Dear Netflix

Who on earth designed your new pricing schemes? I currently pay $9.99/month for unlimited streaming + unlimited DVDs (1 at a time). You say you're going to charge me $ 15.98 for the same package starting September in order to "better reflect the value of the services". A 60% hike! What do you take me for? Frankly, an additional $6 doesn't make a dent in my pocket but it's the principle of the thing. You should know that.

Granted, you're offering me cheaper alternatives. $7.99 for unlimited streaming only or $7.99 for unlimited DVDs only. And okay, I barely watch 1 DVD a month so maybe you thought I'd jump at the $7.99 streaming package. But I'm not jumping. Firstly, because you have newer movies only on DVDs. And I like having an unopened DVD lying around at all times even if I don't watch it right away. And secondly, your streaming collection sucks.

Then why don't I just get the unlimited DVDs for $7.99 you ask? Because you frikkin' allow only 1 DVD out at a time and I like having a selection to pick from!

So where does this leave me? I gave up my cable service because of you! And you let me down. (Over a nondescript email which I almost missed). For shame. Now I have to mutely accept your tyranny for a service I barely use (but like having). Or, I cancel altogether and go back to my no-TV lifestyle from grad school.

But hey guess what? There are other options out there! That's right Netflix, you don't own the entire online TV space, even if you're acting like you do. So I'm going off to join one of your competitors and I think I may be just as happy with them.

It's not me Netflix, it's you.

Disillusioned former admirer,
Fembagirl

I'm curious to see how this pans out and to understand the thought process behind the pricing strategy. Perhaps Netflix's customer base is largely composed of families with the extended plans (which will see only a 20% hike) and the new schemes work out well for them? Perhaps Netflix believes that streaming is the future and they plan to release all new movies on streaming? Or perhaps they have some other trick up their sleeve...


In the meantime, will customers like me simply walk away? Will it boost business for competitors like Hulu? Will it affect Netflix's profitability? Their stock price? Time will tell.

Not ready for Summer '11

I mean the summer session at school of course. A glorious school-free month ends this weekend. As much as I miss my fellow FEMBAs, I'm loath to give up the lifestyle I've gotten re-accustomed to.

Snapshots from the last few weeks:

- Camping and white water rafting on the Kern River.

- Hiking to the peak of Mt. San Jacinto.

- Boogie boarding in the Pacific Ocean.

- Parties and more parties : day events, night events, mid-day events.

- Catching all the newly released movies.

- Brunch, lunch, dinner and happy hours with old friends and new.

I can do all this and more when my Saturdays aren't spent in and on the road to LA. 

When I don't have to spend Friday nights studying for tests and Sundays on chores.

When I don't have to spend lunch hours finishing homework. 

Instead, I'm going to be giving it all up to spend the next five Saturdays studying Operations Management in marathon 8 hour lecture sessions. Oh the joy.

Bitter much? Oh you bet.

Reflection

One year of MBA got done on June 11th. Time sure does fly when you're having fun. Now I'm on a four week break from school and I'm trying to catch up with regular life. Giving my all to work projects, making those long pending phone calls and visits and getting other major essentials (like my US visa) out of the way. In fact I'm working from Mexico over the next few days while waiting for my visa interview at the US consulate here.

I attended a leadership class at my workplace a couple weeks back where the coaches stressed the importance of reflection at the end of each day. I thought it was an excellent suggestion, and made a mental note to practice it, in order to improve efficiency/productivity etc. Of course I never got started. There was always the next activity to plan, the email to respond to, the dinner to attend, the movie to watch. Why would I spend precious minutes thinking back about what I did well or badly during my day? But now, stuck in a hotel room with spotty Wi-Fi, Spanish language TV channels, and the inability to make local phone calls, I feel compelled to reflect. Not only on my day, but on the past year.

One year of the FEMBA program. What had I hoped for and what have I gained so far? How has it affected my personal life and my day job? Would I recommend this to others?

I can confidently claim that I’ve gained a diverse (yet like-minded) set of friends, broader life perspective, and confidence in my driving skills. And I've been having loads of fun in the process. The FEMBA experience can definitely be a drain on one’s personal and work life, but it can be managed. I would recommend this program to anyone who is simply seeking new experiences and is happy to learn new things just out of interest.

But is this program helping my current job or career prospects? Am I progressing towards some goal while learning, making friends and having fun? Has it helped me chart out my future in some way? Is there something else I should be doing simultaneously?

I don’t have all these answers yet. My reflection so far has mainly yielded questions, but I guess it’s a good start. After all I have a few more days in Mexico to figure my life out ;)