Netflix computer problems continue

Isn't it always like this? Yesterday I wrote gushing nice comments about Netflix and today, I get sucked into their latest problem.

I'm a Netflix customer, but since I wasn't expecting a DVD delivery in the last few days, I didn't expect to be impacted by their recent shipping problems. At first, I wasn't. But, they just (Sunday August 17, 2008 around 8PM ET) sent an email (see below) that says they are about to re-send my most recent DVD again. This is a movie that I received a few days ago.

For Tue: The Bank Job
From: Netflix Shipping
Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2008 17:02:53 -0700 (PDT)
******************************************
NETFLIX - Movie Shipped
******************************************
We have shipped: The Bank Job
http://www.netflix.com/MovieDisplay?movieid=70087585
Arriving on or around: Tuesday, Aug 19, 2008

From what I had read, their computer problems caused delays in sending out DVDs. But now it appears they also lost track of what they had previously shipped.

Then too, there is inconsistency. According to the DVDs at Home section of my queue (see below), the very same movie that I can expect to arrive on Tuesday is shipping on Wednesday.

At least my comment yesterday about their needing better computer nerds stood the test of time.

See a summary of all my Defensive Computing postings.

[benignotx]

Don't jump to assumptions so quickly sir. I had the same issue happen to me, but I contacted Netflix, and they told me that they would NOT resend me the movies I had just returned. They said that their system was still recooperating from the recent difficulties, but that the correct movies would be sent regardless. I'm a new customer, and I'm finding the service to be decent.

[mhinnewyork]

I make no assumptions. In fact, you are proving my point -- if the email message about the movie being sent is untrue then their computer systems are still not back to normal. Michael Horowitz

[RavenChylde]

I would have to agree with benignotx, even though over the weekend the web queue was incorrect on what I had or what had been sent. I still received what was next on my queue and what I had returned did finally say it was returned. It just took a few days to match.

My only complaint is that it took basically a whole week to get whatever went wrong fixed.

[mhinnewyork]

I'm a happy Netflix customer, but yes, that any computer system foul-up can linger so long is inexcusable. Michael Horowitz

[benignotx]

At least Netflix is doing something to compensate for the problem. They're going to issue a 15% discount from the monthly fee. The days of difficulties was not such a huge deal.

[steve4lee]

I noticed that the two movies I received Saturday were still listed on my queue, so I removed them manually, in case they really would resend them. I hope that helped (or did no harm) rather than confusing something else.

[hms4]

Still having problems, I've been waiting for my next movie for 3 days.