Netflix users suffering service's longest outage ever

Netflix, and its customers, are currently experiencing the worst system failure in the DVD shipper's history. The company shipped no discs on Tuesday, only "a few" yesterday, and so far none today. Affected customers are receiving e-mails telling them their discs are delayed.

Netflix will not reveal the source of the problem that is affecting all 55 of its shipping facilities, other than to say, "it's technological." The customer-facing Web site remains online and users can access and update their lists of requested movies, and watch previews.

Break out the books and Scrabble board. (Click on the image for a larger view.)

The Netflix streaming service also remains online. Calling the customer service number plays a recording that alerts users to the shipping outage and then reminds users that, "You can watch movies or TV episodes instantly on your PC or your TV, with the Netflix player by Roku."

"We are more frustrated than anybody else," Steve Swasey, Netflix VP Corporate Communications said. As it did after the last (and only) major shipping outage in Netflix, in March of this year, Netflix will issue a credit to affected customers, although the company has yet to determine exactly what that credit will be.

Although there is no guarantee of timeliness to Netflix customers, they have become accustomed to very rapid shipping of their discs, and Swasey said it was vital for Netflix to get in front of the issue. But he said that, "There's been very little negativity around this. Maybe two dozen people have vociferously complained, out of 8.4 million members. There's no hue and cry from the populace, because we do continue to provide excellent service." Swasey continued his message on the issue of Netflix's service: "More than 80 percent of customers join because they got a personal recommendation, " he said. "It is what we live for. We take this stuff very seriously."

And when will the service be back up? Swasey ponts to the Netflix Community Blog for updates, but said, "We don't know if we are going to ship today or not."

[joshuawein]

My 2 year old, Zack, has been anxiously reading the updates from Netflix because he is impatiently waiting for the video of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Thanks for keeping us updated.

[The_Decider]

Your two year old is about to learn valuable lessons: Patience is a virtue and no movie(or any corporate product) is worth lusting over.

Now if only the brainwashed masses will learn that, we might get somewhere

[Lerianis]

Well, things like this are going to happen every now and again. You just have to realize that every so often, there is going to be something that TOTALLY WRECKS the computer systems (either a virus or something else done by administrators) and they just have to work to get them back up.

[ferretworks]

They must be running on VMWare.

[ender21]

Oh well... I have a backlog of 4 blu-rays in my house already that I've been lax in watching, so no harm done here. Hopefully they'll have this resolved in relatively short order. Considering their usually brisk turnaround, I give their customer service a lot more benefit of the doubt than some companies' whose track record is worse.

[MNSkuller]

Complain? How the heck are we supposed to complain? Has anyone ever seen an email address or telephone number anywhere on the site? There "Contact Us" section of the site is an never-ending maze of "Have you read this FAQ?" Netflix is not interested in hearing from its customers - certainly not complaints.

[Macajuel]

Well this is the first I've ever heard of an outage of Netflix service........As Lerianis said, sometimes things just happen but I've always been thrilled with the service and support from....I'm really not bothered a bit at the moment (don't let the problem drag on for too long though.....)

[ronart]

Contact #s for Netflix:
[phone]
[phone]

[Heebee Jeebies]

I have been using Netflix since day one and have always had very good service. I have no issue with this hiccup, they state that we will receive a credit and I am sure they are doing everything they can get it fixed as quickly as possible. It costs them money it only costs me the lack of a movie to watch for a day or two. I can live with that. This will also point out a possible weak point in the system that they can either strengthen or plan for better in the future. Go Netflix go!

[mbmpdx]

Cust service isn't that hard to find -- Contact Us / Help / Other -- but serves little purpose to complain, they'll get it fixed and life will go on. Have never had a problem and this is no big deal.

[wyvern7]

Most people have other things to do than wait for Netflix to arrive. It is a minor luxury, not an essential. i only checked the website to see if my returns had been received.

They are a professional business with a large clientelle and a reputation to protect. I have no doubt they are far more distressed over this glitch than I am.

[tenec]

How much is Blockbuster? Plus they have local stores....

[glenbrenderc510]

I heard from my friend that the outage will take a while to resolve this. Better try other provider for a while! Might as well try Blockbuster!

this site has good deal:

http://blockbuster101-anne.blogspot.com/

[glenbrenderc510]

You may also visit this site for other DVD online rental deals:

http://dvdrentals101.blogspot.com/2007/07/battle-of-online-rentals.html

[joebob256]

A good site for that reviews sites (including more than Blockbuster and Netflix) is

http://dvdmovierentalfinder.com/

[brodie657]

I've been a subscriber for about 5 years and this is the first time I've ever had any issue. As people say stuff happens and its not a big deal. A little annoying yes, but nothing in this world is perfect. You can rest assured they are working 24/7 to fix this and will probably issue credits if it extends past a reasonable period.

Thats why God invented RedBox - for these little outages.

[Tech-Guy]

Frankly, I'm okay w/ the Netflix outage. Yes, it sucks I have to wait an unknown number of days before my next movies come, but for the price, who cares? Besides, Netflix never said we would always get our DVDs super fast, and that they would never have problems. I'm surprised they haven't had more already, and we've just been spoiled by the speed at which its worked thus far.

[PBMpharmacist]

I cancelled my Netflix account after getting into an argument with the phone rep. They have owed me 2 movies since Monday. I signed up with Blockbuster late Thursday afternoon and this morning (Friday) they are already shipping me a movie so I recommend people cancel their Netflix accounts and just go with Blockbuster. Netflix has seriously dropped the ball on this one.

[lobo65]

I"ve also been a member for several years, and have had few problems with Netfilx. I love the service, and this glitch doesn't bother me in the least.

[dallas7]

I've been a Netflix customer for a long time. I can't remember the number of times I've dropped a DVD in a post office box on, for example, Tuesday afternoon and received another in my mail box Thursday morning. Netflix rocks. Their physical and virtual service levels are astounding. Anyone who is troubled by an occasional hold up in their deliveries needs to get a life.

[Zulut]

Netflix's problem is probably the result of either being 'hacked' or just having really stupid programmers trying to implement a 'software upgrade'.

Either way it shows how dumb Netflix considers us all in not telling what is causing this 5+ day (and counting) outage.

WTH can't they re-install an image backup software & bite the bullet on some lost data....cuz their IT Dept' isn't smart enough??