Excellent Netflix Plan Upgrade Advice

Update: Blockbuster has been reported to offer the same immediate upgrade option as Netflix (and it should also be noted that Blockbuster's 8-out plan is cheaper at $37.49).

Brian sent in this interesting bit of information that'll save you some money if you're thinking of upgrading your Netflix plan:

I'm going to have some forced down-time this month, so I upgraded my Netflix plan to the 8-at-once level. Instead of switching my plan mid-billing cycle and figuring out a pro-rated fee, Netflix immediately raised my limit to 8 DVDs for the rest of the month although it won't start charging me for the plan until the next billing cycle. Since I fortuitously choose the upgrade the day after my billing cyle started, I get a month of 8-at-once at the 3 DVD price.

This isn't a hidden gem: Netflix explains it at the top of the "Change Membership" page.

The Netflix site states, "Special Offer! Upgrade now and enjoy a free upgrade for the rest of your current month." In this case the 8-out plan costs $47.99, and Brian saved himself about $30.

I suffered the reverse at the hands of Sprint when I cancelled my cell phone service with them, and it set me back about $80 for cancelling a couple of days after my billing cycle started. I told them I'd post it on the Web and a bunch of people would see it, but I don't think they believed me. ;-)

Comments

It looks like you can only do it once. I upgraded a few months back and got the immediate upgrade. A few months later I went back to the 3-out plan (school started). Later I upgraded to the 5-out and then the new 6-out and neither of those times did I get the upgrade right away. I had to wait. I believe BB always give the immediate upgrade when up go up with them as well.

Previous poster is correct. Your first upgrade is immediate. After that, you must wait.

[Roy]

I did this last month, up from 3 to 4 and I had to wait 2 weeks for my new billing cycle to start. And it was my first "Out At A Time" change sicn I have been a member (NOV 04).

[REN]

You say Sprint took you for $80 days because you failed to cancel before your billing date? Netflix also has a policy where they won't issue refunds once you have been billed, even if you haven't used the service.

Yep NF cancels your account immediatly and you loose the rest of the month. BB lets the month run out and then stops your account.

so what happens if you upgrade and downgrade before your next billing cycle, do you get a free month of 8 dvds then back to your old plan, and billing as normal?

[Michael]

I think it's a smart thing to do...helps Netflix save money, which is the point if they want to be better than Blockbuster. I mean, if you're cancelling, they know chances are you aren't planning on coming back right away, so why let you not pay for it? I think it's a good tactic for Netflix.

"Brian sent in this interesting bit of information that'll save you some money if you're thinking of upgrading your Netflix plan:"

Geez Mike, where have you been? Over a month ago when NF offered other plans besides the 3,5,8 out at a time, you did a post right here on your blog about it and in the comments section, this was already discussed. One or two people reported that they were not going to be billed for the upgrade untill the next billing cycle. (There was only a few days left in my month, so I had to wait untill the next billing cycle started before upgrading so that I could take advantage of the additional DVds at the 3 at a time price for the next month.)

[Sonja]

I had this happen when I switched to the 4 out plan a few months ago.

No one answered the question posed earlier:

so what happens if you upgrade and downgrade before your next billing cycle, do you get a free month of 8 dvds then back to your old plan, and billing as normal?

[PlungeBob]

Hey,

This is off-target, but I cannot start a new thread here.

I just wanted to point out something that I have noticed.

When a series is release on DVD, it will often have two
"volumes" on one disk.

For Andromeda, this means that there are 5 disks with
10 episodes.

Here's the point: BB ships the double disks, where NF
breaks them into spearate deliveries

I cannot say for certain how common this is, but I have
seen it for two different series.

The upshot: If you want to see Andromeda Season One, BB
will ship it to you in five disks, while NF will ship it
to you in ten disks.

Not the end of the world, but interesting.

PB

PlungeBob,

I agree with ya. NF did the same thing to Quantum Leap. 3 discs at BB & WM but 6 discs at NF!

No one answered the question posed earlier:

so what happens if you upgrade and downgrade before your next billing cycle, do you get a free month of 8 dvds then back to your old plan, and billing as normal?

[Belvadere Johosophat]

I'd like to know the same thing. If I upgrade now to the 8 plan and then back to 1 before my billing cycle, will I get billed the 9.99 on my billing date and have gotten a free month of 8-at-a-time?

"will I get billed the 9.99 on my billing date and have gotten a free month of 8-at-a-time?"

Yes.

BUT, it depends. IF NF will let you upgrade, then you can ride the free upgrade to just before your due date and then drop it back.

But, NF seems to only let you upgrade once for free. If you have EVER upped your account to a larger plan and got an instant upgrade, then it looks like they make you wait until your next billing cycle to upgrade again.

Just try it. They tell you right away if they upgrade you immediately or not. If they do, great, if they don't then just change it back. no harm no foul.

[Belvadere Johosophat]

Well that was simple. I'm on the 8 plan now. My month just started yesterday. I'll drop it back down to 3 a day before my month is up.

[Pinball Mars]

So did Netflix stop doing this?

I upgraded from 3-out to 4-out shortly after I was billed for the month and did NOT get an immediate upgrade. I have to wait until my next billing to date to start having 4-out.

This is my first upgrade. I've been on the 3-out plan ever since I first subscribed last summer, with no changes.

I did CANCEL my account after the free trial last summer, with the knowledge that I'd be offered a reduced fee to stay with them, and I took advantage of that. Maybe that has something to do with my not getting the immediate upgrade. Thoughts?

I've tried to upgrade 3 different times this month and it keeps saying it will go in effect next month. I keep switching back to my 3-out. Oh well.

[Nik]

I will share some wisdom with you. Sign up as always with netflix, say 3 at a time. upgrade immediately to 8 out, you will get it free for the rest of the month. So basically you get 8 at a time for 18 bucks. At the end of the month cancel your membership. Here is the trick you need to completely sign out of the netflix site, so that it doesnt remember you and offer you to 'restart'. Now that you're visiting as a new guest, sign up again, using a different email. The name and address can be the same. Netflix will remember you and not offer a new free tril, BUT you will be able to do the free upgrade thing again. RINSE, REPEAT, ENJOY.