How Long is Your NetFlix Queue?

[scrivener]

I recently signed up for NetFlix (Diamond Head Video's recent move is what really did it) and so far, so good. I love movie lists and love adding things to the queue, and I love clicking actors' links to see what else they've been in, so NetFlix is a good fit for me. With the Master's thesis finally getting underway, I think I will appreciate the distraction from extremely important tasks with no immediate deadline. Kinda like my last semester of college when it was pizza and Blockbuster just about every night.

The temptation for me is to add everything to my queue, but I've been hesitant to do so for some reason, and I don't know what it is. I started with a few test films to see if NetFlix would satisfy my need to see little-known, indie pictures (Pizza (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0376827/) and Factotum (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417658/) started me off), and then I added just about everything Paul Giamatti has been in, and then everything Maggie Gyllenhaal (rowr!) has been in, including films I've already seen.

So that adds up to forty-four titles in queue, which I'll bet is not even a fourth what Ryan and Jen have, and I imagine that in the next few weeks, this number will grow.

How many titles have you got in queue right now?

[Hellbent]

Over 100
Even though theyve been sued successfully via class action for discriminating against high volume renters they are still doing it.
When i started netflix, it was great. I'd get 5 videos a week. A few months later i'd start getting longer queue's, things would have to be shipped from the mainland, til it dropped down to about 3 movies a week. I'm an avid movie watcher, so i _did_ have some oddball movies in my que. Coupled with the fact that there werent many good movies coming out, I finally cancelled my subscription to netflix.
Also, trying to rent dvd sets like 'sopranos' is painful. One disc at a time, with days in between? pffft.

[pzarquon]

Our queue tends to hover in the 170-200 range. Even after we've drained it over a few months, it doesn't take that long to find more stuff to add. The recommendations aren't bad, I tend to hover in the "New Releases" list, and of course we reliably add movies that come up in conversations or on podcasts like Filmspotting.

Basically, we add everything in. Stuff we really want to see, and stuff we're vaguely curious about. There's periodic queue wrestling to move things up or down, but for the most part we just go with whatever comes in the mail. If it sits around for a month, sometimes we just send it back and pop it back at the bottom of the queue... maybe we'll be in the mood for it next time.

We've been with Netflix long enough to remember the constant "Long Waits" and mail delays, but since they opened a distribution center here, it's downright zippy. One day back, new disc one day later, sometimes. And since we manage to watch only a disc a week, most of the time, we've never run into the "throttling" (previously discussed here (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthread.php?t=7702)).

The only person I know personally that got flagged was doing exactly what the "throttling" was designed to catch -- flying through fifty, sixty discs a month by burning copies and building a huge library (i.e. all Disney animated flicks, all TV series discs, etc.). I figure if I ever get "throttled" for watching too many DVDs, Netflix is probably doing me a favor!

[Hellbent]

Exactly how do they discern a heavy movie watcher and a dvd ripper? I guess its unlmited rentals, no guarantee on how quick the turnaround time is?

[pzarquon]

I doubt they've published their thresholds, but I'd imagine at the extremes, rippers would be easy to ID. I'd guess a movie, even two movies a day, seven days a week, puts you at the high end of the "movie buff" category. Twenty movies a week, probably something else is going on.

Turnaround time hasn't been an issue for a couple of years, since the Honolulu distribution center opened. And while certainly availability of more obscure discs can cause delays (since those are in demand and also likely come from the mainland), because our queue is always full of stuff we'd watch, we don't mind. It's not like we really have to see that old French movie from 1962 right this week. When it comes, it comes.

Anyway. I think Scriv was more curious about how Netflix users manage their queue, rather than discussing Netflix and related services in general (which was another thread). And my answer is, we don't, really. It overflows with everything, all the time.

[Hellbent]

The thing is that it would be impossible to get 20 movies a week, (on a standard 3 out plan) as it takes 1 day to proccess and 1 day to ship a movie.
Based on a 3 out plan, you can only get 6 or 7 movies. Monday recieve 3 movies. Watch two, realize youve seen the 3rd, send it back Tuesday. Wednesday process, Thursday ship, you might get 3 back Friday or Saturday.
But hey, if you only watch 1-2 a week, its perfect for you. I just noticed that after the first month it slowed down.

[NoCal Boy]

Down to 414 currently. I've been at the max of 500 many times (which prevents you from adding more to your queue) and every few months go through and purge. I'm of the Ryan camp in that I tend add everything that looks of any interest and then sort the queue, re-sort, and then sort again depending upon my current mood.

My queue always gets jacked up every week when AintItCool.com does its DVD review; they always come up with titles I might not have heard of otherwise. My wife recently took matters into her own hands and granted herself two movies at a time on her list, leaving me just one - my number isn't going to go down significantly anytime soon. Back in my "old days" of Netflix (pre-wife, pre-baby, heck, pre-dog even!) I could get through about 4-5/week max.

Scriv, we were just watching Singles last night (reliving the old "grunge" days...) and noticed a one line, "sneeze and you'll miss him" bit part for Paul Giamatti. IMDB.com says it was his third acting role.

[scrivener]

Scriv, we were just watching Singles last night (reliving the old "grunge" days...) and noticed a one line, "sneeze and you'll miss him" bit part for Paul Giamatti. IMDB.com says it was his third acting role.
A few summers ago, I was teaching a study skills class for (mostly) incoming freshmen. You can teach the subject in a straightforward manner, where the actual lessons have to do with gaining and practicing study skills, or you can do what teachers at my school do: Pick a cool topic, and teach the skills via the pursuit of the cool topic. My avenue was movies.

And an interesting thing happened: We kept seeing Paul Giamatti! We started with Big Fat Liar; then, as the summer progressed, we saw The Truman Show, Sabrina, and one more I can't remember. It almost became a game to see who could spot Paul Giamatti first. Totally unplanned, but one of those happy coincidences that sometimes make my job a little easier. Those students, now seniors and about to graduate in 12 weeks, still call that "the summer of Paul Giamatti."

[anapuni808]

I've been on Netflix since January, 2002 on the 3 at a time plan. I currently have 66 on my list. Very heavy on documentaries & indies. I've always been happy with the service - and more so now with the Honolulu center. Nice to read what the rest of you think about the service!

[blueyecicle]

I have had Netflix for over a 2 years. I generally get between 3-6 movies a week. But mostly kids movies. I have a queue that is between 50-100 always. But usually about 25 saved movies too.
I scout out the movies months ahead of time and rarely go in there.

Also I always send my movies back on a certian day so I get the new releases the day they release and I don't get stuck behind everyone else.

Oregon turn around time is send the movie back Monday get a new one Wed.
So I have the 3 out at a time, the kids watch and I watch then send them back the next day.

In 2 years I have had 3-4 bad DVD's and they have lost 2 in the mail. And one with the wrong sleeve. Not bad for an average of 5 movies a week for 2 years.
I love Netflix, used to have Blockbuster but turn around time is 3-4 days or longer plus they don't set new releases out front like Netflix.

[scrivener]

If you'd like to add me to your NetFlix friends list (a neato feature), here's (http://www.netflix.com/BeMyFriend/PbCKrCDfKJ4e0jcLnQ4y) the link.

My queue is over 50 now, so if there were a change vote feature, I'd have to join the next line in the poll.

[blueyecicle]

I didn't even know Netflix had a friend feature. HMPH....I need to pay more attention

[pzarquon]

Hmm. I'd change my vote too. Just checked and there are 261 movies in our queue. Oh, and be my friend too (http://www.netflix.com/BeMyFriend/P5jbVsFNVIKvHxqliVNE)! Just remember that there are two adults with widely varying tastes and three kids deciding the movie choices there...

[blueyecicle]

Hmm. I'd change my vote too. Just checked and there are 261 movies in our queue. Oh, and be my friend too (http://www.netflix.com/BeMyFriend/P5jbVsFNVIKvHxqliVNE)! Just remember that there are two adults with widely varying tastes and three kids deciding the movie choices there...

Yes, I base my votes on...."will my child watch it more than once?" 3 stars
"Are they silent through the movie or bugging me the whole time?" Silent? 4 stars! Not silent 2 stars!
"Will all 3 boys of 3 ages watch it together??"

And about 6 of my friends who watch DVD's through my queue too :rolleyes:

Most recent rental? I am an S&M Writer. foreign film. My sister had to see it and they don't have it at Blockbuster. I am excited to see ti too.

Here is mine if anyone is interested http://www.netflix.com/BeMyFriend/P5VvDXz5wVGUBTcfX7z9

[Hellbent]

Another off topic post:
http://www.hackingnetflix.com/2007/03/what_happens_wh.html