I think Netflix wants you to be inefficient though. The longer you keep the movies, the less postage they have to pay mailing them back and forth each month, making your account that much more profitable.
Yes, I agree, the premise that Netflix wants you to return the DVDs as quickly as possible so that they can send it to someone else is wrong. At any given time, you're going to have N DVDs out, and Netflix doesn't have any reason to particularly care whether they're the same N DVDs each day or N different DVDs.
When I return two DVDs to Netflix on the same day, I usually send them in one envelope in the hopes that the mailing costs will be slightly lower. (I figure that if their costs are lower that helps keep the subscription price down.) I've wondered why Netflix doesn't try to combine the discs that they send, but perhaps the cost savings aren't enough to be worth the extra handling that would be required on their end.
True, but the contest idea builds a community and hopefully increases the number of subscribers. It certainly builds loyalty with existing subscribers. I think it's a good idea.
Hmm, I don't think that's necessarily true. For new releases Netflix often doesn't have enough to go around and has to make people wait. I bet efficiency there is appreciated.
This is the kind of guy I hope to be in my middle age. Given his antics probably won't actually result in a quicker turnaround, but I love the idea of sending the DVDs back on the same truck they came on just for the hell of it.
I also like the idea of the contest the author proposes, although I'm sure Netflix wouldn't want to publicly encourage piracy.
The only thing about that is that I really don't see the value of Netflix in getting new movies fast, I personally like the back catalog aspect. Like, I've been going through all the Miyazaki films, and there's a lot of independent movies, and cornball sci-fi movies. Heck, the watch instantly feature is awesome for that too.
It's obvious he's doing this as a hobby. Legal? I'm sure it's on the threshold. This is where an inflexible legal system shows it's age.
He isn't hurting anybody, he's obviously having a great time. Netflix is making money/building loyalty from him. (They are building loyalty with all of us when we read this story.) The movie companies aren't suffering. It's a triple win.
But in a court of law, it's likely that he would be slapped.
I don't see why. He's not distributing them, he's not getting any money, and he's not showing them in public.
It is illegal in the US, both because it "circumvents" the copy protection, and because he's making a copy of a movie he doesn't own. So it's copyright infringement, but not piracy.
Well since you asked, let's see if can't get this for you :). Also I found your site through Netflix itself which I take to mean that they don't wholly disapprove of such a venture. Did you have to get your app concept cleared with them at all?
[+] [-] imgabe|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] DavidHull|16 years ago|reply
When I return two DVDs to Netflix on the same day, I usually send them in one envelope in the hopes that the mailing costs will be slightly lower. (I figure that if their costs are lower that helps keep the subscription price down.) I've wondered why Netflix doesn't try to combine the discs that they send, but perhaps the cost savings aren't enough to be worth the extra handling that would be required on their end.
[+] [-] Ben65|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jdoliner|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] qeorge|16 years ago|reply
I also like the idea of the contest the author proposes, although I'm sure Netflix wouldn't want to publicly encourage piracy.
Great article, made me smile.
[+] [-] bprater|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] absconditus|16 years ago|reply
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_422313.html
[+] [-] DannoHung|16 years ago|reply
I love Netflix.
[+] [-] shizcakes|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] bprater|16 years ago|reply
He isn't hurting anybody, he's obviously having a great time. Netflix is making money/building loyalty from him. (They are building loyalty with all of us when we read this story.) The movie companies aren't suffering. It's a triple win.
But in a court of law, it's likely that he would be slapped.
[+] [-] sp332|16 years ago|reply
It is illegal in the US, both because it "circumvents" the copy protection, and because he's making a copy of a movie he doesn't own. So it's copyright infringement, but not piracy.
[+] [-] raghus|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] qeorge|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jdoliner|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] staunch|16 years ago|reply