Comments on: Netflix: To Keep or Not To Keep?

By: Sue G.

Sue G. — Tue, 19 May 2009 20:31:10 +0000

Catching up on older CD posts…

I am just now giving Netflix a try. I have been using my public library for 4-5 years for DVD’s (in addition to books, etc.), with the assumption that I would eventually run through everything they had to offer and want to start using a pay model again. And honestly, that really hasn’t been true. I tell my friends I use “Libflix” – it’s like Netflix except it’s free (at my library anyway) and you don’t have the exact same delivery control.

A feature that my library offers through the online catalog is Suspending your Holds. Say for example, you’re going on vacation; you don’t want items to show up when you can’t use them, so you freeze your holds. This keeps your ‘place in line’ and you can un-suspend the hold when you are ready for the item. Most library users in our system also use this feature to control when items come to them, not unlike a Netflix queue. Sure you have to wait a few weeks until you are the #1/next person in line for the latest, popular movie but if you have enough items in your hold list, and you keep feeding your hold list with forthcoming titles, you will eventually catch up and have more items available than you can reasonable watch. I hope that made sense. In essence, you end up with a long line of things on hold and while you’re going through one chunk of materials, the next is freeing up.

At this point, I’m looking for things that the library or even our amazing independant rental store doesn’t have, so I’m giving Netflix a try. I don’t think I’ll give up the library but just supplement it for awhile. I am so glad to find out you can place a hold on Netflix instead of just cancelling (and re-upping later). Very cool news. Thanks!!

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 05:56:53 +0000

Hey Cleverdude, I read that you were thinking about putting your account on hold while you’re trying to save a few bucks. That seems to be the popular trend right now in this country.
Just incase you aren’t aware, if you place your account on hold with Netflix, its only a 90 day hold at max unless you continue to extend it out. If that 90th day comes and you forget about it, but dont want to reactivate yet, it’s going to automatically reactivate…may catch you off guard.
But, if you cancel your account, the remaining movies in your queue will stay on file with Netflix for up to 2 years. And your ratings and history and everything else will remain on file as well, so you dont have to worry about losing that information.
When you reactivate the account after an indefinate time, just log out and back in and viola!

By: Shadox

Shadox — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 08:28:20 +0000

We never really ever run out of Netflix movies in our queue. We go through about 4 movies a month, but our queue keeps growing. Now that they have the “watch now” streaming option included with the subscription, I am thinking about getting one of the netflix dvr services. We love this service.

By: Danielle

Danielle — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 01:08:02 +0000

Stick with Netflix, its the best! Not only can you put it on hold for a couple of months if you are not utilizing it, but also if you stop netflix service I have heard they keep your queue around for 2 years.

You can’t beat it for winter in MN, even the closest redbox is too far when its -20. Sometimes if we are not going out even the mailbox seems too far!

Why?
cheap entertainment, convenience, blu-ray upgrade for $1 a month, no extra trip for returns…

Why not!

By: Debt Hater

Debt Hater — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:11:46 +0000

My guy has souped-up cable (HBO, Showtime, On Demand) AND we get Netflix. We even still go to the theaters (yes, upwards of $10 per ticket, I know). I would ditch the cable in a second, but he wants it for reasons I don’t fully understand. You guys, however, might do well to suspend your account because you only go through 4 – 6 movies a month. You could see how much you miss it for a month and then make your decision.

By: DD

DD — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 06:13:05 +0000

I had this same debate with myself this past August:

http://www.thehappyrock.com/2008/08/26/just-canceled-netflixtrimming-the-budget-fat/

The shakes went away after a couple of months.

Seriously though, we weren’t using it at all. If you’re still getting 6 movies a month I’d keep it.

By: Clever Dude

Clever Dude — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 22:49:29 +0000

@fern: Yes, misunderstanding. I get 2 out at a time. It’s “unlimited” per month, but it really comes out to about 20 movies max per month (2 every three days for 30 days).

By: Sandra

Sandra — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 22:15:59 +0000

We cancelled Netflix after every movie for 3 months arrived scratched. I don’t know what the deal was, because other people I’ve talked to love Netflix. I won’t do the other one because my mom worked at one of the processing facilities. They worked the people like dogs in the morning, then made them take 2-3 hour (unpaid) lunches until the afternoon mail came in, then worked them like dogs again until they were finished. My mom’s retired so it wasn’t a big deal for her but I kept thinking what about people who had to have childcare and have to pay for that during the day when they’re not actually getting paid themselves.

By: fern

fern — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 22:15:55 +0000

Did i misunderstand you when you said you’re down to 2 netflix movies a month at $14.83 after taxes?

I get 2 movies monthly and pay $5.29.

By: Kristy @ Master Your Card

Kristy @ Master Your Card — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 03:52:40 +0000

You know, I went through this debate not long ago and decided to cancel my Netflix membership. But, I also canceled my cable, too. My biggest challenge with canceling Netflix is that I bought more DVDs. I spent $200 in DVDs alone this month and totally blew my budget out of the water. I didn’t do that when I had Netflix, because I could just rent them anytime I wanted. I’ve reinstated my Netflix membership, but as I’m in school as well, I’ve also lowered my plan to the 2-at-time. Some things to consider:

1.) You’d save more money by keeping Netflix and getting rid of the cable.

Most of the shows you watch can be seen online. And if you’re computer savvy, you can hook your TV up to your computer and just watch them that way. The only station I’ve had any trouble with is NBC and that’s because their online format is crappy. Fortunately for me, the shows I liked on NBC were canceled so it doesn’t matter.

2.) You can watch movies instantly from Netflix.

And, they’re adding more and more to this ‘instant play’ list everyday. You can do one of two things here, either buy the box which is like $100 (not for me), or hook your TV up to the computer and watch it that way. Either way, this is a good way to get that “on demand” included with your Netflix package and not wait for that turnaround on your DVDs.

The deal for me is that I’m a movie buff and I’d take movies over TV shows any day. In that sense, Netflix makes more sense than cable. However, there are certain shows I really like…and I buy on DVD. So, since I’m buying them on DVD, I don’t feel the need to pay for the cable to watch them. I simply watch them online and buy them later. But, so I don’t go crazy with the buying of the DVDs like I did this month, I have Netflix to help tide me over until my budget allows me to spend the money.