For a time, movie buffs thought Netflix solved all of their problems. There was no more schlepping to the video store, no more late fees, and no more racking the brain to remember the title of that movie you wanted to see - It's with what's-his-name!
»Read story: The family Netflix queue: Who's in charge?
»Read story: The family Netflix queue: Who's in charge?
Comments (15)
On those instant play movies and TV shows it's also a matter of who has the remote and that's what we rely on Netflix for most often. My husband is in control of the queue and although we can all have our input I am not always that thrilled with the movies we get but then I don't take the time to altar the queue myself or give him my input.— funguy
Netflix on our Roku is the best. Even though it's HER account, i can still watch instant TV shows like Survivor Man and Pawn Stars anytime I want without disrupting her queue. Brilliant.— selophane43- P.S. We're big fans of Netflix especially since we still don't have cable. A Roku player is our next step so we can play on the Wii and watch Netflix at the same time in two different rooms of course.— funguy
- This has only been a problem since September 2008. Prior to that, each Netflix account could have multiple queues - one for each family member. Queues were allotted a certain number of DVDs, not to exceed the total available on the account's plan. So the kids could have their own queue, and when they returned a DVD, they got the next one from their queue, without interrupting Mom & Dad's queue and viewing habits. Netflix claimed that the elimination of separate queues (or "profiles") was to improve customer service, but really it's about the bottom line: two 2-at-a-time accounts earns the company more than one 4-at-a-time account. So while this article describes a genuine phenomenon in the age of Netflix, the problem has only been around for a couple of years, not since the program's inception.— etoile
- Way to go. Now all the home invaders know which two families has all the the electronic stuff worth busting into a home for. If you show off your wealth, your asking for trouble. Hope your sloaman shield is paid up to date.— taxmancomith
- what a mental dilemma netflix poses.— Miss M.
- I dominate the Netflix queue, but I'm the only person in the house who uses it.— bpkrier
- Hey Molly, why don't these families just use the Account Profiles feature? Click "Your Account & Help" at the top right of the main page. At that page, scroll to the "Preferences" list at the bottom left and choose "Account Profiles." You can set-up a new profile or more and assign a certain number of DVDs to each one. We've used this for years and love it. I'm pretty sure you can also limit the rating of the movies allowed in a given queue so parents can manage what kids watch.
In June 2008 they announced it was going away and received 1,300 comments on their blog complaining about it. 10 days later they changed their minds and the feature remained. Those posts are here:
http://blog.netflix.com/2008/06/profiles-feature-going-away.html
http://blog.netflix.com/2008/06/profiles-feature-not-going-away.html
If you don't use it already, I suggest you do. It'll greatly improve your Netflix experience!— PA Native - Not sure where my original comment went, but I asked Molly, the story’s author, why these families don’t just use the “Account Profiles” to solve this problem. Not sure why she didn’t bring it up either.
From the main page after log-in click “Your Account & Help” at the top right. On the next page, scroll to the “Preferences” list at the bottom left and click, “Account Profiles”. You can add profiles, assign a certain number of DVDs for each and I think you can also limit the specific rating a given profile can view allowing parents to manage what their kids are watching.
In June 2008 Netflix announced on their blog that they were discontinuing Profiles to simplify things. 1,300 complaining comments and 10 days later they changed their minds and the profiles stayed.
I originally tried to link to the posts but am assuming that’s what got my original post deleted. Google Netflix + "Account Profiles" if you want the history lesson.— PA Native - Account profiles is a great suggestion! I'll be checking that out!
- We have 3 different receivers, so there are no fights here. We all get to watch what we want. Its the only way to go.— ivyrose321
- thanks readers for your input on multiple profiles within a given account. yes, this used to exist as a feature for all netflix subscribers, however they did away with the option -- which, as you point out, caused a flurry of complaints. Therefore, the option was reinstated for those who had it (and were essentially "grandfathered" in), however it is not an option for new subscribers post the switch. - Per Netflix executives. Thanks.
— mollybaker - burn all technology before it controls you— trevor mcgerr
- Netflix removed the feature where you can have "friends" in Netflix. This was a great feature, because you could always add or remove friends, and you could see what your friends were watching and had in their queues, and how they rated movies. This was a great help in terms of finding good quality movies to watch. I am not sure when this feature disappeared; perhaps a year ago. Is anyone else upset about this missing feature??— climbman
- Gotta tell you, not a Netflix fan at all. I like being able to browse and talk with others and a good staff about films. The Netflix Queue does not guarantee a film when you expect it, plus with the loss of Saturday mail delivery a possibility, that is one less day to mail and return your DVD's.
As for streaming, still not a fan. Right now, Netflix is building the product, but there is pushback from cable operators as well as HBO and others, since Netflix charges such a low price that competes with them. At some point, cheap isn't going to cut it for Netflix.— adimike55
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