Questions About Netflix Rental Program

[golfnut]

I am thinking of subscribing and would like to ask a few questions to those of you who are members. Your advice would be greatly appreciated.

Any problems with them, such as scratched or damaged discs?
How long does it take them to mail your order, do they mail it by the next day?
With the mailing time involved how many movies can you realistically rent in one month?
Would you recommend another mail order rental program over Netflix such as Wal-Mart?

Thank you for your help.

[Gazorgan]

I can only manage 3 week. When I return them it takes 2 days, and that's dropping them off at the main post office. They are going less than 120 miles, in-state no less.

I know for a fact that they can't check in all of Mondays mail, and I often get some sent out on Tuesday. They send them from anywhere in the US, but you send them back to the closest place. They take anywhere from 2-4 days to arrive for me.

I've never had a scratched issue. At least not that I noticed on my TV. I use them mainly for new releases (that I can't get from the Library in under 3 months). I am dropping them in a few weeks after 2 months, it's just not worth it to me. Walmart has the same program.

[Viper10000]

golfnut,

First of all I don't even consider Wal-Mart, since I'm boycotting their products. I feel I don't want to contribute to enriched the billionaires members of the Walton family, while 85% of their employees don't received any benefits.

Here are my experience with Netflix.

1. Their turn-around-time improves dramatically the last 6 months, since they opened more "return center/warehouse" around the country.
2. They will sent out another DVD right away if you reported your DVD is unplayable without waiting for it to come back
3. Not all the Netflix center/warehouse around the country have all the title, so if your order an obscure title (i.e. foreign, documentary, etc.), it would be likely to be shipped from their main warehouse in San Jose, CA. If you don't live in CA., then this obscure title will reach you a little bit longer.

There's a very good report about Netflix allocation system here:
http://dvd-rent-test.dreamhost.com/

I think if you rent lots of new-released DVDs, then you will likely to be falling into categories as described in this report.

[bugster]

Moved to Off Topic, Not really site feedback is it?

\Moderator - Bugster

[Hatz]

I too can only manage to get about 3 a week. The first few weeks I could get about 6 a week but now its down to about 3 for some reason. The warehouse center for me is in Denver, which is 3 hours away.

As far as scratched disks go, I have never had a problem with them being unplayable, except for The Exorcist restored. That had a giant crack in it, and it appeared that some type of chemical was leaking into the other parts of the disk.........kinda like the rainbow effect with oil in water.

I told them about the disk and they sent me a new one right away. The new disk seemed to be brand new as well. Not a single scratch on it. Luckily I didn't put that in my player because the disk was barely in tact......the high speeds of the player would have probably ripped it apart and probably messed up my machine.

Great Service though. I love it.

Hatz

[Rookie64]

They're helpful wih harder to find titles....that are usually high priced to buy.

That's pretty much what I use Netflix for.


I've had a disc arrive cracked in half, which I returned, but they never sent a replacement....just discontinued the title.

I also received a disc once that wouldn't play...another title they pulled instead of replacing.

They pull a few titles for no reason - and will send you a notice saying they removed it from your rental que.

Since I rent stuff that isn't easily available, I do have to wait longer for some things.
And some have a very long wait tagged to the title in my que that never become available.


The service is usually good when what you're waiting on is available, but don't expect more than 3 titles per week.


You can rent more than three at at time, but it costs more.

[golfnut]

Thanks everyone, you have been very helpful and verified what I thought the situation would probably be.

[Ootsonati]

I am thinking of subscribing and would like to ask a few questions to those of you who are members. Your advice would be greatly appreciated

If you ever decide to cancel the service, watch your credit card statement for several months afterward. It took me five months to get them to quit charging me. My credit card company took the charges off without question, but it was annoying having to call them every month.[/quote]

[thayne]

Netflix is way better than walmart. I have had both and it's not even close.

I have had 3 un-playable discs in the last year. Not really a biggie.

Turn around time is fast. When I send one back they log it within 2 days, and by the third day I have a new disc. I average about 15 a month.