AfterDawn: News

Netflix will credit users affected by outage

Netflix has announced that it will be giving all customers affected by Monday's outage a 5 percent credit on their monthly bill.

Netflix spokesman Steve Swasey would not give the total amount of customers affected or how much would be refunded but did mention that the credit will have no "material impact on the company's financial operations."



"The key thing here is: This was completely proactive on Netflix's part. There's no requirement for Netflix to do this, no obligation. There was no request for it. We thought it was the right thing to do," Swasey said.

Swasey added that many of Netflix's 7.5 million members return DVDs on Mondays after watching them over the weekend and the outage delayed those hoping to receive their movies by Tuesday. The ratings system is still down but all ordering and shipping is back online.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 26 Mar 2008 18:49

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• 18 comments

• Burnasty

  I got a 5% discount.

  26.3.2008 18:54 #1

• cyprusrom

  They emailed me and said they were gonna "compensate" me, since I was supposed to have the movies mailed on Monday.
  
  The rating system it has been working for me for a while now though.

  26.3.2008 19:08 #2

• Wyattj

  I got a 10% credit myself.

  26.3.2008 19:26 #3

• xugiua

  I got a 5% discount too, sweet.

  26.3.2008 20:11 #4

• pcrazy99

  Cool. Gotta love Netflix.

  26.3.2008 20:58 #5

• ZimHosein

  I haven't heard a peep from Netflix yet! :(

  26.3.2008 23:22 #6

• cyprusrom

  Originally posted by ZimHosein: I haven't heard a peep from Netflix yet! :(Maybe they considered that you weren't really affected:~)! Or they just ignore you...

  26.3.2008 23:43 #7

• DVDBack23

  Originally posted by ZimHosein: I haven't heard a peep from Netflix yet! :(Or maybe you are a blockbuster subscriber!

  27.3.2008 03:35 #8

• redux79

  Quote:many of Netflix's 7.5 million members return DVDs on Mondays after watching them over the weekend and the outage delayed those hoping to receive their movies by Tuesday.Does anyone ever get a one day turn around time? I have to mail my movies back on friday or saturday in the "hopes" that I can receive new releases or movies at all by tuesday. I'm not complaining, I know I get my money's worth out of netflix, it just sounds kind of ridiculous claiming that any of netflix's users still "hope" for a one day turn around.

  27.3.2008 12:16 #9

• ceno82

  I live in RI and the closest warehouse is in Worcster,MA. If I drop off the movies in the AM before the post office ships then I have a really good chance of getting a movie the next day. If I drop off the movies at the main post office in the RI capital city then yes I will get a movie the next day.
  This is why I love Netflix, they're just good like that.

  27.3.2008 12:58 #10

• sgriesch

  Quote:Originally posted by ZimHosein: I haven't heard a peep from Netflix yet! :(Or maybe you are a blockbuster subscriber!I'm using both right now, and have to admit that Blockbuster is faster. Customer service is not so swift though. Anyways I got my 5% credit message today.

  27.3.2008 13:07 #11

• ZimHosein

  Quote:Originally posted by ZimHosein: I haven't heard a peep from Netflix yet! :(Maybe they considered that you weren't really affected:~)! Or they just ignore you...Okay, now I am feeling ignored! :(

  27.3.2008 22:48 #12

• cyprusrom

  Quote:I'm using both right now, and have to admit that Blockbuster is faster. Customer service is not so swift though. Anyways I got my 5% credit message today.I have had both, and BB was slower for me. Now I am just with Netflix. They are extremely punctual. I mail the DVDs on Monday, they receive them on Tuesday and I get my replacements on Wednesday. Unless the movie is not available at my distribution center( I get lots of older-rare movies), and they have to mail it from farther away.
  
  BB was better when they had the in-store exchange deal. Any time I would receive a damaged DVD, they would email me a printable cupon for in-store rental. I do like Netflix's website layout better too, and hopefully the competition will make them increase the titles available for instant viewing on computer.

  27.3.2008 23:16 #13

• sgriesch

  Quote:Quote:I'm using both right now, and have to admit that Blockbuster is faster. Customer service is not so swift though. Anyways I got my 5% credit message today.I have had both, and BB was slower for me. Now I am just with Netflix. They are extremely punctual. I mail the DVDs on Monday, they receive them on Tuesday and I get my replacements on Wednesday. Unless the movie is not available at my distribution center( I get lots of older-rare movies), and they have to mail it from farther away.
  
  BB was better when they had the in-store exchange deal. Any time I would receive a damaged DVD, they would email me a printable cupon for in-store rental. I do like Netflix's website layout better too, and hopefully the competition will make them increase the titles available for instant viewing on computer.That's funny. My story is the opposite. Netflix began stalling my queue. They would send three movies in a row from 2 states away about twice a month. The nearest return center is 60 miles away. It would be 3 days before they "receive" it. BB was much faster and had a service center in the same town as Netflix. Also, BB still allows in-store exchanges. Mine is a 5/month plan. In-store used to not be allowed as they were franchise stores. Now they are owned by BB, and I can participate. I haven't tried the on-demand viewing from Netflix yet.

  28.3.2008 00:22 #14

• cyprusrom

  The on-line viewing is unlimited now(it used to be calculated depending on the plan you were using). Decent films available now, but of course not the new releases. You need to instal WMP 11 in order to access the viewing service.
  
  As for "stalling" your queue- I've seen it mentioned that they monitor , and if some people have super fast returns, increased monthly activity, they might "stall" you:~)! Maybe they labeled you as a "Heavy renter"!
  
  As soon as they start doing that to me(I bet they will label me as "heavy renter" pretty soon:~)!), I drop them and change to BB for a while! I have the 3 at a time plan. If I don't get at least 6 a week, is not good business anymore, not since RedBox come to my town with $1 rentals.
  
  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11262292/

  28.3.2008 00:52 #15

• sgriesch

  Originally posted by cyprusrom: The on-line viewing is unlimited now(it used to be calculated depending on the plan you were using). Decent films available now, but of course not the new releases. You need to instal WMP 11 in order to access the viewing service.
  
  As for "stalling" your queue- I've seen it mentioned that they monitor , and if some people have super fast returns, increased monthly activity, they might "stall" you:~)! Maybe they labeled you as a "Heavy renter"!
  
  As soon as they start doing that to me(I bet they will label me as "heavy renter" pretty soon:~)!), I drop them and change to BB for a while! I have the 3 at a time plan. If I don't get at least 6 a week, is not good business anymore, not since RedBox come to my town with $1 rentals.
  
  " target="_blank">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11262292/
  
  I haven't seen a Redbox yet. The only flaw with those is what if the disc is scratched. There is no one there to give you another copy. I think the flash drive will be in more direct competition with Redbox than BB. But, if these start getting popular, then BB will be out of business (brick and mortar wise).

  28.3.2008 09:27 #16

• imnomyth

  Quote:Quote:many of Netflix's 7.5 million members return DVDs on Mondays after watching them over the weekend and the outage delayed those hoping to receive their movies by Tuesday.Does anyone ever get a one day turn around time? I have to mail my movies back on friday or saturday in the "hopes" that I can receive new releases or movies at all by tuesday. I'm not complaining, I know I get my money's worth out of netflix, it just sounds kind of ridiculous claiming that any of netflix's users still "hope" for a one day turn around.
  I've been a member for 6-7 years now and they've always(with VERY FEW exceptions) received/shipped the next business day. Blockbuster on the other hand SUCKS!!! at least 3- 6 day turnaround; and now no free monthly coupons, oh and it's more expensive too.

  31.3.2008 18:26 #17

• nopcbs

  Quote:Quote:many of Netflix's 7.5 million members return DVDs on Mondays after watching them over the weekend and the outage delayed those hoping to receive their movies by Tuesday.Does anyone ever get a one day turn around time? I have to mail my movies back on friday or saturday in the "hopes" that I can receive new releases or movies at all by tuesday. I'm not complaining, I know I get my money's worth out of netflix, it just sounds kind of ridiculous claiming that any of netflix's users still "hope" for a one day turn around.*********************************************************************
  
  I live in mid-Michigan and the warehouse is in Lansing, some two hours drive away. If I send in a movie on Monday morning, dropped off at post office on the way to work, I normally have the replacement on Wednesday.
  
  Killer is when they send a disc from CA and the return label is to CA, as well.

  4.4.2008 06:21 #18