Netflix Increasing the Price on Blu-Ray Rental Subscriptions

[Glavinsolo]

Dear James Bond,

You are receiving this email because you added unlimited Blu-ray access to your account for $1 a month. The number of Blu-ray titles has increased significantly and will continue to do so. As we buy more, you are able to choose from a rapidly expanding selection of Blu-ray titles. And as you've probably heard, Blu-ray discs are substantially more expensive than standard definition DVDs.

As a result, the monthly charge for Blu-ray access is increasing for most plans and will now vary by plan. The charge for monthly Blu-ray access on your 1 DVD at-a-time (Unlimited) plan will increase from $1 a month to $2 a month. The price of your 1 DVD at-a-time (Unlimited) plan is not changing and remains at $8.99 a month.

The new charge for Blu-ray access will be automatically added to your next billing statement on or after April 27, 2009 and will be referenced in your Membership Terms and Details.

If you wish to continue unlimited Blu-ray access for $2 a month, you don't need to do anything. If not, you can remove Blu-ray access anytime by visiting Your Account.

If you have questions about this change or need any assistance, please call us anytime at 1-888-923-0898.

-The Netflix Team

Absolute BS, BluRays are dropping like hot potatoes due to the lack of people buying them and the recession of course. And are they going to drop the price, say 1 year from now when BluRays are $10-15 new?

*edited title

 

[mundane]

I believe it's still a deal.

 

[Jeeebus]

fawk... same email

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

blockbuster- no additional charge for bd rentals and in-store exchanges ftw.

 

[xanis]

What's the big deal? Netflix is a business and has the right to raise prices as they see fit to maintain a good profit. You're getting awfully worked up over an extra $12 a year IMO.

 

[destrekor]

screw that. I love Blockbuster Total Access, no charge for Blu-ray, and can do in-store rentals, and they just changed in-store rentals to having no due date, zero fees (total access only).
About 8.49, or 8.99, 1 disc at a time. It isn't unlimited, rather 2 online rentals a month, and 2 in-store exchanges. 4 rentals, Blu-ray, less than $9/month. Not bad at all imho. Especially since I rarely rent 4 discs in a month, so paying more for what I would maybe use one or two months in a year, screw that. The plan I have is perfect for me.

 

[Glavinsolo]

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo
blockbuster- no additional charge for bd rentals and in-store exchanges ftw.

I think I'll switch to that as soon as Netflix prices the online view only plan.

 

[Drako]

Originally posted by: mundane
I believe it's still a deal.

This - plus the fact that they have not figured out how to ship BDs without possible damage in the mail. With a 50% price premium on DVDs, plus the loss from damage they are incurring, it's still a good deal.

 

[Glavinsolo]

Originally posted by: Xanis
What's the big deal? Netflix is a business and has the right to raise prices as they see fit to maintain a good profit. You're getting awfully worked up over an extra $12 a year IMO.

It's not about the $12/yr, it's about their reason for doing so. I'm not worked up. I actually just changed my account to the 2 BD out at a time plan.

 

[spidey07]

How is it BS? You're only paying a whole freaking dollar extra a month for much better quality and selection. Why do people think they are entitled to unlimited high quality entertainment for little to no cost?

 

[R Nilla]

Not a big deal, but it starts to add up. Only $1 now, but what pricing changes will we see in the future? I'm surprised they haven't started charging additional fees for streaming the Watch Instantly content. Still, hard to complain when one year of Netflix is cheaper than two months of cable.

 

[Saga]

You can thank Sony for continuing to bleed people dry with BD.

 

[Queasy]

Well, at least the Watch It Now streaming selection is getting better. They just added the first 9 seasons of South Park today.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: Drako

Originally posted by: mundane
I believe it's still a deal.

This - plus the fact that they have not figured out how to ship BDs without possible damage in the mail. With a 50% price premium on DVDs, plus the loss from damage they are incurring, it's still a good deal.

I thought BDs were supposed to be scratch resistant?

 

[Glavinsolo]

Originally posted by: spidey07
How is it BS? You're only paying a whole freaking dollar extra a month for much better quality and selection. Why do people think they are entitled to unlimited high quality entertainment for little to no cost?

It's a service and it is a 10% increase on that service.

 

[Drako]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: Drako

Originally posted by: mundane
I believe it's still a deal.

This - plus the fact that they have not figured out how to ship BDs without possible damage in the mail. With a 50% price premium on DVDs, plus the loss from damage they are incurring, it's still a good deal.

I thought BDs were supposed to be scratch resistant?

They are scratch resistant, but apparently a lot of disks have been cracking during shipment in the Netflix envelopes.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Glavinsolo

Originally posted by: spidey07
How is it BS? You're only paying a whole freaking dollar extra a month for much better quality and selection. Why do people think they are entitled to unlimited high quality entertainment for little to no cost?

It's a service and it is a 10% increase on that service.

But you're getting greater than 10% in return?
😕

 

[nageov3t]

I might be a luddite, but the difference between dvds vs bluray disks is barely noticeable to me.

 

[Deeko]

I just got the email. Not entirely happy about it. I've been considering switching back to Blockbuster, now I'm considering that even more.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: loki8481
I might be a luddite, but the difference between dvds vs bluray disks is barely noticeable to me.

Maybe you need better glasses, or you have a crappy TV? I dunno.

 

[dwell]

I had no problem paying the extra $1 but in the end Blu-ray versions of films were in very short supply. It was ridiculous waiting up to a month for some titles to ship on Blu-ray. If this continues after paying an extra $3 a month I'll just cancel Netflix outright and go Blockbuster.

 

[Glavinsolo]

Originally posted by: Chris
I had no problem paying the extra $1 but in the end Blu-ray versions of films were in very short supply. It was ridiculous waiting up to a month for some titles to ship on Blu-ray. If this continues after paying an extra $3 a month I'll just cancel Netflix outright and go Blockbuster.

I hear you on that. I have 10 movies at the top of my queue that are "Short/Long Wait", I guess this 10% bump should resolve that. As soon as they come out with online viewing only plans I am gone.

 

[swbsam]

My bill went up $3 a month... I just downgraded to 1 dvd at a time, no blu-ray. I really use streaming anyways

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Glavinsolo

Originally posted by: Chris
I had no problem paying the extra $1 but in the end Blu-ray versions of films were in very short supply. It was ridiculous waiting up to a month for some titles to ship on Blu-ray. If this continues after paying an extra $3 a month I'll just cancel Netflix outright and go Blockbuster.

I hear you on that. I have 10 movies at the top of my queue that are "Short/Long Wait", I guess this little bump should resolve that. As soon as they come out with online viewing only plans I am gone.

I've just figured out that Monday is the best day to get movies. If you send your movies back in time for them to arrive at the distribution center on Monday, you're more likely to get your movies that are in some sort of Wait status or just releasing that week. At least, that's been my experience the last three weeks.

 

[Bacstar]

Interesting... Living in Alaska, I guess we get the Alaska-tax since my email upped it to $3.00.

"As a result, the monthly charge for Blu-ray access is increasing for most plans and will now vary by plan. The charge for monthly Blu-ray access on your 2 DVDs at-a-time (Unlimited) plan will increase from $1 a month to $3 a month. The price of your 2 DVDs at-a-time (Unlimited) plan is not changing and remains at $13.99 a month."

I'm probably going to opt out since I watch more streaming movies on my Xbox, and quality-wise, the novelty has worn-off and can survive on DVD quality movies. If a movie is worth, i'll just go-ahead and purchase it on blu-ray.