This was both inevitable and makes sense. While Netflix seems surprised by continued demand for DVDs, they also know that this will die over time. And whether they’ll admit it or not, this move will further help facilitate that demise.
The future is streaming, not physical media.
I do like how Netflix is very upfront and clear about the pricing changes. What was previously $9.99 (DVDs plus Streaming) will now be $15.98 (DVDs and Streaming as two separate plans).
That’s a big hike. But again, inevitable, and the right thing to do from a business perspective.
Sorry, Netflix. I don’t think this was the right route. I didn’t have a problem when you took the DVD + streaming plan to $9.99 per month, but now that it’s 1.5 1.6 times that much? I’m out. I’ll switch to $7.99 per month for streaming only (so now you’re getting $2 less from me per month, and I’ve been a customer for years, so way to go on that one), and I might even reconsider that in a little while. There’s a Redbox across the street from my apartment and I doubt I watch 8 movies per month. This time you pissed people off.
I should add I’m not the type to get angry when companies raise prices for quality service, or even charged “a lot” (all subjective, obviously) to begin with. Hell, I’ve been a dedicated Apple user my entire life because I truly believe they make the best products to fit my needs. But when a service that, let’s be honest, has really not improved much over the years continues to raise prices like this, I’m not for it. The only way to justify this is if they added a lot to their Instant catalog or somehow changed what they’re offering with physical media. And they didn’t. It’s the same.
