It's "shakeout" time as losses of Netflix rivals top $5B

Re:It's "shakeout" time as losses of Netflix rivals top $5B by talkingtab on Friday December 29, 2023 @08:40AM (#38804746)

It is surprising to me that the article does not mention Amazon. Starting in January Amazon is going to "feature" ads unless you pay more. I for one am sick of ads in everything and so finally have good motivation to quit prime.

It seems to me this is a continuing example of fantasy businesses. We will deliver products the next day for free. Oops the next three days. Oops a week later. Oops, not for free. We will have free movies. We will make money by producing a constant stream of quality movies. Oops, pablum movies. Oops we have to put ads in the movies.

A business is a thing that provides value to customers which the customers are willing to pay for. If you give your product away, or have get money from other sources to provide for your customers, then you are not a business. Lock in and other anti-customer practices do not make something into a business. Massive tax fraud does not make a business. And yes, I realize Amazon, Microsoft and Apple make money. At least for now.

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Re:It's "shakeout" time as losses of Netflix rivals top $5B by e40 on Friday December 29, 2023 @10:27AM (#38805932)

I got the Amazon email yesterday and called them. No way to get a prorated refund so I turned off auto renew on Prime. I had a nice conversation with the lady and said the only thing that would prevent the lapse of Prime would be no ads for the base price.

If people cancel in droves they reconsider their position.

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Re:It's "shakeout" time as losses of Netflix rivals top $5B by toxican on Friday December 29, 2023 @10:36AM (#38806034)

>No way to get a prorated refund

Maybe this is an annual payment thing? Because I paid monthly and cancelled the other day online and it offered to refund me back $2 and some change left in my current month.

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Re:It's "shakeout" time as losses of Netflix rivals top $5B by kvmet on Friday December 29, 2023 @11:36AM (#38806878)

Might be regional because I went to cancel and it offered a refund for like $100 or whatever is left on my annual sub.

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Re:It's "shakeout" time as losses of Netflix rivals top $5B by e40 on Saturday December 30, 2023 @12:01PM (#38816714)

They said if I had "used" any benefits I wouldn't get a refund. I've used Prime Video and the shipping. Pretty sure I wouldn't get anything.

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Re:It's "shakeout" time as losses of Netflix rivals top $5B by sophwood on Friday December 29, 2023 @10:06AM (#38805699)

I paused my prime membership after reading this comment. Was already considering it after the email announcing ads.

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Re:It's "shakeout" time as losses of Netflix rivals top $5B by dudul on Friday December 29, 2023 @09:19AM (#38805117)

Amazon ads is also the last straw for me. I was already putting up with their previews at the beginning of a show, but ads are a big no.

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Re:It's "shakeout" time as losses of Netflix rivals top $5B by dazc on Friday December 29, 2023 @11:06AM (#38806395)

Ads for other shows you have already seen or decided never to watch are annoying at best. I wonder what the question was when this was suggested as a solution?

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