When is a price increase not a price increase? When Netflix says it isn’t.
The streaming giant is now alerting existing subscribers that the price of their monthly plans will increase by $1-2 a month in the next month or so. Netflix announced last month that, effective immediately, it was raising the price for its three plans for new customers. The company said then it would inform existing customers in the coming weeks that their prices would increase as well and it is now doing that via e-mails.
But it’s how they are doing it that’s raising eyebrows.
A Netflix e-mail sent this week to existing subscribers carried this subject line: “We’re updating our prices — here’s why.”
The e-mail, titled ‘Updating prices to bring your more,’ Netflix writes that “we hope you’re enjoying everything Netflix has to offer. We’re updating our prices to bring you more great entertainment. Your monthly price will change to (new plan price) on March 12, 2022.
“This update will allow us to deliver even more value for your membership — with stories that lift you up, move you or simply make your day a little better.”
Netflix does not mention anywhere in the e-mail that the subscriber’s monthly price will increase, not just be ‘updated.’ Perhaps the company is hoping that subscribers won’t notice the difference.
However, some Netflix viewers do see the difference and they are registering their distaste for the Orwellian wordplay in comments on social media posts.
“This update will allow us to deliver even more value for your membership — with stories that lift you up, move you or simply make your day a little better. Sorry, this does not justify the price hike #netflix Just be honest. You want to make more money. It’s ok to admit that,” tweeted @thatthinkingman.
“At least call it a price increase. Too funny. Crappy…but funny also,” added @shipleytweets.
“Straight out of Black Mirror,” @Davidsternberg wrote in response to the e-mail while @rider45 suggested sarcastically that Netflix was trying to paint the price increase as “new and improved prices.”
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New packaging! Same great taste!
I had a similar experience with my cable internet provider of 25 years. They called it a “Network Enhancement Fee”. My network performance was deteriorating as fast as these fees were being added to the point there I had to reboot my modem and router 3-4 per week to keep my shrinking bandwidth operational. On top of those fees were regular frequent rate increases that were unconscionable. The only thing that kept me from switching was the fact that I had my email through them and had 25 years worth of online accounts tied to it. The last increase (12/20) was the straw that the broke the camels back. So I opened an GMAIL account and spent 3 weeks moving off their email domain and over to GMAIL thoroughly testing each one . I switched providers and and ended up paying $53.50 / month for reliable, fast (much faster) internet. It’s been 14 months since the switch and I have not had one outage, hiccup or rate increase.
waldejewp or anyone,
Can we “PORT” our E-mail addresses like a Phone number ?
Which Provider did you switch to ?
My son was able to port his when he moved and switched from ATT/Uverse to Optimum/Altice. It’s been 2 years and he still sends and receives his email from his old ATT email address. When I switched from Optimum/Altice to Verizon FIOS, Optimum/Altice kept my old email address active for 60 days free but then wanted payment after that. I went cold turkey but it took me 3 weeks (not full time) to get everything switched over and tested to GMAIL. My Verizon deal was for $39.99 / month in total (includes everything – taxes, fees, equipment rentals…) for 300 Mbps (up and down) if I went with auto pay. No contract and no scheduled price increases with the agreement. So far, so good. With Optimum/Altice I was getting spotty 100 Mbps down and a spotty 30 Mbps up for $53.50 more per month $93.49 which included taxes, fees surcharges, and equipment rental.
Yeah, I think I’m gonna cancel Netflix.