Come January, current Netfliix subscribers are going to see an increase in their plan prices. Thanks to a lower-level subscription being added to the tiers (a streaming-only plan for $7.99), all one- and two-DVD-at-a-time plans are getting a $1 price hike, and the bigger plans are seeing their rates raise by anywhere $3 to $8 (check out the chart below the jump, for specifics). But if your monthly budget doesn't allow for the wiggle room to keep your current plan, there's a way to downgrade to a lower DVD tier and keep getting a few DVD freebies each month.
This hack is completely legal by Netflix's terms of service, so you're not risking mail-order-DVD-rental banishment by trying to weasel out a few extra DVDs.
In fact, it's Netflix's great customer service that makes this whole thing possible.
You see, when the next DVD on your queue is a less-popular flick that's not stocked in every warehouse, Netflix often has to ship your choice from a different shipping facility than usual—causing a delay in you getting your sweet paws on those discs. (You can sometimes tell that's the case when the first DVD on your queue says its availability is "Short wait.")
To make up for lost time, Netflix sends out the next available DVD lower on your queue so it arrives on schedule. You'll see it in your "DVDs at Home" list with a plus (+) sign next to it. In addition, your "Short wait" DVD is still on its way from the farther facility.
The result? An extra DVD in your hands. For free.
So if you want to squeeze a little extra juice out of your Netflix plan, try putting a few lesser-rented DVDs in your queue. Travel videos and older movies (from well before Netflix's beginnings in 1997) are a safe bet.
(Top Image: Flickr member katiescrapbooklady licensed for use under Creative Commons.)
Before & After: Emily Henderson Transforms a Senior's Studio Space
Danielle's Charming, Classic Walk-Up
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
White Enamel Four-P...
On Saying No to Paleo: Why Eating Isn't One Size Fits All
Perfect Summer Cocktail Recipe: Honey Bourbon Lemonade
are you guys serious? i think this is a great post! thank you unplggd!! :)
Good lord. I think most of you people really have a stick up your ass. Did you not read the part of the post that said that it's "completely legal by Netflix's terms of service?" I think most of you really get off your moral high-horse. I would guess none of you ever did anything dishonest or lied to ANYONE your whole life.
I don't see anything wrong posting with how to efficiently use your Netflix account. Click the link in the article to Netflix Customer Service and you'll find the article/statement that Netflix released, so this isn't a hack, it's just getting the word out. I would assume this gesture is to appease current customers in light of the price hike.
I don't use Netflix (I'm considering a subscription), but I do check out movies from the local library, and use a similar approach to set up my queue to make sure I get about one DVD per week to watch.
LOL I think the word "hack" perhaps confuses the honest masses. I think this is great, but I think I'll keep crossing my fingers and hope Netflix continues to add older movies for streaming. It's quite nice not having to deal with physical media.
Oh dear...let's not overreact, folks. Netflix published this information themselves on their website. It's not cheating, it's not dishonest, it's simply a way to shorten your wait time for a disk if you're trying to get a popular title.
Ha! The moralists remind me of a friend of mine who gets very upset every time I ask for a discount (which is something I do pretty much every time I buy something). Limiting beliefs at work!
netflix's great customer service? wish i could have experienced that.
my first disc came in record time, after that it was ridiculous. 4 days to deliver a scratched disc, then the replacement never comes, and then 4 days after that for it to come again, ended up taking me a week and a half to watch one movie.
This is practically an advertisement for Netflix being awesome, folks. It's not being bad or shady.
I'm afraid I only ever use their instant watch, so I can't say anything about personal experience about getting DVDs shipped, but this is good news for people who like lots of DVDs per month.
Please, you're essentially getting to rent DVDs that few or no people want to see at the moment anyway. Who cares? It's not unethical at all to game a system by its own rules.
There's nothing wrong with this... just saying that instead of waiting and waiting for a new release, add some older movies and Netflix rewards you by sending that one out while you're waiting on the other...
jmorey - sorry you had a bad experience, if you really want movies now, how about you support Blockbuster and quit complaining? Obviously with Netflix's business model, there is some waiting, and with the volume of their business, sure sometimes you will get a disc that is unplayable, but when I've had this happen, I've gotten a small discount for the month on my fee.
I've only had two problems with Netflix in the four years I've had an account: one scratched disc and one that never showed up. I just reported each one and they sent out new ones the following day. Maybe I just live in a good location for it, but I absolutely love the service at Netflix.
You've been punk'd by Netflix. So you get one extra DVD this way but you don't get another DVD until you've returned two. This benefits Netflix because now you've got to watch the highly desired DVD and the old so-so one before you can get another. I'm betting they have data that shows older DVDs take longer to be returned since you're not as excited to watch it.
Even though you get one extra DVD for part of the month, overall they're going to end up shipping out less discs and more of those that are shipped out will be ones that are of lesser desirability.
Smart move Netflix. Great way to get people ordering older movies and taking pressure off of the new releases. This should save them a bundle!
I've had this happen several times because I put a lot of old movies in my queue, but I wouldn't do it on purpose just to get an extra movie.
I have the 2-disc plan. I ended up with three DVDs at home this way. It was a pleasant surprise. I also had a disc that stopped playing during one of the last chapters. I reported it immediately, send the damaged back the following day and received the replacement the next day, all while still having other discs at home. No Netflix complaints from me.
@ramenandjello
actually i support redbox the most. I don't see how blockbuster can charge the rates they do.
I was telling how my experience went with them. do i still use the, Yes. Do they have "excellent customer service" No
Had this happen sometimes by accident, and it is good Netflix wants the customer to have a DVD without waiting. It's called good customer service if you ask me. Keeps us happy.
I've had netflix since 2004 and have never had a problem with them.
I agree with karen608. I love obscure movies, so I often have 2 at the same time when one has a "short wait." I had no idea I was hacking the system. :)