# Why are people so snarky about Netflix's discs-by-mail service? ("Yes, it still exists!" Ha ha.) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 12, 2018, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-so-snarky-about-netflixs-discs-by-mail-service-yes-it-still-exists-ha-ha/815950 "2018-06-12T08:22:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-so-snarky-about-netflixs-discs-by-mail-service-yes-it-still-exists-ha-ha/815950/21 "2018-06-12T17:02:42Z")
I’m surprised to see it’s still active. I thought they were about to drop it when I stopped my account–that was 2 or 3 years ago. I very rarely watch things on streaming. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-so-snarky-about-netflixs-discs-by-mail-service-yes-it-still-exists-ha-ha/815950/22 "2018-06-12T17:56:52Z")
I’d still use it if the throttling and lack of Saturday service hadn’t made it too much of a pain. I do remember working with a snarky millennial that used to sneer at anyone who rent or bought movies on DVD or Blu Ray, he’d go into some long rant about routing the VPN through Sweden or something like that and then using bit torrent to get this movie or that tv show. I don’t think he liked it when I pointed out to him that 's got a professional job now, he’s not a starving student, and he can afford to pay for his entertainment. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2018, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-so-snarky-about-netflixs-discs-by-mail-service-yes-it-still-exists-ha-ha/815950/23 "2018-06-12T17:58:32Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I read an article a couple of years ago that said that while the Netflix streaming service had millions more customers, it was either losing money or just breaking even, while the DVD-by-mail service was substantially profitable. So even though the legacy service got no love (particularly from Netflix management), it was actually propping up the whole company. That’s pretty common for any company in any industry with multiple lines of business. The legacy line of business is still profitable, but shrinking over time. So, it makes sense to continue it and milk the profits, but it’s a bad idea to concentrate on it, because it’s going away. The new line of business is growing, so it makes sense to concentrate on growth over profits, funding that growth with the profitable legacy business. This pattern holds basically everywhere for everything. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2018, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-so-snarky-about-netflixs-discs-by-mail-service-yes-it-still-exists-ha-ha/815950/24 "2018-06-12T18:05:40Z")
Except I see no reason why the legacy service _should_ go away. The first-sale doctrine vs the need to negotiate streaming rights means that many titles will be available only on physical discs. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-so-snarky-about-netflixs-discs-by-mail-service-yes-it-still-exists-ha-ha/815950/25 "2018-06-12T18:06:53Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > Because some people need _something_ to make them feel superior, no matter how trivial. /thread ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-so-snarky-about-netflixs-discs-by-mail-service-yes-it-still-exists-ha-ha/815950/26 "2018-06-12T18:46:07Z")
> [@Interrobang](#): > > Snark for the customers isn’t justified, but Netflix’s disc-by-mail business has been steadily declining since 2006 or so. [Khoi Vinh makes a strong, smart argument for physical media](https://www.subtraction.com/2018/06/07/automating-the-end-of-movies-on-physical-discs/), but also clearly outlines why the service is possibly less than 10 years away from completely disappearing. (For one thing, production of physical discs is probably going to significantly dwindle or completely disappear.) Interesting article, thanks. It does say their profit margins continue to grow. > [@dalej42](#): > > I do remember working with a snarky millennial that used to sneer at anyone who rent or bought movies on DVD or Blu Ray, he’d go into some long rant about routing the VPN through Sweden or something like that and then using bit torrent to get this movie or that tv show. > > I don’t think he liked it when I pointed out to him that 's got a professional job now, he’s not a starving student, and he can afford to pay for his entertainment. Yeah, I am opposed to torrenting, but even if someone feels the opposite, it doesn’t explain why paying Netflix for streaming content is totally cool but paying them for access to a much larger library of titles on disc is laughably behind the times. > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Except I see no reason why the legacy service _should_ go away. The first-sale doctrine vs the need to negotiate streaming rights means that many titles will be available only on physical discs. Right? What kind of progress will it be when we can more and more easily call up any of a smaller subset of titles in various devices with a voice command (as on my Apple TV 4K), but there is a larger and larger universe of titles, including genuine cinematic classics, that are not available at all? ---
**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:** [June 12, 2018, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-so-snarky-about-netflixs-discs-by-mail-service-yes-it-still-exists-ha-ha/815950/27 "2018-06-12T19:20:55Z")
Another problem with the idea of streaming everything is the fragmented nature of the streaming universe. There are three or four major streaming services and _many_ smaller ones. Much content is available only on one service (and not just the proprietary stuff). It would be one thing if you could pay a one-time fee to watch a particular movie or TV show but most of those services want you to subscribe. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-so-snarky-about-netflixs-discs-by-mail-service-yes-it-still-exists-ha-ha/815950/28 "2018-06-12T19:27:29Z")
Personally, I’m still more surprised that channel-style TV still exists and am shocked every time I hear someone mentioning it. Amazon has been working on streaming sports. That’s probably the nail in the coffin, if they can do it well enough. But anyways, Netflix’s DVD service? Seems reasonable. I’d be curious how the selection compares to iTunes. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-so-snarky-about-netflixs-discs-by-mail-service-yes-it-still-exists-ha-ha/815950/29 "2018-06-12T19:29:27Z")
Y’know, your friends’ reaction to Quikster… I mean, Netflix Disks In Your Mailbox Service could be just harmless surprise. I had the same reaction when a friend of mine pulled out an old flip phone and Enterprise Communicator’ed it open. “Whoa, they still MAKE those?” And because he was a friend, of course we had to give him a hard time about it. So develop a thick skin, and have a handy line ready (“Yeah, I get DVDs in the mail, haven’t you read my reviews on my MySpace page?”). ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-so-snarky-about-netflixs-discs-by-mail-service-yes-it-still-exists-ha-ha/815950/30 "2018-06-12T19:45:40Z")
Physical media is on the way out. Most people don’t care about or notice the difference in streaming quality vs. blue ray. So yeah, you’re not cool if you have to walk up to a mechanism and load a disc into it. I actually rented a blue ray from RedBox over the weekend. I don’t do it often enough to justify the Netflix disc plan. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-so-snarky-about-netflixs-discs-by-mail-service-yes-it-still-exists-ha-ha/815950/31 "2018-06-12T19:58:47Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Physical media is on the way out. Most people don’t care about or notice the difference in streaming quality vs. blue ray. So yeah, you’re not cool if you have to walk up to a mechanism and load a disc into it. > I actually rented a blue ray from RedBox over the weekend. I don’t do it often enough to justify the Netflix disc plan. I disagree. If I’m watching an old TV series from the 1980s, no, there isn’t much of a difference as long as they are no cuts. But for a recent film, there is a world of difference. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-so-snarky-about-netflixs-discs-by-mail-service-yes-it-still-exists-ha-ha/815950/32 "2018-06-12T20:07:44Z")
There’s a neighborhood DVD store, and every time I see it I’m astonished they’ve managed to stay in business. They’ve diversified into comics and t-shirts and tchotchkes and shit like that, but still. But still, yesterday, I walked down there to rent the first DVD of Legion Season 1, because I couldn’t find a cheap way to watch it online; and while I was there I snagged Mary Poppins for my kid, because she really needs a better nanny–err, because she was with me and wanted something to watch too. Nothing wrong with physical media at all; it just serves a different purpose from streaming services. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-so-snarky-about-netflixs-discs-by-mail-service-yes-it-still-exists-ha-ha/815950/33 "2018-06-12T20:08:28Z")
(ETA: reply to dalej42) I’m sure there is, but I’m sure most people don’t care. Streaming quality is absolutely fine to me, and far better than the quality I grew up with. I’ve never watched a movie on Netflix and complained about the quality, and I work in the visual arts (though not motion picture.) ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-so-snarky-about-netflixs-discs-by-mail-service-yes-it-still-exists-ha-ha/815950/34 "2018-06-12T20:28:44Z")
Aside from lacking many old movies: Netflix streaming [del]has[/del]\* the Fellowship of the Ring… but not the Two Towers or Return of the King. And you can forget any special editions. \*I think it was there a few days ago…? Possibly it was actually on another service. Looks like it was added in January. It has Doctor Strange and Civil War… but not any other Captain America or Avengers. It has Thor Ragnarok (in the last 2 days or something!) but not the first two. It has Guardians of the Galaxy 2, but not 1. In many cases these films are surprisingly watchable without having to know all the background, but it’s still helpful to be able to see the other ones first. So back in the day we’d do like 4 DVDs at a time. We’ve since curtailed that, and do most of our watching on streaming, but maintain a DVD account at a slower trickle. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-so-snarky-about-netflixs-discs-by-mail-service-yes-it-still-exists-ha-ha/815950/35 "2018-06-12T20:40:13Z")
Something I found funny is the DVD side of Netflix is technically a separate company ([DVD.COM](http://DVD.COM)) under the Netflix umbrella. A few years back when they suggested doing that (I think it was going to be called Flickster) everyone lost their shit and yet they did it quietly and the world didn’t end. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-so-snarky-about-netflixs-discs-by-mail-service-yes-it-still-exists-ha-ha/815950/36 "2018-06-12T21:20:23Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Y’know, your friends’ reaction to Quikster… I mean, Netflix Disks In Your Mailbox Service could be just harmless surprise. I had the same reaction when a friend of mine pulled out an old flip phone and Enterprise Communicator’ed it open. “Whoa, they still MAKE those?” > > And because he was a friend, of course we had to give him a hard time about it… I don’t like this analogy TBH. It’s not the flip phone that accesses more stuff the smartphone can’t get to. And again, I do also have streaming Netflix. I also really don’t think it’s just harmless surprise in most cases. On podcasts when it’s referenced, it’s always described as something in the realm of their Midwestern dad’s corny jokes or their mom’s Xmas sweaters. The most positive you could interpret it is as a deeply patronizing “awww, that’s adorable” pat on the head. Like if you still have dial-up AOL. Just look at the article in the OP. > [@Quimby](#): > > Something I found funny is the DVD side of Netflix is technically a separate company ([DVD.COM](http://DVD.COM)) under the Netflix umbrella. A few years back when they suggested doing that (I think it was going to be called Flickster) everyone lost their shit and yet they did it quietly and the world didn’t end. It was Qwikster, but yeah: I thought that controversy was dumb. I actually wish they had gone through with it: I think it might reduce some of this snarky tittering if I could reference a different and newer company. “[DVD.com](http://DVD.com)” is no good because DVDs really are an outmoded technology. I rent exclusively Blu-rays unless a classic film I really want to see is only available on DVD. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-so-snarky-about-netflixs-discs-by-mail-service-yes-it-still-exists-ha-ha/815950/37 "2018-06-12T22:24:39Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > I use an MP3 player for running, because phones seem too bulky to me when doing exercise. Also it’s convenient to use something that I don’t care about dropping or even losing. > But to some people, who may have used an MP3 player say 3 or more years ago before moving to just using their smart phone, I might seem bizarrely old-fashioned or ignorant of technology, particularly if they don’t know my reasons. That’s the reason why I still have a large MP3 music library. I like having specific songs available for when I want to listen to them. I don’t have to depend upon a streaming service that only has incomplete access to the artists I like to listen to or can cut out at any time. ---
**Author:** ![betonbill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b782af/32.png) [@betonbill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betonbill)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-so-snarky-about-netflixs-discs-by-mail-service-yes-it-still-exists-ha-ha/815950/38 "2018-06-12T23:22:25Z")
Hey, call me old fashioned but I still use the Netflix DVD service and like it. I also buy DVDs from the local thrift shops too. I think it’s called different strokes… ---
**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:** [June 13, 2018, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-so-snarky-about-netflixs-discs-by-mail-service-yes-it-still-exists-ha-ha/815950/39 "2018-06-13T00:06:21Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > Something I found funny is the DVD side of Netflix is technically a separate company ([DVD.COM](http://DVD.COM)) under the Netflix umbrella. A few years back when they suggested doing that (I think it was going to be called Flickster) everyone lost their shit and yet they did it quietly and the world didn’t end. As I recall, there were good reasons that people were unhappy about the proposed sell off of the DVD-by-mail service. For one thing, it would have meant two separate queues and paying a lot more money for those who subscribed to both services. As I remember the proposal came as a surprise to many Netflix executives, and also, as I remember, they hadn’t even secured the name “Qwikster” and it was in use by another company. Netflix lost about a million customers and the stock price took a nosedive. They changed their minds, of course, and ultimately regained the customers and the market cap. (Actually, you would have made out very well had you bought the stock at the time and kept it until now.) ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-so-snarky-about-netflixs-discs-by-mail-service-yes-it-still-exists-ha-ha/815950/40 "2018-06-13T04:16:53Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > I go to the library. If they don’t have the DVD I want, they can order it from any library in the state and I can pick it up within 2-3 days. And, oh yeah, it’s free. Don’t know if that’s hip or unhip, but it works for me. Yeah, this is me. The public library is my Netflix. The only drawback is the waiting list for popular new releases, like the latest season of _Game of Thrones_. Once in a while I’ll get something from Redbox, but that’s rare. > [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Netflix streaming [del]has[/del]\* the Fellowship of the Ring… but not the Two Towers or Return of the King. And you can forget any special editions. > \*I think it was there a few days ago…? Possibly it was actually on another service. Looks like it was added in January. All three are currently on Hulu. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-so-snarky-about-netflixs-discs-by-mail-service-yes-it-still-exists-ha-ha/815950.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-so-snarky-about-netflixs-discs-by-mail-service-yes-it-still-exists-ha-ha/815950.md?page=3)