The Dark Side of Netflix

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3/29/2008

Complain, Complain, Complain: Giving Netflix Real-Time Feedback

If you get cheated by a corporation, your options are limited. You can boycott the company, badmouth the business to friends, involve the government, or start a consumer advocacy Web site like this one. If none of those options work for you, you can always resort to good old-fashioned complaining. Ah yes, the time-honored tradition of just picking up the phone, getting a customer service representative on the line, and detailing every little thing that annoys you about the company.

Complaining is a very common consumer tactic, and that is because it works. The squeaky wheel gets the oil. Unhappy customers who do not speak up, get ignored; however, the ones who keep speaking up, get heard. These vocal consumers often get results in the form of discounts, refunds, freebies, upgrades, etc. Even if these disgruntled patrons do not get perks for their efforts, they do get the benefit of emotional release. Whining can be extremely cathartic.

If Netflix has wronged you in some way, you can always give them a call and let them know exactly how you feel about their transgressions. You do not have wait for a special occasion either. Every time Netflix causes you an inconvenience, frustration, or delay, maybe they should hear about it and explain to you why the weekend is approaching, a single DVD is being shipped from Honolulu, and two of the DVDs you mailed back on Monday have mysteriously not yet been “checked in” by Netflix. If Netflix is doing weird things to your account, the least the company can do is explain why.

Complaining can get results, and one of the most effective methods is via phone. Fortunately, reaching Netflix is cheap and easy. You can call them toll-free at the following numbers.


(800) 279-5688

(800) 585-8131

(888) 638-3549

3/20/2008

Rude Netflix Customer Service

In The Huffington Post, an article by Ron Galloway ("Netflix Death Watch") claims indifferent, arrogant, and rude treatment from Netflix customer service representatives. Have you noticed Netflix customer service representatives getting more unpleasant recently? If so, post your Netflix customer service story here.