Edie Editorial: Why I Won’t Keep Netflix

In: Uncategorized by Edie Sellers

2 Dec 2008

Two weeks ago I was not a Netflix subscriber.

In fact, I’ve taken it as a badge of honor that I have not become like all those soccer moms looking to anesthetize their hyperactive kids in the back of a minivan or all those 40-somethings looking to anesthetize themselves at the end of a long day.

I will not be like them. If I’m going to anesthetize myself, I’m going to do it the old fashioned way: With vodka and video games.

Netflix has always struck me as some kind of demented evil nanny, demanding you finish what you’re watching before you can have another DVD. Rationing them out like we’re children. And you have to pay each month for the privilege.

I am far too cool for Netflix, you see. I have a life, and no one tells me when I can watch a movie. No one tells me which movie on my list I get to watch this week.

And no one tells me when I have to go to the post office. I pay bills online for a reason.

In other words, to bastardize Orihime Inoue: I resist!

Then the NXE came, and I swallowed my pride and took the 14-day free trial. The lure of instant viewing was too tempting. When you take the nanny aspect out of Netflix out of the equation, it’s hard to hate the idea. It was everything I like about television without all the things I hate about Netflix. You can’t really argue against that, can you?

My initial reaction was elation. I very publicly asked, “How did I ever live without this?!” Instantly watching obscure British comedies like Ripping Yarns. Reliving my childhood with episodes of Duchess of Duke Street and House of Cards. Curling up on the couch to watch, yet again, the genius of the original Bedazzled.

From what you originally heard on the podcast, you’d think I’d be the poster child for this budding Microsoft-Netflix partnership.

My trial subscription ends tomorrow. And in 13 and a half short days, I’ve changed my mind about the whole thing. I absolutely can live without Netflix on NXE. In fact, I have to wonder if Netflix was ready for this whole NXE in the first place.

The realization that I fell for the pretty, shiny new cover on Netflix came rather suddenly a few days ago. With only a portion of the Netflix catalogue available for instant viewing, eventually one gets over the thrill of watching stuff pop up on your screen at the touch of a button. Eventually you stop looking at just what’s available and start looking for specific titles.

Rather than going to the “Watch Instantly” tab and taking whatever Netflix offers, this weekend I went looking for things I wanted to watch. And I found everything I could dream of, every little whim or desire, was available to me Netflix website!

Just not for the Xbox.

Film after film, movie after movie, television show after television show… I could easily get them… If I waited for Netflix to ship me the DVD. But view them on my Xbox? Nope. No dice. Fahgeddabouddit.

Once you look beyond the pretty exterior of Netflix’s instant viewing tab and get substantive about your NXE viewing, you can only come to one conclusion: Netflix offers crap for instant viewing — not just in its quality but also in its quantity.

And then it became clear: Nanny Netflix is still there, tap-tap-tapping her foot, insisting that giving kids everything they want when they want it just makes them bad mannered, independent, and disrespectful — not to mention chronic masturbators. The only way to raise children… er, customers… is to give them structure and discipline!

And that is why I will not go past my free subscription. I will not pay full price for the limited service I want, even though I get a full service I don’t want and, honestly, will never use.

So I write this as a warning to Netflix, Xbox, and anyone else who will listen. When the NXE came out, it opened up millions more users to the option of watching instantly. And that means demand for instant viewing skyrocketed. Not just for those who had existing Netflix accounts, but also those of us who joined simply to use it with the NXE.

Sure, there are millions of existing customers who view this Netflix NXE partnership as an added benefit to their subscription. And for them it is.

But for all of Netflix’s potential new customers — people like me — a hefty portion of us didn’t want the DVD-subscription service in the first place. If it was about getting your name out there, this partnership was an epic fail in its conception. Believe me when I say that we already knew all about Netflix. You’d have to live under a rock not to know Netflix, for pity sake. And if we didn’t have a Netflix account at this point, chances are it was because we didn’t want a DVD-subscription service.

The point of this partnership was to attract new customers to try Netflix by enticing us with a new feature that we just might want. And I’m sure I’m not the only one who does.

But now that Netflix has us in its grip, it really hasn’t shown it wants to keep us.

In order to make this partnership work, Netflix simply must start offering more for instant viewing. Entire television series, instead of halves. At least a few dozen of the most demanded movies, not just two or three. Sure, you could say that by offering instant viewing they’re killing the DVD-delivery market. But that logic only works if you assumed that the NXE didn’t bring anyone new to the table. In truth, it has. Millions of us.

And until Netflix starts taking the instant-viewing feature seriously — and not treating it as some kind of gimmick that will get Nanny Netflix in our homes — its going to start losing potential new customers like me who just don’t see the cost benefit of it. To us, it’s not a gimmick, it’s the whole reason we’d ever have a Netflix account. I want to see what I want to see now, and I don’t want to wait for it. I haven’t found the need for Netflix up to this point, and simply because Netflix dangled a few instant-view titles in front of me won’t make me change my mind.

So, Netflix, you created this monster. Feed it some titles. XBox may have hyped it, but this is your responsibility.

And until you start taking this feature seriously, neither will I.

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19 Responses to Edie Editorial: Why I Won’t Keep Netflix

Scarfinger

December 2nd, 2008 at 5:59 am

(Don’t answer this here. I’m sending an email that you can respond to on the show)

As a previous Netflix subscriber I can’t say I understand how you feel because this is only a plus for me. As a listener of the show since y’all came to PN I’ve noticed you put on your corporate haterpants the moment a company doesn’t have someone come over to you and personally suck your ass. I’m starting to understand this is a West Coast thing (I’m from VA). For me I’m trying to figure out how I’m going to get the time to watch all this stuff. I even gave up my personal DVD queue to my wife because I don’t need it anymore. It sounds like either normal, cry baby, west coast, hippie, “Big corporate Netflix is going to rape my wallet and burn down my house” bullshit, or you just wanted a reason to not pay the subscription for something you even said you enjoyed.

Maj Malfunction

December 2nd, 2008 at 6:53 am

I was already a Netflix subscriber. I like it because I don’t have to go hunt at a video store, try to find the movie I want, pay too much to rent it, then have to go out the next day to take the damn thing back. Netflix turnaround times are amazing as well. It is much more economical than brick and mortar renting overall for me. I am also able to rent some pretty obscure shit from Netflix too.
As for the instant viewing… I view that as a free perk and not a reason to subscribe. I am a big fan of Stand-Up comedy and that shit is tough to find to rent. Netflix has a LOT of that available for instant view and they cycle titles in and out of the instant view.
They also have current run tv shows available for instant viewing. Heroes for example is being put out on Netflix Instant as well as the CSI shows etc. If you miss an episode you can watch it for free from Netflix vs paying to watch it on Xbox Marketplace or iTunes.

Netflix is not for you, but, it is a good deal.

Cephiros

December 2nd, 2008 at 11:16 am

I like Netflix, especially since they have a DC in Salem, OR which is only about an hour away from where I live so my turn around times are really quick most of the time.

I’ve put my Netflix account on hold for the time being because I’ve just been too busy lately. However, it’s not for everyone.

Gemini Ace

December 2nd, 2008 at 3:49 pm

I’ve been a Netflix subscriber for quite a while. I signed up for them because Blockbuster kept trying to fuck me over.

Netflix has super fast shipping. I send a movie back and have one within a day.

The instant view stuff is great because they are titles that I don’t want to waste a “real” rental on. I get the newer titles sent to me on blu-ray (thank you PS3) and then stream titles like Red Dawn, Voltron, and The Tick. It’s a total win/win for me and the main reason I wanted the NXE. They can keep the rest of it for all I care.

I’m assuming you just thought that all Netflix titles would be available for instant viewing, although I saw many sites state that the titles available were mostly older movies.

I think you will see the value when you finally get a PS3. Renting blu-rays is great and only costs an extra dollar a month. Totally worth it!

ErwinAnFire

December 2nd, 2008 at 4:32 pm

Thx for the great clever reading, I enjoyed it almost as much as masturbating.

I too was lured by the deep- sea angler that is netflix, but alas, after perusing their instant view titles , I passed.I may do of one day, but for now I agree, it makes me feel as if this service should be under a ‘litterbox’ tab in the nxe. The whole thing Is kiddie shit.

ErwinAnFire

December 2nd, 2008 at 4:56 pm

Scarfinger,
Your argument is so juvenile and the definition of an ignoRANT. A west coast thing? Really? “don’t respond to this for I , have emailed you one that your allowed to respond to ?” hahahaha!!! Are you serious? You made about as much sense as the word ‘irregardless’.

I am starting to see that this is a VA thing, or not. Surely,The scarring on your finger extends to the rational side of your brain . ….Kisses.

Scarfinger

December 2nd, 2008 at 7:03 pm

Dude I’m starting shit to make a show topic and maybe work my way into a Humpdate.

But honestly maybe I didn’t word it right but I really don’t understand the anti-corp mentality of white people in general. It seems to be a important thing for west coasters more than others.

I didn’t want her to respond here to add something to the show. I thought it would be a waste to respond here.

ErwinAnFire

December 2nd, 2008 at 7:37 pm

Valid point. I must have misunderstood your intentions. But then you go on to say ” the mentality of white people”? I share her opinion and I am not white.How does categorizing an entire race make any more sense than an entire coast being anti-corporation ? Nevertheless, I hope to hear you on a humpdate. Good luck.

Slymanx

December 2nd, 2008 at 7:42 pm

Ehh, I have to defend Scarfinger here. I mean, while his opinion is a bit brash and rude, but it could make one hell of a show topic.

And besides, Edie, no offense, is a pretty brash and rude gal herself. (I still love you to death though Edie)

ErwinAnFire

December 2nd, 2008 at 8:08 pm

Agreed, that’s why I said he has a valid point good discussion that has limited exposure on these posts.

But Slymanx, I disagree with you more than I do with Scarfinger! Edie is not rude at all, in fact she couldn’t be any sweeter if she were turning sixteen.

GamerEdie

December 3rd, 2008 at 3:05 am

Wow. So much to reply to.

First: Erwin, I love you if only because you’re been snookered into believing I’m that sweet. The only thing less sweet than me was me at age 16. Nonetheless… SMOOCHES!!

Second: To those who think I’m bagging on Netflix as a DVD-subscription service, I’m most definitely not! It’s a great service. However, if Netflix was anticipating expanding its customer base with the NXE, it fails because those of us who regularly watch DVDs probably already have Netflix. If not, they’re idiots or living under a rock because Netflix is by far the best service out there for DVD rental.

The NXE partnership shouldn’t be treated as a “litterbox” (which incidentally is a HILARIOUSLY ACCURATE description of what the instant-viewing tab is). How else could you look at an instant-view list that offers one half of a series of shows and not the other half… when both were aired more than 30 years ago?! And this happens for loads of shows, not just one or two.

Maybe we should start a book-rental company using that methodology. Get a bunch of books. Charge a subscription. Everyone gets unlimited books to read, but we get to tear the last 20 pages some books. And we’ll send those endings out in no particular order, one at a time… and customers only get the next last page when they’ve sent the prior one back!

Brilliant!! Who wants in??

I think Netflix-NXE works splendidly. But to have a great feature that isn’t supplied well enough to keep it afloat? It’s kinda like inventing an amazing new music-game genre and then giving people nothing but shitty, obscure Japanese music to play… <>

Finally, there’s a fine line between great controversy and trolling. Healthy debate is to be fostered, and trolls should be left to die a lonely death of neglect. Ad hoc, slur-filled attacks on a host’s hometown and skin color go so far into troll territory that it’s hard to fathom anyone would think even Hawkes would include that in a podcast, much less me.

Scarfinger

December 3rd, 2008 at 5:34 am

I guess that settles that. I thought I was doing something fun. I was wrong. I’m sorry. I’ll go stand in that corner over there.

Scarfinger

December 3rd, 2008 at 7:22 am

I’m sorry if I offended anyone. My original post was a poorly worded mini rant about something I don’t understand about your culture. It just so happens that, in my limited experience, the anti-Corp mentality seems to be more confined to people the opposite of me. Anyone who listens to you talk as much as we do knows how you feel about the subject espically when it comes to places like Wal-Mart and GameStop. As a black man from VA I just don’t get it because to me the alternatives are far worse. This was not supposed to be about race but it is a factor. In order for it not to be, all of us need to try harder to understand each other. My post was a poorly worded way of doing just that. My intentions were pure and I didn’t mean any harm. I chose to vent in the wrong way. Please accept my sincere aplology.

The Finger

Hawkes

December 3rd, 2008 at 11:03 am

Scarfinger,

Rule one: NEVER APOLOGIZE!

There was nothing wrong with what you said.. relax..

GamerEdie

December 3rd, 2008 at 11:48 am

Fing…

Dood, don’t worry about it. It’s all good.

But I’m not quite sure where you got the idea I’m anti-corporate, though. I work for a large corporation. I shop at supermarkets. I buy my coffee from a corporation. I invest in some of the country’s largest corporations. Hell, in the next few months GAMEHOUNDS will probably be a corporation as well.

If you think my hate on Wal-Mart, Starbucks and GameStop are because they’re large corporations, you’re dead wrong. And you haven’t been listening. I hate them because of the things they do, usually to their employees. I’d hate those practices if they came from a mom-and-pop corner market, and I’d bitch about them just as loud.

GamerEdie

December 3rd, 2008 at 11:53 am

To clarify: I chose to despise Wal-Mart, Starbucks and GameStop individually after looking at each business and deciding that each is evil. I never just decided “Big Business Bad.” Some people do. I don’t. Those people and I have just happened to come to the same conclusion independently.

Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

Holy Goalie

December 4th, 2008 at 12:38 pm

I like the Netflix on Xbox, even though it is limited right now.
I have a boat load of crappy horror movies and old Sci Fi TV shows in the Instant Que that I wouldn’t clog up my DVD Que on. But to know I could watch them any time I want is an added bonus to the 8.99/month plan.
I think I watched 3-4 episodes of The Outer Limits the other night. So for something like that, the Netflix online feature works for me.

LordStandley

December 5th, 2008 at 11:05 am

I couldn’t disagree with you more about the Netflix/Xbox partnership, and just about Netflix in general.
Your description of Nanny Netflix is laughable at best. Stating that you get the movie that Netflix “wants” to give to you.
You do realize that you put the movie in your queue in the number one spot right?
And you do realize that if you do not get the first movie in your queue, the send you the movie that once again “you” selected for your queue right?
So you’re not getting the movies that Netflix “wants” to send you, you are actually getting the movies that you in fact chose on your own without any help from Netflix at all.
If you’re upset that Netflix skips over your first title every once in a while, then you’re being unreasonable. They can only stock so many titles and believe it or not it may happen, that’s why you have the luxury of the queue.
This is not something that any video rental store has figured out and that is buying millions of copies of every movie just so they can keep everyone happy. If you go to Blockbuster you will face the same issues. Except they probably don’t even stock half the movies you’re looking for to begin with. So whether it’s Netflix or Blockbuster, you’re going to run into the same problems. The only benefit of Blockbuster is you can go down the store right now and check stock. That ‘one’ benefit is not worth me throwing even more money at Blockbuster, no thanks.

I can understand your point about the instant view option not having much to choose from, but the limited title availability has been known for quite some time. You said your self that you know all about Netflix yet you over looked this but of information.
Netflix has been rolling out the instant view as quickly as possible and they have been doing just fine with it. If Netflix had their way I think they would have every single movie they offer as an instant view. But I imagine it’s a bit more than Netflix holding back movies from us. I bet the studios and other people are holding up some of these from going live. I think it’s safe to say there’s more going on than Netflix just trying to “nanny” us again. Netflix has been pretty good about updating the instant view and they will continue to get better with more time and more subscribers showing their interest in the instant view option. You don’t honestly think they’re going to sink millions into something that only a select few will use do you?

To someone with a current Xbox Live Gold account and a current Netflix subscription, this is in fact an added bonus, no question about it.
For anyone else with one or the other, it is up to them to find the value in it, which you clearly did not. But to label this partnership as an “epic fail” is idiotic and the opinion of someone who is wildly uninformed. Netflix on the NXE has been one of the most popular items to hit the new update and has been a great value to almost everyone.

Edie Editorial: Why I Won’t Keep Netflix

19 Responses to Edie Editorial: Why I Won’t Keep Netflix

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Edie Editorial: Why I Won’t Keep Netflix

19 Responses to Edie Editorial: Why I Won’t Keep Netflix

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