Netflix--oh wait, I'm sorry, Qwikster

[ivyfic]

When Netflix changed the pricing structure, I wasn't annoyed. I understood that the business model is changing and they needed to separate the streaming part of their business.

Okay, well, now Netflix has managed to piss me off. You're going to make me go to two different websites to see if something is available on disc or instantly? Fuck you.

Comments

[moonlightalice.livejournal.com]

I'm stunned. They'll throw away ten years of brand identity with that Netflix red envelope? They'll force people, who don't care what method of delivery they get as long as they get the movie, use two different websites and maintain two different queues? This is just crazy.

[ivy03.livejournal.com]

Yeah--I liked that at first if you added something to your DVD queue, it automatically added it to instant if it was available. Now it's not automatic, but both buttons pop up when you want to add something. I also liked that I could look for streaming films in a certain genre by searching for a DVD-only film and having it suggest similar movies to me. What the hell, Netflix?

Honestly, the price change didn't bother me at all. This does.

[moonlightalice.livejournal.com]

The price change pissed me off for the same reason this pisses me off: it assumes that the ENTIRE DVD catalog is available on instant, and it's just a matter of format preference, rather than actual availability of selection.

I'm assuming they're spinning this off to give it a quiet death--either to sell that portion of the company, or to let it die and not have it be branded a Netflix death.

[ivy03.livejournal.com]

This worries me as well. The only reason to split and rebrand the businesses is if you plan to sell it. This would upset me a great deal, as there are a lot of things I want to watch not available streaming.

[cubby-t-bear.livejournal.com]

Megan McArdle suggested that it's b/c mail-order DVD is unprofitable, and they're planning to close it down.

[ivy03.livejournal.com]

After achieving such market dominance that they have no other competition. Great. That's great. It's not even like you could go to Blockbuster now.

[firynze.livejournal.com]

My thinking as well.

[xannoside.livejournal.com]

It's especially weird, because with Starz refusing to re-up, come February, the size of the streaming catalogue is going to plummet.

They want to keep the budgets separate, fine, but why *on earth* would you make I harder for customers to use your services when you know your value as a service is going to drop.

[ivy03.livejournal.com]

And why would you rebrand it "Qwikster"? Why not rebrand it "Netflix Home" or "Netflix Classic" or something?