I realize this is superficial, and I’ll get more serious later on. But right now I’m grateful for Netflix, which brings me movies I would never have the opportunity to see otherwise. Their catalog is not as unique as GreenCine or other similar movie rental houses, but I haven’t come upon many movies that I wanted to see that Netflix didn’t have. It’s cheap and it’s easy - I only ever go two days without a movie. I watch one on Monday, send it back Tuesday, they get it Wednesday, and I have the next one Thursday. Plus it saves me money because I never have to go to the movies anymore…I wouldn’t spend money on seeing the new chihuahua movie at the theater, but I’ll probably get it on Netflix. Their mobile website is halfway decent, too - as soon as I think of a movie, I pull out my phone and add it to my queue. Yep, I am glad I have Netflix, and can afford to have 2-at-a-time, unlimited per month. Yes, I am.

I received a notice in my e-mail from Netflix, informing me of a class action settlement in which they deemed me eligible to participate. Because I had a paid account prior to January 15, 2005 - this was under my “netflix” e-mail address - I am a member of the Class. If you don’t currently have a Netflix membership, the settlement gives you a free month of service. If you do currently have a membership - which I do, as “netflix2″ - then you get a month of the next service level. (For me that would mean four DVDs at a time for a month, rather than the three I pay for.) I’m pretty sure I have determined from the Long Form Notice [pdf link] that I am still a Class Member even though I’m now using a different account (the queue was gone from the original account anyway, so I took another 2-week free trial). But it gets kind of tricky in Section III.A.1 -

For all but the 8 DVDs at-a-time subscribers, the upgraded service shall renew automatically (following an email reminder) at the end of the upgraded month at Netflix’s regular subscription rate for the upgraded program, unless and until the Class Member cancels the service or modifies his or her subscription.

Wait a minute - how is this acceptable? It makes the whole thing feel like a scam to get my money. Even if it is a legitimate lawsuit and settlement, Netflix is still coming out on top because a lot of members are going to forget to cancel or even decide they like the upgraded level. So how is this supposed to be “punishment” for Netflix in any way? I am going to go with the “do nothing” option outlined in their original e-mail, because there’s no way I’m falling into this trap.

Added: I found this entry in the NetflixFan blog about this case. Everyone in the comments thinks the guy who brought the lawsuit is an idiot. What did he ever do to them? Some of them claim they’re going to get the case thrown out - I don’t think so. That kind of thing costs money.

Added: Here is the letter I sent Adam Gutride, an attorney for the plaintiff.
Read the rest of this entry »

The raise I got with my certification was sufficiently high that I am able to sign up with Netflix again! I’m going back on the $18/month 3-at-a-time plan. I really miss being able to see the obscure stuff that Blockbuster doesn’t have, but I am adding to my queue like mad. The community features are new since I joined before, I think there is a way to add friends now? In any case, my address is netflix2 at my domain name, which is amanita.net. (I used the 2 because I wanted to get a free trial, which meant signing up for a new account rather than reusing my old one.) Please feel free to add me, and/or tell me who you are so I can add you!

Added: B.E.H., could you please speak up? I accepted your invitation but I’m not sure who you are!