Netf**ks - Epic Fail
One of the most awesome things about Netflix is that you are allowed to have User Profiles. In my case, that means my room mate Dean can "give" me one of the three slots he has available for renting movies. I have my own account, ratings, profile, friends, etc.
Netflix just announced they will be removing this feature. Not only are they removing it, but they're deleting my profile too. All the ratings I have taken considerable time to make will be deleted. My queue will disappear. They actually suggested printing out my queue and re-entering all the movies into the master account. Wow, really? Netflicks couldn't even be bothered with the hours-long project of creating a migration tool.
Netflix says that this move will allow them to "improve" their service. Interesting - I didn't know that deleting all your users data and removing a much used and loved feature is an improvement. Seems like maybe they need to work on their definition of the word.
After about 70 bajillion people pointed out that this is not an improvement, Netflix came out and said that it was actually to simplify their shipping process and that the profiles feature had been causing problems. This is a perfectly reasonable explanation too, as in - in what way could shipping DVDs to the same address really be that difficult? If this is true, Netflix has some truly craptastic programmers on their hands.
On their company blog they changed their tune once again, stating that the ultimate real reason they're canceling user profiles is because it was too confusing for customers to use. That's right everyone, we're too dumb for such an advanced feature, therefore we don't get it anymore. That makes a ton of sense.
A spokesperson for Netflix has made the point that the decision is "final." They claim that it only affects just over 150,000 homes, so it's no big deal (really, they said that). Epic, epic fail.
The real reason they are getting rid of profiles, is that they hope people will start their own accounts thus bringing in more revenue for Netflix. Unfortunately people are canceling in droves (if a thread full of pissed off Digg users and this petition are to be believed, anyway).
If you're as angry about this as I am, you can leave Netflix a suggestion here. Although something tells me they're not listening:
"Please remember that suggestion emails are not sent to Netflix Customer Service"
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wow, I don't know a lot
wow, I don't know a lot about business. One day maybe I'll understand why taking features away is better for customers.
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