# How many Netflix movies have you returned in one red envelope? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 16, 2009, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-netflix-movies-have-you-returned-in-one-red-envelope/503196 "2009-07-16T04:50:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-netflix-movies-have-you-returned-in-one-red-envelope/503196/1 "2009-07-16T04:50:03Z")
For me, 3. I’m on the 3 at a time plan, and if I’m ready to send them all back at once, I just stick them in the same envelope. Anyone tried 4? 5? More? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-netflix-movies-have-you-returned-in-one-red-envelope/503196/2 "2009-07-16T05:26:01Z")
FYI, the Netflix [website](http://www.netflix.com/Help?action=2&next_category=40&jsEnabled=true&ccstrkid=) suggests that you can return up to two movies in one envelope. I suppose that you can return three or more if you wish, but it’s not in your interest if the envelope tears open in the postal system and the movies never make it back. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-netflix-movies-have-you-returned-in-one-red-envelope/503196/3 "2009-07-16T07:00:02Z")
I’ve only ever once used more than one disc per envelope. Now I’ve got this extra envelope kicking around, and nothing to mail in it. If I had any sense at all, I’d just throw it away, but I’ve got the feeling that I’m going to end up keeping it through two or three moves, at the very least. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-netflix-movies-have-you-returned-in-one-red-envelope/503196/4 "2009-07-16T07:59:43Z")
Honestly, I stick to sending just one disc back at a time. I really don’t like to push the envelope when it comes to things like that. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-netflix-movies-have-you-returned-in-one-red-envelope/503196/5 "2009-07-16T14:31:40Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I’ve only ever once used more than one disc per envelope. Now I’ve got this extra envelope kicking around, and nothing to mail in it. If I had any sense at all, I’d just throw it away, but I’ve got the feeling that I’m going to end up keeping it through two or three moves, at the very least. I do keep a few extra envelopes around from returning two movies in one envelope. I use them when the movie I’ve received came from cross-country, so I can return it to the closest shipping facility. (I don’t think they mind if you do this.) ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-netflix-movies-have-you-returned-in-one-red-envelope/503196/6 "2009-07-16T18:49:52Z")
Wouldn’t multiple movies per envelope = higher chance of scratching the DVD + higher chance of the envelope busting open and you being required to replace the movies? ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-netflix-movies-have-you-returned-in-one-red-envelope/503196/7 "2009-07-16T18:58:44Z")
I’m on the two at a time plan so I’ve never had occasion to return more than two movies in the same envelope. But I’ve done it several times, always hanging on the the extra envelope because on at least one occasion I wasn’t paying attention when I opened the envelope and slit the wrong end (yes, I know the correct end is perforated and clearly labeled, but I open all my mail with a knife and sometimes I don’t pay attention to what I’m doing). ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-netflix-movies-have-you-returned-in-one-red-envelope/503196/8 "2009-07-16T19:02:59Z")
I’m on the two at a time plan as well, and I often wind up watching two on a weekend and returning both in the same envelope on Monday. Probably 3/4s of my movies get returned two at a time. Never had any problems. ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-netflix-movies-have-you-returned-in-one-red-envelope/503196/9 "2009-07-16T23:52:59Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Wouldn’t multiple movies per envelope = higher chance of scratching the DVD + higher chance of the envelope busting open and you being required to replace the movies? No because 1) Each DVD is still in its individual envelope/case (there are just multiple envelopes in one mailer) and 2) Netflix doesn’t charge you for occasionally lost/damaged DVDs. As for me, I often receive and send back my DVDs in pairs (in the same mailer) and have never had any problems. I’ve found 3 starts to push the limit of the mailer a bit too much (and I don’t think they recommend it anyway). ---
**Author:** ![SeanArenas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeanArenas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeanArenas)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-netflix-movies-have-you-returned-in-one-red-envelope/503196/10 "2009-07-17T00:03:44Z")
I used to return 2 per envelope to hopefully decrease the postage that Netflix pays and hopefully keep them from having to increase everyone’s rates. But I figure it takes 100 people doing that to combat the losses of just one person lying and keeping a DVD and telling Netflix that it was lost in the mail. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-netflix-movies-have-you-returned-in-one-red-envelope/503196/11 "2009-07-17T01:14:43Z")
I once returned three in one envelope. Strangely enough, two of them were logged back in, but the third was listed as never having been returned. If Netflix expects 1-2 movies per envelope, a third DVD apparently encourages those with sticky fingers to appropriate a new movie. ---
**Author:** ![Crawlspace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Crawlspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crawlspace)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-netflix-movies-have-you-returned-in-one-red-envelope/503196/12 "2009-07-17T02:01:15Z")
Maybe I’m misunderstanding the concept, but how does not using a prepaid envelope save Netflix money. The postage has been paid and whether the envelope is mailed or thrown in the trash is inconsequential, right? ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-netflix-movies-have-you-returned-in-one-red-envelope/503196/13 "2009-07-17T02:42:56Z")
I returned two in one envelope and they claimed that I didn’t return one of them. They should have a more sophisticated system that matches up excessive returns to claims of returned movies. It kind of bums me out, especially due to the fact that the movie was particularly obscure. ---
**Author:** ![Q.N.Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/3da27b/32.png) [@Q.N.Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.N.Jones)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-netflix-movies-have-you-returned-in-one-red-envelope/503196/14 "2009-07-17T04:19:26Z")
I regularly send back 4-5 movies in one envelope. It’s never been a problem. I think 5 is the practical limit though. I don’t think 6 would fit. ---
**Author:** ![SeanArenas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeanArenas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeanArenas)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-netflix-movies-have-you-returned-in-one-red-envelope/503196/15 "2009-07-17T04:42:49Z")
I don’t think pre-paid means you pay for it whether or not it’s used. That’s what happens when you buy a stamp and put a stamp on something. I think (I could be wrong, but I don’t think I am) pre-paid means that when it’s used (redeemed, mailed, whatever) it’s charged to the pre-payer at that point in time. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-netflix-movies-have-you-returned-in-one-red-envelope/503196/16 "2009-07-17T04:59:05Z")
> [@SeanArenas](#): > > I used to return 2 per envelope to hopefully decrease the postage that Netflix pays and hopefully keep them from having to increase everyone’s rates. > > But I figure it takes 100 people doing that to combat the losses of just one person lying and keeping a DVD and telling Netflix that it was lost in the mail. I do the same thing. Those people are going to steal DVDs anyway, so we might as well reduce Netflix’s costs if it doesn’t cost us anything. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-netflix-movies-have-you-returned-in-one-red-envelope/503196/17 "2009-07-17T16:05:34Z")
> [@BrandonR](#): > > Each DVD is still in its individual envelope/case (there are just multiple envelopes in one mailer) Ahhh, that makes sense, then. I was imagining someone just jamming discs into an envelope. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-netflix-movies-have-you-returned-in-one-red-envelope/503196/18 "2009-07-17T21:43:52Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > Honestly, I stick to sending just one disc back at a time. I really don’t like to push the envelope when it comes to things like that. You mean you don’t like to burst roughshod through the envelope when it comes to things like that?