I am getting so irritated with Netflix. This is the 2nd time in 2 weeks that I have gotten a damaged dvd in the mail. Either it stops and I have to skip ahead a chapter, or the whole F'ing disk is ruined...any suggestions?

Honestly, it's difficult to blame Netflix. It's the reality of rentals. If the previous renter didn't report a problem, they don't have a reason take the disc out of circulation (or even clean/polish it), and you can't expect them to test every movie all the way through every time it's returned. Most renters fear they'll be held responsible for a disc that wouldn't play on their machine, so they don't report it. And then some discs that are obviously scratched up will still play perfectly fine while others that have extremely minor (or even no noticeable) imperfections will not. Taking every scratched disc out of circulation would cost them millions of dollars and result in lots of perfectly playable discs being destroyed for no reason. So what is your suggested solution for Netflix (and Blockbuster[.com] and Hollywood Video and...and...and...)?

Let's just hope the next generation Blue-Ray/HD-DVD discs have some more error-correcting on them.

If you get yourself a cleaner/polisher, it might be able to repair the discs for you at home.

I usually Windex the disk if it gives me trouble. 9 out of 10 clears things right up

The only problem I have with Netflix right now is that they delay my disc shipments 2 days or so (even though they received the last batch of dvds already). All of my selections are available too.

As for scratched discs, I had one that almost didn't play on any of my dvd players (South Park Season 5 Disc 1). It was SO scratched I swear someone must have used it as a coaster! After cleaning it with alcohol, it still didn't play so I used a slight dab of vegetable oil and rubbed it in the severely scratched parts of the dvd. Surprisingly, it worked!

Man I hate when the disc is screwed up...I have to admit-I am too lazy to report it damaged...but I think I will in future for the next guy to get a good copy. Dvd good karma...

In 3 years of netflix, I have only had one damaged dvd. Just lucky I guess.

Yeah I too have only had one disk come to me damaged over the years.

But the thing is.... What the heck is so hard about reporting a problem to netflix? All you have to do is check the box before you put it in the envelope. Bad karma indeed.

Reporting disc errors ALWAYS leads to a lost disc on my account. It's odd, but every single time I have reported either a wrong disc sent or a broken/uplayable disk, the disc ends up not finding its way back to Netflix (or so they so). This has happened about 5-6 times this year. Every disc ended up being lost by them after they were notified of an error with the disc.

I'm not sure if it gets flagged and then not checked in, but I have now stopped notifying them. In fact, I just got a broken disk the other day and decided to send it back without letting them know it was cracked in half.

What size envelopes do Netflix send their dvds in? I got a po box and was thinking about subscribing to them, want to make sure they'll fit.

Also how do they send their tv series - say a 6 disc season - will they only send 1 disc at a time or does the whole set count as one?

They're flat and flexible. If your mailbox will hold a square the size of a DVD you'll be fine.

Each disc counts as a disc. The exception to this is the rare movie such as Gangs of New York that is contained on two discs, but TV series - no. If that were the case on a 3 out plan you could potentially have 3 entire season sets - 18 DVD's! - at your house at once.

Thanks for the cool suggestions on cleaning/playing scratched dvds... i usually just do the ole' rub 'em on the shirt method until they look clean!

And I agree on reporting them as bad disks or something - it's the right thing to do!

I had four damage disk, 3 from the same series which seems odd. The disk were snapped but only have way through so you wouldn't notice unless you really looked at them. The series I had just happen to start playing on cartoon network so I just sent them back and deleted the rest from my list. I only reported the first one. I guess I should have reported them all.

There have been times when I've returned three discs at the same time in three different envelopes. And every time I've done that, Netflix receives one movie a day later than the other two.

So if I stuff all three movies into one envelope, all three are received at the same time, but it seems like it takes an extra day to receive them

ie, if I put one disc in the mail on Monday morning, Neflix usually receives it on Tuesday afternoon. But when I put multiple discs in the same envelope, netflix doesn't receive it until Wednesday or Thursday.

Does the extra weight mess things up or something?

returned 3 movies in one envelope on MONDAY. Neflix finally "received" 2 of those movies this morning.

Damaged Netflix discs has to be a function of the Netflix Center and post office serving your area. I have rented hundreds of discs from Netflix (Richmond, VA). I get them within 24 hrs and they get them back just as fast. I can only think of one time that I got a damaged disc, or one that was in poor shape. Missing discs are a rarity and my account is promptly credited....and they are always found.