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Netflix files lawsuit against Blockbuster
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The following comments relate to this news article:
article published on 5 April, 2006
Netflix, a popular online DVD rental service with over 5 million subscribers, has filed a lawsuit against competitor Blockbuster alleging basically that the rental chain stole its ideas. Netflix has patents protecting the way its service works from how customers use its website to receive movies while paying a monthly subscription to how customers can keep movies for as long as they want ... [ read the full article ]
Please read the original article before posting your comments.
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rocky999
Junior Member
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8. April 2006 @ 03:56 |
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"Yes, they limit you to 12 movies/month. It's in their policy now".
Where do you people come up with this stuff? I read through the entire policy on their sight and it does NOT say that they limit you to 12 a month. If you would please, copy that section and paste it here because I can't find it. Please back up your statements with fact.
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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8. April 2006 @ 07:03 |
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I have used Netflix off and on for 2 years gettign soemthing new always took time but hell even the local block busters didnt have them in always so its par for the corse,Netflix could use soem competion I see it starting to stagnate in some things and we have plenty stinky monoplys to deal with in life....Blockbusters whole mail order setup could use imp[roveing as well as add games to it and they could easily fight netflix and mabye make a headway into game rentals but they lack the foresight to do it.
Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Lets renegotiate them.
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leia176
Junior Member
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8. April 2006 @ 07:37 |
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"It's in their policy now. They call it giving priority to users who rent less, but actually it's just a way to limit how much they spend in shipping and return fees. It's underhanded."
No, they don't specifically say 12..they never will. I said it's *called* "priority to those members who receive the fewest DVDs." It's funny though how since the low renters get priority there is never ever a time when the high renters get more than 12 discs a month!? Geez, they must be short-staffed, yet they are seeking more users. This limiting of movies is certainly not "unlimited" as they claimed when I joined...and by the way they lost a lawsuit over it.
Look, I joined Netflix about 2-3 years ago and I thought it was the greatest thing. It was a day turn around for me. Then after a few months everything started slowing down. They wouldn't receive a movies for 2-3 days and shipping took 2-3 days to where I was only getting 3 movies a week ..12 a month. I know it well. There was never one response to emails questioning why this was happening. Everyone who complains about Netflix says the same thing..they get 1 turn week for every "# at a time" they pay for and that's all. Four of my friends have experienced the exact same thing. You can read some other complaints and defenses her if you scroll down.
http://www.hackingnetflix.com/2006/02/netflix_settlem.html
Rocky999: Maybe you are not a heavy renter. Maybe you have not been a member long enough. I hope you continue to get *great* service. What Netflix is doing is wrong. If I pay the same money as everyone else why shouldn't I get their best service. It's not my fault if others don't rent as much. If others decide to rent more they should get the same service. I want predictable and fair service and not be denied access to new releases because I have been a member for a long time. Long-time customers should be rewarded for loyalty, not punished.
I finally quit Netflix about 6 months ago and went back to Blockbuster. They are just about as fast as Netflix overall...12 a month and sometimes a couple more.
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aabbccdd
Suspended permanently
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8. April 2006 @ 10:28 |
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leia176 , good info i saved thoses links they pretty much admit what there doing but on the other hand dont want to appear that way to a new coustomer, so you have to read there agreement plans BEFORE you join. i canceled several months ago when i was knocked down to 12 a month. i wonder if anyone has tryed to rejoin and if the same thing happens when they do the "throttling"
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 8. April 2006 @ 10:57
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hasben
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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8. April 2006 @ 19:39 |
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I also have used Netflix 3-at-a-time for nearly three years have never received less than 20 in a month. I don't care if you don't believe me.
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dmgreen
Newbie
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9. April 2006 @ 01:02 |
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I rented "Dreamer" and I received it from Louisville, Ky
now that all well and fine if you live close to LV, Ky right? Well I happen to live in Oregon!! Now I wouldn't think to much of this if this was the only time that it had happened but it's not. Received one last week from
Columbus, Ga.!! I use to get 3 a week but as of lately I haven't!! I about ready to go to Blockbuster!!
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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9. April 2006 @ 01:39 |
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All companys try underhanded shit from tiem to time,I'll need to test it I have no dout they will limit it somehow I just wonder what my resualts will be heheheeh :0
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leia176
Junior Member
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9. April 2006 @ 04:15 |
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To all those who say they are not throttled and rent many more movies a month than 12 on the 3-at-a-time plan: Congrats. I believe you, but I know what happened to me and four friends..and all of these other people wouldn't be wasting their time complaining if they weren't turned bitter.
First you think it's high volume..so you let it go. Then you think it was a fluke, so you let it go. Then you email and get no response. Then you are counting on a movie coming by a certain day and then you get pissed when it doesn't come. Then you see that "shipping tomorrow" and you think..it's only 10am. Why the f&@k don't they ship now, or go to the next movie if it's not on-hand? Then you mail back on a Wednesday so there is no way they can't say they didn't get it by Friday and they still don't receive it. If they do they delay your next shipment until Monday anyway. They love to push everything to the weekend so you can be delayed even more..especially if there is a holiday. Then, it's funny how when you first join you mail 3 movies together and they receive them together the next day. Later it's takes 2-3 days and they receive 1 a day over 3 days. Boy that postal service sucks doesn't it?
Even if you still think it is worth it to get 12/movies a month how can you support a company that uses these tactics to screw their customers? I think if there is a limit just *tell* me the limit. Don't delay my shipments. When I hit the magic number of 12 then that is all I rent for the month. Better to be upfront.
We need more competition! Blockbuster may not be perfect, but I get fast response from customer service, shipping on Saturday, free in-store rental coupons, double-sided discs (not specially made ones from netflix to make them single-sided so you have to rent twice as many, and ability to report a missing disc immediately. that's all I can think of for now.
Also here's a site that will see if you've been throttled and one on how Netflix throttles you.
http://www.tallrock.net/RentalStats/index.html
http://www.manuelsweb.com/netflixcalculator.htm
This one is about a guy, a statistician I guess, who got so pissed off he opened another account in his wifes name and compared the accounts. Pretty interesting.
http://dvd-rent-test.dreamhost.com/
And more complaints and arguments:
http://www.hometheaterblog.com/hometheater/2005/05/netflix_throttl.html
http://www.hackingnetflix.com/2005/06/throttling_revi.html
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Senior Member
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9. April 2006 @ 07:36 |
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Anyone want to TRY Blockbuster online? Promo Code: bbstore for a free month of Blockbuster Online...
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Senior Member
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9. April 2006 @ 07:44 |
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Your best bet for renting Movies is if you don't mind going to the video store.. Going to Blockbuster and getting one of their IN STORE Passes and rent as many movies for a month for one fee.. if you want to rent a movie and return it 2 or 3 hrs later you can...
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Mez
AfterDawn Addict
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9. April 2006 @ 16:33 |
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Rocky999
Netflix was successfully sued because their real polacy 12 a month was not their advertised polacy. It sould like they need to be sued again! BlockBuster is no better in that respect. They need to be sued as well.
At 12/month they can really hold you to maybe 10 because you sometimes slip. Still 10 for $15 is not all that bad. I did Netflix for over 2 years and BB for over a year. I also did a few in-store deals where you rent a disk or two for the month and you can switch them out several in a day. That is the cheepest way to rent if all you want to do is do movies. Now I am content to get my 10 and get 7 coupons for a BB store. That breaks down to 6 new releases and 11 oldies per month. They dont release 6 good movies a month.
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leia176
Junior Member
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10. April 2006 @ 10:24 |
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Yes, in-store rentals may be the cheapest way to rent movies, however the selection is not there.
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rocky999
Junior Member
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10. April 2006 @ 10:45 |
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Maybe they may trying to behave since they have been sued. Not sure exactly why, but I have always done well by them. I am a VERY heavy user. I have been using netflix since Oct 03 and have never gotten less than 16 titles in 1 month with several months getting 23. Just this last Saturday (april 8th) I dropped off 3 envelopes at the PO in the morning. Today (Monday) my que shows that they recieved all three and they are sending out 2 titles today and one on tuesday. Now granted, I don't always get my top picks right away but I keep my que full (currently at 151)so who cares.
I live in North Central NJ and there is a netflix depot in New Brunswick (NJ) which is about 40 miles away. Maybe that's the reason but I have been very happy with them. If I ever get to the point of getting 12 or less a month, then I will drop them. Simple as that. But right now, I really can't complain at all. Maybe it really depends if you live in a "heavy" user area?
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moocowgal
Junior Member
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10. April 2006 @ 11:20 |
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I've used both Netflix and Blockbuster and still do. Between the two you can usually find an old movie that you're looking for. If one doesn't have it the other usually does.
I've had problems with both as well. With Blockbuster I've had to report and send back a lot of broken disks. One movie it took 3 times before I got an unbroken disk. I've had queue problems with Blockbuster as well. I've had a movie sitting at the top of my queue for 6 months and most of the time it was listed as available now but was passed over. Apparently if the movie isn't available from one of the nearest distribution centers because they no longer have a copy, there is no effort to ship it from elsewhere. So I take that to mean that this particular movie is available... but not to me. I'm going to leave it there at the top of my list and see how long it takes, if ever, to get it.
With Netflix I've experienced the "throttling". I get no more than 12 movies a month. Add to that the fact that they send out "rental versions" of TV series disks which were originally issued as 2 sided disks but if you rent them from Netflix you get each side on a separate disk.
I think it's kind of a toss up between the two. Netflix sends out the movies as soon as they say they've gotten the returns and I get them the next day... but it seems to take longer for them to log them in as having been received. Blockbuster adds the time on the other end. They're quick to respond that they've received a returned disk but slower at sending the next one out.
I rent using the 3 at a time program from both.
Blockbuster has also changed its policy about the use of the monthly coupons for new subscribers. Only those with subscriptions at the time of the policy change will still be able to use the coupons to rent games. New subscribers will only be able to use the coupons to rent movies.
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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10. April 2006 @ 15:13 |
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How the hell do you tell 2 double sided discs apart? 0-o
they realy should count every 2 or 4 discs to a show as "1" going by stright dvd count is fudgeing with the numbers I think >>
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S2K
Member
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10. April 2006 @ 18:44 |
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"leia176 (Newbie) 10 April 2006 14:24 Send private message to this user
Yes, in-store rentals may be the cheapest way to rent movies, however the selection is not there."
Wrong. For new releases in store is the best. Over at hacking netflix Netflix users report average wait for new releases is 2 to 4 weeks.
40 year old virging took most netfilx users over a month to get. blockbuster users reported gettting it in two weeks online BUT constsant store availabilty. same thing for other new releases such as brothers grimm, king kong, geisha, jarhead etc. very long waits on netflix, shorter waits on blockbuster online -- constant availabity in stores.
so those store blockbuster store coupons are in fact a better seletion of on demand movies than netflix!
Of course if you want to rent 20 minute yoga disks that sell for $4 to purchase netflix does have a good slection!
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DarthMac
Newbie
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11. April 2006 @ 02:17 |
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Just tried BB for this month after using Netflix for over 2 years. Mail is slow (took 7 days to for mail to reach me from the time the website said it sent it), customer service sucked, and the only great thing was the in-store coupons for new movies. I think it would help BB if one could drop off a viewed DVD and the clerk could log it into the computer right away so the next DVD can be sent. However theres only 1 guy in the entire store thats worth his salt anyway. Going back to Netflix!
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leia176
Junior Member
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11. April 2006 @ 05:40 |
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s2k..not necessarily wrong on the in-store selection. Does the store carry 50,000 titles?? Yes, definitely for new releases. It depends on what you rent. I like science and nature shows, documentaries, television series and old movies along with newer stuff so I'm perfectly happy not to go to the store.
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Junior Member
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11. April 2006 @ 08:01 |
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I just got my first damaged disc from Netflix. Cracked!
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brasscap
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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11. April 2006 @ 10:05 |
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I've read all the bitches about Netflix, and I have some advice for you. First of all, make sure the bar code on the envelope shows through the opening in the mailer. I often have to rap the mailer on edge to make sure it shows. That way when Netflix gets your return they run it through a sanner and voila! You are credited! The same applies to sending two in a mailer. The second one won't show, and so it must wait until some warm body gets to it and opens the mailer. How long does this take? Your guess is as good as mine as computerization is taking over from warm bodies who usually can't read or make chane anyway. A good many of you writing to this newsletter can't spell worth jack anyway!
Second, yes Netflix got sued. By a law firm in San Francisco who found someone who thought he'd been "misled." They filed a Class Acton suit wherein they can get astronomical fees regardless of what the "class members" get. The result? Netflix settled, the lawyers got their "fees" and the guy who complained got jack. And Netflix, having learneed their lesson, changed their rules and started making sure that new subscribers got preference. You can read the policy on their web site.
The moral of this story? 1- Quitcherbellyaching and be glad that someone buys all those DVDs and rents them under reasonable conditions; and 2- Don't get the lawyers involved! I know. I'm a retired lawyer!
Oh yes, I like anime and those are the DVDs that are broken and scratched because they are rented by juvenile delinquents who aren't careful and don't consider others who may rent the same disk. Speaking of Anime, I also like Hentai and if you want to get jerked around, sign up with one of those on-line rental sites.
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tashacat
Member
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11. April 2006 @ 13:50 |
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Oh My! Isn't brasscap sensitive. Spelling and everything. This is still America and we have a right to express our opinions. It isn't Mexico yet?
Go Netflix, Blockbuster and all the others. Just do the best that you can.
Chill out Dude....................
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moocowgal
Junior Member
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11. April 2006 @ 20:04 |
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Zippy, it's not a matter of telling 2 double sided disks apart. I rented The Dukes of Hazzard from Blockbuster which sends out 2 sided disks. One side of one of them was damaged so I checked out Netflix to try to rent the same disk from them. That's when I found out that Blockbuster sends out double sided disks and Netflix has what they call rental versions. The disks are numbered and there are twice as many of them. They are labeled one sided disks and if you make the comparison you see that each disk represents one side of the double sided disk you get when you rent from Blockbuster. Hope that clarifies things for you. lol
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Plasmon
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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14. April 2006 @ 18:57 |
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I have to agree with ALL persons decimating netflix. I have been a
member of netflix for 3 months. For the first 2, they sent me the
desired DVD's accoring to my "contract" (2 at a time, NO LIMIT), and
they were (I state WERE) reliable. HOWEVER, once the third month rolled around, they started "throttling" my account, ie. would acknowledge receipt of the two returned, but would only ship one.
and then after a two day wait would state that the next one would ship. When I complained, I just got more of their BULL S@^t stating that certain DVD's are on a "on call waiting status". What a bunch of CRAP. I even made complaints of "Bad" dvd's and they delayed the shipment of those also. Now, I get the crap of (remember they acknowledged receipt of my last two dvd on 4/11/06) they stated that the next dvd's would be shipped on 4/13/06. One of them and the other was supposedly shipped on 4/12/06 with a arrival date of 4/15/06. NOW, just what do you suppose is happening??? Obviously they are delibertaly throttling anyone that wants to watch over 12 dvd's a month. So much for their "within 1 business day" crap.
Additionally, they have the gall to send me an advertisement asking me to upgrade to 4 at a time, for 23.95 (US) plus taxes, 5 at a time for 43.95 (US) a month, and 6 at a time for 53.95 (US) a month. Just what do you think would happen if I tried those others??????
Thanks but to NETFLIX, I say F$%K you. I am changing to a different DVD on-line service.
As a disabled vet. I find that this is especially discriminatory, but to ALL others, it is also discrimation BIG TIME!!
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Plasmon
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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14. April 2006 @ 19:16 |
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Oh My Brasscrap is realy "a lawyer".
The moral of this story? 1- Quitcherbellyaching and be glad that someone buys all those DVDs and rents them under reasonable conditions; and 2- Don't get the lawyers involved! I know. I'm a retired lawyer!
He/She seems to be oblivious to the stated "terms of agreement/contract" that people sign when subscribing to NETFLIX.
Or for that matter any other DVD service. What NETFLIX has done is change conditions "without" notification. AND they have changed the rules of "unlimited".. Well maybe Brasscrap needs a "real" reality check.
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dmgreen
Newbie
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14. April 2006 @ 23:46 |
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I believe you have it right "Tashacat" You can still air your differences and always seems people like "Brasscap" has to tell everybody else how stupid you sound!! Now him/her should no all to
well if they were really a lawyer that there is still that freedom of speech in the good old USA. Now I would like to quote "Brasscap" on degrading other people and there writing & spelling skills!!
"How long does this take? Your guess is as good as mine as computerization is taking over from warm bodies who usually can't read or make chane anyway. A good many of you writing to this newsletter can't spell worth jack anyway!"
Now as you can see if you read what he wrote he misspelled the word
"Change"!! Now being a ex-lawyer he probably didn't have his para-legal sec. write it for him!! So before you judge others you better judge yourself. If this thread on Netflix isn't for airing our complaints most of us wouldn't be here, I know i'm not looking for legal help I'm just wondering if others have had the same problems as I have with the service of Netflix nothing more nothing less.
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