Cracked Blu-rays from Netflix?
#26
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Originally Posted by Tracer Bullet
I got a cracked HD DVD from Netflix last week. Didn't realize it until Friday when I went to watch it. Hopefully they have another copy.
#27
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Cracked Blu Rays from Netflix
When I tell people how many cracked discs I get, they usually think I'm lying. I don't know how to do a screen shot on a Mac, but here's an example of what I go through on a weekly basis. The worst has been with AVP:R, which I felt stupid about having to keep getting replacements.
Aliens vs. Predator 2
Original Shipment (Reported damaged on 09/19/08) 09/22/08
Replacement Shipment 10/03/08 10/08/08 Report Problem
Replacement Shipment (Reported damaged on 10/02/08) 10/01/08 10/07/08
Replacement Shipment (Reported damaged on 09/30/08) 09/29/08 10/07/08
Replacement Shipment (Reported damaged on 09/25/08) 09/24/08 09/30/08
Replacement Shipment (Reported damaged on 09/27/08) 09/26/08 09/30/08
Replacement Shipment (Reported damaged on 09/23/08) 09/22/08
So yes, I got 6 f-ing copies of this terrible movie. And this is only with one title, I don't want to cut and paste my whole renting history, but this cracked disc problem makes me want to leave Netflix, especially after the price hike.
I had to file a formal complaint with the postal service (whom netflix blames it on) and they keep telling me it's because of the insufficient paper mailers. To make me happier, I've gotten my plan bumped up to 4 at a time, discounts and I'm getting next month free.
Aliens vs. Predator 2
Original Shipment (Reported damaged on 09/19/08) 09/22/08
Replacement Shipment 10/03/08 10/08/08 Report Problem
Replacement Shipment (Reported damaged on 10/02/08) 10/01/08 10/07/08
Replacement Shipment (Reported damaged on 09/30/08) 09/29/08 10/07/08
Replacement Shipment (Reported damaged on 09/25/08) 09/24/08 09/30/08
Replacement Shipment (Reported damaged on 09/27/08) 09/26/08 09/30/08
Replacement Shipment (Reported damaged on 09/23/08) 09/22/08
So yes, I got 6 f-ing copies of this terrible movie. And this is only with one title, I don't want to cut and paste my whole renting history, but this cracked disc problem makes me want to leave Netflix, especially after the price hike.
I had to file a formal complaint with the postal service (whom netflix blames it on) and they keep telling me it's because of the insufficient paper mailers. To make me happier, I've gotten my plan bumped up to 4 at a time, discounts and I'm getting next month free.
#28
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Just to add to this, the Postal Service told me that during the sorting process there is a point where the disc physically makes a 90* angle. Thus, with the cheap paper mailers, blu rays will get cracked every time they make this angle because of the rigid coating.
When I explained this to a Netflix supervisor, he didn't care. The price hike is going toward buying more copies, not producing less-pliable mailers. Netflix also explains to me that the postal service shouldn't be putting the discs through any sort of machine.
So what am I to do? Both parties tell me it's good that I keep calling to complain, but NOTHING has been done about it. I keep getting broken discs, and now with the price increase, if I'm still getting broken discs, I'll just leave Netflix.
I feel like I'm being forced to be my own detective, as about 10 Netflix representitives told me they'd submit something to some department that researches high breakage areas (or so they say). Apparently, each one had intentionally forgotten to submit anything, the latest admitted to me. She was kind enough to assure me that she would actually submit something on my behalf.
Shady shady Netflix.
When I explained this to a Netflix supervisor, he didn't care. The price hike is going toward buying more copies, not producing less-pliable mailers. Netflix also explains to me that the postal service shouldn't be putting the discs through any sort of machine.
So what am I to do? Both parties tell me it's good that I keep calling to complain, but NOTHING has been done about it. I keep getting broken discs, and now with the price increase, if I'm still getting broken discs, I'll just leave Netflix.
I feel like I'm being forced to be my own detective, as about 10 Netflix representitives told me they'd submit something to some department that researches high breakage areas (or so they say). Apparently, each one had intentionally forgotten to submit anything, the latest admitted to me. She was kind enough to assure me that she would actually submit something on my behalf.
Shady shady Netflix.
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I have had the same issue with Bluray discs. I have been a Netflix member for years and only had a handful of problems with DVDs before BD. Now, I have had about a dozen BDs that arrived cracked since August. I never got a response from Netflix on the matter, but the post office was ready to take my complaint. I decided to wait until I heard back from Netflix, but never did.
Are BDs just not as strong as DVDs? Are they using a different coating on the discs that just isn't as strong as the older DVD coating?
I also used to be a member of Gamefly and never had a problem with PS3 game discs, mainly because each disc was in cardboard protector as well as a paper sleeve.
Are BDs just not as strong as DVDs? Are they using a different coating on the discs that just isn't as strong as the older DVD coating?
I also used to be a member of Gamefly and never had a problem with PS3 game discs, mainly because each disc was in cardboard protector as well as a paper sleeve.
Last edited by andyjg13; 11-26-08 at 04:38 PM. Reason: Add
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Same situation here. Zohan & Nightmare Before Christmas both arrived cracked. I got a replacement of Zohan quickly after. But Nightmare Before Christmas now has a Long Wait. I signed up in October, hopefully this Blu-Ray situation improves or else I'm done.
#31
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I'm having problem with cracked discs with Netflix right now. I'm on 4th cracked disc (standard DVD, not Blu Ray) on same title (Rurouni Kenshin: Vol. 19: Dreams of Youth). I was thinking of calling Netflix and after reading whole thing in this thread, it's not worth my time to call them.
#32
My last 6 BDs including a replacement for a previously received damaged disc have all arrived with a small crack near the outer edge of the disc. None of them would play. I guess I'll be cancelling at the end of this pay period since I'm definitely not getting my money's worth. Looks like they could eliminate the problem by using a stiff thin cardboard sleeve instead of the paper sleeves they use for shipping.
#34
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Re: Cracked Blu-rays from Netflix?
This has finally received some media attention:
Netflix Subscribers See Red Over Cracked Blu-ray Discs
Red Alert! Netflix Blu-ray disc subscribers may want to inspect their red envelopes a little more closely before popping the discs into a player.
Hundreds of subscribers to the company's movies-by-mail service say they have received fractured Blu-ray discs that won't play -- and that it's happening at an alarming rate.
"Over the last two months, we've had probably four to six Blu-ray discs in a row arrive with small cracks at the edge of the disc that render it unplayable," says Pete Brown, whose wife has been a Netflix subscriber for three years.
Blu-ray discs differ from standard-definition discs in the way they are produced and how they store data. Standard definition DVDs are two clear polycarbonate discs, each 0.6mm thick, sandwiched together with the data recorded on a very thin metal substrate in between, explains Adrienne Downey, senior analyst at research firm Semico.
Blu-ray is a single 1.1mm polycarbonate disc that has the data encoded at the top. Blu-ray discs have a 0.1 mm coating on top of the data layer to protect it from getting scratched. Because the coating is much thinner than the 0.6mm sandwich used in DVDs, it could be more vulnerable to scratches and cracks.
"The coating is supposed to protect the discs but it could also be making them more brittle," says Downey. "Ultimately Blu-ray is a new technology and they are still working the kinks out of it." Downey says it will be another year or two before the whole Blu-ray ecosystem is entirely problem-free.
But Blu-ray technology can't take all the blame for the Netflix customers' problems. Far fewer BlockBuster customers are complaining about their Blu-ray discs, which suggests that Netflix has a few issues of its own handling the discs.
Renting Blu-ray movies from Netflix has been particularly challenging for Brown and his wife. Take the case of the Oscar-nominated hit Babel that was in Brown's queue. The disc arrived cracked, and then the replacement disk that Netflix sent was damaged. But that's not the end of the story: The replacement to the replacement was also damaged. "At a point, my wife was like, maybe they are sending us same thing to us over and over again," says Brown.
Reports about customer problems with damaged Blu-ray discs come even as Netflix plans to increase rental fees for Blu-ray discs by about 20 percent at the end of April. About 1 million, or 10 percent, of the company's subscribers rent Blu-ray movies. The company currently ships 2 million red envelopes a day.
Netflix user complaints first flared up in late 2007 as early adopters complained in online forums of receiving damaged discs. Now a fresh wave of users say they're having similar problems.
The problem is not pervasive, says Steve Swasey, Netflix's vice-president of corporate communications. "Our percentage of Blu-ray disks that members receive that are not playable is a fraction of a percent," he says.
So what's causing the cracked Blu-ray discs? The reasons could include tough love from the local post office, which sometimes sticks the envelopes into automated sorting machines. It could be the Blu-ray disc manufacturing process or even the relative newness of the technology.
"It could be in the specific (Netflix) hub that ships them or it could be in the postal carrier or it could be the ways these subscribers are handling it," says Swasey.
Older titles on Blu-ray discs certainly seem to be at greater risk for cracks, says Grant Brown (no relation to Pete Brown), a Netflix subscriber who has been following the issue for more than a year. "From what I have seen with my account and those of my friends, the newer the Blu-ray disc, the better the chance that it has not been cracked."
That's not always the case, however. Tom Turley, a Netflix subscriber in Seattle, says he received two cracked Blu-ray discs in a row last week -- both with a new movie.
Meanwhile, Netflix customer representatives have been pointing fingers at the post office. On Grant Brown's blog, users say Netflix encourages them to complain to their USPS if they receive cracked discs.
"It almost looks like Netflix doen't want to deal with the problem and they are pushing people to complain about the postal system," says Grant Brown.
Netflix says it takes user complaints seriously. Every DVD that is reported damaged is pulled out of circulation, says Swasey. And while some users suggest a more sturdy mailer for Blu-ray discs, the company is not in favor of it.
"When we see the breakage for Blu-ray to be so infinitesimally small of the total ships, it would be cost-prohibitive for us to change the shipping method," says Swasey. "We do everything to drive costs down."
Updated: 04/17: We have created interactive ZeeMap and we'd like you to report your experience with Netflix' service, particularly Blu-ray discs. The map will help us find out if the cracked Blu-ray discs problem is likely to occur in certain areas more than other. Click here to add your experience to the map.
Red Alert! Netflix Blu-ray disc subscribers may want to inspect their red envelopes a little more closely before popping the discs into a player.
Hundreds of subscribers to the company's movies-by-mail service say they have received fractured Blu-ray discs that won't play -- and that it's happening at an alarming rate.
"Over the last two months, we've had probably four to six Blu-ray discs in a row arrive with small cracks at the edge of the disc that render it unplayable," says Pete Brown, whose wife has been a Netflix subscriber for three years.
Blu-ray discs differ from standard-definition discs in the way they are produced and how they store data. Standard definition DVDs are two clear polycarbonate discs, each 0.6mm thick, sandwiched together with the data recorded on a very thin metal substrate in between, explains Adrienne Downey, senior analyst at research firm Semico.
Blu-ray is a single 1.1mm polycarbonate disc that has the data encoded at the top. Blu-ray discs have a 0.1 mm coating on top of the data layer to protect it from getting scratched. Because the coating is much thinner than the 0.6mm sandwich used in DVDs, it could be more vulnerable to scratches and cracks.
"The coating is supposed to protect the discs but it could also be making them more brittle," says Downey. "Ultimately Blu-ray is a new technology and they are still working the kinks out of it." Downey says it will be another year or two before the whole Blu-ray ecosystem is entirely problem-free.
But Blu-ray technology can't take all the blame for the Netflix customers' problems. Far fewer BlockBuster customers are complaining about their Blu-ray discs, which suggests that Netflix has a few issues of its own handling the discs.
Renting Blu-ray movies from Netflix has been particularly challenging for Brown and his wife. Take the case of the Oscar-nominated hit Babel that was in Brown's queue. The disc arrived cracked, and then the replacement disk that Netflix sent was damaged. But that's not the end of the story: The replacement to the replacement was also damaged. "At a point, my wife was like, maybe they are sending us same thing to us over and over again," says Brown.
Reports about customer problems with damaged Blu-ray discs come even as Netflix plans to increase rental fees for Blu-ray discs by about 20 percent at the end of April. About 1 million, or 10 percent, of the company's subscribers rent Blu-ray movies. The company currently ships 2 million red envelopes a day.
Netflix user complaints first flared up in late 2007 as early adopters complained in online forums of receiving damaged discs. Now a fresh wave of users say they're having similar problems.
The problem is not pervasive, says Steve Swasey, Netflix's vice-president of corporate communications. "Our percentage of Blu-ray disks that members receive that are not playable is a fraction of a percent," he says.
So what's causing the cracked Blu-ray discs? The reasons could include tough love from the local post office, which sometimes sticks the envelopes into automated sorting machines. It could be the Blu-ray disc manufacturing process or even the relative newness of the technology.
"It could be in the specific (Netflix) hub that ships them or it could be in the postal carrier or it could be the ways these subscribers are handling it," says Swasey.
Older titles on Blu-ray discs certainly seem to be at greater risk for cracks, says Grant Brown (no relation to Pete Brown), a Netflix subscriber who has been following the issue for more than a year. "From what I have seen with my account and those of my friends, the newer the Blu-ray disc, the better the chance that it has not been cracked."
That's not always the case, however. Tom Turley, a Netflix subscriber in Seattle, says he received two cracked Blu-ray discs in a row last week -- both with a new movie.
Meanwhile, Netflix customer representatives have been pointing fingers at the post office. On Grant Brown's blog, users say Netflix encourages them to complain to their USPS if they receive cracked discs.
"It almost looks like Netflix doen't want to deal with the problem and they are pushing people to complain about the postal system," says Grant Brown.
Netflix says it takes user complaints seriously. Every DVD that is reported damaged is pulled out of circulation, says Swasey. And while some users suggest a more sturdy mailer for Blu-ray discs, the company is not in favor of it.
"When we see the breakage for Blu-ray to be so infinitesimally small of the total ships, it would be cost-prohibitive for us to change the shipping method," says Swasey. "We do everything to drive costs down."
Updated: 04/17: We have created interactive ZeeMap and we'd like you to report your experience with Netflix' service, particularly Blu-ray discs. The map will help us find out if the cracked Blu-ray discs problem is likely to occur in certain areas more than other. Click here to add your experience to the map.
#36
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Re: Cracked Blu-rays from Netflix?
I stopped renting them when I got several that were scratched. Even a tiny scratch can make them unplayable. The weird thing is these are hard to scratch so someone probably went out of their way to abuse the disc.
I'm wondering if all the cracked BD discs is related to the extra 20% they now charge for them. Might explain the cost they are trying to recoup.
I'm wondering if all the cracked BD discs is related to the extra 20% they now charge for them. Might explain the cost they are trying to recoup.
#37
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Re: Cracked Blu-rays from Netflix?
"Older titles on Blu-ray discs certainly seem to be at greater risk for cracks, says Grant Brown (no relation to Pete Brown), a Netflix subscriber who has been following the issue for more than a year. "From what I have seen with my account and those of my friends, the newer the Blu-ray disc, the better the chance that it has not been cracked."
So, discs that have been handled by hundreds of customers. mailed hundreds of times, and been through the USPS sorting machines hundreds of times are more likely to be damaged than newer discs?
Who'd have thunk? [/end sarcasm]
So, discs that have been handled by hundreds of customers. mailed hundreds of times, and been through the USPS sorting machines hundreds of times are more likely to be damaged than newer discs?
Who'd have thunk? [/end sarcasm]
#38
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Cracked Blu-rays from Netflix?
Ironically, I haven't had any cracked disc problems lately. There was a period a few months back that they were consistently unplayable. Wonder if they are getting better at handling the discs on their side?
#39
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Re: Cracked Blu-rays from Netflix?
Netflix and BB have priced their business model to use machine-processing at the USPS; it's several cents cheaper than hand-processing. There may be some particular centers that are very rough on the envelopes hence some subscribers are having more trouble than others. I've had it happen a few times but they were many weeks apart. Generally it works fairly well. If it arrives broken, request another and then another. It's one reason to choose Blockbuster, then do an exchange in the store for the title you are having trouble with. The USPS is probably to blame for all this.
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Re: Cracked Blu-rays from Netflix?
I stopped renting them when I got several that were scratched. Even a tiny scratch can make them unplayable. The weird thing is these are hard to scratch so someone probably went out of their way to abuse the disc.
I'm wondering if all the cracked BD discs is related to the extra 20% they now charge for them. Might explain the cost they are trying to recoup.
I'm wondering if all the cracked BD discs is related to the extra 20% they now charge for them. Might explain the cost they are trying to recoup.
All players are not born the same.
#41
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Re: Cracked Blu-rays from Netflix?
I've been getting blu rays for the past six or so months from Netflix and only encountered one cracked disc (Gangs of New York). Blu rays have always seemed less flexible than DVDs are, and my uncle (who works for the post office) said that a lot of times the Netflix envelopes will accidentally go through the machine sorter, which really bends and contorts the envelopes, he always asked me if I got a cracked DVD and was always surprised when I said no.
#42
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Re: Cracked Blu-rays from Netflix?
I was a Netflix subscriber for the last 5-6 years or so, and never had a problem until recently. I was going to watch a Blu-Ray of Zack and Miri Make a Porno, and it wouldn't play in the PS3. I tried ejecting, wiping it off, etc, and nothing worked. I then noticed the crack on the disc. So I sent it back, and all was well. The replacement played fine, my troubles were over.
Or so I thought.
The next disc I rented was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button which was also on Blu-Ray. It arrived with the same crack that Zack and Miri had. So I sent it back, and got the replacement. The same crack in the same spot. Total BS.
This seems to be happening more and more.
Or so I thought.
The next disc I rented was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button which was also on Blu-Ray. It arrived with the same crack that Zack and Miri had. So I sent it back, and got the replacement. The same crack in the same spot. Total BS.
This seems to be happening more and more.
#44
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Re: Cracked Blu-rays from Netflix?
Two more replacements each with a crack.
Another replacement with a crack. I am on disc number seven now.
Replacement cracked again, disc number 8.
Another replacement with a crack. I am on disc number seven now.
Replacement cracked again, disc number 8.
Last edited by nickdawgy; 08-15-09 at 07:45 AM.