dvd-fanman, I think you're overreacting. I don't see what in this thread and others would cause you not to sign up, especially since you're more likely to see only complaints and problems on this board than multiple threads showing happy customers like myself. Can you imagine the responses to a post in this forum entitled "Best Buy is the greatest store ever, I will never shop anywhere else again"?

There were only a couple of people in this thread who actually had their accounts temporarily frozen. Both problems were solved, and it doesn't seem like either went through too much hassle. As Nickyct just said, he filed a complaint and got his account unfrozen. Nobody canceled their account, because Netflix doesn't seem to be ultimately holding its customers accountable for what is increasingly looking like a distribution center problem. If this is a Netflix problem specifically with the Flushing, NY distribution center, then why is it something you should be concerned with? I would imagine that Netflix is aware of some sort of problems in Flushing and are working to fix it.

Besides, reporting a lost disc is easy, and as others have said, once you report it on the website, they send out a replacement or new disc immeadiately.

I also read that Netflix is doubling the number of distribution centers this year, which should only make things better.

I would happily recommend Netflix to anybody.

Why would the police be involved? The mail is not in their jurisdiction. Also, NetFlix would have no way of knowing their was a sting to be set up. If any investigation were to continue, it would be an internal decision inside the post office, and the postal investigators would be involved. If they decided to organize a sting, they would contact the local US Marshal's Office, who would then contact local and county if they were going to take someone off the streets or out of a home. We would never hear of it from NetFlix.

Now, federal jurisdiction seems to be bounced around a little more now, but that's the way it used to go, back when I spent a year with the Marshals in Topeka, KS 7-8 years ago. Even so, an investigation would still never be controlled by the "police."

I have always been surprised at how many people think the Posties are stealing their mail. There may be a case here and there, now and then, but these people have one of the best jobs in the world, with the best pay to work ratio, the best benefits, and the best retirement and pension plan. They'd be nuts to ruin it for a few DVDs.

The post office has its own police. They march right in and take you away in handcuffs when they catch anyone. I work for the post office and my office has rooms with hidden views to watch the work floor if inspecters get any hint of wrong doing.

As for the pay, it is ok for not going to college. The problem is the pay is the same no matter where you live. I live 20 minutes from New York City, so an average house goes for 200-300 grand. An apartment goes for 800-1000 a month, so my 40 grand a year doesn't quite make the same impact as the guy in Georgia who can buy a house for 30 grand. Also, you would be surprised how stupid unhappy workers are about theft. They look at it as getting back at people.

That's what I was talking about... their own police. The original poster was claiming to have information from NetFlix about a sting the police set up. It would be inside information, and even NetFlix wouldn't know of any such sting, let alone their customers.


I know the pay isn't GREAT, but for "blue collar" it doesn't get any better. Teachers, law enforcement, janitors, and restaurant managers all make less, yet work much harder for fewer benefits. With exception to rail workers, who are lucky to even have jobs, the Posties can't be beat.

Well, I'm sorry if my recollection is not perfect enough to remember the exact details on what agencies were involved or if we were even given that information. All I can say is my Dad received an email from netflix stating that there indeed was a situation with the post office and actions were being taken and his account would most likely cleared up. The email may have come after arrests were made, it was just so long ago that I do not recall. They may have said police or some other agency, but some representative of law enforcement was mentioned. Heck the person at netflix could have been saying police as a generic term instead of going into unnecessary specifics. You say Netflix wouldn't even know of a sting happening... well don't you think they would know if they were the ones who caused the investigation to happen in the first place. I don't think law enforcement is just sitting around and then boom.... "Hey, I got an idea. Let's check out this post office and see if they're stealing netflix discs." Someone from Netflix probably contacted them with the issue of their discs turning up missing whenever they went through a certain location. But this is all speculation at this point. None of this negates the fact that we received the aforementioned email from Netflix with the basic information that I've stated to the best of my memory.

I just got a letter from USPS today and they're saying that they are well aware of the problems poeple have experienced and have investigated the matter.
They said they have no way of tracking these mail pieces, as they are not sent by traceable means.
I don't know if the letter is prepinted and sent out to whoever file a complaint with them or they are addressing the Netflix issue.

From now on I will never send any mail from my Condo mail box anymore.. The last two disc I sent back they received them the next day.

I hate to point the finger... but the first person who see the disc is my mail man.

Considering its a Federal offense to mess with the mail I find it hard to believe that this is an issue to do with the mail carrier.
Why wouldn't more Items disappear from the mail if all of us who have had discs go missing had such greedy mail carriers. Fact is I send and receive packages all the time,mostly by untrackable means and have never had a problem. Problem is too widespread, so I'm gonna point the finger in the other direction.

Funny though I have noticed my last few movies have come wrapped in blank white, instead of the traditional red with blazing Netflix logo on the outside. So maybe they do suspect
theft.

No Matter. I'm cancelling my account and giving filmcaddy a try, although I hate to feed that corporate monster Blockbuster. They are about $6.00 cheaper for me.

I joined in September of last year. Within the first two weeks, 3 discs sent to me were lost. Turned out that Netflix's computer system misspelled my street name. Once that was straightened out, haven't had a problem with them.

I've been extremely happy with their service. I'm about 20 miles from their Gaithersburg, MD facility, so it's 1 day for discs to get to me, and 1 day to return them. If I watch all the movies in 1 night (and often do), I usually get them in the mail the next day.

The most I've ever received in a single month was 28, not bad for $19.95. I've had such good luck, I upgraded to the $29.99 package.

And, no. I don't work for them, I'm not paid by them to endorse them. I just have been really happy with my experience with them.

I CAN NOT FREAKIN BELIEVE THIS!! (sorry for the shouting but I'm pissed)

It's been almost a week and Netflix has not indicated they have received yet another disk I mailed.
This means I'm going to have to list one more as "Lost In The Mail"

This is getting frustrating and more then a little aggravating.

There is NO WAY these are not being "mis-placed" by the USPS.

I've pretty much totally had it.

I just got first 4 movies from FilmCaddy. I signed up on the 28th and had movies on 30th. Good turnaround so far. Disc's are sent in a padded sleeve like Netflix experimented with at one time. So far a positive experience from the start.

NumberSlate is the other side of the coin. I will be cancelling trial before its up. Signed up for 2 week trial on the 25th and out of 50 movies I put in my Q none were available to ship untill the 28th and I'm still waiting for arrival. They seem to have a good selection but low inventory.

I cancelled my Netflix account today after they received last movie I had out, I'm just glad I didn't have to report another lost before cancelling.

I joined Walmart DVD a week ago. So far I hated it. turn around time is about a week and a half and every movie that I put on my queue are long wait. I'll cancel it as soon as I send the three new one that they just shipped to me back.
I will try every company that I can find on the net before I start going to Blockbuster. Two weeks ago I rented Lord of the ring Extended 4 disc edition (Netflix don't carry it and I eventually ended up buying it at sam's club) and I dropped it in the express drop off box. Last saturday when I went in there to rent something they told me I was a day late on Lord of the ring.
I just wasn't in the mood to argue so I just paid the late fee.
The reason I went in there was because I got their gift card for xmas and had to use it.
Their previously viewed DVDs are only 2 to 3 dollars cheaper than a new one. Why bother taking a chance buying a scratched disc when you can have a brand new one for couple dollars more.

I still like Netflix though. Turn around time is pretty fast since the distribution center is only 50 miles away from me. I ended up saving a lot of money each month eventhough I really hate to see 4 disc lost under my queue. They don't like to list their phone number but they do get back to you real fast via email. Better than put you on hold for 1/2 hour.

Ha. Haven't you been watching the news the last few years? Well, it's probably not your mail carrier if you know the guy (I know mine by name) but you'ld be surprised at how much stuff just gets lost in the mail. The longer it stays in the system the more likely it is to get lost. Especially after Sep 11, it just seems like more and more stuff disapears into the ether.

Also, you have to remember that alot of the USPS employees are temps. I have to say that on very stormy day, or after a big snow my mailman just doesn't show. This is something that never would have happened when I was a kid. I live in a suburb too, so it's not like I live in the boonies or the roads are impassable, because they're not. I don't complain because I know my mailman, he's a nice guy, and rings my buzzer (I live in an apt) when I have a package. But it still cheezes me off to no end when he doesn't show on certain days.

So I can't rely on the mail for things like Netflix, so I don't participate. I've sent stuff certified within my own town and it hasn't shown up. Or I've sent stuff return receipt and it was delivered without the carrier getting a signature. That's pretty damn sad. I have to insure anything I ship, and even then it doesn't mean much. It's not like UPS or FedEx is much better, because they're not. They all use each other as carriers anyways.

Post office has a deal with FedEx to use FedEx planes to send Priority mail, and FedEx can place collection cans in front of the post office. Airbourne Express will pick up and process packages, then drop them off at the local post office to be delivered. They are usually delivery confirmation packages starting with the letter "H". UPS is more or less on their own as far as I know.
The post office has plenty of good people working for it (myself modestly included), but it is weighed down by so many really terrible lazy workers who can not be fired because of the union, which only serves the purpose of saving awful workers from being fired or even disciplined by powerless management. It is illegal to strike, so they have no bargaining chip to get us more money. If the post office could fire everyone who should be fired, the workforce would be 25% less, stamps would be a quarter, and I would be making as much as UPS and FedEx who are run a little better.

USPS lazy workers will have to shape up because more and more poeple are using Bank online. Email instead of paper mail. Fax machine or E-fax and of course we can get all our advertising flyers through our spam. Now I know why they keep raising the stamp because of all the customers they're loosing. A lot of the stuff I ordered online will sometimes ship by UPS only. No USPS or P.O. Box.

Like the old saying. Don't slap the hand that feed your mouth.

Just got my first return envelopes from netflix with a Jersey return address. New Brunswick NJ.

Ok, so I mailed back three this weekend.

I wonder how many will actually end up being received by Netflix?
One? Two? All three?

I should know soon.

Certainly the USPS mail is something netflix has no control over and in that sense it's a "weak link," but of course only when it fails. I know it's not perfect. (For example, Thursday I mailed back 2 to netflix at the same time from the same mailbox. One is showing as arrived, one is showing as still out.) However, I'd say 97% of the time it works just fine.

97% is crappy anyway you look at it. We pay so much for one letter and they still loose a bunch of letters. I can't tell you how many times the morons have lost letters that I have sent or have been sent to me. The US Postal workers are the worst employees that I have ever dealt with and unfortunately we don't have a option when sending a simple letter. A great government program at it's finest, what a joke! So yes, the postal service is definately the weak link.

Guess what ? It's been another a week and a half and two of my disc still din't get credited yet.

I really think I had enough. I'll wait till it's close to my next billing cycle then Goodbuye Netflix.

I tried to mail from a different post office and the disc still turned uup missing. I think the problem is Netflix sticky fingers employees. How many times do they want me to file a complaint.

I want to quit before they start making me paying for those missing disc.

I try http://www.dvdavenue.com so far they're pretty fast.
I live in Connecticut and they're in Maryland. Joined Sat an hour later they send me a confirmation that the discs are shipped. Got all of them on Monday. I just didn't expect them till Tues or Wed. (Netflix distribution plant is only an hour away from me and it takes longer)

So far so good. Let's keep my fingers crossed.
I still not crazy about their site though. may be I'm just so used to Netflix.

Rather than start a new thread, I'll just post my experience here.

Last week, I returned 7 discs to Netflix (I'm on the "8 out" plan) at the same time. Three were checked several days ago and the other four have yet to be. I declared them lost, which wasn't the best plan. Now my account is on hold.

I called them and they asked for the details along with where I returned them. They informed me I would receive a response "shortly". I haven't heard from them at all.

Does anyone have experience with this and know how long this procedure takes? I know I can call them again, but don't really feel like waiting on hold for another extended period. They also just opened a new distribution center in Madison (I was mailing to Detroit until a week or two ago). Could that have anything to do with my problems?

I wouldn't think the post office will be seeing any declines in postal package counts anytime soon. For every person who stopped sending bills, checks etc... back and forth. There is someone selling items like crazy on ebay to pick up the slack. I know that I ship around $300 to $400 a month through the post office, and that is a slow month

I am also a new netflix customer, I received my first set of discs the day after I signed up, and returned them the next morning. I am hoping since their dist. center is in the same town I live in, that I will be seeing my next selections on monday. Also, since I am at the post office every morning anyways, I am pretty sure netflix will be getting my discs in the same days afternoon mail delivery

So your mileage may vary, but for me, it seems like this netflix thing is a winner!

I have been a Netflix member for over a year and have had 2 lost discs. Both were lost after I had sent them back.