Netflix Warning Grandfathered Customers About Monthly Price Hike Coming in May

[omerbaker]

I canceled as well.

“Here's to watching what you want, when you want, where you want.”

Except if it’s through Airplay.

 

[magicschoolbus]

The next Netflix price hike that happens is when I cut the cord.

Sick of their social justice pandering as well. So all the more reason.

 

[Unity451]

Probably the only reason I still have it. I enjoyed Lost in Space, Stranger Things, and a few comedy specials... other than that, it is just my "The Office" subscription service.

Yup. Me too. If they ever stopped offering that, I'm pretty sure everyone would abandon ship.

 

[blasto2236]

Netflix continues to offer me less value as a customer while asking more from me in return. This doesn’t quite have me ready to cancel, but I’m getting very close and I’ve been a subscriber since the DVDs-in-the-mail days (that already seems like a quaint concept doesn’t it?)

For one thing, they have a terrible UI these days. Finding something I wanted to watch used to be really easy. Now I have to wade through tons of original content that doesn’t interest me in the least, and go digging for the things that do. This usually leads me to go check out what’s on Hulu, HBO, or Amazon (and soon to be Apple) instead.

Then they killed iTunes billing, which I get, but it’s like having their cake and eating it, too. I prefer to manage my subscriptions this way because it’s easier for me to keep things all in one place. Hell, I’d even be more willing to accept the higher price for this option.

Instead, they’re taking away choice and features, all while asking me to add more to the coffers to finance their original content, only a fraction of which I’m interested in.

Eventually, I’ll likely be dropping one or more of these services and Netflix has quickly become the most likely one to go.

 

[sracer]

Well, Netflix has to do what they have to do to continue on. I don't think the price hike is really going to help them, but it will help consumers in the long run and competitors (which is good for consumers). As Netflix rates rise, it creates an opportunity for smaller, more niche services to become viable.

I've been a longtime Netflix subscriber but ever since they got into original programming, the appeal for me has been on the decline. I loved Lillyhammer but I don't remember any other originals that caught me eye. With more specialized services like Acorn TV and BritBox, we're watching much less Netflix to the point where we're thinking of bing-watching the one or two series we'd be interested in and then cancelling.

 

[nutmac]

Eh, I don't think you can complain about "price gouging" for getting 1080p instead of 4K. This is beyond "first world problems." And there are alternatives anyway.

What are the alternatives to watching Netflix originals in 4K HDR? I suppose I can pay $3/month extra and share my account with a friend (since I now get double the number of simultaneous streams), but I would think that's not beneficial to Netflix's bottom line.

 

[iAVERY]

I barely use Netflix at all and the Marvel shows were the only draw.

My son wanted me to keep it, so I did. Now Hulu DROPPED their prices while Netflix raised theirs?!?

Hulu is pretty good, and it works well with the Apple TV app. Dropped netflix over a year ago and haven’t looked back.

 

[Dominicanyor]

I'll be canceling as well..

 

[brushlee]

I don't understand. Netflix was introduced so people can "cut cable off" because it was cheaper. Now third parties are removing their content from Netflix because they want to launch their own streaming services which will probably cost the same as Netflix. So cable is now pretty much out of the picture(compared to 10 years ago), BUT now there are tons of different streaming services to choose from. This is like the cable era all over again.

Yup - wireless cable era.......

 

[Pennypacker83]

I like Netflix, but 15.99 euros per month for 4K content is quite a lot of money. Especially with such a limited offering here in Finland.

 

[mr.steevo]

Yes but so much of what’s on Netflix is awful. They create a ton of stuff and throw it all at the wall. It’s very hit or miss. HBO has much more consistent high quality (though they have occasional garbage as well)

And I say that as a long time Netflix subscriber who has no plans to cancel.

Sometimes I come home and just want to sit down and watch some garbage show and switch off.
There is something nice about it.

 

[ViDeOmAnCiNi]

what happened to my old "price for life"? Makes me sad. Might consider dropping it now. The class action seems to be going nowhere. sigh.

 

[justperry]

Not going to pay for any service like this, wether it's TV or Radio, there's plenty of free content on the interwebs.

 

[minik]

I cancelled mine long ago. Didn't miss much. Occasionally I go on iTunes and purchase movies that I really want to watch/keep.

 

[Rigby]

They still occasionally have good stuff. After the price hikes I'm now an on/off subscriber: from time to time I sign up for a month to catch up on the good stuff and then cancel again. Now waiting for the final season of Jessica Jones (really sad that they cancelled all the Marvel shows ).

 

[tonyr6]

For just an extra $2, you can get:

• All Marvel Shows Cancelled
• All Disney/Pixar/Marvel Movies removed by years-end
• Airplay Support Removed

What a bargain!!

And more crap like this
https://www.netflix.com/title/81034317
[doublepost=1554835927][/doublepost]

I don't understand. Netflix was introduced so people can "cut cable off" because it was cheaper. Now third parties are removing their content from Netflix because they want to launch their own streaming services which will probably cost the same as Netflix. So cable is now pretty much out of the picture(compared to 10 years ago), BUT now there are tons of different streaming services to choose from. This is like the cable era all over again.

However they have quality over quantity. Netflix is quantity over quality.
[doublepost=1554835999][/doublepost]Many times I open up Netflix find nothing for 20 minutes go into Hulu and Amazon Prime and find something to watch.

 

[easy4lif]

gonna wait and see what Apple and disney Charge for their service. if Its equal to the $15.99 netflix Im gonna start paying, bye bye netflix, hello disney+ and AppleTV+

 

[cocky jeremy]

Glad T-Mobile picks up the check for me.

The only reason I have Netflix. lol.

 

[mccaffertee]

Netflix has way more content than hbo
[doublepost=1554829046][/doublepost]Do people realize Netflix paying for content and even making their own costs billions of dollars? They either have to lose content, have their library turn stale and lose customers, or raise the price and keep making good stuff and piss off others who don’t wanna pay a dollar or two more month. It’s lose lose.

But for what I get, I consider it to be one of the best values out of everything I pay for. I could easily JUST have Netflix and be totally happy with what I get. In a time with a million streaming services vying for your money, that’s saying something

EXACTLY... still an awesome value.

 

[nutmac]

Now Hulu DROPPED their prices while Netflix raised theirs?!?

To be fair, Hulu dropped only their ad-supported pricing tier. I am guessing their ads are monetize better?

Original contents streaming services (no or limited ads 1080p tier):

• Amazon Prime Video (standalone): $8.99 (or $12.99 for full Amazon Prime with free shipping and other benefits)
• CBS All Access: $9.99
• HBO Now: $14.99
• Hulu: $11.99
• Netflix: $12.99
• SHOWTIME: $10.99
• Starz: $8.99
• YouTube Premium: $11.99 (also includes music)

Disney announced Disney+ will cost significantly less than $10.99.

 

[sommarvila]

So, it seems it's time to fire up the good old torrent client. Greed is not good.

 

[chris722]

In January, Netflix announced that it was raising the prices for all of its subscription tiers, making the popular "Standard" tier increase from $10.99/month to $12.99/month. This change took effect immediately for new customers signing up for Netflix, while existing customers were grandfathered into their prices for a limited time.

That time is now almost up, as Netflix has begun emailing grandfathered customers on the day of their subscription renewal, warning them that their monthly subscription cost will be going up in May. A warning will also appear within the Netflix mobile app. This change affects all tiers: the cheap "Basic" tier will rise from $7.99 to $8.99/month, the popular HD "Standard" tier will rise from $10.99 to $12.99/month, and the 4K "Premium" tier will rise from $13.99 to $15.99/month.

In the email, Netflix says that this price hike is required to improve the service so that subscribers can have "even more" TV shows and movies to enjoy. Netflix has been quickly increasing the amount of original content on its service as third parties remove their films and TV shows and create their own streaming platforms, like Disney has done for its upcoming service Disney+. In order to fund all of the original productions, subscription costs have now increased for all Netflix users.
This new price hike represents a jump of between 13 percent and 18 percent, which is Netflix's biggest price increase since it launched streaming 12 years ago. According to a CNBC report, Netflix will also use the extra cash to finance debt that it's recently taken on to "ward off streaming threats" from rivals like Apple, which just revealed its Apple TV+ streaming service that's set to launch later in 2019.

As of 2019, this is the fourth price hike for Netflix subscribers in the streaming service's history. The HD Standard tier was priced at $7.99/month, rose to $8.99/month in 2014, and then to $9.99/month in 2016, when CEO Reed Hastings reported an "unexpected" loss of subscribers due to the hike. In November 2017 the tier rose to $10.99/month, and now it will be priced at $12.99/month.

Article Link: Netflix Warning Grandfathered Customers About Monthly Price Hike Coming in May

[doublepost=1554839155][/doublepost]This is why I keep my Hulu subscription. Only $5.99 a month.
[doublepost=1554839432][/doublepost]

There are less subscribers because they raise the price.
They raise the price because there are less subscribers.
It’s a vicious cycle.

Sounds like Apple.
[doublepost=1554839643][/doublepost]

Netflix has way more content than hbo
[doublepost=1554829046][/doublepost]Do people realize Netflix paying for content and even making their own costs billions of dollars? They either have to lose content, have their library turn stale and lose customers, or raise the price and keep making good stuff and piss off others who don’t wanna pay a dollar or two more month. It’s lose lose.

But for what I get, I consider it to be one of the best values out of everything I pay for. I could easily JUST have Netflix and be totally happy with what I get. In a time with a million streaming services vying for your money, that’s saying something

Doesn't matter. Netflix is a case of "more is better". But when people only watch the same 5 shows why bother making a thousand.
[doublepost=1554839851][/doublepost]

Yes but so much of what’s on Netflix is awful. They create a ton of stuff and throw it all at the wall. It’s very hit or miss. HBO has much more consistent high quality (though they have occasional garbage as well)

And I say that as a long time Netflix subscriber who has no plans to cancel.

When HBO is good, it's way better than Netflix.

 

[nburwell]

Yes but so much of what’s on Netflix is awful. They create a ton of stuff and throw it all at the wall. It’s very hit or miss. HBO has much more consistent high quality (though they have occasional garbage as well)

And I say that as a long time Netflix subscriber who has no plans to cancel.

Agree completely here. A lot of Netflix's 'originals' do not interest me, or just simply do not seem appealing. It does seem like they are creating a bunch of new/original content and just throwing it at the wall and see what sticks.

HBO is a lot more quality programming IMO.

I happily subscribe to both services. Although I'm grumbling under my breath about another Netflix price hike.

 

[chris722]

Sometimes I come home and just want to sit down and watch some garbage show and switch off.
There is something nice about it.

True but there are free services if that is all that you want to do. I can't understand the reasoning about paying for it.

 

[Intellectua1]

They need money to buy more content so I'm cool with this increase. I don't see myself ever getting rid of Netflix
[doublepost=1554841887][/doublepost]

Excuses... There is no need for "even more" content. People can barely keep up with what it's already there.

Thank God you're a representative of the people..
[doublepost=1554842279][/doublepost]

Netflix has way more content than hbo
[doublepost=1554829046][/doublepost]Do people realize Netflix paying for content and even making their own costs billions of dollars? They either have to lose content, have their library turn stale and lose customers, or raise the price and keep making good stuff and piss off others who don’t wanna pay a dollar or two more month. It’s lose lose.

But for what I get, I consider it to be one of the best values out of everything I pay for. I could easily JUST have Netflix and be totally happy with what I get. In a time with a million streaming services vying for your money, that’s saying something

Yep, exactly what I said. People seem to forget content cost money and Netflix needs to make money to stay afloat. The entitlement in today's world is disgusting with everyone expecting something for nothing. I'd love to see the negative commenters build a streaming service, buy content, all while keeping the price low for customers. Cheapskates make me itch.