Netflix is throttling me. Already.

By Seth Weisend · January 16, 2008

I was under the impression they wouldn't do this to free trial or other newer members, but I sure was wrong.

After signing up for the free trial last Wednesday, I received my four DVDs immediately the very next day. "Wow", thought forweg, "this is nothing like Gamefly! These guy is be serious business! Maybe I'll even become a paying member if they keep this up!" I ended up sending two back Friday and two back Monday. Alas, this must have been quick enough to set off their throttling mechanisms full-force. Everything I'd read about throttled customers is now happening to me:

1. The DVDs I sent back Monday reached them Tuesday, yet the DVDs I sent back Friday have supposedly not yet been received. Yeah. The Netflix throttling computers are apparently too stupid to fool people properly.

2. My two upcoming DVDs said "Shipping today" all day yesterday, but have been delayed until today. (And at present, have still not been shipped.)

3. Netflix claims that one of the DVDs is not available at the closest shipping center (Columbus), so that one will come from Portland, Oregon. While this itself is feasible, it's hard to believe that Portland is the closest available location to southeast Ohio. To top it off, this particular DVD was strangely plucked from fifth in my queue.

In short, Netflix is already severely punishing me for taking full advantage of their services, and therefore will never get a sniff of my money. You know, it might make more sense to start throttling me after I've signed on as a paying customer. Stupid.

Comments 6

pup Jan 16, 2008

"The DVDs I sent back Monday reached them Tuesday, yet the DVDs I sent back Friday have supposedly not yet been received."

This is completely possible. If you notice, every Netflix mailer has a handy little barcode for USPS to scan. When the envelope gets scanned, Netflix knows that their merchandise is on the way, and they can safely send out the next DVD. You Friday shipment simply wasn't scanned.

"it's hard to believe that Portland is the closest...and...this particular DVD was strangely plucked from fifth in my queue."

You do realize that Netflix has hundreds of thousands (neh, probably millions) of customers, right? Is it really that hard to believe that other people wanted the same movie as you?

In all honesty, it doesn't sound to me at all like Netflix is "throttling" you. It sounds like your expectiations are ridiculously high.

forweg Blogger Jan 16, 2008

Maybe I'd agree if I hadn't just read about these exact three throttling practices a few days before they occurred. Sure, it might be one monstrous coincidence that all of these things are happening concurrently, but I don't think so.

You're probably correct about the Monday DVDs, but five shipping days for something to be mailed from anywhere within the state of Ohio to Columbus is improbable. And yes, I do find it hard to believe that "Attack from Space" is in that high of demand. Regardless, the four DVDs above it were "Available Now".

honestgamer Staff Jan 16, 2008

I've been using Netflix for two months now (I started with the free trial and loved it so much that now I'm a paying consumer) and haven't had any trouble whatsoever. Netflix has treated me the same throughout the process, whether I was a paying customer at the time or not. They send a movie, I watch it and I send it back. Everything goes smoothly. Movies usually take two days in the mail, then I get a notice that another one is on its way and it usually arrives the next day. I go through five to six movies a month and pay $9 (the one-DVD-at-a-time program) and I'm just as happy as can be.

Most people who post about throttling and so forth are looking for a grievance where there is none. There's also the simple fact that this is a by-mail program. It's more likely than not that any delay is the result of the USPS and not Netflix (especially since, given the Netflix membership cost, there's no way in the world the pre-paid envelopes account for guaranteed one-day shipping). Another thing to consider is that Netflix is naturally going to have a higher inventory of movies that are likely to be popular with consumers and a lower number of ones (such as the one you mentioned) that will appeal to a very limited percentage. They'd go out of business if that wasn't how they operated. So the fact that their only copy is in their Portland distribution center, while unfortunate for you, makes complete sense.

If you look online, you can find a group of people complaining incessantly about any good product or service, especially a popular one like Netflix. Some of these people are even planted by a competitor in the same industry. Nothing you've described would dissuade me from using the service because nothing you've described falls outside my expectations for a rental-by-mail service. In all honesty, Netflix routinely exceeds my expectations by a significant margin. I can't imagine the process being more painless and enjoyable. That might be due to my decision to go with one movie at a time (about all I can really watch, anyway), but in the end it doesn't matter: I'm now watching more movies than ever before at a fraction of the cost and on my own schedule. It's heaven.

forweg Blogger Jan 16, 2008

Of course, after all that bitching, I check Netflix to see that four DVDs are on the way. Naturally I'm being a whiny, paranoid douchebag, as is my wont, but I don't understand how you guys can deny the throttling/smoothing process when Netflix themselves admit to it.

1/2/3/4 DVDs a week certainly isn't bad and is at least cheaper than brick and mortar rental places, but it's just the "secret" way the throttling takes place that pisses me off. I'd much prefer a clear monthly limit. Netflix is indeed perfect for your needs, Mr. Venter, as you are a low-volume customer. The company doesn't treat all of its members equally, however.

pup Jan 16, 2008

Five days and Attack From Space? Maybe you are on to something.

daff Jan 16, 2008

For some reason I just don't trust the movie or game by mail thing. Luckily there is a nice video store 3 blocks from my house. Some months I rent a bunch of stuff and some I don't rent anything so I like not being tied to a monthly bill.