Why is it that every time Netflix makes a change, it's for the worse?

[bif]

First, they ditched the 5 star rating system and went with the thumbs up & down. Now they're getting rid of the viewer reviews! I always read them before committing 1 1/2 to 2 hours of my life to watching a movie. Dumb move. They said the service was underutilized.

[gtar100]

1. No kidding! I use the reviews often and there are lots of them.

So "underutilized" sounds like an excuse to get rid of them. I just wonder what the real reason is. I noticed that it became less prominent in their interface awhile back. Must have been in the plans to get rid of the feature for some time. Sounds like some schmuck executive came up with a brilliant plan to save money and this is what they foist upon us. Sure it's not needed for the basic service but it is part of the experience of Netflix that makes it better. It's part of making it a shared, community experience. Must have been a republican who decided to get rid of it.

[catchnrelease]

2. I often check the reviews

If I haven't heard of a movie/series beforehand, I will check the reviews to get an idea of what people think of it, same reason as you said bif. Disappointed that they are dropping them. I wonder if there will be complaints enough to bring them back.

[Civic Justice]

3. GREED!!!!

[Cicada]

5. Netflix value comes from knowing what you like

They display shows you will probably enjoy. The accuracy of that is what makes them the most valuable entertainment company in the world. No one else can as efficiently guide you to a happy experience. I don’t think they would cut corners if it interfered with getting you to a show you will enjoy.

[Merlot]

15. Netflix used to recommend shows I would like, now it just puts relevant titles

For example, the "because you watched..., here's ..." a lot of those shows just have the same actors. They also recommend shows that I've already viewed and rated. And they put the Netflix titles in my recommended que even though I have no interest in the genre...like sci-fi for example.

I've found their recommendations for shows I would like to be so off the mark it's not even funny. Which is sad because in the beginning they recommended shows I never would have tried and ended up liking.

They removed reviews from streaming a few years ago and it definitely lessened the netflix experience for me.

Now I spend my days vainly searching for something interesting.

[Cicada]

16. Even if their recommendations are off, they still have incentives to try to be accurate

My experience differs from yours. The shows they display to me include almost every show I will enjoy. It is rare that I find something I enjoy they have not produced for me on their various lists.

They display many I don’t like but rarely do they fail to display one I will like.

But good or bad they have a huge incentive to get it right. That is important for consumer enjoyment, which has a big role in how many subscribers they have. So I doubt they drop some rating tool which actually works.

[Cicada]

4. Conservatives were flooding liberals with lo ratings

So ratings became unreliable

[TexasBushwhacker]

12. they do that on IMDB too

IMDB used to have discussion boards for each film, but there were so many political fights, they shut them down. I miss them.

[hunter]

6. I never knew there was such a thing and I've been a Netflix subscriber for years.

Maybe my devices didn't support it or it was some small icon I didn't notice.



On the other hand, if it was anything like YouTube comments...

[bif]

9. Here's how you view them

When you click on a movie, there's an arrow that points down. When you click on it it brings up another field with more info about the movie. When you click on "Details" it gives you the reviews.

[flying rabbit]

7. My feed still has the star reviews.

Am I in a time loop?

[bif]

10. The reviews have stars

But the movie itself gives me a percentage of how much they think I'd like the movie. Which doesn't make sense since you can only rate a movie thumbs up or thumbs down.

[flying rabbit]

11. OK

Thanks, now I get it.

[Highway61]

8. That stinks!

Makes no sense at all...I ALWAYS look at the reviews.

[LeftInTX]

13. I stopped checking Netflix reviews after they got rid of the 5 star rating

I go over to IMDB

I find the review on IMDB to be more thorough anyway.

[bif]

14. Rotten tomatos is pretty good as well.