Dear Netflix,
You came into my life Aug. 21 (my birthday) and I was instantly smitten (especially by your instant offerings). You showed me things I’d never seen before and we had some good times — some laughs, a few tears, and a few why-did-I-even-put-this-in-my-queue moments.
But now I’m starting to see your true colors.
It started with the huge delay you have with new release movies. I understand that this is some deal worked out between you and the major studios, but when I could go rent the same movie at a Redbox the day it comes out, it seems like I should be able to get it from YOU, too.
But of course that brings me to my second point. If you have a new release movie on your list, there’s no guarantee you’re getting it anytime soon after it finally comes to Netflix. I don’t know what the criteria is for sending these movies out, but I hate waiting a month for something to come to Netflix, then at least another 2-3 months before I get it in the mail. At that point, I might as well just wait till it comes on cable.
So, by the grace of God, you get “Social Network” or some other popular new movie in your mailbox. That doesn’t mean it will have all the extras on the disc like it would if you bought it. I’m not a big extras person (I never watch cast commentaries), but I’d like to have the option to watch them instead of getting a disc stripped of everything but the movie. For example, I read online that “Going the Distance” had funny deleted scenes, but my disc had no such scenes on them. I realize this move is designed to make me want to BUY the disc but that isn’t why I have Netflix. I want to rent, not buy.
Fourth, I have really gotten into “Dexter.” I watched the first two seasons on Netflix Instant and was eagerly awaiting the third. But wait–the third and fourth seasons AREN’T ON INSTANT. And as of right now, the first disc of Season 3 says “Long wait” and the second disc of the season says “Very long wait.” Which means I have to go to the video store and see if they have them in stock because who knows when I’d get the discs through you. It feels like you baited and switched me.
Finally, I read that you want to phase out DVDs completely within the next couple of years. That would be fine with me but you’d need to, oh, I don’t know, ADD MORE INSTANT TITLES. And keep them for longer periods because sometimes I’m not in the mood to watch a movie I added months ago before it disappears from instant two days later.
Can you work on this stuff, Netflix? For me?
Love,
Me
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