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beckymonsterOkay, so it makes for a good subject line;)
I don't know if this is common knowledge, but as I know that there are good number of folk out there, on my flist and elsewhere that use either Netflix or some organisation that uses the same model. Meaning that passing this along would be a Good Thing. For information you understand;)
It all started with following a link from imdb.com about what happens to film execs when their films crash and burn. It was from the LA Times and was quite interesting; they usually hide and get on with the next project if you're bothered!
Being the nosey sort that I am, I spotted another interesting article about Netflix and how it's changing how people appreciate film. Yes, I am getting to the point, bear with me a moment;)
It noted that behind this 'too good to be true' facade of unlimited DVDs for a reasonable price, there was in fact a catch. It's a model called 'throttling'.
Basically it's this - the heavier the user you are, the less likely you are to get your top choices. The less you use the service, the more likely you are to get what you want.
To use a food analogy - the gluttons get pushed to the back of the queue, while the anorexics get the pick of the menu! (N.B. - apologies for that - just started back with Weight Watchers, so food is pretty much at the forefront of my mind!)
Yes, it's legal. Or at least in the UK it is, my company use it as their 'fair use' policy. It's part of their Terms and Conditions; which means that once you've signed up to it... there ain't a damn sight much you can do about it!
Now, I'm sure that my fellow librarians will agree with me in saying that this is outrageous. In a library, it doesn't matter if you take out one book or a hundred in a year, if you are the top of the queue for a book, you get it first. We try to be as egaliatrian as possible. So if there is a book you want, either get in quick, or learn how to use the reservations service.
But then... libraries can do this because we are funded by other means than a business model.
Think about it - how much must it cost to send out a DVD? Not just postage costs, but staff, materials, computing and the like? Can't be cheap. So even though I might be paying top whack (£19.99 per month for four discs at a time) getting through about twenty (approx!) discs so far this month means that I must be a 'bad' customer. Mainly because I make them no money - I make them lose it!
Therefore to 'punish' me they're withholding the DVDs I want to watch. Am I the only person thinking small child with sweets/candy here? Be good and get candy, be bad and no sweeties for you. (Again with the food analogies!)
So, what's a girl to do?
With the total dearth of anything worth watching on UK tv right now (Doctor Who is naturally exempt from this) can anyone blame me for being so reliant on the rental service? If it's not 13 weeks of Big Brother, it's going to be the World Cup (Soccer) - yawn central.
The best thing I can do is to 'lull' my supplier into a false sense of security, keep my list to a reasonable, low number and ensure it's all killer and no filler;)
That and pray that Play.com have their Summer Sale soon!
So there you go - learn something new everyday and all that;) If anyone has any good advice, please pass it along. I'd be glad to hear of it!
I don't know if this is common knowledge, but as I know that there are good number of folk out there, on my flist and elsewhere that use either Netflix or some organisation that uses the same model. Meaning that passing this along would be a Good Thing. For information you understand;)
It all started with following a link from imdb.com about what happens to film execs when their films crash and burn. It was from the LA Times and was quite interesting; they usually hide and get on with the next project if you're bothered!
Being the nosey sort that I am, I spotted another interesting article about Netflix and how it's changing how people appreciate film. Yes, I am getting to the point, bear with me a moment;)
It noted that behind this 'too good to be true' facade of unlimited DVDs for a reasonable price, there was in fact a catch. It's a model called 'throttling'.
Basically it's this - the heavier the user you are, the less likely you are to get your top choices. The less you use the service, the more likely you are to get what you want.
To use a food analogy - the gluttons get pushed to the back of the queue, while the anorexics get the pick of the menu! (N.B. - apologies for that - just started back with Weight Watchers, so food is pretty much at the forefront of my mind!)
Yes, it's legal. Or at least in the UK it is, my company use it as their 'fair use' policy. It's part of their Terms and Conditions; which means that once you've signed up to it... there ain't a damn sight much you can do about it!
Now, I'm sure that my fellow librarians will agree with me in saying that this is outrageous. In a library, it doesn't matter if you take out one book or a hundred in a year, if you are the top of the queue for a book, you get it first. We try to be as egaliatrian as possible. So if there is a book you want, either get in quick, or learn how to use the reservations service.
But then... libraries can do this because we are funded by other means than a business model.
Think about it - how much must it cost to send out a DVD? Not just postage costs, but staff, materials, computing and the like? Can't be cheap. So even though I might be paying top whack (£19.99 per month for four discs at a time) getting through about twenty (approx!) discs so far this month means that I must be a 'bad' customer. Mainly because I make them no money - I make them lose it!
Therefore to 'punish' me they're withholding the DVDs I want to watch. Am I the only person thinking small child with sweets/candy here? Be good and get candy, be bad and no sweeties for you. (Again with the food analogies!)
So, what's a girl to do?
With the total dearth of anything worth watching on UK tv right now (Doctor Who is naturally exempt from this) can anyone blame me for being so reliant on the rental service? If it's not 13 weeks of Big Brother, it's going to be the World Cup (Soccer) - yawn central.
The best thing I can do is to 'lull' my supplier into a false sense of security, keep my list to a reasonable, low number and ensure it's all killer and no filler;)
That and pray that Play.com have their Summer Sale soon!
So there you go - learn something new everyday and all that;) If anyone has any good advice, please pass it along. I'd be glad to hear of it!
