Canceling Netflix

[mrpercentage]

I am canceling Netflix.

Not that it matters. Netflix doesn't have a dividend so I wouldn't buy it but I'm curious what others think

[asiljoy]

They gave a couple year warning for a couple dollar a month raise. Seems reasonable and we regularly use the service, but I am taking this as an opportunity to review other services we subscribe to and I'm thinking Spotify might have to bite the dust. I used to listen to it all the time, pretty much 8-5 during the work week, but role changed and I actually have to talk to people now :/.

[Pigeon]

No. We don't have cable and rarely go to movies. I looked at Prime today because they are starting to offer it monthly. I couldn't find anything I'd watch.

[Frugal D]

Netflix is probably the most mustachian entertainment service available. Why would you cancel?

[mrpercentage]

Netflix is probably the most mustachian entertainment service available. Why would you cancel?

I prefer HBO. I threw that out there but later edited because I wanted to keep it about Netflix-- not my house. Netflix did raise it 25%.

If cable did that they would be dead. Between cable, HBO, and Netflix-- i chose HBO, then cable, then Netflix. I was curious what others thought. I have had Netflix 4-5 years strait I think with disc version before that

[bludreamin]

Voted no netfljx - I use Amazon Prime - only watch an average an hour or two a day so am set for a while.  Biggest benefit of Prime for me is that I can stream their music stations at work (Pandora, Spotify etc all blocked) and there's unlimited skips with no ads.   I also share Prime with my parents (they use it for groceries and like since they live in middle of no where and love the 2day shipping) and will trade off who pays the annual fee so even better deal for me.

[ender]

Voted no netfljx - I use Amazon Prime - only watch an average an hour or two a day so am set for a while.  Biggest benefit of Prime for me is that I can stream their music stations at work (Pandora, Spotify etc all blocked) and there's unlimited skips with no ads.   I also share Prime with my parents (they use it for groceries and like since they live in middle of no where and love the 2day shipping) and will trade off who pays the annual fee so even better deal for me.

I wonder if it's a coincidence that Amazon just released similar plans as netflix, with streaming options available on a monthly basis.

COINCIDENCE?! I THINK NOT!

[sparkytheop]

I cancelled back when they split the DVD and streaming services, charging more to keep them both.

[Travis]

Voted no netfljx - I use Amazon Prime - only watch an average an hour or two a day so am set for a while.  Biggest benefit of Prime for me is that I can stream their music stations at work (Pandora, Spotify etc all blocked) and there's unlimited skips with no ads.   I also share Prime with my parents (they use it for groceries and like since they live in middle of no where and love the 2day shipping) and will trade off who pays the annual fee so even better deal for me.

I wonder if it's a coincidence that Amazon just released similar plans as netflix, with streaming options available on a monthly basis.

COINCIDENCE?! I THINK NOT!

Depending on the content they'll have I might be willing to give Amazon a shot.  I'm really interested in Prime being a monthly subscription. I always deferred since I only really need the shipping savings two months a year.

[Tyn]

I'm currently unsubscribed from Netflix (my free time is currently taken up with other hobbies), but a small price increase wouldn't stop me from resubscribing in the future.

[SMCx3]

We have decided to keep Netflix after a quick discussion as a family.  We still feel Netflix offers very good value for the shows they offer. 

[CoderNate]

We cancelled Netflix some time ago when our credit card expired, and we realized how little we used it anyway :p

[smoghat]

I thought this was a post about Netflix as an investment. It's not a sound one. Know many people who don't have Netflix? There you go, not much room for growth. Overseas has large costs associated with licensing for different markets and the VPN policing Netflix does is bringing bad blood. I wouldn't hold any of the FANG stocks as they are all overhyped and overvalued.

[Tjat]

Seems to be on the wrong board. However,  a few extra bucks a month won't cause me to drop it. I do wish they had a better streaming movie inventory. Wish the studios would get with the times and allow streaming to have the same rights as DVD...

[misshathaway]

I will cancel the streaming and keep the DVD rentals. I don't use the streaming that much except to add more movies to the streaming queue that I never watch. The only movies I am really keen to see are the ones that have been reviewed recently.

[charis]

Daily netflix users here (no cable, etc) - we don't watch movies much, but enjoy the television, original, and children's content.  We also share my parent's Prime account, so $0, for us, but we rarely watch it.  Netflix is the only subscription we pay for, so at our high usage, it's well worth it.

[tonysemail]

i sign up one month a year and then cancel when i'm done binging my favorite shows

[Metric Mouse]

Netflix increases my lifejoy by an amount equal to or greater than the monthly service fee. Totally keeping it.

[Inaya]

I'm thinking about canceling it, but not because of the price increase. I'm just not sure I use the service enough to warrant the monthly fee. I already got hit with the Illinois streaming entertainment tax, so another slight increase just doesn't get on my radar all that much.

[TheAnonOne]

Just to be sure, we are talking about the price jump from $8 (or 9) to a whopping $10 right?

I figure that if I even hear the word netflix over the course of a month, it has probably justified it's $1 to $2 jump.


I probably use netflix 3-4 times a week. . .

[Retire-Canada]

Netflix is still a great deal. Keeping it.

If it went up another $2/month I'd keep it.

[greaper007]

Here's how u think about it, how much would you have paid for Netflix in 1985?   It has tons of TV shows and movies that you can watch anytime you want, it's fantastic.    I think HBO alone was like $20 on top of the price for basic cable 20 years ago.     I'm not sure, I used to have a pirated directv connection...

[dougules]

We got rid of netflix long before the price increase.  I was not impressed with their selection.  Before we even canceled we actually were getting most of our entertainment from youtube and the good old-fashioned antenna. 

As an investment, just the 5-minute dig into their finances shows them super overpriced.  The share price is 6 times their actual REVENUE, not earnings.  Their PE ratio is pushing 300 (ie the company is only getting 1/3% of your investment back in profit at the moment) .  I'm no expert, but I would say the only reason for buying that would be if you think they're going to grow by more than an order of magnitude quickly.  Maybe it will, but it sounds like just a fancy lottery ticket to me.  And we're not even getting into whether or not stock picking in general is a good idea. 

[iris lily]

Whats the price increase?
 You talking about that streaming stuff? Ive got a dvd subscription since dvds are still the best content out there of any of the services, includng all streaming. Well, true for entertainment films and tv shos, don't know about sports etc.

I am currently watching on dvd via my Metflix sub a Danish teevee production, The Borgen, with my friend who has Prime, Netflix, and another service but guess what, none of her services have The Borgen.

Truthfully, though, I have  to confess that the only way we could access the Danish  The Legacy was n one of her streaming services.

Dvds are still the main content providers, and then, there is the "extra" material on dvds that is extra special.

[One Noisy Cat]

I cancelled about six months ago when they stopped stocking a lot of the DVDs I want to see and weren't streaming them.

[iris lily]

I cancelled about six months ago when they stopped stocking a lot of the DVDs I want to see and weren't streaming them.

I have to say that I find it funny that Netflix still lists Jonathan Strange  and Mr. Norell as pending release, but my public library has had it for mnths. And then,
I am on a kick of BBC type shows about the Stuarts that  are not on dvd such as The Devils Whore and Gunpowdsr, Treason, and Plot that I am find g n YouTube but not on Netflix.dvd. I wont even check
Metflix streaming ritles bcause they are s limited, and besides, I cant check them out anyway.

[arebelspy]

The shocking thing to me is that 2/3 of respondents (MMMers) have Netflix.

I mean, it's a biased sample, because people w/o Netflix might not click a thread titled "Cancelling Netflix," but it's a biased sample to begin with, of Mustachians.  And I'd think Mustachians would consume less media.

Now sure, Netflix is an okay replacement if you're getting rid of cable, but getting rid of that would be the next step, and I'm surprised more people haven't made that move (especially because some of the 33% that said they don't have Netflix probably do have traditional cable).

[NinetyFour]

The shocking thing to me is that 2/3 of respondents (MMMers) have Netflix.

This also surprises me.

I last paid for Netflix in October, November, and December of 2014.  My mobility was severely limited by a broken leg and then rotator cuff surgery.  I remained somewhat sane during that time because of Netflix--and it was way cheaper than psychotherapy.

However, as soon as I regained my mobility, I cancelled Netflix and have not missed it.  I have two great libraries (and very good options through inter library loan at both), and those resources are FREE and within walking/biking distance.

As long as I am in debt, I will not be giving Netflix any of my hard earned money.  (Unless I break another leg while playing hockey, which, with my track record, is likely.)

[Rural]

We keep Netflix streaming at $6.99 a month because it's cheaper than driving to a library for one DVD a month (drive there and back to get it, drive there and back to return). Most months we watch at least one thing, and this winter it was more than that.

[Greenpez]

I thought this was a post about Netflix as an investment. It's not a sound one. Know many people who don't have Netflix? There you go, not much room for growth. Overseas has large costs associated with licensing for different markets and the VPN policing Netflix does is bringing bad blood. I wouldn't hold any of the FANG stocks as they are all overhyped and overvalued.

 i know one person who has netflix. my anecdotal evidence says growth is almost unlimited!

[Scandium]

Now sure, Netflix is an okay replacement if you're getting rid of cable, but getting rid of that would be the next step, and I'm surprised more people haven't made that move (especially because some of the 33% that said they don't have Netflix probably do have traditional cable).

Sure, if your ultimate goal is some extreme self-depriving existence, where your only entertainment is staring at the wall in a dark room lit only by a candle made from your own ear wax. $10/month doesn't even register against our income or budget, so if that lets us watch something quick at 10pm it's worth it (IMO). Versus biking 20 min to the library and getting a crusty old DVD and putting that in, and returning it? Ugh I don't have time for that! At it's used for short bursts late at night, not like I would be doing some higher-order other self improving activity anyway.

[boarder42]

The shocking thing to me is that 2/3 of respondents (MMMers) have Netflix.

I mean, it's a biased sample, because people w/o Netflix might not click a thread titled "Cancelling Netflix," but it's a biased sample to begin with, of Mustachians.  And I'd think Mustachians would consume less media.

Now sure, Netflix is an okay replacement if you're getting rid of cable, but getting rid of that would be the next step, and I'm surprised more people haven't made that move (especially because some of the 33% that said they don't have Netflix probably do have traditional cable).

yeah we still consume a ton of media we just do it as efficiently as we can.  not an ideal mustachian way to live but my wife would go nuts without media. i think i could learn to not use it.

[arebelspy]

Now sure, Netflix is an okay replacement if you're getting rid of cable, but getting rid of that would be the next step, and I'm surprised more people haven't made that move (especially because some of the 33% that said they don't have Netflix probably do have traditional cable).

Sure, if your ultimate goal is some extreme self-depriving existence, where your only entertainment is staring at the wall in a dark room lit only by a candle made from your own ear wax.

Really?  The choice is Netflix or misery?

Methinks you need to go outside once in awhile, or read a book.  :)

[Scandium]

Now sure, Netflix is an okay replacement if you're getting rid of cable, but getting rid of that would be the next step, and I'm surprised more people haven't made that move (especially because some of the 33% that said they don't have Netflix probably do have traditional cable).

Sure, if your ultimate goal is some extreme self-depriving existence, where your only entertainment is staring at the wall in a dark room lit only by a candle made from your own ear wax.

Really?  The choice is Netflix or misery?

Methinks you need to go outside once in awhile, or read a book.  :)

The answer is yes. No instant access to futurama = might as well be dead.

And I try to read books, but annoyingly my wife want's to watch things "together".. Me being in the same room unfortunately doesn't qualify.

[arebelspy]

Oh sure, I have all the Futuramas on multiple media formats. I get that.

I mean, I consume some media.  There's a lot of good stuff, too.   I just don't necessarily see the need to consume so much you need a pipe to your house firehosing it constantly in.  :)

And I figured more Mustachians would be in a similar spot.

[TheStachery]

I missed the original vote, but I will be cancelling Netflix because of the price increase, but more so the content stinks.  When I first got netflix, I was able to get the DVDs of new movies and TV shows.  I switched to the streaming service, and the content was still OK, I could still stream more recent movies, but now...  The movies they have access are more like straight to DVD movies.  It's hard to find anything on Netflix too.  The main page is filled with mostly Netflix original content.  I understand it's cheaper to have users watch their show rather than other content providers.  Anyway, i'm done with them, I kept them for a little while since I was grandfathered into the price plan, but now, I don't even have that.  I have Amazon prime, and will use that for a while, it has The Americans.

[JLee]

Netflix is probably the most mustachian entertainment service available. Why would you cancel?

I prefer HBO. I threw that out there but later edited because I wanted to keep it about Netflix-- not my house. Netflix did raise it 25%.

If cable did that they would be dead. Between cable, HBO, and Netflix-- i chose HBO, then cable, then Netflix. I was curious what others thought. I have had Netflix 4-5 years strait I think with disc version before that

http://bgr.com/2015/09/09/cable-tv-bill-price-100/

The average cable bill has increased by almost 40% in five years.  A 25% increase for cable would be $25/mo, while a 25% increase for Netflix is what, $25 a year?   Despite Netflix's apparently outrageous 25% price hike, it's still a tenth of the cost of an average cable package - and doesn't have commercials.  The Netflix original content is also very well done.

[GoConfidently]

The shocking thing to me is that 2/3 of respondents (MMMers) have Netflix.

This also surprises me.

I last paid for Netflix in October, November, and December of 2014.  My mobility was severely limited by a broken leg and then rotator cuff surgery.  I remained somewhat sane during that time because of Netflix--and it was way cheaper than psychotherapy.

However, as soon as I regained my mobility, I cancelled Netflix and have not missed it.  I have two great libraries (and very good options through inter library loan at both), and those resources are FREE and within walking/biking distance.

As long as I am in debt, I will not be giving Netflix any of my hard earned money.  (Unless I break another leg while playing hockey, which, with my track record, is likely.)

I keep Netflix because I don't have a TV, DVD player, or laptop/computer at home. All those free movies at the library are useless to me. $10/month could be saved by buying a cheap TV/DVD player, but then I have to have space to put them. I don't have a piece of furniture that would hold those right now, so now I need to buy a table or something. Let's say I get it for $15 at a thrift store and clean it up. Then I have to travel to and from the library to get movies, and remember to return them on time. That's 1-1.5 years just to break even on saving my monthly fee. Plus I ended up with a lot of crap in my house. So, $10/month is looking pretty good in terms of convenience and keeping things as minimal as possible.

[Scandium]

Oh sure, I have all the Futuramas on multiple media formats. I get that.

I mean, I consume some media.  There's a lot of good stuff, too.   I just don't necessarily see the need to consume so much you need a pipe to your house firehosing it constantly in.  :)

And I figured more Mustachians would be in a similar spot.

Actually the firehose aspect is one of the main selling points for me. We don't watch much, but it's just easy and hassle free. And with limited time I find that worth $10/month, to me. I have ~3 blureay movies but watching them is such a pain. Put disc in, watch unskippable FBI warning, ads(!), deal with menus. Ugh. With netflix you can read the description and click. start instantly. Even better with TV shows where you can read about the episode before starting (hello X-files..). Or if I suddenly, randomly want to want to watch the Conan movie again, it's there. Call it optimizing my entertainment both in terms of money and time ;)

I don't understand the complaint over netflix's content, they have more than I could watch in a lifetime.

[boarder42]

The shocking thing to me is that 2/3 of respondents (MMMers) have Netflix.

This also surprises me.

I last paid for Netflix in October, November, and December of 2014.  My mobility was severely limited by a broken leg and then rotator cuff surgery.  I remained somewhat sane during that time because of Netflix--and it was way cheaper than psychotherapy.

However, as soon as I regained my mobility, I cancelled Netflix and have not missed it.  I have two great libraries (and very good options through inter library loan at both), and those resources are FREE and within walking/biking distance.

As long as I am in debt, I will not be giving Netflix any of my hard earned money.  (Unless I break another leg while playing hockey, which, with my track record, is likely.)

I keep Netflix because I don't have a TV, DVD player, or laptop/computer at home. All those free movies at the library are useless to me. $10/month could be saved by buying a cheap TV/DVD player, but then I have to have space to put them. I don't have a piece of furniture that would hold those right now, so now I need to buy a table or something. Let's say I get it for $15 at a thrift store and clean it up. Then I have to travel to and from the library to get movies, and remember to return them on time. That's 1-1.5 years just to break even on saving my monthly fee. Plus I ended up with a lot of crap in my house. So, $10/month is looking pretty good in terms of convenience and keeping things as minimal as possible.

the arguement against is to have none of those things and go enjoy life outside

[Spitfire]

Oh sure, I have all the Futuramas on multiple media formats. I get that.

I mean, I consume some media.  There's a lot of good stuff, too.   I just don't necessarily see the need to consume so much you need a pipe to your house firehosing it constantly in.  :)

And I figured more Mustachians would be in a similar spot.

I'm not shocked that so many have Netflix. I think dropping media/entertainment is advanced mustachianism and not everyone gets there quickly (or at all). My guess is that most people pick up Netflix and drop cable since it represents a better value, but still consume a lot. 3 hours a day for $10/mo vs 3 hours a day for $100/mo. Mustachian and anti-mustachian at the same time!

[Inaya]

I'm now on the fence, but it has nothing to do with the price increase. I just don't use it as much as I used to, plus I have Amazon Prime--and Amazon Prime lets you download shows for offline viewing. My go-to media is YouTube, or if I just need noise while doing something (like puttering around in the kitchen), I just turn Food Network on (as long as it's not Guy Fieri--I don't need to be yelled at by an oversized Q-tip). Cable TV is included with the rent, so I'm not even paying for that.

I bought a $100 Netflix gift card last year and got lots of cash back from it, so it was pretty heavily discounted. But back then I actually watched more than I do now. And now I'm starting grad school on top of working full-time with a 90-minute commute, so I really won't have time. So I'm definitely considering canceling it when the gift card dries up.

I need to watch the last season of Breaking Bad and binge-watch two catch-up seasons of OitNB first, however.

[Rural]

Oh sure, I have all the Futuramas on multiple media formats. I get that.

I mean, I consume some media.  There's a lot of good stuff, too.   I just don't necessarily see the need to consume so much you need a pipe to your house firehosing it constantly in.  :)

And I figured more Mustachians would be in a similar spot.

I'm not shocked that so many have Netflix. I think dropping media/entertainment is advanced mustachianism and not everyone gets there quickly (or at all). My guess is that most people pick up Netflix and drop cable since it represents a better value, but still consume a lot. 3 hours a day for $10/mo vs 3 hours a day for $100/mo. Mustachian and anti-mustachian at the same time!

We went ten years with no media, then added Netflix when we got the house built and so actually have a little time for leisure. But then, we've never hit hit three hours a week, let alone three hours a day. Not sure why we're still getting it for $6.99 a month, but we'll certainly cancel if it goes to 9.99.

[Lunasol]

We got the group membership at $8 for 4 devices, between four friends we pay $2 per month each, if this isn't mustachian, I don't know what is!

That's Netflix in Mexico, I'm not aware of a price increase in this area though

[Pigeon]

Now sure, Netflix is an okay replacement if you're getting rid of cable, but getting rid of that would be the next step, and I'm surprised more people haven't made that move (especially because some of the 33% that said they don't have Netflix probably do have traditional cable).

Sure, if your ultimate goal is some extreme self-depriving existence, where your only entertainment is staring at the wall in a dark room lit only by a candle made from your own ear wax. $10/month doesn't even register against our income or budget, so if that lets us watch something quick at 10pm it's worth it (IMO). Versus biking 20 min to the library and getting a crusty old DVD and putting that in, and returning it? Ugh I don't have time for that! At it's used for short bursts late at night, not like I would be doing some higher-order other self improving activity anyway.

To be fair though, there is some entertainment value in collecting all that earwax and getting all crafty with it.  Presumably you have some used dental floss so you won't have to shell out for wicking.

For the "go outside" argument, it is actually possible to spend time both inside and outside the home.  Where I live, it gets dark and buggy (or cold) at night and sitting outside feeding mosquitos is only fun until you find yourself getting weak from blood loss.

We like Netflix and think it is an entertainment bargain.  We don't have cable, but do have an antenna for free broadcast TV.  Our library has a small selection of DVDs, but has ridiculously short loan periods with no renewals, so borrowing them isn't always a good experience.  We rarely go to movies and one movie for the whole family costs more than a few months of Netflix.  I looked at Amazon prime, but I don't buy from Amazon if I can help it, so the membership would cost and I would be hard pressed to find anything on it I want to watch.

[cats]

The shocking thing to me is that 2/3 of respondents (MMMers) have Netflix.

I mean, it's a biased sample, because people w/o Netflix might not click a thread titled "Cancelling Netflix," but it's a biased sample to begin with, of Mustachians.  And I'd think Mustachians would consume less media.

Now sure, Netflix is an okay replacement if you're getting rid of cable, but getting rid of that would be the next step, and I'm surprised more people haven't made that move (especially because some of the 33% that said they don't have Netflix probably do have traditional cable).

Chiming in to say that we do not have netflix, never have.  I first heard about it when I was in grad school and it was just DVDs.  I'm not a huge movie/TV person so I never really considered it--the local library was sufficient for my movie needs.

These days we still get DVDs from the library and have a few things on youtube that we like to watch and that's plenty for me.

Netflix is certainly not a huge expense but I don't think forgoing it is "extreme self-deprivation".

[Metric Mouse]

The shocking thing to me is that 2/3 of respondents (MMMers) have Netflix.

This also surprises me.

I last paid for Netflix in October, November, and December of 2014.  My mobility was severely limited by a broken leg and then rotator cuff surgery.  I remained somewhat sane during that time because of Netflix--and it was way cheaper than psychotherapy.

However, as soon as I regained my mobility, I cancelled Netflix and have not missed it.  I have two great libraries (and very good options through inter library loan at both), and those resources are FREE and within walking/biking distance.

As long as I am in debt, I will not be giving Netflix any of my hard earned money.  (Unless I break another leg while playing hockey, which, with my track record, is likely.)

I keep Netflix because I don't have a TV, DVD player, or laptop/computer at home. All those free movies at the library are useless to me. $10/month could be saved by buying a cheap TV/DVD player, but then I have to have space to put them. I don't have a piece of furniture that would hold those right now, so now I need to buy a table or something. Let's say I get it for $15 at a thrift store and clean it up. Then I have to travel to and from the library to get movies, and remember to return them on time. That's 1-1.5 years just to break even on saving my monthly fee. Plus I ended up with a lot of crap in my house. So, $10/month is looking pretty good in terms of convenience and keeping things as minimal as possible.

the arguement against is to have none of those things and go enjoy life outside

I enjoy Netflix and chill after a long day outside.

[gggggg]

I have netflix and prime. The netflix is my sister's (she was my old roommate) account, and she gave me her login. If she dropped netflix, or changed her login, I'd be fine with just prime by itself.

[forestj]

No, because we use my partner's freshman-year-roommate's-mom-s-ex-boyfriend's account. ;)

[LeRainDrop]

What price increase are you all talking about?  I'm still getting charged $7.99 per month.  Is there an upcoming change that I've overlooked?