Netflix Chats with Hacking Netflix

I had a very informal chat with Netflix. Based on my prior attempts to establish a dialog (Bloggers & Corporate Public Relations Departments), I was surprised by an e-mail and then a conversation with representatives from Netflix.

Netflix, like most companies, has limited resources and bandwidth, but they are working on a strategy to reach out to the online community. They are very aware of the blogs and Web sites that discuss Netflix, and are listening to the chat rooms where we complain about, criticize, and compliment them.

They do get it. We just have to give them some time to figure out what to do with us.

Comments

[Becky]

Hey Mike,
I think it's great that you got to talk to Netflix, even if it was informal. They're in a delicate position in the market right now, so I feel for them. They've created a monster in their business model. How do they maintain an exciting, individual relationship with 2 million people, while protecting their trade secrets?

[Joseph Le]

I don't know what this site is, but I just got charged over $80 for returning my last three DVDs. They said I bought it. I don't even have it--ask the post office for the money.

[MIND TRICK]

I contacted Netflix in Sept. '04 and gave them some insight into what i was planning and wanted to do with NetflixBuddy.com. Within 2 Months they launched their friends program.

Last week I finally gave up on my contact at Netflix taking my calls or returning them for that matter, and turned on NetflixBuddy.com without their involvement.

[Jennifer]

Hi, I'm a business reporter at the Charleston Gazette in Charleston, WV. I'm working on a story about renting DVDs/videos in person vs. online.

I'm looking for West Virginians who rent movies online from Netflix, Blockbuster and/or Wal-Mart and don't mind talking to me about why they use the companies they do. Feel free to post this e-mail on other Web sites, blogs, chatrooms, etc.

Thanks,
Jennifer Ginsberg
jginsberg@wvgazette.com