Comments on: Netflix Eliminating Profiles: Tells Us We Don’t Own Our Data

By: Lee Wright

Lee Wright — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:16:34 +0000

Why do so many companies, but especially Netflix (or any other born on the Web), choose to communicate with customers in a way that translates into, “We’re canceling something that we know many of love (and that doesn’t cost us much of anything to maintain), and we’re not going to tell you why. In fact, we have such contempt for you that that we’re going to claim we’re giving you a reason (“this change will help us continue to improve the Netflix website for all our customers”) but the reason makes so little sense that even a child would understand that they’re being lied to and called “stupid” to their face.”

By: Bscottup

Bscottup — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:12:55 +0000

The red envelopes are doomed… read this. http://www.dmnews.com/Netflix-releases-its-first-direct-from-TV-device/article/110350/

By: Netflix Roku Player - graysky

Netflix Roku Player - graysky — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:41:30 +0000

[...] split our account into two profiles, and only one could add movies to the Roku box. Now Netflix has announced they are doing away with profiles altogether. They could have handled this much better (they don’t even offer a tool to merge accounts). [...]

By: Paul Ellis

Paul Ellis — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:54:15 +0000

While I don't think multiple profiles (or any other similar feature) is coming back, I doubt it is as dire as that. Netflix is preparing for (or creating) a future without physical media, but they Netflix doesn't want "to only sell online movies." That is like saying Microsoft online wants to have web properties because they have MSN and Live. Netflix and the Post Office will (if they haven't already) worked out the mailing situation. You can guarantee that the USPS wants Netflix's business (~$300 Million per year).

By: Bscottup

Bscottup — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:26:04 +0000

I am afraid that there will not be any good news on this matter. Netflix saw a way to increase the number of accounts so they went for it. Postage is way up and the USPS has been having problems handling the red mailers. DVD mailing is going extinct. Netflix wants to only sell online movies. If you can do that over your broadband fine but more and more broadband services are charging for heavy use.

By: Bob Caswell

Bob Caswell — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:45:16 +0000

Eric,

Amen.

By: Eric

Eric — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:37:01 +0000

I’m in the camp that thinks that Netflix has something good up its sleeve, but their lead PR strategist should be fired – yesterday. What a terrible way to go about it. All this web 2.0ish stuff is about doing things more transparently, and I don’t think it’s too unreasonable to expect Netflix to deal transparently with their customers – the people who made them a household name. While I await a better system, their initial opaque announcement was a horrible approach.

By: KeepNetflixProfiles

KeepNetflixProfiles — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 02:28:25 +0000

Let Netflix know that they are making a huge mistake! Take action both online and offline at http://www.keepnetflixprofiles.org!

Spread the Word!

By: KeepNetflixProfiles

KeepNetflixProfiles — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:47:40 +0000

Show netflix and the world how you really feel! Spread the word!

http://www.cafepress.com/keepflixprofile

By: Bob Caswell

Bob Caswell — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:47:02 +0000

Elizabeth, Netflix wanting households to have multiple accounts is not that far fetched. Half of the point of Netflix is the recommendations feature based off your ratings. That totally doesn’t work when you mix two or more different personalities of movies being queued and rated.

I can hope like the next person that Netflix has something amazing up their sleeves which will be announced shortly… But that doesn’t change the fact that they screwed up in the here and now.