Netflix Eliminating Account Profiles - Update

Update #2: There are two online petitions to save Profiles with more than 600 (combined) signatures at Petition Online and SaveNetflixProfiles.com.

Update: Netflix spokesperson Steve Swasey said that the decision to eliminate Profiles is a "final decision." Swasey also had the following to say:

Netflix is a dynamic company that continues to evolve and grow while consistently giving members to best online movie rental experience.

Think of where we were when I joined a little more than three years ago. Then, we had 2.6 million members and 35,000 titles on DVD. Today, 8.2 million members, more than 100,000 titles on DVD and more than 10,000 choices of movies and TV episodes to watch instantly on the PC and the TV.

With such dramatic growth and site and service improvements comes the occasional adjustment.

While discontinuing the Profiles feature is not desirable for the passionate folks who use it, the decision will ultimately benefit all Netflix members. By discontinuing the feature, we will be able to put more focus and resources site and service improvements that benefit everyone, consistent to how we have grown the service over the years.

Netflix sent out the following e-mail today to inform users that they are eliminating the Profiles feature on September 1st, 2008.

The Netflix help system has more information:

Q: What is happening to Profiles?

A: We will be eliminating Profiles, the feature that allowed you to set up separate DVD Queues under one account.

When? Profiles will be eliminated on September 1, 2008.

Why? While it may be disappointing to see this feature go away, this change will help us to continue to improve the Netflix website for all our customers.

Do I need to do anything? Consider moving all DVD titles in your Profiles Queues to your main account Queue. To do so, log-in and visit this page

How will this impact my account? On September 1, 2008:

All DVDs currently at home or in transit will be associated with the main account Queue

All Profiles rental history will be added into the main account rental history

Your additional Profile Queues will be eliminated. If you would like to keep a copy of each Profile Queue we recommend that you print them out

Prior to Profiles going away, we will also email you a copy of your Profile Queues

Profiles movie ratings and Profiles Friends connections will no longer be available

You will not be able to transfer your Profiles data to a separate new account

You will be able to set a maturity filter on the main account

How do you feel about the end of the Profiles feature?

Thanks to Wiley, Jesse, Kimberly, Johnny, Sarahbeth, RevRagnarok, Chris, Nina, Jeff, Brian, DigitalDave1, Joshua, Sean, Finy, Chris, Danno, Bill, Brian, George, Stesmo, Sam, Bjorn, Ben, and everyone else that sent this in.

Comments

[Raider fan]

With the addition of the set top box, adding titles to instant watch as well as an instant queue, I think it is asking a little much for a person spending $17.00 per month to complain too much although it is your right. I'll still be getting the same amount of movies and I'm hoping someone can come up with an idea that will work. I'm not fond of the idea of one queue for myself and everyone else in my house, but the good side of it is when next Saturday comes and we watch the same movie we did last Saturday because John had it in his queue and I had it delivered last week, we can only call each other idiots until September 1st.

[Rhys]

This is totally stupid. I don't want my wife's ratings mixed in with mine! Now the recommended film's section will be COMPLETELY USELESS! They aren't even trying to make things easier by allowing us to split into to full blown accounts. Not cool Netflix. I've been an advocate of your service for so long, but I'm sorely pissed you'd essentially LIE to use that this is an improvement. Shame on you.

[RevRagnarok]

If anybody is still reading, it's not too hard to "back up" the queue in case you don't trust them - you can get a personalized RSS link at the bottom of the queue page. Then I had Firefox save the page. Then you can use the Firefox extension "Linky" to open them in batches for re-adding. Still sucks, but better than doing it totally manually.

[Barnabas]

I just got an email. Netflix is keeping profiles.

[Deadplants]

They're keeping profiles!!

Victory is ours!!

Thanks Netflix!

[Levi]

I don't know if anyone else has recieved this information, but I got this message from netflix just a few hours ago...

"You spoke, and we listened. We are keeping Profiles. Thank you for all the calls and emails telling us how important Profiles are.

We are sorry for any inconvenience we may have caused. We hope the next time you hear from us we will delight, and not disappoint, you.

-Your friends at Netflix"

[Lawrence Biven]

I have been charged 14.83 two months in a row,on my Visa card, for no reason. I have never order anything from you. Please tell me why.

Lawrence Biven

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[Air Jordan Flight 9]

Great post, Chuck. Had to get four so far and counting. Those asking for multiple user accounts, this device is as personal as an iPod or iPhone...ultimately everyone in a hosuehold is going to want one of their own...given that it costs far less than a well-equipped desktop or laptop, that's relatively feasible. Of course, costs will continue to come down.

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