Netflix for blu-ray screening

[flyfree432]

Has anyone used netflix before? I'm considering it to preview blu-rays before I commit to buying them. I've been buying and selling many of them and taking a huge lose. Most of the BD's I'm putting in my cart at Netflix says "Short Wait" or "Very Long Wait". The only one coming up "Now" for availability is an older title. How long do you typically have to wait?

[sptrout]

Originally Posted by flyfree432

Has anyone used netflix before? I'm considering it to preview blu-rays before I commit to buying them. I've been buying and selling many of them and taking a huge lose. Most of the BD's I'm putting in my cart at Netflix says "Short Wait" or "Very Long Wait". The only one coming up "Now" for availability is an older title. How long do you typically have to wait?

Netflix use to be great, but for the past few months the wait times have been very, very long. Blu-ray is especially bad, but I have even had "The Bourne Ultimatum" in just plain DVD at the top of my queue since long before it was released and still have not got it. Many others have reported similar problems.

[BluJay]

I've had Netflix for several years and have been very satisfied with it. The usual turnaround is 3 days. The top BD are taking longer although I had 310 to Yuma on Wednesday when it came out Tuesday. I am noticing a lot of short/long waits for recent release BD. Hoping this eases soon as they adjust to the popularity of Blu. I never got these wait messages prior to switching formats to Blu. Like you said it is a great way to preview titles before purchasing.

[EricJ]

Evey time there's a long wait on a new-release title, the conspiracy theories of "throttling" start flying about--
And although it may be possible that studios are asking Netflix outposts to hold back on their Blu stock to encourage crucial sales, it may also be possible that, oops, outposts...just didn't think they had to stock that many yet--After all, who had the players??

(And it was just as bad when DVD first exploded, but Netflix didn't have their nationwide system set up yet, and it was still only one office...)

[zooyork_26]

yea ive had netflix for 4 yrs and when it started it used to take like 5 days to send and get back now theres a spot in my city and it comes in a day. ive never had to wait more then 3 days for blus on there either

[CasualCat2001]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Evey time there's a long wait on a new-release title, the conspiracy theories of "throttling" start flying about--
And although it may be possible that studios are asking Netflix outposts to hold back on their Blu stock to encourage crucial sales, it may also be possible that, oops, outposts...just didn't think they had to stock that many yet--After all, who had the players??

(And it was just as bad when DVD first exploded, but Netflix didn't have their nationwide system set up yet, and it was still only one office...)

Throttling isn't a conspiracy theory. Netflix admits to throttling though they call it something more consumer friendly.

Netflix Terms of Use

In determining priority for shipping and inventory allocation, we may utilize many different factors, including without limitation, the number and type of DVDs you rent through our service, the subscription plan you select, as well as other uses of our service by you. For example, if all other factors are the same, we give priority to those members who receive the fewest DVDs through our service. The type, number, mix and weighting of the various factors impacting shipping and inventory allocation will change from time to time and will be made in our sole and absolute discretion. As a result of your viewing habits and our operational practices, the actual number of DVDs you rent in any month may vary, and you may experience differentiated service during the course of your membership. Also, such service may be different from the service we provide to other members on the same membership plan. The type of differentiated service you may experience includes, without limitation, (i) the shipment of your next available DVD occurring at least one business day following return of your previously viewed movie, (ii) delivery taking longer, as the shipments may not be sent from your local distribution center and (iii) the movies you receive coming from lower in your Queue more often than our other subscribers. These effects will not occur unless we are faced with limited inventory at your local distribution center or when the number of shipments to be processed by that distribution center on that day is exceeded. In our unlimited plans, we do not establish a monthly limit on the number of DVDs you can rent.

Throttling described on Wikipedia

As far as the theories that studios are holding back stock from Netflix, that is also coming from Netflix. I've been told that myself, though I'm not sure it is true.

Personally, I suspect Netflix hasn't bought enough inventory due to 1)higher cost and 2)they didn't want to get stuck with large amounts of discs if one of the formats failed.

To the OP, I use netflix for screening too because I watch before I buy 99% of the time.

That said I'm considering putting my account on hold until they get their act together. For the 3 at a time plan, and basically not getting any blu-ray's, I might as well just buy 1 title a month than pay them to not ship me anything.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by CasualCat2001

Throttling isn't a conspiracy theory. Netflix admits to throttling though they call it something more consumer friendly

They haven't positively admitted to doing it on Blu-ray disks, and I've noticed that all my Available Blu titles are...from last year.
Curiously, any title released after November '07 has a "Long Wait"...

(And okay, I can see where they're coming from if they are holding back, but at least a month wait is still better than buying 3:10 to Yuma if I only want to watch it once because I missed it in theaters.)

[JasonS]

I can't recommend Netflix for Blu-ray use. Their wait times are absolutely pathetic with all of the new releases instantly going to "Long Wait" or "Very Long Wait." The only Blu-ray titles I've been able to get so far are old ones. I'm canceling next week once this month runs out.

[Moefiz]

Originally Posted by flyfree432

Has anyone used netflix before? I'm considering it to preview blu-rays before I commit to buying them. I've been buying and selling many of them and taking a huge lose. Most of the BD's I'm putting in my cart at Netflix says "Short Wait" or "Very Long Wait". The only one coming up "Now" for availability is an older title. How long do you typically have to wait?

Check the Blockbuster around your area to see which ones rents Blu.

[tigtat77]

I use blockbuster total access. They mail you the movies and you keep them as long as you want then you can go exchange them for movies in store (including Blu) and they mail you the next movies on your list as soon as you sheck them in at the store.

[actionhank]

If you don't want to wait go for hd dvd lol Waiting for blus is a good sign hehe

[elwaylite]

Netflix is good for BD, but as stated has been slow lately. I recently switched to BB Total Access so I have the option of returning to my store for BD's.

[flyfree432]

Thanks. We are in a very rural town and have no blockbusters near by (the closest is 20 miles). I am going to give it a try on their 16.99 a month plan and see how it goes since you get two weeks free. If it takes longer than 7-10 days to get any BD's, I'll try something else instead.

And who ever said to go HD-DVD, SHAME!