Latest Warner Title, Time Traveler's Wife, is on "Long Wait"

The Time Traveler's Wife, the latest Waner Bros. release to be made available after a 28 delay, is on "Long Wait" one day after release. One of the reasons Netflix did the deal with Warner Bros. to delay new releases was to make sure they had enough copies on release, but it looks like they're still working on getting enough copies.

 

The first two Warner titles under the new deal, The Invention of Lying and Whiteout, are now available.

Comments

[Larry Dallas]

better then VERY LONG WAIT

[Michael]

Just watched it (returned my previous movie on Saturday). The Blu-Ray disc has a mandatory Blu-Ray commercial followed by the movie. The only menu option is 'Languages'. Totally stripped of anything extraneous like special features, chapter marks and trailers.

[Patchoulifan]

Michael touched on a point. Why put the Blu-Ray commercial (which has been as long as almost 10 minutes) on a Blu-Ray disc? I can understand putting it on a regular DVD, but I'm freaking watching the Blu-Ray, so aren't they wasting all of our time by preaching to the choir?

As for extras, I've just resigned myself to the fact that in most cases I will have to be happy just to see the film. More and more of the rental DVD's are just bare bones.

As for Warner's 28 day wait, well I own lots and lots of DVD's. While not useless, they are dinosaurs compared to Blu-Ray. I'm not going to fall into the trap of purchasing Blu-Ray discs, and watch those become extinct when the next technology comes along.

I suspect within a few years, people will be asking, "what's a disc?" anyway....

[Crow550]

I'd rather hear from people having the movie on the top of there queue and after 6 returns not getting it. To come here and complain.

[JebNY]

Was top of my list and is due in my mailbox today.

Jeb...

[Michael]

Patchoulifan: The purpose of the commercial was to convince you to upgrade old DVDs to Blu-Ray. It used old films, did a lo-res/hi-res comparison (not representative of what my PS3 or laptop do for upscaling) and showed off the wonderful features that weren't on the disc that I got. I rarely have the time for extra features, but I've never seen a disc that was so minimalist. Basically, it is like streaming the film with pre-roll on Hulu -- you are forced to watch a long commercial, there's a movie and nothing else. (Well, except the language options. They're even available as a fancy pop-up menu for people that don't have proper remote controls.

Anyway, it is a good movie. Watch with your S.O.; if both of you only care about movie extras afterwards, then at least you've got something in common....

[Prozac]

It's true..this deal was supposed to make the dvd's more available. I have to admit, I enjoy NF but I have been going more and more to Redbox to get movies like The Box & Where the WIld Things Are. Even Fame is a Long wait on NF. Still A NF fanboy but the deal with WB has givin me more options. Now if Redbox agrees to the 28 day deal that's another story.

[nemov]

(500) Days of Summer and Hurt Locker have been on the top of my queue for weeks despite the fact I've watched and returned 15 movies. I've resigned myself to the fact that NetFlix sucks for new releases.

[David Ron]

I've got that DVD in my hands right now stuffed in a big red envelope. This sounds more like a shortage than a complete delay.

[Gran]

Showed short delay but already arrived.

[Gran]

@Prozac... Redbox has the 28 day delay with Warner too.

[Mariner]

OMG WTF.

Ted Sarandos you have some explaining to do.

[Seth]

Well, this pretty much confirms what many thought: Netflix tried to paint a rosy picture of a rather crappy deal for customers.

I was and am disappointed that Netflix didn't just tell it to us straight. They could have just said that the studios are making it increasingly difficult to obtain discs in spite of the first sale doctrine.

Oh well. I guess the truth will be discussed in their quarterly report.

[Septic Tank]

i still have inglorious bastards on very long wait. it's been out 3 months now. just got the hangover last saturday after a 3 month wait.

jack up the prices of blu-ray, make a 28 day waiting period, and still poor availability.

[byteme]

The purpose of the delayed rental window for Warner new releases was so that Netflix could buy more copies at a lower cost each. However, that doesn't mean Netflix is going to buy 1 copy of the movie for each of it's subscribers. That would be just ridiculous. Of course SOME people will not get it on the first day. However, I'd be willing to bet that this movie will go to a "Now" availability weeks earlier (after rental release) than it would have were it not for this deal.

Btw, I was one of the lucky ones who got this in the mail yesterday and the DVD is similar to the Bluray described above: a bare-bones disc stripped of everything but the movie and ads - nothing else.

Considering most folks probably only watch the bonus features once, they seem like a perfect fit for rentals...however the spoiled folks in Hollywood never pass on a chance to minimize the enjoyment of its audience, so, c'est la vie.

[Matt Sage]

It was listed as Long Wait in my queue as well, but it was shipped yesterday and should be in my mailbox today.

It seems the Long Wait status might be shown to everyone even if you're next in line.

[Jay]

If you honestly thought a company would improve service by reducing service to save money, you're wrong.

If anything, I bet they have less copies of the DVD, and just hope that the demand decreases during the 28 day wait time.

[Jeff Chambliss]

I got this movie Tuesday (had returns arrive on Monday). I think two days after release you should not complain about it being on a wait. Am mailing back today so hopefully someone in the Mobile, AL area can get it for Friday:) If still has long wait in a week or two, then I agree maybe they didn't get as many extra copies as they insinuated they would.
I agree with others here-what really ticks me is wait time for month or more.

[CLH]

Redbox is supposed to be on the 28 day window. My roommate got this flick a couple of nights ago from one of them (Fort Smith, AR for anyone interested in the location). Seems as if they aren't following the rules maybe?

[Clay]

I've had a Blu-Ray for about two weeks now, and I'm already quitting the extra $4 for it on NetFlix. The 28 day extension and the long delays on top of it make it pointless. Meanwhile, the Blockbuster plan gives you 5 in-store exchanges with which you can get new releases easily during the week. They have tons of The Box, 2012, and Inglorious Bastards on the shelves. Where the Wild Things Are might be more tricky. Were it not for the streaming I would be done with NetFlix.

[Derik]

Let's just all face it. Netflix just gave us delayed new releases in exchange for nothing. Fantastic.

I'm also really enjoying the Starz Play stuff in standard definition.

[Gran]

@Derik - Nearly all of the posts here are from people who already have the movie. Why do you say the exchange was for nothing?

[Crow550]

My mom added it on Friday and sent in her previous dvd on Saturday, got the flick on Tuesday. I think it said long wait too.

So bump the flick to #1 and I'm sure you'll get it a lot sooner than normal.

[Eddie]

You can swap your dvd at swapadvd.com

[ADA]

Mine is on a short wait.

[Lark]

Had it as #1, decided I wanted to see Precious more, so put TTW in #2 slot (only had 1 return for Monday). Received Precious Tuesday. TTW showed as long wait in new #1 slot (sigh). Next day, lo and behold, my Tuesday return nets me Time Traveler's Wife. It should arrive today (Wed.). I am shocked! Seems to be working out of Rockville. Now, Glee Disk 1 has been on V.long wait since it came out--how long ago? Hmm.

[Gran]

Apparently they're using the availability status as a means of decreasing demand even though they actually have enough copies.

[Patchoulifan]

The most common complaint that I see in these comments is that there are lots of people who wait MONTHS for new releases. I understand that Netflix can't buy enough for everyone to get a release when it comes out, but as some have pointed out here, once you get shut out on the release week, some movies are still on long or very long wait 2-4 months after they come out.

That seems extreme to me. I've gone days without Netflix sending me anything because everything is on a wait. I've resolved to have enough older stuff not to have that happen anymore. However, had I not gone out to the video store and rented Inglorious Basterds, The Hangover, and countless other movies, I fear I would still be waiting for them.

It seems that Netflix has enough data that they can judge when a movie will be in high demand. I do agree with those who find that the BS that Netflix fed about more streaming videos as a trade-off for the 28 day wait on Warner films was a complete sham.

I imagine that Netflix is just biding its' time until everything is streaming, and them having to actually own any discs will be a thing of the past.

I wonder when the studios will get smart and provide their films for streaming through Roku or a similar medium.

[dAVe]

Yeap, it's official. The 28-day rental delay window was indeed a total screw job.

[John]

I received my copy of Time Traveler's Wife (on Blu-Ray) right away. I have also watched The Invention of Lying through Netflix already. I have a long list of delayed titles in my queue, but Netflix does a decent job of freeing up one of those titles regularly.

[BoB]

I'm still waiting on "Four Christmases" (short wait) and "Ignorious Basterds" (very long wait). Both out for months now!

(SNL)

Seriously?! Seriously?! 4 months now and still a wait?! Seriously?! Seriously?!

Seriously?!

Seriously?!

[Gran]

@dAVe - how do you figure? looks like everyone's getting Time Traveler's Wife with no problem.

[Gran]

@BoB - Why are you posting about Four Christmasses and IB in a thread about Time Traveler's Wife and the 28 day delay. Concentrate and stick to the topic.

[Crow550]

Inglourious Basterds was before the 28 day thing. I have it on the top of list too.

[LJ]

I work for Netflix, and as employees we go through the same process as everyone else.I have long waits on movies too. ( Yes, Time travelers wife). The difference with me, and most of our 12 million subscribers ( only about 5% ever call about wait times) is that I use the service the way it was intended. I have 180 movies in my Q, and always something coming to my home. Not getting new releases as soon as they come out means nothing to me. Netflix is a great service at a very reasonable cost.If you ONLY want new releases, you will see wait times, but take a real close look at the site, 120,000 titles is a huge selection,and you just cant find that anywhere else. You will be amazed what you can find.

[chef_m]

Got it yesterday, after moving it to the top of my list on Monday 3/8 -- I had 2 returns hit on Tue 3/9. I felt lucky that it got dealt to me....

[jjfromnyc]

what i think a lot of us seem to forget that is one of the main reasons these dvd's take so long to get is that a lot of people keep them forever, instead of watching and returning - i rarely keep a movie more than 1 or 2 days - usually just 1 - but i would be my NetFlix subscription that the majority of renters keep dvd's for more than a week - or even longer

[thompson]

I've had "Hurt Locker" at the top of my queue since January 5th -- it went from very long wait, to long wait, to a brief moment at short wait, and now after the Oscars it's back to very long wait.

Four months? Really?

[ScottZ]

Well duh! The high-volume users are less profitable and Netflix gives you a lower priority on new releases. It is smart of Netflix to make sure their most profitable customers are the most happy, thus they will get new releases first.

Netflix rocks, if the high-volume users don't like it, Netflix really won't care if you leave.

[mnxmfan]

Remember back to the days of video store rental ONLY? I used to work at one, so I do. And when a new release came out it used to be that you got one only if you were first in line, or very lucky. Most of the time, for the first month a movie was out, you couldn't get it.

Sure, now things have changed. The demand at video stores is not as high as it was before netflix (all of our local ones closed, closest video store is now 20 minutes one way). But, the same thing holds true for Netflix as it did for Blockbuster. When a movie first comes out, you can't keep it on the shelves. Wait a while and you have way too many copies and don't know what to do with them.

I'd say, if Netflix can cut the wait on new releases down from 3-4 months to a month after the new window, then it's still a gain. Because now, instead of waiting 4 months, you're waiting two.