I Think I'll Just Sit Here Looking at Myself in the Mirror

I am not a Netflix subscriber. I have considered it, but never quite managed to get my act together and set up an account. My problem has always been that I find so few movies lately that are worth my time to watch, not the service itself.

With all the online access that has lately popped up (things like Roku boxes) that allow instant online streaming of movies, I had once again started to think about it. After all, they are making it so easy, maybe it's worth it.

Then I read this

What Netflix CEO hopes U.S. won't notice

A misleading title for the article which annoys me greatly. Nowhere in the article does it say the Netflix CEO is hoping we won't notice the pricing difference. Nowhere. Go read it and see.

The gist of the article is that Netflix is going to charge Canadian users less for streaming video than American users. What is not said is that there is no "streaming only" option available in the US. So already we have a misleading article and a headline with a demonstrably false premise. The reporter is not grabbing me and gaining my sympathy or indignation here.

I don't give two hoots in hell what the company charges its customers. That is their call based on what they think the market will bear. In this case, the Canadians get a lower price because they are offered a little bit less than what an American subscription will give you. (as I noted above, this is not mentioned in the article)

For my part, I can look at a fee, the services received, and then decide whether or not I want the service. I can look at other similar services and see if they give me a better value for that same money. After gathering the information, I can make a decision on where to spend my money.

It's called "comparison shopping" - you may have heard of it.

The problem is, the CEO of Netflix, when questioned by the reporter about the price difference, opened his big mouth and had this to say:

THR: Are you concerned that American Netflix subscribers will look north and ask for the same discount Canadians get at $7.99?

Hastings: How much has it been your experience that Americans follow what happens in the world? It's something we'll monitor, but Americans are somewhat self-absorbed.

Why not just say - there's a sucker born every minute and we aim to make as much money from them as possible. It would be less of a slap in the face to those who do spend their money with this company.

To be fair Hastings has apologized. Of course he tries to pass it off as an "awkward joke". Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. All we have is the end printed product. Since no one reading this was present at the interview, it's hard to say what was said and the tone of voice. Hastings is not claiming he was misquoted and that is something to keep in mind.

Go read the apology. I don't know whether to believe him or not.  Astute business people do not deride their customers, even jokingly.  To express such "joking" sentiments to a reporter, when you have no control over the end product, is astoundingly stupid on his part.   

For now, I'll just sit here and gaze in my mirror. If I can manage to tear my gaze away from my awesome self, I'll have a look at my options and decide whether I need to spend any money on this new technology and where I should spend it. Right this minute, Mr. Hastings will have to excuse me, while I gaze.

Posted by: Teresa in Idiocies at 12:12 PM | Comments (13) | Add Comment
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