Netflix Loses 800,000 Subscribers After Qwikster Gaffe 325
bs0d3 writes "Netflix's video subscription service lost 800,000 customers in the third quarter, the single biggest loss in its history. Shares plunged by more than 25 percent in Monday's extended trading. Netflix is predicting that its combined loss of customers and European launch will push it into the red next year where it may stay for all of 2012, according to a letter to its shareholders (PDF)."
what am I missing? why is this so bad for netflix (Score:5, Informative)
the LA times says http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/10/consumer-confidential-netflix-shares-plunge-subscribers-food-prices-grocery-bill-meat-grain-halloween-masks-recall-target-fro.html [latimes.com] they lost 800,000 ending with 23.8 MILLION subscribers.
so they went from 24.2 to 23.2 million subscribers... and the rate change -huffington post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/12/netflix-price-subscription-plan_n_895779.html [huffingtonpost.com] was from 9.99 to 15.98?
so before, they had 24.2 million at ten bucks a month, now they have 23.2 million at 15.98?
Crappy Redesign (Score:5, Informative)
No one seems to remember that the user backlash really started with the horrible watch instantly page redesign (replace text with large movie posters, require mouse-over to see what anything is, slow autoscroll on mouseover rather than a push-button advancement, can't read the posters while autoscolling, no more sortable view, etc) and arrogant corporate response. Look back at the blog - there were 5000 extremely negative responses before comments got turned off and the only response was something to the effect that the new page design was really better and the customers didn't know what was good for them. For me, that was the first indication that the people in charge at Netflix 1. didn't know what they were doing (at least when it came to GUI usability) and 2. had a completely tin ear for customer complaints & service. It really primed the pump for subsequent rage following future bone-headed moves.
Re:Where is the Netflix *price list* ??? (Score:2, Informative)
I'm pretty sure the idea is that you sign up for the *FREE TRIAL*, knowing the small amount of money you'll need to pay each month. Then if you do want a bigger DVD plan (which I wouldn't be surprised to find out aren't nearly as popular), you can change to it.
As of right now, when I log in, my plan options are:
Unlimited Streaming - $7.99
Unlimited 1 DVD at a time - $7.99
Unlimited 2 DVDs at a time - $11.99
Unlimited 1 DVD at a time + Streaming - $15.98
Unlimited 2 DVDs at a time + Streaming - $19.98
Unlimited 3 DVDs at a time + Streaming - $23.98
Unlimited 4 DVDs at a time + Streaming - $29.98
1 DVD at a time, limit 2 per month - $4.99