Netflix has millions of subscribers hopping on every day to stream new content. But there are also a ton of people who pay for the streaming service and don’t use it. There are a lot of reasons why this might happen. Perhaps other streaming services have more of what that person wants to see. Or maybe they don’t have time to tune into Netflix. Either way, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Netflix is helping dormant users make a choice.
Netflix will start notifying inactive customers via e-mail and app to see if they want to continue their subscription. If there is no response, the streaming service will cancel subscriptions. An inactive user is defined as anyone who hasn’t watched anything for a year after joining the service or stopped using the service for more than two years. So, if you only pop into Netflix when a new season of Stranger Things drops, then you are in the clear.
Netflix/ GIPHY
A subscriber can rejoin and retrieve their account information within 10 months of their cancellation. This move to help subscribers cancel their accounts is actually rooted in good faith, according to a media post by Product Innovation team member Eddy Wu. The media release reveals that Netflix doesn’t want people to pay for something that they don’t use. Simple as that.
“You know that sinking feeling when you realize you signed up for something but haven’t used it in ages? At Netflix, the last thing we want is people paying for something they’re not using. So we’re asking everyone who has not watched anything on Netflix for a year since they joined to confirm they want to keep their membership. And we’ll do the same for anyone who has stopped watching for more than two years.”
Netflix is raking in a lot of cash (and new subscribers) all the time so losing some people probably won’t hurt their bottom line too much. And any opportunity to save money by letting go of something you don’t use is always a win.
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