Comments on: Peerflix Swaps One Problem For Another http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/ Startup and Technology News Fri, 22 Aug 2008 03:43:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Competition is a Good Thing « http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-2057283 Competition is a Good Thing « Thu, 27 Mar 2008 21:19:55 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-2057283 [...] to the world, it was, perhaps, a little easy to get complacent. It came as a huge surprise to read this post over at TechCrunch, mentioning a site called [...] [...] to the world, it was, perhaps, a little easy to get complacent. It came as a huge surprise to read this post over at TechCrunch, mentioning a site called [...]

]]> By: » Blog Archive » “She’s a smart girl. Just give her some time.” http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-1958077 » Blog Archive » “She’s a smart girl. Just give her some time.” Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:41:35 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-1958077 [...] was curious, so I looked up one of Arrington’s recent own blog posts about a DVD swapping service, which had 19 comments. Here’s a sampling: “Barter does [...] [...] was curious, so I looked up one of Arrington’s recent own blog posts about a DVD swapping service, which had 19 comments. Here’s a sampling: “Barter does [...]

]]> By: Peerflix Hits the Replay Button (Again)—Wants to Become an Ad Network http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-1755502 Peerflix Hits the Replay Button (Again)—Wants to Become an Ad Network Wed, 14 Nov 2007 00:33:13 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-1755502 [...] quite seem to figure out what business it wants to be in. The DVD trading site, which already tried to rethink its business last December, has decided that maybe an online swap meet for DVDs isn’t such a [...] [...] quite seem to figure out what business it wants to be in. The DVD trading site, which already tried to rethink its business last December, has decided that maybe an online swap meet for DVDs isn’t such a [...]

]]> By: Larry Gilbert http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-1194922 Larry Gilbert Fri, 09 Mar 2007 20:03:31 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-1194922 Correction on the statement "Users can cash out of the Peerflix currency at any time": There are restrictions, according to Peerflix's own help info. "In order to get to the ‘Request Cashout’ page, you need to have more than $100 in trade cash present in your account, and you can’t have requested a cashout in the current calendar month. If you live in the US, you need to have a bank account on file with us in order to access this page." I suppose it's possible to put in enough money to bump oneself over the $100 limit and then cash everything out, but that's still jumping through hoops. It *is* a difficult system to like, because things do seem to settle like gravity into a resting state where the DVDs on your have-list are ones with lots of supply but negligible demand, and the DVDs on your want-list are ones in high demand but short supply. Correction on the statement “Users can cash out of the Peerflix currency at any time”: There are restrictions, according to Peerflix’s own help info. “In order to get to the ‘Request Cashout’ page, you need to have more than $100 in trade cash present in your account, and you can’t have requested a cashout in the current calendar month. If you live in the US, you need to have a bank account on file with us in order to access this page.” I suppose it’s possible to put in enough money to bump oneself over the $100 limit and then cash everything out, but that’s still jumping through hoops.

It *is* a difficult system to like, because things do seem to settle like gravity into a resting state where the DVDs on your have-list are ones with lots of supply but negligible demand, and the DVDs on your want-list are ones in high demand but short supply.

]]> By: Whats the frequency Kenneth http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-1063503 Whats the frequency Kenneth Mon, 26 Feb 2007 23:38:15 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-1063503 L Wells, you are correct. Those things happened to me personally (though I have to admit with enough pestering, I got credited back for their screw-ups, and I think the idea of a lawsuit is silly.) I cut my losses and cashed out. L Wells, you are correct. Those things happened to me personally (though I have to admit with enough pestering, I got credited back for their screw-ups, and I think the idea of a lawsuit is silly.) I cut my losses and cashed out.

]]> By: L Wells http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-1022979 L Wells Fri, 23 Feb 2007 01:50:25 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-1022979 I was a pretty heavy trader with Peerflix. Since the change it seems to be crashing. Customer Service is nothing but a joke. Guarantee?? What guarantee?? It seems to have disappeared. Movies appeared on want lists that ppl didn't ask for. Peerflix customer support would insist the 'customer' put the movie on the list and would do nothing about it. The conversion of peerbuxs to cash was a joke! The amount they gave for each peerbux would not even buy the cheapest movie available. There are a lot of unhappy ppl there just waiting to cash out and get out of the mess Peerflix has made!! There have been several mentions on their backlot forum about lawsuits. I was a pretty heavy trader with Peerflix. Since the change it seems to be crashing. Customer Service is nothing but a joke. Guarantee?? What guarantee?? It seems to have disappeared. Movies appeared on want lists that ppl didn’t ask for. Peerflix customer support would insist the ‘customer’ put the movie on the list and would do nothing about it. The conversion of peerbuxs to cash was a joke! The amount they gave for each peerbux would not even buy the cheapest movie available. There are a lot of unhappy ppl there just waiting to cash out and get out of the mess Peerflix has made!! There have been several mentions on their backlot forum about lawsuits.

]]> By: R. J. Fujan http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-1009369 R. J. Fujan Wed, 21 Feb 2007 18:06:43 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-1009369 [matthew December 19th, 2006 at 6:31 am from my experience, la la is having the same sort of “people only put the stuff they really didn’t want on the site” problem.] That is not a problem. Thank God we are not all alike, neither are our tastes in entertainment. The stuff I don't want to keep in my collection, may be just the thing you need for yours! My collection is so large now, that when I get a new DVD, I have to sacrifice one I like to keep it. When it was a swap system, I could do it easier because I knew I could always request it again down the road. [matthew December 19th, 2006 at 6:31 am from my experience, la la is having the same sort of “people only put the stuff they really didn’t want on the site” problem.]

That is not a problem. Thank God we are not all alike, neither are our tastes in entertainment. The stuff I don’t want to keep in my collection, may be just the thing you need for yours! My collection is so large now, that when I get a new DVD, I have to sacrifice one I like to keep it. When it was a swap system, I could do it easier because I knew I could always request it again down the road.

]]> By: John... http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-736350 John... Wed, 17 Jan 2007 19:18:12 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-736350 Just to note it, GameTZ.com has been around longer than ANY of these sites (over a decade now) and allows free swapping of DVDs plus games, books, and music CDs too. There is no "currency" -- you just list what you have and make deals with other members through the offer system. plus they have almost 4000 ACTIVE users (that have actually signed on and used the system in the last 2 months). Too many other sites on there claim all of these users and then turn out to have only a tiny portion that actually USE the site. Stating that you have 10,000+ members means nothing if 95% of them haven't used the site in half a year... - John... Just to note it, GameTZ.com has been around longer than ANY of these sites (over a decade now) and allows free swapping of DVDs plus games, books, and music CDs too. There is no “currency” — you just list what you have and make deals with other members through the offer system. plus they have almost 4000 ACTIVE users (that have actually signed on and used the system in the last 2 months). Too many other sites on there claim all of these users and then turn out to have only a tiny portion that actually USE the site. Stating that you have 10,000+ members means nothing if 95% of them haven’t used the site in half a year…

- John…

]]> By: Neige Wilson http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-697476 Neige Wilson Fri, 12 Jan 2007 05:43:07 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-697476 I can't rave enough about SwitchDiscs!!! AWESOME free site with cross-border trading! Would highly recommend checking it out - I was with Peerflix up until last year, and I can't believe I was paying for a service I could receive for free. I can't tell you how many mediocre movies I suffered through while waiting for the elusive "top priority" movies to arrive. I can’t rave enough about SwitchDiscs!!! AWESOME free site with cross-border trading! Would highly recommend checking it out - I was with Peerflix up until last year, and I can’t believe I was paying for a service I could receive for free. I can’t tell you how many mediocre movies I suffered through while waiting for the elusive “top priority” movies to arrive.

]]> By: M. Last http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-657190 M. Last Thu, 04 Jan 2007 08:29:37 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-657190 I've had nothing but problems with peerflix--everything from extreme waits to blatant mailing DVDs that I never ordered! Never again. A few friends of mine have had problems as well. I live in Canada so maybe its different for US citizens. The bottom line is I do not trust Peerflix and I don't want to give them my business anymore, no matter how many"improvements" they make to their system. I feel ripped off and betrayed and my experience with their customer service department has been very unhelpful. I’ve had nothing but problems with peerflix–everything from extreme waits to blatant mailing DVDs that I never ordered! Never again. A few friends of mine have had problems as well. I live in Canada so maybe its different for US citizens.

The bottom line is I do not trust Peerflix and I don’t want to give them my business anymore, no matter how many”improvements” they make to their system. I feel ripped off and betrayed and my experience with their customer service department has been very unhelpful.

]]> By: Richard Jeffries http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-586251 Richard Jeffries Sun, 24 Dec 2006 04:19:40 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-586251 Just looked up Peerflix's world Comscore #'s for November - they had a tiny 135,000 unique visitors. These guys need to figure out how to get more users to ever stay afloat - introducing fancy patents and new features will mean nothing if they have no user base - they may want to concentrate on marketing / bizdev as opposed to spending 80% of their efforts on PR and talking about how much money they raised. Just looked up Peerflix’s world Comscore #’s for November - they had a tiny 135,000 unique visitors. These guys need to figure out how to get more users to ever stay afloat - introducing fancy patents and new features will mean nothing if they have no user base - they may want to concentrate on marketing / bizdev as opposed to spending 80% of their efforts on PR and talking about how much money they raised.

]]> By: David Mackey http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-585087 David Mackey Sat, 23 Dec 2006 22:56:34 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-585087 I tried Peerflix, but gave up b/c I could never be the first person to respond to a request, and didn't really get DVDs I wanted, plus I didn't want to deposit money into the system to make the trade - I think they will need to use ad revenue if they want to make the system work. I tried Peerflix, but gave up b/c I could never be the first person to respond to a request, and didn’t really get DVDs I wanted, plus I didn’t want to deposit money into the system to make the trade - I think they will need to use ad revenue if they want to make the system work.

]]> By: SD_Chris http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-568050 SD_Chris Wed, 20 Dec 2006 21:38:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-568050 Mark, Very poetic post. But Peerflix is NOT the only site that insures the trades. My site SwitchDiscs.com guarantees ALL trades so I know of at least one other site even though you say Peerflix is the only one. :) cheers, Chris www.SwitchDiscs.com Mark,

Very poetic post.

But Peerflix is NOT the only site that insures the trades. My site SwitchDiscs.com guarantees ALL trades so I know of at least one other site even though you say Peerflix is the only one. :)

cheers,
Chris

http://www.SwitchDiscs.com

]]> By: Mark Hampton http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-567837 Mark Hampton Wed, 20 Dec 2006 20:39:35 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-567837 As far as I can tell, what Peerflix has done is open the door to non-traders to also bring their DVD's into the network, expanding the number of titles available to people who use peerflix as a way to watch lots of movies cheaply. 1. The barter system is left perfectly intact 2. People can Sell DVD's (without trading) to the library for all the traders 3. Those people can make money (and it's WAAY easier to list a movie on PF than anywhere else, it's just that you have to settle for the PF price 4. Peerflix is still the only swap site that insures the trades (you can't lose - unlike ebay, switchdiscs, and all the others) Peerflix Remains the cheapest way to get lots of dvd's unless you can get more than 13 dvd's per month on a 3 out plan at Netflix, and if you ever want to watch less than 13 movies a month (like most people) you are throwing money away using netflix. The way I see it, the only effect this new system will have on a service that I already loved is that I will have access to more movies. As far as I can tell, what Peerflix has done is open the door to non-traders to also bring their DVD’s into the network, expanding the number of titles available to people who use peerflix as a way to watch lots of movies cheaply.

1. The barter system is left perfectly intact
2. People can Sell DVD’s (without trading) to the library for all the traders
3. Those people can make money (and it’s WAAY easier to list a movie on PF than anywhere else, it’s just that you have to settle for the PF price
4. Peerflix is still the only swap site that insures the trades (you can’t lose - unlike ebay, switchdiscs, and all the others)

Peerflix Remains the cheapest way to get lots of dvd’s unless you can get more than 13 dvd’s per month on a 3 out plan at Netflix, and if you ever want to watch less than 13 movies a month (like most people) you are throwing money away using netflix.

The way I see it, the only effect this new system will have on a service that I already loved is that I will have access to more movies.

]]> By: SD_Chris http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-567136 SD_Chris Wed, 20 Dec 2006 17:23:42 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-567136 John, Interesting quote from Mr. McNair. But that would have to be some pretty BIG patent covering A LOT of things because I know everyone out there right now has their own little twist on how things work. Plus you are right...they are no longer a "swap" site in the purest sense because members are now selling and buying just like people do on eBay. cheers, Chris www.SwitchDiscs.com John,

Interesting quote from Mr. McNair. But that would have to be some pretty BIG patent covering A LOT of things because I know everyone out there right now has their own little twist on how things work.

Plus you are right…they are no longer a “swap” site in the purest sense because members are now selling and buying just like people do on eBay.

cheers,
Chris

http://www.SwitchDiscs.com

]]> By: Neil http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-565588 Neil Wed, 20 Dec 2006 11:32:36 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-565588 um..make money w hile you can from this model is my advice. I think the model of trading physical media is going to be short lived. Why, well frankly it's just a buit of a pain in the a**e to send out a DVD when you can download one in the same time, and for less. Obviouly as local bandwidth speeds up, this model dies faster. By the way, is there is a possiblility to trade rights to purchased media? (i.e. swap downloads?) um..make money w hile you can from this model is my advice.

I think the model of trading physical media is going to be short lived. Why, well frankly it’s just a buit of a pain in the a**e to send out a DVD when you can download one in the same time, and for less. Obviouly as local bandwidth speeds up, this model dies faster.

By the way, is there is a possiblility to trade rights to purchased media? (i.e. swap downloads?)

]]> By: John Moore http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-564947 John Moore Wed, 20 Dec 2006 08:56:32 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-564947 Because of this quote in the news Chris. "There would be no reason to own the patent unless we intended to flex our muscles around it," said Billy McNair, Peerflix's chief executive. McNair, who also is a lawyer, believes the patent will cut a broad swath, particularly as more peer-to-peer networks are formed online to swap goods and serices. I think it's funny they bought the patent for exchanging online when it looks like they're going into the Buy/Sell business now. Because of this quote in the news Chris.

“There would be no reason to own the patent unless we intended to flex our muscles around it,” said Billy McNair, Peerflix’s chief executive. McNair, who also is a lawyer, believes the patent will cut a broad swath, particularly as more peer-to-peer networks are formed online to swap goods and serices.

I think it’s funny they bought the patent for exchanging online when it looks like they’re going into the Buy/Sell business now.

]]> By: Concerned http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-564495 Concerned Wed, 20 Dec 2006 07:09:19 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-564495 Heh - I love how they make news by copying what ebay, half, and swapsimple have been doing for years. They argue it makes selling easier, with their Muse database of items, info, photos, etc. but I'll still stick to ebay and it's international audience for selling my stuff, and places like swapsimple for trading. Heh - I love how they make news by copying what ebay, half, and swapsimple have been doing for years. They argue it makes selling easier, with their Muse database of items, info, photos, etc. but I’ll still stick to ebay and it’s international audience for selling my stuff, and places like swapsimple for trading.

]]> By: Peerflix, What Have you Done? « Omar’s Blog http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-563404 Peerflix, What Have you Done? « Omar’s Blog Wed, 20 Dec 2006 03:44:20 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-563404 [...] I gather from Michael Arrington’s Techcrunch post that the old Peerflix barter system just wasn’t working. Arrington’s prediction for the new system is that it won’t work either. Arrington writes: Market economies work (see eBay), but Peerflix didn’t adopt a market system. They ditched a barter economy for a command and control system, where Peerflix uses a proprietary algorithm to determine the value of a DVD. That won’t work - eBay will always have a more efficient system for quickly equalizing supply and demand. Peerflix will constantly be tinkering with their pricing algorithm, while eBay lets its users do all the work. [...] [...] I gather from Michael Arrington’s Techcrunch post that the old Peerflix barter system just wasn’t working. Arrington’s prediction for the new system is that it won’t work either. Arrington writes: Market economies work (see eBay), but Peerflix didn’t adopt a market system. They ditched a barter economy for a command and control system, where Peerflix uses a proprietary algorithm to determine the value of a DVD. That won’t work - eBay will always have a more efficient system for quickly equalizing supply and demand. Peerflix will constantly be tinkering with their pricing algorithm, while eBay lets its users do all the work. [...]

]]> By: SD_Chris http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-562984 SD_Chris Wed, 20 Dec 2006 01:59:38 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-562984 John, Why do you say that? cheers, Chris John,

Why do you say that?

cheers,
Chris

]]> By: John Moore http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-562731 John Moore Wed, 20 Dec 2006 01:01:59 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-562731 So their next round of VC funding will be for lawsuits? lol So their next round of VC funding will be for lawsuits? lol

]]> By: emre http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-562600 emre Wed, 20 Dec 2006 00:30:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-562600 Web sites like Peerflix are great platforms for testing new economic theories. They should have been more adventurous! Web sites like Peerflix are great platforms for testing new economic theories. They should have been more adventurous!

]]> By: Josh http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-562591 Josh Wed, 20 Dec 2006 00:28:27 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-562591 Gamershare is another trading website exclusively for video games that I think is worth a mention. Check 'em out at www.gamershare.com Any model can work as long as it can create value and capture mindshare, which is what Netflix and Ebay has proven over and over again. Gamershare is another trading website exclusively for video games that I think is worth a mention. Check ‘em out at http://www.gamershare.com

Any model can work as long as it can create value and capture mindshare, which is what Netflix and Ebay has proven over and over again.

]]> By: Rodger http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-562569 Rodger Wed, 20 Dec 2006 00:22:07 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-562569 Hi Sudhir, Great, thanks. It's not a loophole so much as just the way that copyright law works. The first sale doctrine allows rental and resale of items once the first copy of a copyrighted work has been legally acquired. Copyright law only restricts rental of phonographic recordings (music) and computer software, hence you don't see rental outlets for either. As such, you have just as much legal right to rent your DVDs and video games you legally own as does a corporation or any other company. And yes, hopefully that can be very lucrative for many people. The "home use only" clause means you can not screen the movie (bought or rented) for commercial purposes - its usage is for home viewing only. Thanks, Rodger Hi Sudhir,

Great, thanks. It’s not a loophole so much as just the way that copyright law works. The first sale doctrine allows rental and resale of items once the first copy of a copyrighted work has been legally acquired. Copyright law only restricts rental of phonographic recordings (music) and computer software, hence you don’t see rental outlets for either.

As such, you have just as much legal right to rent your DVDs and video games you legally own as does a corporation or any other company. And yes, hopefully that can be very lucrative for many people.

The “home use only” clause means you can not screen the movie (bought or rented) for commercial purposes - its usage is for home viewing only.

Thanks,

Rodger

]]> By: sudhir jha http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-562260 sudhir jha Tue, 19 Dec 2006 23:19:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/19/peerflix-swaps-one-problem-for-another/#comment-562260 Rodger, I checked iLetYou and like the concept but am not sure it can be legal. I didn't think I could rent my personal collection (some of which I may have paid as little as 4-5 dollars if bought used) and make money from that. Doesn't it come with "can only be used at home and for no commercial purposes" warning? Othewise this can be a very lucrative market. I am sure you must have done the research and found some loophole before starting the site. Can you (or some one else) shed some light? Thanks, Sudhir Rodger,

I checked iLetYou and like the concept but am not sure it can be legal. I didn’t think I could rent my personal collection (some of which I may have paid as little as 4-5 dollars if bought used) and make money from that. Doesn’t it come with “can only be used at home and for no commercial purposes” warning? Othewise this can be a very lucrative market.

I am sure you must have done the research and found some loophole before starting the site. Can you (or some one else) shed some light?

Thanks,
Sudhir

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