Monday, September 19, 2011

Thanks Netflix for upsetting only 50% of customers this time!

Thanks Reed Hastings:

This time you were able to offend only 50% of your customers. When you had announced the price hike and separate services a few weeks ago, you managed to upset 100% of your customers as everyone was affected. With the recent move to make two brands Netflix and Qwikster, the percentage of pissed of customers will only be 50%. That’s a significant decrease from the past and I commend you for that. Let me explain why only 50% - you have approximately 2.2 million DVD only customers, 9.8 million streaming only customers and 12 million customers who have both DVD and Streaming services. I am one of those customers with both the services. With two different companies and websites, the 2.2 million DVD and 9.8 million streaming only customers will not be affected (apart from a shock) but 12 million subscribers like me who have both the services will be miserable – two different accounts, two different queues, two different reviews! What else? Oh, if I change my address, I need to change it at two websites, same if I change my credit card. Also, I cannot discount the built in challenges to the service when a change like this is introduced!


But the bright side is that customers like me are only 50% of your total customers. Thanks for upsetting only half of us this time!