Trouble for Tivo and NetFlix Partnership?

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Trouble for Tivo and NetFlix Partnership?

Posted by CmdrTaco on Thursday September 9, 2004 @08:50AM from the to-good-to-be-true dept.

lucabrasi999 writes "Well, things may not not be as good for the potential joining up of Netflix and Tivo as once thought. Herb Greenberg, of CBS Marketwatch has a commentary which hints that this deal may not be as great as it once appeared. Why? In short, distribution rights. It appears that Netflix may not legally distribute all of the movies in it's library via Tivo. As a side note, Netflix may also be feeling some economic pressure. It now forces all cancellations occur by phone, making it more difficult to cancel because of a long hold time."

22 of 217 comments (clear)

Uniform Consumer Code by stecoop · 2004-09-09 08:52 · Score: 5, Informative

Netflix now forces all cancellations occur by phone

Could some inspiring Business Major retort the Uniform Consumer Rights for us? Off the top of my head, which will not be a good verbatim translation, it states that:

A cancellation of an order must be accepted as in the method original ordered in or in a manner that is faster in speed. Meaning that if signed up electronically than they have to accept an electronic cancellation or any means that would be faster. Like if I signed up via mail than if they have a means of electronic cancellation than they have to accept that too all the while accepting the mail as a cancellation method.
1. Re:Uniform Consumer Code by AKAImBatman · 2004-09-09 08:56 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  Do you mean the Uniform Commercial Code?
  
  --
  Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
Re:Cancelation times by AKAImBatman · 2004-09-09 08:52 · Score: 4, Informative

It's not Tivo that has the long hold times. It's NetFlix. From the summary:

Netflix may also be feeling some economic pressure.

Just an FYI.

--
Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
All Your Base Are Occur By Phone by stevemm81 · 2004-09-09 08:52 · Score: 5, Funny

It now forces all cancellations occur by phone, making it more difficult to cancel because of a long hold time.

Wish someone would force all submissions occur after proofreading...
Bummer for Netflix... by jmcmunn · 2004-09-09 08:54 · Score: 5, Insightful

I had Netflix for a few months earlier this year, I loved the service, and when I decided to cancel for financial reasons, it was very easy. I just hopped online, and clicked a link. Then they told me I had 7 days to return my three movies, and we were done.

For this exact reason, I planned on signing up again in the near future. But if they are going down the road of AOL, where you can only cancel by phone, after long waits and pushy sales reps, I may just go try Blockbuster Online instead, and see how it fares.
AOL is the same way by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-09 08:56 · Score: 5, Funny

Yes, I'd like to cancel

Really, why?

Don't want it.

But have you seen our super new optimized enhanced keyword system?

Yes, don't like it.

What didn't you like?

I just want to cancel.

We're just trying to determine why you were unsatisfied

Perhaps it's things like this that make me unsatisfied.

What exactly do you not like about the cancellation process?

JUST CANCEL ME!!!!!
1. Re:AOL is the same way by dasmegabyte · 2004-09-09 09:49 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  This is what you get when you outsource your cancellations department to a copy of Eliza.
  
  Incidentally, the most fun cancellation experience I've ever had was when I tried to cancel my Discover card. The guy made me an offer which was, honestly, very good, and I would have gone with it had I not already consolidated all my debt onto a different card. I told him I wasn't interested. He asks "Why aren't you interested in getting a better deal?" I said, "Look, I agree with you that it's a better deal. But now you're trying to sell me on it, and in the process you're making me feel stupid. I'd rather not do business with a company that tries to make me feel stupid, I'm just an asshole like that." I was cancelled and off the phone in fifteen seconds.
  
  Nowadays, you just gotta be rude, man. It saves you a lot of hassle. Being polite to phone folks is playing right into their hands. Fuck it, you'll never see or hear this guy again, insult him and his entire worldview if it gets him off your phone a little quicker. The sanity you save might be your own.
  
  --
  Hey freaks: now you're ju
2. Re:AOL is the same way by hazem · 2004-09-09 09:50 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  I used to play a game called "cheerios" with my younger brother. I would sit on his stomach and hold his hands over his head - pinned to the floor.
  
  I would then say, "Do you like cheerios", hitting his sternum with my knuckle on each syllable.
  
  "NO" he might yell
  
  "Why Do You Not Like Cheer-E-Oos"?
  
  and so on, until I got bored with it. I had no idea I could apply this working for AOL!
Cancellation by ckswift · 2004-09-09 08:56 · Score: 5, Informative

It now forces all cancellations occur by phone, making it more difficult to cancel because of a long hold time."

As a Netflix subscriber, I have a "Cancel Your Membership" button on my account page...

-Chris
Re:Other Services by vondo · 2004-09-09 09:00 · Score: 5, Informative

I was with Netflix for three years. When they changed my old, sweetheart deal ($28/six movies/month) to $35/five movies and Blockbuster came on the scene, I jumped ship. But, I just signed up for BB yesterday, so no real experience yet. So far, I can say the web site is not quite as slick, generally (not that Netflix was especially good) and the selection isn't quite as good either. (They are missing Futurama seaons 1&2 for some reason).
With being gone for a while and a two week BB test period, I figured I can't lose. Also, I like the idea of two in-store coupons/month from BB. (It was always the selection that kept me with Netflix, not the pain of a local store.)
I was kind of wondering... by the_skywise · 2004-09-09 09:01 · Score: 5, Interesting

how NetFlix was going to be allowed to basically do P2P distribution of movies... even if it was completely secure and paid for. The Publishing houses (Disney, Paramount, Choam, Fox) go to great lengths to control their content viability. Especially Disney which cycles content in and out of the market to keep demand as high as possible. A download library like Netflix would take alot of that power to create market-hype out of the hands of the publishers.
(Though I still think it's a cool idea and properly setup could work around those concerns...)
Re:Cancelation times by quitcherbitchen · 2004-09-09 09:03 · Score: 4, Informative

NetFlix doesn't require you to phone in cancellations. I cancelled my membership yesterday with just a few clicks. I've never been a member of another subscription service (especially one with a free trial) that made it this easy.

You don't even have to have all of your movies in befor you cancel. Just return within 7 days. I highly recommend NetFlix to anyone willing to pay $23 per month for movies.
Re:Hmm. by Fishbone · 2004-09-09 09:06 · Score: 5, Funny

Just a quick observation--you say you don't pay for TV, yet your sig is from a CABLE TV program. I can't decide whether to jack your credibility or call the cable office first.
Re:The end of Netflix is upon us by The_Rippa · 2004-09-09 09:07 · Score: 4, Informative

Not true...

1. Netflix is actually a few bucks cheaper than Blockbuster and Blockbuster certainly doesn't have the same inventory.

2. WalMart won't have the same selection either.

3. Hasn't postage always been free?

4. This is true.
Netflix cancellations by phone by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-09 09:10 · Score: 5, Informative

The cancel-by-phone only rule must be pretty new, because I cancelled my Netflix subscription *yesterday* (9/8) using the web interface. Took all of two clicks.
I'll cancel my NetFlix... by javaxman · 2004-09-09 09:10 · Score: 4, Funny

at the same time I cancel my Tivo service.
When they pry the remote out of my cold, dead hands.
Netflix is getting slow... by ARRRLovin · 2004-09-09 09:10 · Score: 4, Interesting

...on purpose.

If you ever get an email asking how long it took for you to get a specific movie, *never* under any circumstances tell them you received it early. They will stall shipment of future movies to make sure you're not getting more than they think you should get per month. They've been getting worse and worse about this.

--
-Randy
Mod parent +1 RTFNetflixpage by PCM2 · 2004-09-09 09:11 · Score: 4, Informative

He's right. You click on the "Your Account" link, which takes you to a page that lists your current rental status and tells you your current package, i.e. "Three At a Time Plan." Next to that are two links, one that says "Change" and another that says "Cancel." If you click "Cancel," the first bulletpoint on the next page reads, "Cancellation will be effective immediately." All you need to do is check the "I understand and agree" box and submit the form. Who told you that you needed to call by phone?

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Breakfast served all day!
Where did the phone rule come from by lightdarkness · 2004-09-09 09:17 · Score: 5, Insightful

Right from netflix website... Can I cancel anytime?
Absolutely. You can easily cancel your membership anytime, online, 24 hours a day. There are no cancellation fees. To avoid being charged after your trial, simply cancel your account before the trial ends. No clue what that guy is talking about...
Actually, we'll know they are really failing. . . by Sialagogue · 2004-09-09 09:28 · Score: 4, Interesting

. . .when they add porn to their lineup.
No, seriously.

--
The only acceptable defense of scientific results is to say that they were the product of the Scientific Method.
Problem with Tivo and Netflix by hipsterdufus · 2004-09-09 09:42 · Score: 5, Insightful

1) Only s-video video output
2) Only stereo audio output

I rent movies because I can view them using the DVI output of my DVD player and the optical audio output to the 5.1 reciever. The Tivo is not quality audio or video capable, so I'd never use this service in the first place.
Reality check by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-09 10:43 · Score: 4, Informative

1. When Netflix receives a disc, more often than not they ship the next disc the same day. Look at your queue page or read your e-mail. The date they sent the disc is right there. You can compare the date you got it with that date and know that that was the post office transit time. On occasion, they fill your order by shipping you a disc from another hub. When that happens, it takes an extra day, plus whatever extra time the postal service takes. They do this to shift inventory to match a demand shift. When it happens, your queue page keeps you informed.

2. You can still cancel online. Any suggestions that you can't are nonsense.

3. Negotiating rights will be part of any electronic distribution venture, regardless of what companies are involved. Everybody in the business knows this. Nobody would be proceeding with any ventures of this sort if they didn't have a plan for it.

4. Your answer to a delivery survey does not affect your account in any way. Others have speculated that the rate at which you turn discs around has an effect, but see #1 above. They ask about delivery time so they can figure out when and where they need to open a new shipping hub.