Has Netflix turnaround time on returned movies gotten slower?

I live in Savannah, Ga. Usually when I return a movie, it shows as received at Netflix the following day and a replacement movie is returned to me either that day or the following day. I LOVED getting new movies so fast. So far this week, I see no evidence that Netflix received the movies I returned on Monday (today is Wednesday)..I hope this isn't a trend but can anybody fill me in??

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Permalink Reply by The Real Uncle Bob on April 16, 2008 at 4:30am: In January, Netflix had 7 million subscribers; more recently, I've heard 8.5 million.
Given the rate of their growth, I imagine turnaround times are bound to be affected at some distro centers.

It may be that they need to expand and upgrade your center, or even to open another in your area. I've seen turnaround time slow down and speed up through several cycles in the last few years. It's likely that you only need to wait a bit to see service speed up again.

On the other hand, it could be the phenomenon some call "throttling." Use the search window up top to search that word if you're interested.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by UpcomingCinema on April 16, 2008 at 4:36am: And of course..... there could have been a delay in the mail. After all it is only one day late.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by peganne on April 16, 2008 at 4:38am: Wow..I did not realize that being throttled was possible. I felt that because I returned DVD's in a timely manner, I would be considered a good customer but now it seems I am being penalized..well..go figure! I have noticed a few times in the past that slow-downs happened but oncer I wrote customer service, things got a little faster again. I will do the same if my movies don't show up today.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by The Real Uncle Bob on April 16, 2008 at 5:02am: No offense to you. Peganne, but we find again and again that people who start threads within 2 minutes of joining here invariably start negative "customer service" threads, while the vast majority of the conversations here have more friendly-social aspects to them.

Considering that the cause of your stress is movies you returned just the day before yesterday, it seems odd that the chief thing on your mind on joining our group is a petty gripe.

Again, I mean no offense...being new here, you have no way of knowing this, but we get a lot of new members who get the wrong idea, thinking that this group is an appropriate place to resolve customer service complaints. It isn't.

It's "Movie fans sharing about movies."; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by peganne on April 16, 2008 at 5:54am: Thank you, Uncle Bob. I have been a member of Netflix for a year and have noticed this trend. I love NETFLIX but wondered about the delay. There are many good benefits to this program and I would encourage everybody to join, even if it means that my movies are delayed more than I would like. I have encouraged at least 5 other families to join and they have..I feel I have the right to ask questions about this matter and am sorry if you are offended by my question.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by The Real Uncle Bob on April 16, 2008 at 6:22am: You do have the right, and no, I'm not offended. Sorry if I miscontrued your intentions.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Aran on April 25, 2008 at 11:06am: I think that people go to Netflix and check their queue and get disappointed for some reason and being human want to vent. So they click on the community link and it brings them here. Just because their first post is them being upset doesn't mean they don't deserve to post here! Why would you call someone's feelings "petty gripes"? If she wasn't happy with something then she can say that. That doesn't mean once she gets here and finds out how wonderful you all are she won't want to stay and talk about MOVIES!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by ColdOne on April 16, 2008 at 8:45am: Wow..I did not realize that being throttled was possible.

It's not possible, actually. There is no evidence Netflix is deliberately slowing down delivery of your discs (or anyone else's).

I felt that because I returned DVD's in a timely manner, I would be considered a good customer

Why do so many people believe that? When you think about it, returning your movies quickly actually makes you a bad customer.

but now it seems I am being penalized

You're being penalized by having a lower priority for their limited resources - primarily new releases. Overall this makes the service more fair across all their users, i.e. the perceived value for high-turnover and low-turnover members is slightly more equalized because of this practice.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by spiderpig on April 16, 2008 at 8:03am: I'm going to go ahead and post that the same thing happened to me this week. I returned my movie on Monday and was expecting my "we've received ..." email on Tuesday morning as I usually do. Alas, none arrived. It's no biggie, though, since it's the first time I can remember it happening. And of course yesterday was April 15th (a.k.a tax day). I'm blaming all those procrastinators who waited until the very last minute to mail in their taxes. Don't they know they're preventing the next movie in my queue from getting to me ASAP?? The nerve! :D

P.S. I even dropped off my movie at the Post Office on Monday this time thanks to Professional Bum scaring me about my mailman stealing my movies! :); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by ColdOne on April 16, 2008 at 8:48am: Netflix employees are people too, so they also have their own taxes to deal with.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by The Real Uncle Bob on April 17, 2008 at 2:19am: Taxes! of course. Either you're a genius or I'm an idiot.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Robowriter on April 25, 2008 at 10:45pm: I filed ewectwonicawy on April 15. (Five days later had to send the paper confirmation though.); ▶ Reply to This