Netflix has revolutionized the way we receive our entertainment by providing new ways for us to watch entertainment on many devices. Major video rental chains have felt the heat from the competition and in many cases such as Blockbuster, closed down its retail rental outlets and switched to automated kiosks. But could this recent mass exodus of customers result in the ceasing of operations for Netflix? Absolutely, it is likely when you consider the rising cost for companies like Netflix to offer such content to their customers.

My relationship with Netflix ended at the beginning of this week when I took a closer look at what I was paying and what I was getting as compared to other services I use. I am a Comcast Xfinity customer and I subscribe to extra channels, HD DVR service, streaming content (free and pay-per-view) and high-speed internet. But I also am an Amazon Prime Member, a subscriber to Vudu streaming services and various others that I pick and choose from every now and again. This same issue was echoed in Don’s article as it highlights how content agreements usually for services in many directions. For example, you might enjoy a show on Hulu but then revert to a cable networks sites for shows that may have once been available on Hulu. All of these different places for content create limitations for us and for the cable networks that want to share their shows.

Comcast and Vudu both offer a pay-per-view service with movies available around $5 a movie. Amazon offers access to streaming content for $79 a year and being a student, Amazon has become one of my best friends allowing me to stream movies through my Roku HD set-top box and receive free shipping. I started to notice, like many others, that my Netflix queue became stagnant and started to accumulate discs on my coffee table waiting to be returned after not watching them or forgetting to send them back. Why was paying to be a temporary storage facility for Netflix DVDs? I rarely complained about the content available for streaming on Netflix since I enjoyed watching videos most people don’t participate in.

When the price increase was announced I didn’t pay much attention to it at the time. But then I quickly reduced my price plan from my normal 3-at-a-time to 2-at-a-time, both with the additional Blu-ray and streaming access charges added on. I had planned to leave Netflix when I noticed my DVDs by mail were being throttled instead of shipped out immediately but I didn’t, I stayed.

Netflix may seem greedy and out-of-touch to consumer demands and how important WE were to their growth. But it may have not been the case although it is how we the consumer’s perceive it not the facts. It comes down to what we want, when we want it, where we want it and at an affordable price. What justified the %60 increase when their stock price was at an all-time high of $291.27 in July 2011?

I recently ranted through a Facebook post on the Netflix page that was quickly deleted but I have to wonder if they actually read it or shared it with the higher ups (I doubt it and its this kind of ignorance that has us at an impasse). Here is a post that they took down: Open Letter to Netflix via Facebook.  So I assume I am on the same page with Don Reisinger as more of us turn against Netflix for their arrogance to consumer’s.