Soooooo......

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Why is it that (completely anecdotally within my own group of friends) the people I've seen complaining the most about the Netflix price change have by and large been the people who consider themselves conservatives and free-market proponents? I find that interesting.

Assuming they aren't calling for government regulation to prevent a price change, what is interesting about it? "That's too much! I won't pay" isn't in conflict with free market principals.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Alex

Assuming they aren't calling for government regulation to prevent a price change, what is interesting about it? "That's too much! I won't pay" isn't in conflict with free market principals.

Except when they seem to imply that Netflix is doing something horrible and unfair by doing so.

ETA: eh, honestly I withdraw the observation. I shouldn't read social media in the morning before coffee. Looking back at the posts, they aren't as angry sounding as I thought on first read. Still mildly interesting that those are the people in my circle that have brought the subject up.

[Morrigoon]

Originally Posted by Alex

Assuming they aren't calling for government regulation to prevent a price change, what is interesting about it? "That's too much! I won't pay" isn't in conflict with free market principals.

Exactly. I didn't say they didn't have the RIGHT to change their pricing structure, they certainly do. Just like I have the RIGHT to not like it and refuse to pay.

I'm just upset because a service I liked has raised its price beyond a point I believe matches up with the value it brings. I am not willing to spend $24/month for that service, therefore, according to the laws of the free market, I have ended the business relationship.

I do so loudly because, of course, a truly free market relies on the free flow of information - in order for Netflix to determine the true market value of their product, they need to understand what factors affect their customers' buying decisions, and be able to track the effect of those changes.

If enough people quit Netflix, perhaps Netflix will determine that their pricing has exceeded their product's value. Or, perhaps they've already projected those numbers and determined that the increased profit from the lemmings who stay more than makes up for the lost customers, in which case, they have made a wise choice. And that choice doesn't include me buying their service.

Then again, if the expected profit increase dramatically improves their streaming catalog, I may in future reconsider, and pick up a "streaming only" account. But, for the time being and my family's budget, we're not paying for that transition.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

the increased profit from the lemmings who stay

With you right until you called people who make a different free market decision than you names.