CHUD.com Community › Forums › THE CHEWERS › The Chewers Catch-All › I think my mailman is stealing my Netflix
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

I think my mailman is stealing my Netflix

post #1 of 46
12/20/05 at 3:30pm
Thread Starter 
Okay, so two weeks ago I had 3 movies from Netflix. I watched one on Friday night and another on Saturday morning, then put both in my apartment building's outgoing mail. I watched the third one on Sunday afternoon, then dropped it in a sidewalk mailbox on my way to work on Monday morning. As usual, Netflix got it within 2 days, and I had my next DVD on Friday.

The weird thing is that Netflix still hasn't received the two movies I put in the outgoing mail on Saturday, leading me to suspect that my mailman stole them. I'm kind of pissed about it, but I also get amused imagining him sitting down and watching Fantastic Four and saying "THIS SUCKS!" followed by Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and saying "WHAT THE FUCK!?!?"

Has anyone else had an experience with swiped Netflix?
Reply
post #2 of 46
12/20/05 at 3:36pm
No experience with swiped ones, but just file a report on the website and they shouldn't charge you any penalties.

You may have to wait a week or two and then file the report.

Good luck.
Reply
post #3 of 46
12/20/05 at 3:37pm
Sorry, no. I'm still renting everything I want from Hollywood video as I keep on getting their free rental coupons.

And yes I know this is a pretty useless reply but I'm bored and have nothing better to do.
Reply
post #4 of 46
12/20/05 at 3:44pm
Netflix has been slow lately.
Reply
post #5 of 46
12/20/05 at 3:44pm
Thread Starter 
it's just weird, because I've been a Netflix subscriber for well over a year and have never had a problem like this. The idea of my mailman watching Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is hilarious, though. Hey, if he becomes a Park Chanwook fan, it'll all be worthwhile!
Reply
post #6 of 46
12/20/05 at 3:51pm
No, don't use Netflix yet, but for a while I thought my mailperson was reading my Entertainment Weekly because I always got mine a couple days later than everyone else (in other areas).

If you seriously think there's a problem, file a complaint with the Post Office. If this dude is ripping other people off there may be other complaints logged on his routes. At least you'll know and you did something about it. Maybe they can track them somehow. At least then you won't have to pay for them.
Reply
post #7 of 46
12/20/05 at 3:55pm
I've had that problem before but not often. I've watched probably 300-400 movies off of Netflix and have had maybe 2 or 3 that took more than a week for them to receive. In one case a movie took 3 weeks for them to show it checked in.

I think sometimes they just miss scanning them back in and they don't catch it until someone else gets the movie. I try to make sure the bar code shows through the little window in the envelope, that may help.
Reply
post #8 of 46
12/20/05 at 5:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe LeFors
....The idea of my mailman watching Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is hilarious....
Well, if you read any local news articles about postal workers being assaulted by one of their own with a baseball bat, you know you're on to something.

Be sure to tip your mailman this holiday!
Reply
post #9 of 46
12/20/05 at 6:00pm
The mail gets all fucked up at Christmas. I'd guess that's what is going on here. Just go to your queue and click the Report Disc Problem link (under the movies you currently have out). If you tell them you mailed the discs back, they'll send you the next ones on your list.

When they eventually get the movies (if they do) they'll email you.
Reply
post #10 of 46
12/20/05 at 6:01pm
And if they don't ever receive them, they'll probably just give you a slap on the hand.
Reply
post #11 of 46
12/20/05 at 6:14pm
Yeah, that's true as well. They probably really, REALLY want to avoid being sued.
Reply
post #12 of 46
12/20/05 at 6:58pm
I never send my movies back in my personal mailbox anymore. I mail them from work. Everytime I put one in my mailbox (I live in a subdivision), it either disappears, or it takes like a week or more for Blockbuster.com to get it (and it's going to a local place here in town). Whenever I mail it from work, it's there the next day.

A friend has the exact opposite problem with Netflix--anything he mails from home is back to them in a day, but if he mails it from work, it takes a week or more.
Reply
post #13 of 46
12/21/05 at 2:01am
I just re-activated my account earlier today. I hope this doesn't happen to me.
Reply
post #14 of 46
12/21/05 at 5:57am
A few months ago I got a Blockbuster.Com envelope with a DVD inside in my mailbox. It was supposed to go to some other lady somewhere in the area.

I stared at the damn envelope for a good hour and thought about opening it. I wasnt going to swipe it but I just had a strong curiosity as to what the person rented.

So I open the damn thing hoping to get something good.

BEAUTY SHOP stared back at me. It felt like one of those "PLEASE PLAY AGAIN" bottle caps.

I immediately returned the dvd from whence it came.
Reply
post #15 of 46
12/21/05 at 12:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vader
So I open the damn thing hoping to get something good.

BEAUTY SHOP stared back at me. It felt like one of those "PLEASE PLAY AGAIN" bottle caps.

I immediately returned the dvd from whence it came.
Dude, you got pwned by a dvd envelope.
Reply
post #16 of 46
12/21/05 at 4:14pm
It all depends upon where the nearest Netflix facility is located and the popularity of the DVD. For example, try renting a more obsure film from, say, the 1950s. Netflix probably only has a couple copies and those copies might be at a remote Netflix facility. A recent DVD, though, is bound to have copies at every facility, so it gets shipped much quicker. My average is getting a new DVD two days after I mail one back - as quick as possible.

All of which is beside the point in this case, though, since the problem is Netflix not receiving the DVD. I'd let Netflix know about it and if it happens repeatedly consider complaining to the post office.
Reply
post #17 of 46
12/22/05 at 10:43am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for all of the tips, gents. Netflix finally received the two missing DVDs yesterday (after 12 days), so I guess I'll tell the ninja I hired to stalk my mailman to hold off his attack...

...for now.
Reply
post #18 of 46
12/22/05 at 10:45am
Well there you go.
Reply
post #19 of 46
12/22/05 at 9:55pm
My only gripe since I started using Netflix is the amount of time a DVD takes to get to me, which is the fault of the mail service. The depot that ships to me is all of 15 or so miles away yet sometimes it can take 3 days to get here!

I've also noticed if I want to get a new release it's better to return a movie on Saturday. The mail seems to take forever on Mondays here.
Reply
post #20 of 46
6/6/07 at 1:33pm
Thread Starter 
This is why I love Netflix. I've been insanely busy the last few weeks, but finally managed to get through my 3 DVDs over the weekend, and sent them off on Monday morning.

Yesterday, I see the following 3 messages in my email inbox:

For Wednesday: Pan's Labyrinth
For Wednesday: The Fountain
For Wednesday: Smokin' Aces

God, I can't wait to get home tonight...
Reply
post #21 of 46
6/6/07 at 1:42pm
I live in the neighborhood that was voted with the worst Post Office in the country. So, yeah, I don't get my Netflix on time, sometimes never, and I can't have any packages shipped to my apt.
Reply
post #22 of 46
6/6/07 at 2:01pm
I've been waiting for them to recognize the last disc of Boston Legal, Season 1 for 2 weeks now...

I WANT SEASON 2 DAMNIT!!
Reply
post #23 of 46
6/6/07 at 2:07pm
I always had a problem with Netflix and Blockbuster.com in things either getting to me or going back. The USPS is just extremely unreliable. But as someone else suggested, I would just go to the website, click on I sent it back or I never got it, and they'd send me the next one. I wouldn't be shocked if postal workers decided that the mail was their own personal video store.
Reply
post #24 of 46
6/6/07 at 2:25pm
I'm lucky, I live close to a Netflix distribution center, so I get one day turnaround almost every single time. If I put mine in the mailbox on Monday, Netflix gets them Tuesday, and sends out the new one which I usually get on Wednesday. They've been really great so far (knock on wood)...
Reply
post #25 of 46
6/6/07 at 2:28pm
for awhile, i was getting a lot of my netflix envelopes with rips in 'em where the barcode shows through. I figured some jerk-o at the PO was tearing them and taking a peak to see if there was something he wanted. really no other reason for me to get my DVDs in the mail with consistent tears, you know?

i've also dropped off, maybe, 5 movies in the span of 2 years that they never received for whatever reason, and i reported it as a shipping problem each time and they just turn around and send the next one.

i have since moved away and have recently switched to BB online.
Reply
post #26 of 46
6/6/07 at 2:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jacob Singer
I'm lucky, I live close to a Netflix distribution center, so I get one day turnaround almost every single time. If I put mine in the mailbox on Monday, Netflix gets them Tuesday, and sends out the new one which I usually get on Wednesday. They've been really great so far (knock on wood)...
I figure it must be near the same deal for me because I got a one day turn around on all my Blockbuster Online movies as well.
Reply
post #27 of 46
6/6/07 at 2:31pm
I had BB online when they first started it, and it was a pain in the ass.

DVD went to Houston and it took like 5-6 days for turnaround.

Last year, I got Netflix, and while there are times (like right now) where the DVD will suddenly vanish, it's usually a 2-3 day turnaround.

I haven't switched back to BB online b/c of how much of a pain in the ass it was. I was thinking about it, since I live right next to a BB store and they've apparently gotten a lot better, but then I heard that they're surveying customers for a possible rate increase on the online+in-store-exchange+coupons deal, and now I'm on the fence again.

Eh?
Reply
post #28 of 46
6/6/07 at 3:20pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jacob Singer
I'm lucky, I live close to a Netflix distribution center, so I get one day turnaround almost every single time. If I put mine in the mailbox on Monday, Netflix gets them Tuesday, and sends out the new one which I usually get on Wednesday. They've been really great so far (knock on wood)...
That's generally the case with me, too, unless I get something really old or obscure. Newer movies have a great turn-around time. The situation which caused me to start this thread many moons ago was, fortunately, an isolated incident.
Reply
post #29 of 46
6/6/07 at 3:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jared Melton
now I'm on the fence again.

Eh?
here ya go. the BB vs Netflix thread. You just might learn something.
Reply
post #30 of 46
6/6/07 at 3:47pm
I've had a cracked dvd show up from Netflix, returned it and received the replacement (and the replacement's replacement) cracked as well. You wanna talk about pissed. I don't think I ever saw that movie. Damn if I didn't try.

I complained like crazy because of the wasted rentals and they upgraded me for a month free.
Reply
post #31 of 46
6/6/07 at 4:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Martianman
I never send my movies back in my personal mailbox anymore. I mail them from work. Everytime I put one in my mailbox (I live in a subdivision), it either disappears, or it takes like a week or more for Blockbuster.com to get it (and it's going to a local place here in town). Whenever I mail it from work, it's there the next day.
Yup. Apparently the USPS only delivers mail for those rich bastards in Manhattan. Whenever I've returned a Netflix DVD from a Brooklyn mailbox, it takes weeks to arrive or never shows up at all. However, since I drop my DVds off at my work mailbox, I have one day turnaround. Drop in the mailbox on Monday, receive the next DVD on Wednesday.

Quote:
Originally Posted by OhioJones
I thought my mailperson was reading my Entertainment Weekly because I always got mine a couple days later than everyone else (in other areas).
Me too. WTF?!
Reply
post #32 of 46
6/6/07 at 4:51pm
Is that what's happening to our Rolling Stone?

We get pretty good turnaround on our Netflix, generally speaking. The only real incident we've had is the time the mailman slammed our mailbox on a DVD. I found it jammed in the top lock to the apartment mailbox and had to haul the poor, crippled thing out. Netflix sent us another one almost immediately.
Reply
post #33 of 46
6/6/07 at 4:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jared Melton
I've been waiting for them to recognize the last disc of Boston Legal, Season 1 for 2 weeks now...
To recognize that it is shit?
Reply
post #34 of 46
6/6/07 at 4:54pm
I'm still wondering what happened to the first two games I attempted to send back to Gamefly.
Reply
post #35 of 46
6/6/07 at 4:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DARKMITE8
I've had a cracked dvd show up from Netflix, returned it and received the replacement (and the replacement's replacement) cracked as well. You wanna talk about pissed. I don't think I ever saw that movie. Damn if I didn't try.
Yeah, I had the cracked disc problem with, appropriately enough, Herzog's HEART OF GLASS. They sent me three of them, all cracked in the same place clean through the disc. I kept telling them they had obviously got a bad shipment or something, and they kept sending me identical broken discs.
Reply
post #36 of 46
6/6/07 at 5:00pm
I received a copy of Underworld Evolution from someone else's Blockbuster account. It wasn't even addressed to my apartment, it seems like mailmen are increasingly less reliable. I have important mail lost or stolen every few months.
Reply
post #37 of 46
6/6/07 at 5:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jcassady
I'm still wondering what happened to the first two games I attempted to send back to Gamefly.
Gamefly is fucking horrible.

I notice that it if you have a high rotation rate, Netflix slows down the number of discs you recieve by mailing the movies from a far away distribution center, or by showing that your returned disc took several days to arrive. This is why I occasionally cancel my account and restart it several days later. They seem to return to their prompt pace in deliveries.
Reply
post #38 of 46
6/6/07 at 5:30pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulpatine
Gamefly is fucking horrible.

I notice that it if you have a high rotation rate, Netflix slows down the number of discs you recieve by mailing the movies from a far away distribution center, or by showing that your returned disc took several days to arrive. This is why I occasionally cancel my account and restart it several days later. They seem to return to their prompt pace in deliveries.
I've heard about this problem, but never experienced it myself. But I really balance my account seasonally -- I watch a ton of stuff in the winter months, but sometimes only get to 4 or 5 movies a month in the spring and summer.
Reply
post #39 of 46
6/6/07 at 10:19pm
I never mail anything out of the mailbox in front of my house. I feel like putting up that little red flag is equal to putting a sign out reading, "come see what I'm mailing" to any walkersby. I always drop off my mail at a corner post box and I always get a new movie in two days.

I just checked my account and in seems I've been a member since 2002. In that time I've received 2 broken disks. I reported those and they sent out the new one before getting back the old one. I have had 2 disks get lost, one on the way to my house and one on the way back. I reported those and they sent me my next movie same day.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulpatine
I notice that it if you have a high rotation rate, Netflix slows down the number of discs you receive by mailing the movies from a far away distribution center, or by showing that your returned disc took several days to arrive. This is why I occasionally cancel my account and restart it several days later. They seem to return to their prompt pace in deliveries.
I bet if I did this they'd give me a month or two for free. I might give it a shot. When you do it, do you lose your profile/queue/rating information?
Reply
post #40 of 46
6/7/07 at 2:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulpatine
Gamefly is fucking horrible.

I notice that it if you have a high rotation rate, Netflix slows down the number of discs you recieve by mailing the movies from a far away distribution center, or by showing that your returned disc took several days to arrive. This is why I occasionally cancel my account and restart it several days later. They seem to return to their prompt pace in deliveries.
It's called "throttling". Netflix has been guilty of it and sued on occassion for "stretching the truth" about their unlimited rentals.
Reply
post #41 of 46
6/7/07 at 9:49am
I canceled recently and switched to BB. I think if you're going to return in the store, you can get more movies per dollar with BB (although they seem to randomly choose movies from your queue rather than using a top-down approach). Anyway, when I canceled Netflix, they said they'd retain my queue for a while as long as I use the same email address to re-enlist. You can also download it and re-enter it into the new account.

I think if you're trying to get some months free though you have to use a new email address.
Reply
post #42 of 46
6/7/07 at 2:01pm
The problem I had with Blockbuster:

- I had some pretty obscure shit on my list that I wanted, but all of it was Wait Listed. They estimate generally a few weeks for "Long Wait", week for "Short Wait", but I waited 6 months and cancelled, never receiving those I waited forever for.
Reply
post #43 of 46
6/8/07 at 3:00am
I do remember that from my early days with BB online. I've only seen a wait, period, twice with Netflix.

Hmm...decisions decisions...
Reply
post #44 of 46
5/5/08 at 8:02pm
We got a new mailman recently and I've been getting all my mail on time these past few weeks, Netflix movies included. Also, my eBay packages have been showing up on time now. Hmmm.
Reply
post #45 of 46
5/5/08 at 8:41pm
That's terrible.

MailPerson, please.
Reply
post #46 of 46
5/6/08 at 2:58pm
I recently rented Last of the Mohicans through Blockbuster. After reading through the Michael Mann thread, I realized I'd never actually seen the movie all the way through.

The envelope camein the mail, and the DVD sleeve showed the right cast and plot synopsis, yet when I pulled the disc out, this is what was waiting for me:

http://www.amazon.com/Last-Mohicans-.../dp/B000CSUNOS

I still didn't completely believe what I was seeing, so I popped it in anyway. The wife and I had already set aside a couple hours for it, so it was worth a shot. I'd like to think that by watching it in its entirety I won a victory over the fucker who went through the trouble of tracking the disc down and then renting the movie from Blockbuster just so they could swap it out.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: The Chewers Catch-All
CHUD.com Community › Forums › THE CHEWERS › The Chewers Catch-All › I think my mailman is stealing my Netflix