nikki noted in a comment on “shaun of the dead” that the fact that they got it off netflix while it remains on “very long wait” status for me must mean they’re better than me. possibly, but what it definitely means is that you don’t rent very many dvd’s from netflix in a month. if you rent too many movies from netflix you will run into service issues. i’ve noticed of late that more movies i want remain longer on “very long wait” or “long wait” status. and very often movies get shipped the day after they receive the previous movie from me, even though my top choices are “available now”. i wrote to netflix customer service about this and this is their response (the more annoying bits are in bold):
Our goal is to ship you the DVDs listed highest in your Queue. We try to ship you DVDs from the distribution center closest to you so that you get movies quickly. Often, on the same day that we receive a DVD from you, we will ship the next available DVD from your Queue. In certain instances, your next available DVD will not ship until the next business day following our receipt of your returned movie. This can occur, for example, when your top choices are not available to you from your closest distribution center or the number of shipments to be processed by the distribution center on that day has been exceeded. When this happens, your DVD will ship on the next business day and may come from an alternate distribution center.
In determining priority for shipping and inventory allocation, we give priority to those members who receive the fewest DVDs through our service. As a result, those members who receive the most movies may experience next-day shipping and receive movies lower in their Queue more often than our other members. By prioritizing in this way, we help assure a balanced experience for all our members. Those that rent a lot of movies get a great value and those with lighter viewing habits are able to count on our service to meet their limited needs.
but no, i don’t get a great value if you reduce the number of movies i can get in a month by doubling my delivery time. basically this is a system that tells older members, especially heavy renters, to go fuck themselves. and i must be the only person in colorado who rents indian movies from netflix since every indian movie seems to be sent to me from a distribution center that is apparently on mars.
however, i have my secret method of making sure i get newly released movies sent to me on the day they come out, and i’m not sharing.
however, their excellent “recommend movies to friends” feature makes up for all the other crap.
so, i returned a dvd to netflix last week that had arrived in almost two pieces. i noted the damage and asked for another copy to be sent to me. it took them five days to replace it and of course they sent back the same dvd. i returned it again and wrote their customer service a nasty note. they’ve issued me a bonus rental credit but in their accompanying note advised me to in the future attempt to solve problems in playing dvd’s by wiping them with a lint-free cloth. i’ve written back suggesting some other uses for a lint-free cloth.
You must forgive Netflix, Arnab. It’s customary in the U.S. to wipe the crack with a cloth.
but not necessarily a soft one
. . . and hey netflix people what’s up with Bubble? I want to watch that film!
Did anyone notice that Netflix added a new category in which to browse: “Faith and Spirituality”?
don’t be fooled, people: netflix’s current delivery system meltdown is only a ploy to foil my movie a day regimen.
is anyone here reaping the rewards of Chavez vs. Netflix?
I piggybacked on that lawsuit, and am receiving an extra flick. But make that “receiving,” as all of my movies are “shipping Wednesday”……
I get a free month. yeah! Power to the People! Death to the Fascist Insect that Preys on the Life of the People!
Hey michael, are you talking about Netflix or your new membership with the SLA?
is it too late for me to sign up for a free month of movies that were “shipping wednesday”?
John–Please address me as General Field Marshall of the People’s Army. Unless you want to taste the People’s Justice!