge change to impact usage or membership dramatically, given that there is not really anywhere else for people to go since Blockbuster raised prices on heavy users,” Pachter said in a note. “Thus, any revenue increase should drop to the bottom line.”

Link
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post #29 of 90
3/31/09 at 6:26am

Re: Netflix raising price for Blu-ray access

That analysis makes me think that Netflix is actually under-pricing their offering. If there is such a difference between what they're charging and how much it would cost folks to get the same experience through other means, then it is likely that the small increase that they're talking about does not fully capitalize on the value-proposition they're offering. We should expect another, similar, increase, within a year or so.
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post #30 of 90
3/31/09 at 7:34am

Re: Netflix raising price for Blu-ray access

I just signed up for NetFlix a week ago and received an e-mail about the increase yesterday...not happy at all....
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