Okay, Netflix. I'm gonna have to go ahead and assume that some insane criminal mastermind seeking world domination through the unassuming avenue of DVD and movie rentals has held captive the entire board of Netflix executives, unleashing a raucous, evil laugh as he notifies the world that he will be raising everybody's Netflix subscription fees an unbelievable sixty percent. SIXTY percent. Six. Oh.What I can best equate this insane action on the part of the Netflix Corporation is the parable of The Goose that Laid the Golden Egg, and the greedy saps that cut its gut open only to find an empty cavity, and left then only with a dead goose.
Up until September 1, current customers of Netflix pay $9.99 for both unlimited streaming and 1 DVD at a time rentals. After this date, the new price is $15.98 (or $7.99 for each individual service, should you choose to accept only DVDs or unlimited streaming.) In Netflix's most recent blog entry announcing the price hike, the company expectantly tried to spin and twist the impending change by using terms like "by offering our lowest prices ever" and "now we offer a choice!" as well as the shameless reach with "a terrific value!". Um, perhaps I wasn't a Math major in college, but paying $15.98 for the exact same service that I once paid $9.99 for seems to be the highest price ever which is forced upon me with NO choice if I remain a customer, and all at a butt-raping value.
Clearly, this asinine move is the product of pure greed, aided by the runaway success of Netflix stomping the competitors (i.e. Blockbuster) into a writhing bloody pulp. Netflix has a short memory; in it's early years, their potential went gravely unnappreciated as the big names in movie rental failed to jump on the mail-rental-service-and-live-streaming-all-at-a-great-price bandwagon. Meanwhile, customers began to come in droves exponentially, appreciating Netflix's great prices and decent movie selection (though never to do outdone by the more expensive cable on-demand services). These troops stuck with them, drudging through the late release dates and the growing pains of streaming ginormous movie files, helping to build the success that they are currently enjoying (Which begs the question: Where's the reward for loyalty?). I think the maxed out blog comments on Netflix's blogspot, most of which are dripping with ire and feelings of betrayal, have shown Netflix just how angry the world is with their cruel "Bait and Switch".In this monopolious (yeah, I made up a word....so?) attempt to trap current as well as new customers at a price that threatens to destroy the legacy of Netflix all together, these media mogels are perhaps forgetting that customers can, (and surely will, should they not adjust this price hike), cancel at any time - if even for no other reason but on principle alone.
