# Netflix problems? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 6, 2006, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-problems/343214 "2006-02-06T08:23:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-problems/343214/21 "2006-02-07T04:50:40Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > As far as the losing discs thing goes, they say that they will cancel your account if you lose what they consider to be an excessive number of discs. How they determine that, I’m not sure. The limit is 6 lost discs, total, no matter what your rental plan is or how long you’ve had your account. Your account isn’t cancelled, it’s placed “on hold” until you call them and sort it all out. However, they are generally helpful about getting it getting turned back on again…at least they were for me. 😃 The “heavy user” slowdown I think is to prevent anyone from having more than one turnaround per week, saving them the extra mailing costs. If you’re the type who keeps the DVDs lying around for several days instead of mailing it back the next day or even the same day, you’ll probably never see any deliberate slowdown. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-problems/343214/22 "2006-02-07T05:25:18Z")
> [@KGS](#): > > If you’re the type who keeps the DVDs lying around for several days instead of mailing it back the next day or even the same day, you’ll probably never see any deliberate slowdown. I’m not that type. At all. The average time the discs spend at my house is probably well under 24 hours. I have no life. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-problems/343214/23 "2006-02-07T06:04:26Z")
I usually also return the next day. Still, I’m almost always getting return envelopes from other cities. Most of what I rent is obscure, however. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-problems/343214/24 "2006-02-07T15:12:26Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > I signed up for a free trial with blockbuster online. So far, it has been mixed. They’ve been both quick and slow with receiving and sending me out my next disc. The in free store rentals are nice…and now they’ve offered me a new deal. One free weekly in store rental. Now, about $4.29 per rental (in store) I’m basically paying for the $17.99 monthly fee right there and that included the 3 DVD mail program. I’m going to keep both Netflix and Blockbuster for just a little while longer and see how this works out. See, I thought the whole point of Netflix was to avoid going to the store…why would Blockbuster think anyone who joins their online service wants store rentals (even if they are free)? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-problems/343214/25 "2006-02-07T15:25:45Z")
> [@LunaV](#): > > See, I thought the whole point of Netflix was to avoid going to the store…why would Blockbuster think anyone who joins their online service wants store rentals (even if they are free)? My wife and I laughed at that also. It was a strange offer. Between Netflix and On Demand, I don’t ever have to deal with a Video Store. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-problems/343214/26 "2006-02-07T16:38:04Z")
I use, and love, Netflix, but it doesn’t provide instant gratification. If you suddenly get in the mood to see a particular movie _tonight_, then Netflix isn’t helpful. The Blockbuster in-store rental is meant to satisfy that need, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-problems/343214/27 "2006-02-07T16:46:16Z")
> [@Hilarity N. Suze](#): > > **AuntiePam,** I used Windex for the skips. Worked very well. Thanks. I’ve always thought CDs and DVDs were quite delicate and easy to damage, but apparently not. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-problems/343214/28 "2006-02-07T18:48:44Z")
> [@Eleanor of Aquitaine](#): > > The Blockbuster in-store rental is meant to satisfy that need, I suppose. Of course, there is the slight downside of losing your soul. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-problems/343214/29 "2006-02-07T19:51:41Z")
My only real problem has been that the delivery has slowed down considerably. I put two in the mail on Friday and they are just now shown as returned to Netflix. I don’t expect to get my next two for a few days. I go through phases where I don’t even watch every movie that comes to me, or it takes me forever to watch them. The only reason I really stick with Netflix is the availability of movies the video store would never have. ---
**Author:** ![Feydeau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df788c/32.png) [@Feydeau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feydeau)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-problems/343214/30 "2006-02-08T00:03:19Z")
My Netflix service slowed down a bit over the holidays, and it hasn’t picked up yet. It doesn’t bother me much, though, as sometimes I have movies sitting here for a month before I get to them. I’m on the 6-at-a-time plan. (I like having lots of choices.) ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-problems/343214/31 "2006-02-08T00:20:19Z")
> [@LunaV](#): > > See, I thought the whole point of Netflix was to avoid going to the store…why would Blockbuster think anyone who joins their online service wants store rentals (even if they are free)? Because you can pick up that new release that someone in your household wants to see. Or, you didn’t get anything in the mail that you want to see. I’m fortunate that Blockbuster is very close to where I live. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-problems/343214/32 "2006-02-08T11:39:20Z")
Well, using the two envelopes may have helped, although improvement with one set isn’t enough to prove it. One was received yesterday (I accidentally left the disk out of the white sleeve on the other one, so it doesn’t have the barcodes and such. I did find a place to e-mail them, but since I haven’t gotten a response, I think I’m going to have to wait until it’s been long enough to report a problem). But with the single envelopes, the one definitely got there and they shipped the new one out the same day. I’ll keep trying this for a couple of weeks and see if I continue to see better speeds. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-problems/343214/33 "2006-02-08T13:43:16Z")
> [@Lsura](#): > > One was received yesterday (I accidentally left the disk out of the white sleeve on the other one, so it doesn’t have the barcodes and such. Well, I just figured out where my Grinch DVD ended up that I returned. I found the white return envelope a few days ago and realized that the reason it got “lost” is because there’s no barcode on the movies themselves, just the sleeves. I returned The Grinch and Scrooged in the same white envelope by accident. So I had to report The Grinch as lost. I wonder if I have any recourse at all or can get it straightened around? ---
**Author:** ![Lambo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lambo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lambo)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-problems/343214/34 "2006-02-08T15:10:14Z")
I’ve used Netflix for over 4 years (I honestly thought it was closer to two. How time flies). I’ve been at two different addresses in that time, one in Atlanta, GA, and one in rural Minnesota, about 2.5 hours from the Twin Cities. In that entire time, I have lost a total of 4 movies (sending them back to Netflix). All four losses happened when I was sending two disks in one envelope, so I don’t do that anymore. I also have received one or two cracked disks, and new disks were sent immediately (that day, or next business day). As far as turnaround time: In Atlanta, The processing center was in a town roughly 20 minutes away. Turnaround between mailing and receiving the new disk ranged from 3 days to a week (usually closer to three days). Now that I am in Minnesota, the closest center is Minneapolis, about 2.5 hours away. Turnaround time, consistently, is 2 days: Mail picked up, next day the new disk is shipped, and the day after the disk is in my hands. It is all due to the post office, in my opinion. The zip code range in this area is (or at least used to be) one of the top in country for quick and efficient mail handling (my stepfather was a rural mail carrier, so we got all the newsletters and stuff from the USPS). ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-problems/343214/35 "2006-02-08T15:20:11Z")
BTW: This was posted by someone here at SDMB: Netflix hard to find Customer Service Number: (888) 638-3549 ---
**Author:** ![Stonebow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Stonebow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stonebow)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-problems/343214/36 "2006-02-08T15:31:02Z")
Well, we cancelled last month due to all of the turnaround problems. Thing is, service slowed down to half as fast as it was (and that was still 4 day turnaround) once they opened a distribution center closer to me! Our local movie place (small franchise with 4 stores) now does $1.49/ night rentals, and since our pattern was always to watch and return the day after receiving, it works just as well. For obsure titles, Netflix was awesome. But after a year and a half, I went through all of the older and foreign films I needed to. Since I’m all caught up, the local place (along with the Univesity library) do the trick. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-problems/343214.md?page=1)