Dear Netflix: OH NO YOU DI'INT!!!

Like over 24 million of you, I have Netflix and have enjoyed it for over 2 years.  I love the DVD's but primarily use the streaming feature.  Being able to watch movies, television shows, and obscure B-movie boob-fests make me smile.

I watch Doctor Who.  I watch Bebe's Kids.  SNL.  Comedy routines.  All the old 007 movies.  All thanks to Netflix.

Now, I'm shopping around.  Netflix has pissed me off.

Like the other 24+ million, I recently received an email regarding a change to their pricing structure.  This is either the 2nd or 3rd change to their program since the beginning of the year, and this is the straw that broke this camel's back:

$1 a month price hike?  That I can understand.  $2?  Pushing it, but ok.  Service is good, and the variety makes up for the higher price.

$5 a month?  An extra $60 a year?  I'm sorry, for that extra price I better get something else for my money.  Something 'above and beyond' like a hand job or a free puppy.  (or puppies that give happy endings?  too far?)

In my opinion, this is pure greed.  The change is going into effect on September 1st, so at this point I'm looking at August 31 as my last day with my current Netflix plan.  Will I go to streaming only?  Reduce down to only 1 DVD at a time?  Or will I just give them the goodbye finger, and move to blockbuster?  Hulu?

Time will tell.  All I know right now is the blowback from consumers is getting fierce.  Twitter was buzzing all night Tuesday night, and bloggers (including yours truly) are foaming at the mouth.

Bad move, Netflix.  Bad move.  I hope you see a mass exodus, and I hope your competition comes out with a smokin "FUCK YOU" deal.  I'll be laughing as I take my business elsewhere.  For me, I'll be marking 8/31 on my calendar as "Byebye Netflix Day."

Movie Night in Idaho

I, like a lot of people, have and love Netflix.  I abuse the 'streaming' function and was stoked when I could finally use my Wii to stream movies on my TV.

I have an eclectic (understatement) taste when it comes to movies and shows I watch:

As you can see, movies like Pulp Fiction, Super Troopers, Casablanca and Office Space are movies I like.  TV Shows include Dexter, Invader Zim, Dead Like Me, Futurama, etc.  Witty, funny, goofy, classic, I like a wide variety.

When I moved to Idaho, I took notice of Netflix's "local suggestions" category.  What are people watching in Idaho?

Nothing from this century, it seems.  Westerns, 60's and 70's movies were the main suggestions.  I had to dig DEEP to find anything that included strong language, sexuality, or anything "suitable for 17 and over."

Don't get me wrong.  A good Clint Eastwood or John Wayne movie now and then is a good thing.  But the preferences of this town seem to be very narrow.

The #1 movie requested by Netflix members in this town speaks for itself.  According to netflix's judging on my tastes, I would give this movie a rating of 0.6 stars.  7 of the top 10 were 3 stars or less.

So, feeling a bit amused, I looked up what people in my old California town were watching.

Boobs!  Horror movies! Tim Burton!  Now that's what I'm talking about.

It makes me wonder if I went to the local movie theater and got a ticket for Opening Weekend for a movie that has violence, adult themes, etc. if the theater would be as empty as I think?

The Black Swan just came out.  It has lesbian overtones and other naughty bits.  Was the theater empty during it's debut?  Did people whisper their movie selection into the ticket booth, in hopes that people nearby aren't aware that you just bought tickets for a RATED R movie?

If the theater decided to do a "throwback" night, and show Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, or anything starring Dick Van Dyke, I bet it would play to a packed house.