Netflix Worst Nightmare
Submitted by jim on Fri, 10/15/2004 - 08:02
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There's a whole slew of good stuff over at Hacking Netflix today, but the big news is that Amazon is likely entering the online rental fray. Netflix cannot be happy to watch those treetrunk-sized legs swing over the top rope and into the ring.
Wow, Amazon is getting in the online rental biz? Hmmm, I wonder how many distribution centers they plan on opening. WalMart and Blockbuster's online rentals haven't interested me, but Amazon, well, that's another story, especially if they decide to carry more titles and charge less per a month.
I'm with you: Blockbuster and Walmart were never a temptation, but Amazon is another story. Hastings is taking some flak for saying he never considered Blockbuster a threat, but I think he's on the money both with that sentiment and that Amazon's entry into the market (if it happens) is indeed a bitter pill in Netflix's throat.
I just read the Marketwatch piece that Hacking Netflix also links to. Very interesting.
Yeah, in my mind Blockbuster is a dinosaur, online rentals or not. When I think of Blockbuster, I still think of rows and rows of family-friendly VHS new releases. As for Amazon, it would make sense to me for them to get into the marketplace sooner than later. If they open enough distribution centers and undercut Netflix on per month pricing, they'd be on top within a year.
I'd be surprised if either of them beat the selection at GreenCine, but right now Greencine only has ONE distribution center :-(
But if Amazon's got a better selection, similar price, and just as many distribution centers, I wouldn't mind switching to Amazon.
Living in the south, I don't have the time or energy to waste on a service GreenCine, as it's located in the Bay area of California. If there's an other-region DVD (like Oldboy and Shaun of the Dead) that I really want to see, I usually just buy it on eBay.