Netflix fan out of the closet?

Dear Netflix Fan:

A few weeks back you had participated in a Netflix survey and had
shared some comments about Netflix that we would like to include in our
library of testimonials. In exchange for the permission to use this
testimonial you will receive three months of free membership to your current
Netflix subscription plan.

We would also appreciate if you could include a picture of you/your
family that could be used with the testimonial.

If you are interested, here are the 3 things you need to do:

1. Read the "Release Agreement" below.
2. Reply to this email and acknowledge your acceptance
3. Attach a digital picture of you/your family to the email

Please also include your name and the email address that you use with
your Netflix Service so we can credit your account for 3 months of free
service.

Your account will be credited after we receive your pictures and
acceptance to the Release Agreement (below).

Rifftrax, from one of the guys behind MST3K

Even though Rifftrax is a Blockbuster Online affiliate, I think they would be a great tool for Netflix users, too. As they say:

RiffTrax.com, is an innovative new site featuring the hilarious DVD commentaries of Michael J. Nelson, head writer and star of the legendary Mystery Science Theater 3000!

Do you feel that some of the movies coming out of Hollywood are just, well, missing something? At RiffTrax, you can download Mike's running commentaries and listen to them along with your favorite, and not so favorite DVDs. It's like watching a movie with your funniest friend. And it's easy to do. Just check out our FAQ; more than likely, you have the tools to do it already.

Don't just sit back and take whatever Hollywood throws at you. Transform the DVD experience with RiffTrax. It's the most fun you'll ever
have at the movies.

Via Listology

Netflix vanity plates available in North Carolina

You'd think I would be the one to have the personalized license plate for Netflix in North Carolina, but I do not. If you want it, it's available.

So also is nflxfan. Do you have a Netflix vanity plate for your state? If so, I'd like to see it. Send me a photo or link in the comments. Thanks.

New Netflix drop point in Raleigh, NC

Via the Raleigh (N.C.) News & Observer:

"If you rent DVDs online instead of at the store, you may have noticed your films are getting to you sooner.

Return address labels on some Netflix movies direct DVDs to a Raleigh address. Blockbuster Online customers might send some of their returns to Holly Springs.

But neither company has opened a distribution center here.

Instead, Netflix now has a Raleigh drop point, where all of the DVDs for the Triangle are collected and then shipped en masse to the big distribution center in Greensboro.

Blockbuster, on the other hand, has supplemented its 35 distribution centers nationwide with the inventories of about 1,000 of its retail stores.

If you order a movie online and the store in Holly Springs can get it to you faster than the distribution center in Charlotte, the employees there ship it out, said spokesman Randy Hargrove."

Spike Lee movies underrated on Netflix?

Jim says: "Having just finished and enjoyed Inside Man, it occurred to me I've been neglecting Spike Lee's work of late. So I was checking out his Netflix page to see what I should rent next, when I was struck by how low his ratings seem. I guess they aren't too bad, but no movies crack four stars, and quite a few seem to hover between two and three. And Inside Man gets the best mark?"

However, I think: "Netflix displays the red stars you see according to how you rate. "People who rate like you" are giving him those ratings. When I look at his page, I see only two 2-star movies, the rest are 3, 3.5 or 4. I'm going to blog about this and see if anyone else sees it any differently."

Click on the photo to see a screen capture of my view of Spike Lee's page on Netflix.

Cheaper than Netflix

I just rented two movies for 54 cents, including tax, from Family Video, in High Point, NC. I drove by there tonight and noticed the store for the first time. Because of Netflix, I don't bother with video stores except for titles still available only on VHS, or if I need a specific title immediately.

This store gave me my first two DVD rentals for 50% off, which were regularly $1.00 for 5 nights. The first 30 days of my new membership, all my rentals are half off. The associate offered to give me a tour of the store. They rent kids' (limit 3) and educational videos for free. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, all new release rentals, about $2.50-3.50 for two or three nights, come with a free rental from the "almost new" section.

The downside is that it's still a video store, which means driving to and fro, and the location is about 15 miles from my home. The selection is well-organized, but still limited, so I didn't find any hard-to-find or out-of-print titles.

Still, because of the great customer service and low prices, when I can't wait for Netflix, I'll remember Family Video.