Please enlighten me as to how I may continue to be a valued customer when all I do is travel for work. I don’t share my passwords with anyone. I never have. But I travel all around the world extensively for business—nearly every day if my life. This is my reality. And Netflix was something I watched to keep me busy while traveling. Now, fine, it’s a privilege, not a right. But I was a a loyal Netflix customer from the beginning of their online streaming service. How will I be treated when their servers detect that I’m constantly logging from different countries every week or so, and different IP addresses every day? Sure, they can do whatever they want; I’m not entitled to anything; that’s not the argument here. But they seem to be using an approach which will penalize certain groups of innocent and loyal people in an effort to weed out the bad seeds. People like me are expendable, or we’re expected to suck it up. Let’s not forget this in an online service, and online services are generally inherently designed to be mobile. To act as if I need to be tethered to my house is as good as being tethered to a coaxial cable in the wall… we might as well ditch online services and go back to normal TV. Imagine Apple or Tidal restricting your music to your home. Ridiculous! This practice opens the door for other companies to jump on the band wagon and start charging us for mobile digital content vs stationary digital content. Shouldn’t I be allowed to listen to my music on the go?? How do they know it’s me and not someone else?? Why is music different than movies and tv shows on the go? Oh, they’re not? Then why are we debating this?
We live in a world where everyone is now gouging us with “dynamic pricing” and subscription-based services for everything. Suddenly I have to pay a monthly fee to check my own email instead of buying the software once, or I’m being charged to use Photoshop monthly. Enabling these companies to “do whatever they want” without pushback or protest is irresponsible as consumers. Customers CAN change a company through boycotts and revolt. It’s been done before and we can do it again.
I was out buying a fridge recently and they actually had digital price tags on the appliances—and those price tags were literally changing as I was perusing my options. While I was talking to the salesman about a model I was interested in, the price tag flickered. When I asked what was happening, he said the price might be increasing out of his control because they use live updates and changes based on demand. I laughed and walked out and took my business elsewhere. Those digital tags are some obvious pressure tactics and I will not be subjected to panic buying under the guise of “dynamic pricing”. I mean, really. The fridge I’m standing in front of just happens to be flickering as I’m trying to decide??? Coincidence? Maybe. But what stops him or someone in the office from covertly pressing a button which makes everything “update” just as a customer is on the fence? That’s the future for you. The salesman gets to stay calm and cool and friendly while it’s now the appliance itself that starts flickering, as if to say “You’d better buy it now! We can’t guarantee these prices forever!” How convenient. Blame it on the dynamic price tag, not the salesman, because the tag is out of his control—and it’s being updated by what means? The universe? The almighty god of price tags? A direct link to the manufacturer? Bye. Next.
I don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t want to live in a society where we go to the grocery store and the price of an apple is fluctuating wildly before our eyes, depending on how many apples are left in the bin. Want the last loaf of bread? It’s gonna cost you $50!
The point? Yes, a business can do whether they want. And as a consumer, so can I. I can take my business elsewhere out of protest. It lets them know we won’t stand for it. Don’t forget, streaming exists en masse now because the media giants needed a response to all the illegal torrenting which was killing the DVD market. When they realized that everyone was fine with downloads rather than live TV they pivoted—and Netflix was the first result. With Netflix as proof of concept, everyone jumped on the bandwagon. But customers will always take the easiest path—like water—so if you piss them off or make things overly complicated and pricey, they’ll find another way. I’m not saying it’s right. It’s just what it is.
What Netflix is doing now is the ultimate irony, given how they came to exist. We can make a point collectively NOW before everyone gets out of hand. I am disgusted by what this represents, so even though I’ve never been punished or penalized by Netflix, I quickly canceled my account the very moment I read what they were testing in other countries. I let them know exactly why I was leaving and that I can’t support such an approach, especially when their own employees and executives surely know what’s it’s like to travel or to own multiple properties. They can do with that what they will… but I’m not losing any sleep over it.
Making things difficult for your customers is only going to lead them back to torrenting. It’s really stupid. And the rub? I’m a business owner myself! I’m the owner an CEO of a corporation and I’m in the entertainment business; I offer online services myself. I can absolutely afford multiple Netflix accounts—but I am vehemently opposed to their approach. It sets a very bad precedent. I feel I’m being given no choice but to walk away because there’s zero consideration for people like me. Or to people who have a cottage they’d like to visit on the weekend. So in protest… I’m out. Be a sheep if you want, but no change ever comes about by being complacent.
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Fine. Be a sheep.
Please enlighten me as to how I may continue to be a valued customer when all I do is travel for work. I don’t share my passwords with anyone. I never have. But I travel all around the world extensively for business—nearly every day if my life. This is my reality. And Netflix was something I watched to keep me busy while traveling. Now, fine, it’s a privilege, not a right. But I was a a loyal Netflix customer from the beginning of their online streaming service. How will I be treated when their servers detect that I’m constantly logging from different countries every week or so, and different IP addresses every day? Sure, they can do whatever they want; I’m not entitled to anything; that’s not the argument here. But they seem to be using an approach which will penalize certain groups of innocent and loyal people in an effort to weed out the bad seeds. People like me are expendable, or we’re expected to suck it up. Let’s not forget this in an online service, and online services are generally inherently designed to be mobile. To act as if I need to be tethered to my house is as good as being tethered to a coaxial cable in the wall… we might as well ditch online services and go back to normal TV. Imagine Apple or Tidal restricting your music to your home. Ridiculous! This practice opens the door for other companies to jump on the band wagon and start charging us for mobile digital content vs stationary digital content. Shouldn’t I be allowed to listen to my music on the go?? How do they know it’s me and not someone else?? Why is music different than movies and tv shows on the go? Oh, they’re not? Then why are we debating this? We live in a world where everyone is now gouging us with “dynamic pricing” and subscription-based services for everything. Suddenly I have to pay a monthly fee to check my own email instead of buying the software once, or I’m being charged to use Photoshop monthly. Enabling these companies to “do whatever they want” without pushback or protest is irresponsible as consumers. Customers CAN change a company through boycotts and revolt. It’s been done before and we can do it again. I was out buying a fridge recently and they actually had digital price tags on the appliances—and those price tags were literally changing as I was perusing my options. While I was talking to the salesman about a model I was interested in, the price tag flickered. When I asked what was happening, he said the price might be increasing out of his control because they use live updates and changes based on demand. I laughed and walked out and took my business elsewhere. Those digital tags are some obvious pressure tactics and I will not be subjected to panic buying under the guise of “dynamic pricing”. I mean, really. The fridge I’m standing in front of just happens to be flickering as I’m trying to decide??? Coincidence? Maybe. But what stops him or someone in the office from covertly pressing a button which makes everything “update” just as a customer is on the fence? That’s the future for you. The salesman gets to stay calm and cool and friendly while it’s now the appliance itself that starts flickering, as if to say “You’d better buy it now! We can’t guarantee these prices forever!” How convenient. Blame it on the dynamic price tag, not the salesman, because the tag is out of his control—and it’s being updated by what means? The universe? The almighty god of price tags? A direct link to the manufacturer? Bye. Next. I don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t want to live in a society where we go to the grocery store and the price of an apple is fluctuating wildly before our eyes, depending on how many apples are left in the bin. Want the last loaf of bread? It’s gonna cost you $50! The point? Yes, a business can do whether they want. And as a consumer, so can I. I can take my business elsewhere out of protest. It lets them know we won’t stand for it. Don’t forget, streaming exists en masse now because the media giants needed a response to all the illegal torrenting which was killing the DVD market. When they realized that everyone was fine with downloads rather than live TV they pivoted—and Netflix was the first result. With Netflix as proof of concept, everyone jumped on the bandwagon. But customers will always take the easiest path—like water—so if you piss them off or make things overly complicated and pricey, they’ll find another way. I’m not saying it’s right. It’s just what it is. What Netflix is doing now is the ultimate irony, given how they came to exist. We can make a point collectively NOW before everyone gets out of hand. I am disgusted by what this represents, so even though I’ve never been punished or penalized by Netflix, I quickly canceled my account the very moment I read what they were testing in other countries. I let them know exactly why I was leaving and that I can’t support such an approach, especially when their own employees and executives surely know what’s it’s like to travel or to own multiple properties. They can do with that what they will… but I’m not losing any sleep over it. Making things difficult for your customers is only going to lead them back to torrenting. It’s really stupid. And the rub? I’m a business owner myself! I’m the owner an CEO of a corporation and I’m in the entertainment business; I offer online services myself. I can absolutely afford multiple Netflix accounts—but I am vehemently opposed to their approach. It sets a very bad precedent. I feel I’m being given no choice but to walk away because there’s zero consideration for people like me. Or to people who have a cottage they’d like to visit on the weekend. So in protest… I’m out. Be a sheep if you want, but no change ever comes about by being complacent.