# Netflix: WTF is it with your inaccessible pop-up ad rates? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 26, 2006, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-wtf-is-it-with-your-inaccessible-pop-up-ad-rates/346216 "2006-02-26T20:41:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-wtf-is-it-with-your-inaccessible-pop-up-ad-rates/346216/1 "2006-02-26T20:41:33Z")
Every time I go to [washingtonpost.com](http://washingtonpost.com), I get a Netflix pop-up ad. "Netflix Delivers DVD Rentals Only $X.99 a month \> No Late Fees \> Over 55,000 Titles \> Free Shipping Try Netflix for FREE!" The value of ‘X’ changes from one pop-up to the next. Right now I’ve got pop-up windows on my screen for $9.99, $6.99, and $5.99/month. When you click on them, you get taken to [this Netflix page](http://www.netflix.com/Default?mqso=80004034&partid=70002335&138485), which tells you that “plans start at only $9.99 a month!” And try as you might, there’s no evidence of any deal at a rate below $9.99 a month, no matter which pop-up I click to get there. So I called Netflix. The person answering the phone told me that when I click on the pop-up, I should automatically be taken to a page offering the deal shown in the pop-up. I explained to her that this wasn’t happening, and she said that if it wasn’t, then there was nothing she could do about it. Could I speak to her boss? No, I couldn’t. I should go ahead and sign up for Netflix, then request the advertised special once I was signed up. However, she said she didn’t know what the advertised special actually WAS - the $5.99 rate might be for as little as one month. I pointed out that since I didn’t even know what the deal was that I was supposedly eligible for, it hardly made sense for me to commit myself to a higher rate upfront. Then I started tossing around phrases like “bait and switch,” and the conversation didn’t go much further from there. I’m not a Netflix member, but at $5.99 or $6.99 a month for more than just one or two months, I’d be tempted to give it a try. (Kinda silly to offer a cheap rate for just a month or two, since _all_ their plans offer free trials.) But I’d sure like to know _what the deal is I’m signing up for_, **before** I sign up. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-wtf-is-it-with-your-inaccessible-pop-up-ad-rates/346216/2 "2006-02-26T21:21:24Z")
I was curious about this, so I turned off the popup blocking in IE and the popup blocking from the Google toolbar, but whenever I go to that page IE crashes. I’d try it in Mozilla, but I’d rather not futz with its popup settings. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-wtf-is-it-with-your-inaccessible-pop-up-ad-rates/346216/3 "2006-02-26T21:27:07Z")
OK, being bored I went ahead and allowed popus in Mozilla for that page, got the $5.99 deal popup, clicked it, and it went to a page like yours, but with the correct $5.99 price. Here’s the link, maybe it’ll work for you too. [http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;21960616;4227127;d&http://www.wpni.com?http://clk.atdmt.com/NFX/go/wpnxxnfx0050000132nfx/direct;wi.720;hi.300/01/?120741](http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;21960616;4227127;d&http://www.wpni.com?http://clk.atdmt.com/NFX/go/wpnxxnfx0050000132nfx/direct;wi.720;hi.300/01/?120741) I don’t know if that’s for just the 1st month or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-wtf-is-it-with-your-inaccessible-pop-up-ad-rates/346216/4 "2006-02-26T21:31:45Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > OK, being bored I went ahead and allowed popus in Mozilla for that page, got the $5.99 deal popup, clicked it, and it went to a page like yours, but with the correct $5.99 price. > Here’s the link, maybe it’ll work for you too. > [http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;21960616;4227127;d&http://www.wpni.com?http://clk.atdmt.com/NFX/go/wpnxxnfx0050000132nfx/direct;wi.720;hi.300/01/?120741](http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;21960616;4227127;d&http://www.wpni.com?http://clk.atdmt.com/NFX/go/wpnxxnfx0050000132nfx/direct;wi.720;hi.300/01/?120741) > > I don’t know if that’s for just the 1st month or whatever. I clicked on your link, but got a the [$6.99 offer](http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-1/584173/netflix.jpg). Weird. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-wtf-is-it-with-your-inaccessible-pop-up-ad-rates/346216/5 "2006-02-26T21:45:44Z")
I got $9.99. ---
**Author:** ![Catfood\_Purrito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Catfood\_Purrito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catfood_Purrito)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-wtf-is-it-with-your-inaccessible-pop-up-ad-rates/346216/6 "2006-02-26T21:46:25Z")
I got the 9.99 offer too. Weird. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-wtf-is-it-with-your-inaccessible-pop-up-ad-rates/346216/7 "2006-02-26T21:47:58Z")
Sneaky buggers. I still get the $5.99 deal when I click that link in Firefox, but I get $9.99 when I open it with IE. Before I saw the difference between browrsers, I would have guessed it has to do with which IP you click from, perhaps lowering the price in markets Netflix is weaker in. Maybe it’s still that, but the process is broken on some but not all browsers. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-wtf-is-it-with-your-inaccessible-pop-up-ad-rates/346216/8 "2006-02-26T21:51:44Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Sneaky buggers. I still get the $5.99 deal when I click that link in Firefox, but I get $9.99 when I open it with IE. Before I saw the difference between browrsers, I would have guessed it has to do with which IP you click from, perhaps lowering the price in markets Netflix is weaker in. Maybe it’s still that, but the process is broken on some but not all browsers. I got $9.99 on IE & Opera. ---
**Author:** ![Catfood\_Purrito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Catfood\_Purrito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catfood_Purrito)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-wtf-is-it-with-your-inaccessible-pop-up-ad-rates/346216/9 "2006-02-26T21:52:16Z")
I got 9.99 with Firefox, and I tried it in IE, and I get 9.99 again. The plot thickens… ---
**Author:** ![Taber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@Taber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taber)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-wtf-is-it-with-your-inaccessible-pop-up-ad-rates/346216/10 "2006-02-26T22:30:02Z")
I got 7.99 on firefox. when I go to their price explanation table [here](http://www.netflix.com/HowItWorks?lnkctr=nmhhiw) , they show the 7.99 price as being 1 dvd at a time, with a max of three a month ---
**Author:** ![Taber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@Taber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taber)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-wtf-is-it-with-your-inaccessible-pop-up-ad-rates/346216/11 "2006-02-26T22:32:29Z")
> [@Taber](#): > > I got 7.99 on firefox. when I go to their price explanation table [here](http://www.netflix.com/HowItWorks?lnkctr=nmhhiw) , they show the 7.99 price as being 1 dvd at a time, with a max of three a month hmm that link doesn’t quite take you there, you have to scroll down to the link called cost. If you watch the url, it doesn’t change, but the table appears ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-wtf-is-it-with-your-inaccessible-pop-up-ad-rates/346216/12 "2006-02-26T22:47:16Z")
> [@Taber](#): > > hmm that link doesn’t quite take you there, you have to scroll down to the link called cost. If you watch the url, it doesn’t change, but the table appears If I click on the cost link, the body of the text says plans start at $6.99. If I click on the plans link, I don’t see $7.99. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Big\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-wtf-is-it-with-your-inaccessible-pop-up-ad-rates/346216/13 "2006-02-28T23:41:13Z")
Netflix must be run by an ex-Airline president. I have hotmail, and the banner ad there said $5.99/month for a max of 3 per month. ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-wtf-is-it-with-your-inaccessible-pop-up-ad-rates/346216/14 "2006-02-28T23:45:44Z")
I use FF. At the price table, and when I click revtim’s link, I get the $5.99. The details: 1 DVD at-a-time Limit 3 per month $5.99 2 Week Free Trial! ---
**Author:** ![shimmery](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@shimmery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shimmery)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2006, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-wtf-is-it-with-your-inaccessible-pop-up-ad-rates/346216/15 "2006-03-01T05:07:12Z")
> [@Gaudere](#): > > I use FF. At the price table, and when I click revtim’s link, I get the $5.99. The details: 1 DVD at-a-time Limit 3 per month $5.99 2 Week Free Trial! The price table I got in Firefox says the lowest plan is $9.99 for 1 DVD at-a-time, unlimited. Hmm… ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2006, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-wtf-is-it-with-your-inaccessible-pop-up-ad-rates/346216/16 "2006-03-01T14:45:47Z")
> [@Gaudere](#): > > I use FF. At the price table, and when I click revtim’s link, I get the $5.99. The details: 1 DVD at-a-time Limit 3 per month $5.99 2 Week Free Trial! Which plans can I choose from? Plan Rentals/month Price/month\* Free Trial Length 3 DVDs at-a-time Most Popular! Unlimited! $17.99 2 Week Free Trial! 2 DVDs at-a-time Unlimited! $14.99 2 Week Free Trial! 1 DVD at-a-time Unlimited! $9.99 2 Week Free Trial! 1 DVD at-a-time Limit 2 per month $5.99 2 Week Free Trial! \*plus any applicable tax That’s weird. ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2006, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-wtf-is-it-with-your-inaccessible-pop-up-ad-rates/346216/17 "2006-03-01T15:32:41Z")
I get $7.99 and a warning from the interdimensional police that they are tracing my IP address. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2006, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-wtf-is-it-with-your-inaccessible-pop-up-ad-rates/346216/18 "2006-03-01T18:29:40Z")
> [@Gaudere](#): > > I use FF. At the price table, and when I click revtim’s link, I get the $5.99. The details: 1 DVD at-a-time Limit 3 per month $5.99 2 Week Free Trial! I just tried **Revtim** ’s link from here at work, where any cookies from home wouldn’t be a problem. (FWIW, I use Firefox everywhere.) The initial Netflix screen said plans started at $6.99, but when I clicked through to the ‘Choose a Plan’ page, the cheapest was $9.99, just like at home. Crazy. ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2006, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-wtf-is-it-with-your-inaccessible-pop-up-ad-rates/346216/19 "2006-03-01T22:10:58Z")
They discuss it here: [http://www.hackingnetflix.com/2006/02/netflix\_testing.html](http://www.hackingnetflix.com/2006/02/netflix_testing.html) Apparently you can’t get the special deals unless you get shown it on the website. I’m still getting the $5.99 rate everywhere. Maybe it’s geography-based determined by IP. ---
**Author:** ![THespos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@THespos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/THespos)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2006, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-wtf-is-it-with-your-inaccessible-pop-up-ad-rates/346216/20 "2006-03-01T22:31:42Z")
I’m not sure how Netflix serves its ads, so I’m speculating here. I’ve seen this kind of behavior (rates quoted in ads not matching what’s on the landing page) when users use cookie blockers. Some of the ad servers out there look at the cookie they write when the ad is displayed to determine which ad you saw. If you’ve used a cookie blocker, sometimes the ad server gets confused and will look to the default ad in the queue, which may not be the ad you actually clicked on. So you end up on a completely different offer page - one that doesn’t correspond to the ad you clicked on. If you’re not using a cookie blocker it’s possible that someone on the ad operations side misattributed a URL in their ad server or typoed something. Happens all the time. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-wtf-is-it-with-your-inaccessible-pop-up-ad-rates/346216.md?page=2)